So you wanna buy a SSD? Read this first.

[MARSTG]

From what I hear, a bios update is highly recommended first. Many manufacturers add support for newer drives with a bios update. As for installation, at least on Win10, I heard it is straightforward just like on 2.5" SATA. It is possible even to install Win7 on a nvme drive, it just costs a USB drive, to fire a bootloader first and then boot from the nvme drive. There are also tools to add nvme bios support to Intel boards from series 6, 7 or 8, making it possible to boot from nvme drives. Tutorial here [Tutorial]How to add NVMe support on any AMI UEFI BIOS with an Intel Chipset - Overclock.net - An Overclocking Community

 

[sswilson]

Any concerns with the z370 chipset other than being aware that using certain M.2 slots can take up some of the motherboards' SATA ports?

I was looking at Sammy prices of sub - $150 and slightly over $200 for 240/500GB drives and thinking that maybe it was time to move my intel 730 series SSD down to secondary storage duties.....

edit:

From what I hear, a bios update is highly recommended first. Many manufacturers add support for newer drives with a bios update. As for installation, at least on Win10, I heard it is straightforward just like on 2.5" SATA. It is possible even to install Win7 on a nvme drive, it just costs a USB drive, to fire a bootloader first and then boot from the nvme drive. There are also tools to add nvme bios support to Intel boards from series 6, 7 or 8, making it possible to boot from nvme drives. Tutorial here [Tutorial]How to add NVMe support on any AMI UEFI BIOS with an Intel Chipset - Overclock.net - An Overclocking Community

Yeah, I've got the latest available bios version so hopefully I'd be good to go.

 

[MARSTG]

Any concerns with the z370 chipset other than being aware that using certain M.2 slots can take up some of the motherboards' SATA ports?

That was always the case, even with SATA express, as the nvme lanes are, in most cases, given by the PCH.

 

[sswilson]

Soooooooo...........

We all know how the word "assume" breaks down.....

That said... is it fairly safe to assume that a z730 MB M.2 slot would automatically be NVMe? Is NVMe ever specifically referenced in the specs?

Here's what my motherboard manual states, and while I'm pretty sure it supports NVMe, I don't see it listed.




I really haven't been keeping track improvements to storage tech so I want to be absolutely sure I don't go out and buy something that isn't compatible....

 

[3.0charlie]

(I've read the darn thing 5 times, so here goes...)
I think the key is the mention of both PCIe and SATA in the M.2_1 socket description, while the M.2_2 description only has PCIe listed as compatible.
So 'PCIe' would equal NVMe for me?

edit: then again, reading from this: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3460538/nvme-installation-asus-z270f-rog-strix.html.

The M.2_1 socket shares SATA_1 port when use M.2 SATA mode device. Adjust BIOS settings to use a SATA device.

The M.2_2 socket shares SATA_56 ports when use M.2 PCIE mode device in X4 mode. Adjust BIOS settings to use SATA devices..

I ain't convinced anymore.... :doh:

 

[sswilson]

(I've read the darn thing 5 times, so here goes...)
I think the key is the mention of both PCIe and SATA in the M.2_1 socket description, while the M.2_2 description only has PCIe listed as compatible.
So 'PCIe' would equal NVMe for me?

Heh... that's my assumption as well, but it could be a hell of a lot clearer. One of the reviews I read recently suggested that PCIe and NVMe compatibility were two separate things, and that some boards might indeed support connecting through the PCIe interface yet not be NVMe........

Storage tech has been a mess ever since the first days of SSDs when AMD took so long to incorporate trim into their chipsets/drivers......

edit: as far as the two slots go... they both support the same PCIe interface, but only the upright one supports Sata... (and don't get me started on the different keys, and throwing mSATA into the mix as well!!!! ).

 

[3.0charlie]

See my edit...

 

[Sagath]

M2 drives come in two formats, SATA keyed and PCIE keyed. Motherboards can be keyed for both, or only one. Saying that 'enabling pcie will disable SATA 5/6' is just informing you that it's using lanes for your M2 instead of those SATA ports.

PCIE means NVMe. Or the better way to say it is that NVMe uses the PCIE bus, be that M2 form factor or PCIe slot form factor.

 

[JD]

The bigger question would be which one is better connected to the CPU, but yes, the way I read it, either slot should be fine for NVMe.

 

[sswilson]

The bigger question would be which one is better connected to the CPU, but yes, the way I read it, either slot should be fine for NVMe.

The upright install would most likely interfere with my current loop so I suspect that's going to be the deciding factor between the two slots.....

edit: (It's not clear from the picture I uploaded, but one of the slots is at right angles to the motherboard).