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Question

M.2 or PCIE SSD

Apr 2, 2017 11:48AM PDT

I have both types of slots open on my Gigabyte MB

I'm going to purchase a 512 GB SSD but am confused as to which type we prefer .

Discussion is locked

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Answer
It was kicked around and
Apr 2, 2017 12:33PM PDT

Since benchmarks move around I can't give a clear answer without exact models of the drives.

M.2 should win but can have me buy a new USB adapter for cloning at times.

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Answer
I have been checking out different articles
Apr 2, 2017 12:42PM PDT

I landed at Tom's Hardware and there's a conversation about this.

Some say , when they used the M.2 slot that it bottle necked the SSD to only 2X the speed and not the 10GPS as claimed by the MFGR.
He say's because the M.2 only has 2 lanes , it is much slower than when it's installed in a PCI 3.0 x4 slot .
He said the PCI 3.0 x 4 has 4 lanes and should almost use the SSD closer to full potential .

Thoughts ?

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Booting form a PCIe 3.0 x4 slot
Apr 2, 2017 12:52PM PDT

May or may not be supported and you would need yet another card.

BRB as I do a full reboot and time my W10 Asus ROG laptop (2016 model, 960M, 16GB DDR4 and Samsung cheap version M.2 512GB SSD.)

PS. Adding with Mod edit. Cold boot to desktop was 16 seconds.

Post was last edited on April 2, 2017 12:53 PM PDT

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Spooky.
Apr 2, 2017 1:16PM PDT

Why? "You purchased this item on June 3, 2016."

Side note. I didn't install ANY app from Samsung to monitor, optimize or such. You know me on this. Went native.

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Me ?
Apr 2, 2017 1:20PM PDT

I didn't buy any SSD , where did you get that impression ?

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I bought that model on that date.
Apr 2, 2017 1:35PM PDT

Spooky at times. I wonder how you found the exact model I have in my Asus laptop.

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LOL
Apr 2, 2017 1:41PM PDT

You had me worried there for a minute ! I checked my purchases in June 2016 and didn't but anything lol.

OK , that's the one that you like so I'm buying it ! Did it come with a screw ?

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No screw.
Apr 2, 2017 1:44PM PDT
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I'm gonna keep my 1TB HDD
Apr 2, 2017 1:50PM PDT

and use it as a D Drive (?) .
I'm sure I'll be bugging you about that soon lol

Thanks Bob

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I got lucky
Apr 2, 2017 6:34PM PDT

I purchased the SSD for $142 through Amazon warehouse deals ,
saved $25 ,it was "Like New /Used " Cool
It was the last one for that price Wink
The corner of the box is dented some but the product is like new .
We'll see how this works, it still comes with the full warranty .....

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I got lucky
Apr 8, 2017 5:57PM PDT

Motherboard had a screw for the M.2 Cool
But what do I do now?
I installed the SSD and it is recognized as drive E
so whats next ? Do I need to do something to my C drive or something ?
I can't find a good youtube tutorial , watched a bunch of them .....

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If the goal is to put the OS there.
Apr 8, 2017 6:20PM PDT

I'd try cloning from your current C to that drive.

After the clone job, shut down and unplug your current drive C to force the BIOS to choose that drive.

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I downloaded the Samsung migration tool
Apr 8, 2017 6:40PM PDT
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I got rid of that Sammy tool
Apr 8, 2017 8:22PM PDT

I'm using the free version of EaseUS Todo Backup .
Just choose clone and direct it to both drives like this > clone HDD drive C to SSD drive E and it tells me that all info on C will be lost and click ok and it's been going for 23 minutes now. Cool
I think I'm gonna have it made in the shade Grin
Tomorrow ( if this does indeed work ) , I'll start transferring apps and games and music back to HDD Cool

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Hey, Hey ! Up and running
Apr 8, 2017 8:48PM PDT

it took 37 minutes to clone and restart Grin

now I get to use another free EaseUS tool called Todo PCTrans to move all of the thing's I need to put on the HDD (E drive now) . This is another real cool tool !
Todo PCTrans finds all of the apps and programs that are on the SSD , you just check mark the ones that you want transferred and hit ok and bingo.... done Wink

It's enough to make a person lazy Devil

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Oh yeah
Apr 8, 2017 8:50PM PDT

Forgot , while I was in there , I did the thermal paste and put in 2 new Noctua 120mm case fans ......ooooh whisper quiet and now a real fast comp. Cool

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Good to read.
Apr 9, 2017 9:05AM PDT

Also, nice you had the screw with the motherboard.

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You have been telling us to do this
Apr 9, 2017 9:13AM PDT

for years .......Guess I'm gonna have to buy two more now lol

Gonna partition my old HDD for backup and another partition for files and pics , music and stuff next.
Thanks Bob , you came through again

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TIP. Don't need a partition.
Apr 9, 2017 9:17AM PDT

I use a folder in one big drive. It's your choice how to do this backup but here if I used the partition method I might run out of space or not have access to all the space on the second drive.

So I use the single partition method and for the online first backup copy, a folder for that.

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That gives me stuff to experiment with
Apr 9, 2017 9:21AM PDT

Next week's gonna be fun ! Cool

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Answer
Ssd
Apr 2, 2017 3:13PM PDT

What are you going to be doing that it will make a difference what bus you use for the ssd?

For most users the difference between 500MB/s and 2000MB/s will be zip.

Keep life simple use the sata bus.

https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-m2-833453

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Well Bob
Apr 3, 2017 10:12AM PDT

Since I'm hooking this up , I was just making sure I was getting the most out of it since I do have every kind of slot open. I am going with the M.2 slot ....

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M.2 slot
Apr 3, 2017 11:38AM PDT

Make sure that slot is keyed proper for the ssd you buy.

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Hmmm
Apr 4, 2017 5:02AM PDT

the slot on the MB says M.2 , that's all I know ,
The SSD will lay flat with one screw holding it in place . This is it

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M.2 slot
Apr 4, 2017 8:30AM PDT
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Well,
Apr 4, 2017 8:42AM PDT

It's gonna go in some slot lol,
Maybe I should have purchased some plate for pci slot or something

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So far
Apr 4, 2017 9:26AM PDT

I just put these in and the retaining screw. In a pinch I tie-wrapped one into place as we didn't have a spare screw. The tie wrap doesn't have to be cinched tight. Don't overdo that if you go Red Green and make do.

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Cool
Apr 4, 2017 9:36AM PDT

I have many sizes of those wire ties
Thanks Bob ....

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Not this but that.
Apr 4, 2017 10:01AM PDT

Wire tie is not a good idea because it has conductive metal inside.

Plastic tie wraps are non-conductive and due to all the little things I can fix with them they are in my PC medic bag at all times.