Samsung Electronics announced the launch of the first Samsung SSD 950 PRO series M.2 form factor with scalable NVM Express controller(Non – Volatile Memory Express). Let's figure out why Samsung is moving to a new form factor and controller, and why this is good for the user.
Today, it is the M.2 slots that seem to be the most promising for SSDs: they are capable of providing the highest throughput among all existing options for connecting solid-state drives.
What is NVMe?
The biggest challenge for SSDs today is the bandwidth limitation of the legacy Serial ATA and Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) buses. The throughput of the latest SATA-III is 600 MB/s, the data transfer rate of Serial Attached SCSI (SAS 12G) is 1.2 GB/s. Modern SSDs are capable of more.The NVMe protocol speeds up I/O operations by eliminating the SAS (SCSI) command stack. NVMe SSDs connect directly to the PCIe bus. Applications receive dramatic performance gains from shifting I/O activity from SAS/SATA SSDs and HDDs to NVMe SSDs. Memory devices of the new type of storage are non-volatile and the latency when accessing them is significantly lower - at the level of latencies of RAM (volatile) memory.
The NVMe controller demonstrates all the advantages of an SSD: very low access latencies and a huge queue depth for read and write operations. The extremely low latency of storage devices significantly reduces the likelihood of data table locks during updates. This is critical for multi-user databases with complex and interconnected tables.
M.2 connector on the motherboard.
Today, NVM Express (NVMe) is supported by all ASUS motherboards based on Intel Z97 Express and X99 Express chipsets - to do this, you need to update the UEFI BIOS and use an ASUS Hyper Kit expansion card as an option.
The expansion card allows owners of boards based on the X99 chipset to connect 2.5" drives with an NVMe interface - for example Intel SSD 750, using the SFF-8639 connector (mini-SAS HD). The drive itself will also have an SFF-8639 connector, it looks like this:
If the motherboard does not have an M.2 connector or it is not possible to use it, there are adapter cards for PCIe:
Supermicro presented solutions optimized for NVMe:
The NVMe Virtual SAN-ready SuperServer delivers industry-leading performance and density in a 1U Ultra 10x NVMe solution (SYS-1028U-VSNF series), easily scalable to enterprise, data center, and cloud applications, according to the manufacturer.
The 2U Ultra 24x NVMe SuperServer (SYS-2028U-TN24RT+) increases hot-swap NVMe density and can be shipped in even higher density configurations - up to 24x2.5″ hot-swap NVMe per 1U.
Two new 2U Virtual SAN Ready Node solutions exclusively based on SSD flash drives, in Ultra (SYS-2028U-VSNF series) and TwinPro (SYS-2028TP-VSNF series) architectures support up to 480 virtual machines in 4 nodes.
In general, Supermicro has a whole line of servers for NVMe media, they are still rare on sale, just like the media themselves.
However, let's return to the Samsung 950 Pro.
Samsung 950 Pro Specification
| Samsung 950 Pro | ||
| Manufacturer | Samsung | |
| Series |
950 Pro |
|
| Model number |
MZVKV256 |
MZVKV512 |
| Form factor |
M.2 2280 |
|
| Interface |
PCI Express 3.0 x4 – NVMe |
|
| Capacity |
256 GB |
512 GB |
| Configuration |
||
| Memory chips: type, interface, process technology, manufacturer |
Samsung 128Gb 32-layer MLC V-NAND |
|
| Memory chips: number/number of NAND devices per chip |
2/8 |
2/16 |
| Controller |
Samsung UBX |
|
| DRAM buffer: type, volume |
LPDDR3-1600, 512 MB |
|
| Performance |
||
| Max. sustained sequential read speed |
2200 MB/s |
2500 MB/s |
| Max. sustained sequential write speed |
900 MB/s |
1500 MB/s |
| Max. random read speed (blocks of 4 KB) |
270000 IOPS |
300000 IOPS |
| Max. random write speed (blocks of 4 KB) |
85000 IOPS |
110000 IOPS |
| physical characteristics |
||
| Power Consumption: Idle/Read-Write |
1.7/6.4 W |
1.7/7.0 W |
| MTBF (mean time between failures) |
1.5 million hours |
|
| Record resource |
200 TB |
400 TB |
| Dimensions: L × H × D |
80.15 × 22.15 × 2.38 mm |
|
| Weight |
10 g |
|
| Guarantee period |
5 years |
|
| recommended price |
$200 |
$350 |
Unlike the OEM Samsung SM951-NVMe drive, the 950 Pro is based on advanced 3D MLC V-NAND. The SM951 uses conventional planar flash memory produced using a 16nm process technology.
