SATA M.2 SSD vs PCIe M.2 SSD - What’s the difference? – DIY in 5 Ep 172

Interface
Many people think the alternative to M.2 SSDs are SATA 2.5” SSDs, and while the 2.5 inch portion is correct, SATA actually refers to the storage interface. SATA and PCIe, or PCIe NVMe, are both types of storage interface that an SSD can use. The primary difference between the two is performance and the protocol, or language, spoken by the SSD. The M.2 spec was designed to accommodate both a SATA and PCIe interface for SSDs. M.2 SATA SSDs will use the same controller currently on typical 2.5” SATA SSDs. M.2 PCIe SSDs will use a controller specifically designed to support the PCIe protocol. An M.2 SSD can only support one protocol, but some systems have M.2 sockets that can support either SATA or PCIe. An easy way to tell the difference between the two drives based on appearance alone is the notches in the connection. SATA M.2 drives will have two notches, while PCIe will only have one. (Note: as of December 2022 Kingston shipped out the last of its SATA M.2 SSDs, the A400 M.2. We no longer make SATA based M.2 SSDs and going forward all our M.2 SSDs are NVMe.)

Performance
So what’s the difference between the two? The PCIe interface is generally faster, as the SATA 3.0 spec is limited to around 600MB/s maximum speed, while PCIe Gen 2 x2 lanes are capable of up to 1000MB/s. And if you think that’s a large difference, PCIe Gen 2 x4 lanes are capable of up to 2000MB/s, and Gen 3 x4 lanes of up to 4000MB/s. Not to say that speed is everything. M.2 SSDs using the SATA protocol will generally be compatible with a wider variety of systems and can be better supported in older models, plus they are usually more affordable when it comes to PCIe. Another thing to consider is that some motherboards don’t have enough PCIe connections to support multiple PCIe NVMe drives. You might have to decide on using the available connection between a graphics card or an NVMe SSD. Other times there may be PCIe lanes available but only a certain type of connection will be able to use NVMe devices at their full speed such as an M.2 connection.

For example compare the Kingston A400 SATA SSD vs Kingston KC3000 PCIe NVMe SSD. The A400 has two key notches, comes in capacities up to 480 GB and has up to 500 MB/s read and 450 MKB/s write - all at an MSRP of under $50. The Kingston KC3000 on the other hand, has one key notch here on the side, comes in capacities up to 4TB and offers 7,000 MB/s read and write speeds. The starting price for this drive is $100.

So to sum up - yes, M.2 SSDs can come in both SATA and PCIe NVMe varieties. PCIe is newer and faster, while SATA is more affordable and more widely compatible with older systems. What you choose is up to you, but I hope these basic guidelines helped a bit in your shopping journey.
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0:00 Intro
0:41 What is an M.2 SSD?
1:07 What is a SATA 2.5" SSD?
1:26 What is the difference?
2:13 How does the difference relate to performance?
3:21 Comparison of a SATA M.2 SSD vs PCIe M.2 SSD

[WarHawk-]

The most concise and easy to understand comparison I've seen yet. Had me going back to check my new-build part bin to ensure that I had, indeed, purchased the correct components. Thanks, I can breathe easy now.

[farishakim]

Just sharing, when it comes to SSD, 3 criteria u guys should know:

1. Form factor : 2.5" and M.2
2. Interface/slot/port : SATA and PCIe
3. Protocol : SATA and NVME

[flyingllama]

This is the best video explaining it easily I've come across on YouTube. Well done.

[StarfieldWX-tb]

The stick of gum SLAYED me, thank you! :D

[Mccoy]

I have a M.2 SSD 500Gb for the OS and I am very satisfied with it... not expensive, very fast and reliable. With HDD my PC took between 1 or 2 minutes to fully restart, but with M.2, it only takes 17 seconds and it´s ready to go.

[robxlove]

Thank you for explaining the differences in interface, with two holes vs one hole for NVMe vs PCIe

[johnpaulbacon]

Great video. A little addition to your explanation : The 2 Notch Sata M.2 use's what's called the B-Key. The 1 notch PCIE [ NVME ) m.2 use's the M-Key. The M.2 socket's on the devices motherboard can be ; A B-key socket, A M-key socket or a combined socket that you can use either type of M.2 in that single socket.

[Jamessavoy]

Great video. Building a new computer after 10 years (current one is still fine, but trying to get ahead of expected end of life limits of hardware). Coming from a "SSDs should only be for the OS" mentality, so very helpful.

[jeffb.]

There are some 2-lane nvme drives ("PCI-e X2") that have two notches just like SATA so you can't always tell what it is just by looking at the notches.

[iDunnoMan]

I always thought M.2 drives were either PCIe or PCIe NVMe, where NVMe was just some kind of special version. Didn't realize it was SATA or PCIe (which IS just NVMe)!
This video clears it up so much! Thank you! 😅

[smada]

Just to confuse matters, there are also NVMe drives with both B Key and M Key (Two notches), but they use two PCIe lanes and not four. 🤷‍♂

[ryanchaney]

Thanks a bunch, this is what I needed. While I had found another video explaining it. This one was much easier for me to understand.

[purplecrayon]

M.2, 2.5" = type of form factor
PCIe, SATA = type of bus connector (i.e. speed)
NVME, AHCI = Protocols (i.e. bandwidth)

SATA, regardless of form factor, uses the AHCI protocols. PCIe uses the NVME protocols.

[vlauv]

It's such a huge difference between a SSD Sata m2 and a NVME m2 that by cloning with whatever program in Windows or Linux, from the first one, to the second one, you won't be able to boot from the second/cloned one! Try it if it sounds implausible!

[Guanaalex]

Great content but 4 years too late. Those PCIe blades (AHCI) have been outstanding, but you can not get them any more. Samsung 951 and the predecessor 941 hypetrain left the station in 2017.

[ChrisM]

Next video suggestion: educate viewers of the nvme ssd drive's MASSIVE Achille's Heel - the 'slc cache write hole'. So many nvme drives, even the latest pcie gen5, will drop their write speeds to below even an hdd's speed when that cache runs out

[izzycrybaby]

She sounds like Velma from that one live-action Scooby-Doo movie 😗

[Evangelionism]

There's just something soothingly more pleasing about watching a woman review tech than listening to some gruff fella, no offense to gruff fellas! 😅

[Mattfghdghd]

Sitting here with a Macbook Pro from 2011, i'm talking about the ones with CD Drives and Hard Drives for storage. Thinking of a day when i can finally upgrade and be productive again without so much lag and incompatibility with everything. Sigh

[overripe]

This presenter speaks so fast I have to repeatedly rewind. This is a very respectful comment.