would anyone please tell me any thoughts about me adding a 3rd SSD to my desktop?
I have an Asus Z270F motherboard.
I have installed 2 M.2 500 GB SSD's. (there are only 2 M.2 slots.)
now I want to add a 3rd SSD.
I need more storage so I can get more piano programs.
would I be better off connecting my 3rd SSD with a SATA cable?
or using the bottom PCIe expansion slot (with an adapter )?
any thoughts anyone?
It would seem you have plenty of pcie lanes available for an M2 on adapter to get full speed. I don't see any videocard in your system?? Also would really depend upon which drives you have in mind.
If it's a faster M2 drive than pcie makes sense, if a more conventional speed ssd then no reason to not just use a sata port.
awesome!
thank you very much.
I do not have a videocard.
I just use the integrated graphics in the i7 CPU.
if I do get the PCIe M.2 on adapter, does it make any difference if I use one of the PCIe slots where a videocard would typically go, instead of the bottom PCIe slot (in terms of speed, or whatever)?
You can use any of the slots I would think to get full speed with no gpu installed.
Hi chasmanian,
I've go 4 SSD drives in my system without issue. This is on a Gigabyte Z270X board. Configuration is as follows
1) - Samsung 950 Pro (512gig) NVMe drive connected to the second m.2 port
2) - Samsung 850 Pro (512 gig) drive connected a SATA port
3) - Samsung 850 EVO (1TB) drive connect to a SATA port
4) - Samsung 850 EVO (2TB) drive connected to SATA Pot
By using the second m.2 port on my motherboard I'm not losing or sharing any of my 6 SATA ports so all drives run without issue. If you've still got SATA ports usable use those first.
Hi Chasmanian, you have 2 opinions from some of our best computer experts. I think the bottom line is you can do it either way. The PCIe route would give you faster speeds but the sata port would work well and not use pcie lanes you may want to use later on. So, really the choice is yours. Either way will work and work well.
thank you very much essenbe.
and thank you again sygnus21 and doorules.
wow. thank you again essenbe.
this is what I'm wondering right now.
is it worth the extra money to get the PCIe M.2 on adapter, instead of the SATA 2.5"?
I am thinking it is not worth the extra money.
any thoughts most welcome?
thank you. :)
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