Very important: The motherboard UEFI BIOS must contain an NVMe driver to boot the OS from the 950 Pro.
The 950 Pro can get quite hot in some cases - at maximum load, this SSD is capable of delivering up to 6-7 W. At the same time, notes anandtech.com, this is not a serious problem. The official position of the manufacturer on this matter is as follows: The 950 Pro's temperature rises to the upper limit only under continuous, long-term, and complex workloads, which is not typical for client SSDs. The performance degradation when sequentially writing about 100 GB of data to a drive once is unlikely to affect ordinary users in any way. That is, if the drive is used as part of a regular PC, the problem of overheating is unlikely».
In most tests anandtech.com 950 Pro performed very well:
While desktop hard drives have existed in the 3.5-inch form factor for many years, SSDs have been available in the 2.5-inch format from the very beginning. It was great for small SSD components. However, laptops were becoming thinner, and 2.5-inch SSDs no longer met the small size criterion. Therefore, many manufacturers have turned their attention to other form factors with smaller dimensions.
In particular, the mSATA standard was developed, but it appeared too late. The corresponding interface is quite rare today, in no small part because mSATA (short for mini-SATA) still operates at the comparatively low speed of SATA. mSATA drives are physically identical to Mini PCI Express modules, but electrically mSATA and mini PCIe are incompatible. If the socket is designed to accommodate mSATA drives, you will only be able to use those. On the contrary, if the socket is designed for mini PCI Express modules, mSATA SSD drives can be inserted, but they will not work.
The mSATA standard can be considered obsolete today. It gave way to the M.2 standard, which was originally called Next Generation Form Factor (NGFF). The M.2 standard provides manufacturers with greater flexibility in SSD dimensions, since the drives are much more compact, allowing eight length options, from 16 to 110 mm. M.2 also supports different interface options. Today, the PCI Express interface is increasingly used, which will dominate in the future, since it is much faster. But the first M.2 drives relied on the SATA interface, and USB 3.0 was theoretically possible. However, not all M.2 slots support all mentioned interfaces. Therefore, before purchasing a drive, check which standards your M.2 slot supports.
The M.2 standard is now spreading among desktop PCs; modern motherboards offer at least one corresponding slot. Another positive point is that the cable is no longer required, the drive is inserted directly into the motherboard slot. However, connecting via cable is also possible. But for this, the motherboard must have an appropriate port, namely U.2. Previously, this standard was known as SFF 8639. Of course, it is theoretically possible to equip 2.5-inch drives with a U.2 port, but there are very few such models on the market, as well as drives with SATA Express.
The SATA Express interface is the successor to SATA 6Gb/s and is therefore backwards compatible. In fact, the host interface even supports two SATA 6 Gb / s ports or one SATA Express. This support was added more for compatibility as SATA Express drives are electrically connected to the PCI Express bus. That is, SATA Express drives on “pure” SATA 6 Gb/s ports do not work. But SATA Express only relies on two PCIe lanes, which means the throughput will be half that of M.2.
Compact and very fast: M.2 SSD drives with PCI Express interface, photo with adapter card
Of course, most desktop computers have regular PCI Express slots, so it's possible to install an SSD directly into a slot like a graphics card. You can purchase an adapter card for M.2 SSD (PCIe), and then connect the drives in the “traditional” way in the form of a PCI Express expansion card.
M.2 SSDs with PCI Express interface demonstrate throughput of more than two gigabytes per second - but only with a suitable connection. Modern M.2 SSDs are usually designed for four third-generation PCI Express lanes; only this interface allows them to unlock their performance potential. With the older PCIe 2.0 standard and/or fewer lanes, SSDs will work, but you'll lose a significant amount of performance. If in doubt, we recommend checking your motherboard's user manual for the M.2 lane configuration.
