Help with chosing correct M2 SSD

[🆂🆃🅸🅶🅶🅰]

My Mobo is B550M DS3H , the manual states M2A CPU / M28 -SB & all so states Supports
M2 Sata SSDs, i have never used this type of drive but no cables and such ! must give it a go

[Rumpelcrutchskin]

You will be looking for M.2-2280 NVME SSD:

https://pcpartpicker.com/products/internal-hard-drive/#f=122080&sort=price&D=1

[Illusion of Progress]

Without knowing what you might be buying this for, or what your budget is, the correct one is a compatible one.

As for what is compatible...

That motherboard supports both SATA and NVMe on the M2 port. Most boards (I didn't check if yours is like this but it most likely is) will deactivate the final two SATA ports when using the second M2 port (usually the bottom one), so be aware of this.

The top M2 on your board supports PCI Express 4.0. The bottom M2 port on your board supports PCI Express 3.0. PCI Express 4.0 devices will still work in a PCI 3.0 port (just at the speeds of PCI Express 3.0).

SATA is technically a protocol so M2 SSDs CAN be SATA, but most people refer to SATA as the port type. For M2, you may as well go for NVMe since it doesn't really have a cost premium anymore. Do remember that a lot of the advertised speeds are not representative of overall drive performance for most use cases. The high sequential speeds NVMe SSDs claim will make a drive seem many times faster, when for general use, gaming, and other types of tasks, they will only be marginally faster (a second on a loading screen maybe) and you won't notice it unless timing them. That speed is typically not also the "raw" speed of the drive itself, but the speed when using the SLC or MLC cache portion. It's when you're moving large files or other heavy workflows that these faster drives will benefit you most. For games, you're often paying a premium for no discernible benefit.

Lastly, M2 devices have a four (or five) digit number signifying the size. It always starts in 22 (as they are 22mm in width) and the next digits are the length. You'll probably notice the M2 port has two or three spots for a screw, and this is why. For SSDs, 2280 is probably the most common size and your board supports this.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Basically any NVME SSD from Crucial, WD, Samsung, Sabrent would be fine.

[PopinFRESH]

Given your chipset and motherboard support PCIe4.0 NVMe I'd definitely recommend looking at getting an NVMe SSD that support PCIe 4.0 as there will be a noticeable performance difference.

Illusion of Progress post is a good primer on what specifications you'll want to consider.

The WD Black SN850 [www.westerndigital.com] is one of the best price/performance PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs if they are within your budget.

$260 for a 2TB with its performance is a pretty decent deal.

[🆂🆃🅸🅶🅶🅰]

Thanks again every one for the input & Knowledge , i was going to try this - " to me " new technology by installing a Win 10 OS on it for ? faster gaming , but reading your posts especially
Illusion of Progress , I would have fallen foul of this that he wrote ,
"That motherboard supports both SATA and NVMe on the M2 port. Most boards (I didn't check if yours is like this but it most likely is) will deactivate the final two SATA ports when using the second M2 port (usually the bottom one), so be aware of this."
So i may leave it for now and fit another SSD which i have in my box of miscalaneous Junk:)

Off subject but are we all the same :) in that when for example we have any electrical appilance that breaks down , we cut the plug off and put it in a draw some where , ending up with a draw full of UK/ 13 Amp plugs :( I`am sure if left to long they breed as i now have about 50 of the kritters , same with coat hangers :), Pc cables, screws, ect :

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Another reason it can be very helpful to buy a Motherboard that has a minimum of 6X SATA Ports; so that you actually have 4 usable sata ports after populating 1 or more M2 slots.

[🆂🆃🅸🅶🅶🅰]

Thanks again Bad 💀 Motha , i have lots to learn ^

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Best bet is before you buy any Motherboard, do an online search of the exact model of it, then go to the brand makers support site for it and review the PDF manual.

[↑↑↓↓←→←→BASelect]

Get the samsung 980 pro 1tb pci-e 4.0. I have boot speeds of under 5 seconds.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

PRO doesn't add much over EVO aside from warranty.