FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

SSD Addition

Post Date: 2020-01-06
 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
jpforensic View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie

Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 31 Oct 2014
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 39 		  Quote jpforensic Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: SSD Addition
    Posted: 06 Jan 2020 at 2:18pm
Good afternoon all,

Id like to add an additional SSD as the 256GB Samsung drive that Im currently running is far too small for the games Id like to install. Here are the relevant specs for my rig:

Digital Storm Apollo
Motherboard: ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark2 (Intel Z97 Chipset)
Graphic Card: 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 4GB
Drives: 1x SSD (Samsung 850 Pro 256GB)
        1x 1TB Western Digital HD

Any recommendations for 500GB - 1TB SSds with the current setup would be greatly appreciated. If I need to post any other specs that are needed to make a better informed suggestion Im happy to do it.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you have!!!
Back to Top
HockeyBuck View Drop Down
DS Veteran
DS Veteran

Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 27 Jul 2012
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1608 		  Quote HockeyBuck Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 06 Jan 2020 at 8:29pm
I have had very good luck sticking with Intel or Samsung in 2.5” SATA III SSD’s.   I prefer Intels drive maintenance software over Samsung.
Remember to order a SATA data cable...most drives don’t come with cables these days.    
Back to Top
jpforensic View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie

Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 31 Oct 2014
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 39 		  Quote jpforensic Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jan 2020 at 11:45am
Thank you HockeyBuck!

Just want to verify - is PCIe not an option for me with my current mobo? From what I can gather its listed as having 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (Single at x16, dual at x8/x8), 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (max at x4 mode, black), 3 x PCIe x1 by the manufacturer as "Expansion Slots". I assumed these were dedicated to storage and would be compatible with a PCIe SSD. Am I wrong in my assumption? Please forgive my illiteracy when it comes to hardware!

Cheers!
Back to Top
HockeyBuck View Drop Down
DS Veteran
DS Veteran

Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 27 Jul 2012
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1608 		  Quote HockeyBuck Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jan 2020 at 2:21pm
As I understand it, if your ASUS Z97 motherboard BIOS is updated to the right version from sometime after 2015, then it would in fact be compatible via software update to use a PCIE slot drive adapter card that would allow you to mount an M.2 NVME SSD drive to the adapter.   You would need to check to see if you have the current BIOS that provided M.2 support.

M.2 NVME SSD are 5X faster than normal SATA III SSD. You would be investing a bit more in an older mobo, but the drive itself could be used later on in most any new generation motherboard you eventually migrate to.   The Samsung Evo Pro or fastest Plus M.2 NVME SSD are good quality and come in 500 GB, 1TB or 2 TB sizes.   Look on Newegg for a PCIE M.2 drive adapter card.   Many of them will allow 2 M.2 drives to mount on the riser card.     
Back to Top
jpforensic View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie

Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 31 Oct 2014
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 39 		  Quote jpforensic Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jan 2020 at 6:38pm
This certainly gives me some more options to consider (including upgrading my motherboard altogether). Thank you for the valuable advice!
Back to Top
HockeyBuck View Drop Down
DS Veteran
DS Veteran

Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 27 Jul 2012
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1608 		  Quote HockeyBuck Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jan 2020 at 6:51pm
My pleasure.   If you do go with a motherboard upgrade, most new models will have two M.2 sockets right on the motherboard..in addition to the usual six or more SATA III ports.    
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.046875 seconds.