If the motherboard does not have an M.2 slot, you can install such a drive via an expansion card, for example, in a slot for a second video card. However, in this case, most often the video card will no longer be supplied with 16, but 8 PCI Express lines. However, this will not affect the performance of the video card so seriously. The following table summarizes information about modern interfaces:
| Form factor | Connection | Max. speed | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 inches | SATA 6 Gb/s | ~ 600 MB/s | The standard SSD form factor for desktop PCs, as well as many laptops. Different body heights are possible. SATA ports are available on any motherboard, so compatibility is very wide. |
| mSATA | SATA 6 Gb/s | ~ 600 MB/s | The form factor is intended mainly for laptops. Only one size option was distributed. Uses a native format slot. |
| M.2 | PCIe 3.0 x4 | ~ 3800 MB/s | Form factor for laptops and desktop systems. Various size options available. Many new laptops and motherboards have an M.2 slot. |
| SATA Express | PCIe 3.0 x2 | ~ 1969 MB/s | Successor to SATA 6 Gb/s. Uses two PCIe lanes rather than four like M.2. There are almost no compatible drives on the market, as manufacturers prefer M.2, a smaller and faster format. |
The M.2 connector was introduced to the world several years ago as a standard that takes full advantage of SSDs, allowing them to be installed in small computers.
Cool drive on any computer
Just a few years ago, on every desktop you could find an HDD, cables, cords and jumpers - items known to everyone who independently modified or repaired a computer.
Hard drives of the time used an ATA connector and interface, which offered a throughput of 133 MB/sec. A few years later, the SATA interface debuted and changed the world of memory storage forever.
SATA has survived three generations, the latter of which is still in use today. The first, that is, SATA 1, provides throughput at the level of MB/sec, SATA 2 allows you to reach 300 MB/sec, and SATA 3 – 600 MB/sec.
New solutions in data storage
The beginning of the 21st century is the time of greatest popularity of HDDs - their prices were low, so everyone could afford several tens of gigabytes of memory, and a few years later - several terabytes.
At the same time, solid-state drives began to be produced, which were used in mobile devices, memory cards, portable USB drives, and also in computers as SSD (solid-state drive) drives.
The advantage of SSD is the incomparably higher speed of writing and reading data, as well as the absence of mechanical elements, which increases resistance to shocks and falls.
SSD drives may be small in size, but due to the popularity of the SATA interface, they began to be produced in the format of 2.5-inch disks, similar to HDDs.
Backward compatibility has its drawbacks
The SATA interface was created much earlier than SSD drives, so even the latest version is not able to use all the features. First of all, this is due to the limitation of 600 MB/sec, that is, the maximum throughput of the SATA 3 interface. This is a big problem because SSD performance can be much greater.
They tried to fix the problem of large media size by introducing the mSATA standard, which is a connector directly on the computer motherboard. The solution made it possible to install SSDs in netbooks and ultrabooks, saving space and reducing their weight.
Unfortunately, the mSATA standard was based on the SATA 3 interface, which means it is also limited to a throughput of 600 MB/sec.
M.2 connector - the future of solid state media
M.2 standard debuted as Next Generation Form Factor, that is, as a “new generation connector”. In 2013, officially renamed M.2.
The development is owed, first of all, to Intel, which first used it in motherboards with H97 and Z97 chipsets for the latest generation of Intel Core processors (Haswell Refresh).
M.2 is a connector for an expansion card installed directly on the motherboard. Designed with SSDs, Wi-Fi cards, Bluetooth, NFC and GPS in mind.
Depending on the function, there are several variants of M.2 cards on the market: 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 and 22110. The first two numbers are the width (22 mm in any variant), and the remaining numbers are the length (30 mm, 42 mm, 80 mm or 110 mm). In the case of modern SSDs, the 2280 option is most often used.
M.2 standard uses the PCIe interface to communicate with the motherboard (the PCIe 3.0 version is currently being developed), which allows you to bypass the limitations of the SATA 3 interface. Depending on the number of supported PCI Express lanes, the throughput of M.2 drives for PCIe 3.0 x1 can reach 1 Gbit/ s, and for PCIe 3.0 x16 up to 15 Gbit/s.
The M.2 connector can support PCI Express, PCIe and SATA protocol. If an M.2 PCIe drive is connected to a motherboard that only supports the SATA standard, it will not be visible in the system and will not be usable. The same situation will occur when we connect the M.2 SATA drive to a computer that only supports the PCIe interface.
The M.2 media connector may have different locations. Cards with key B, M, B+M are available on the market. Buying an SSD, you should first make sure which connectors your motherboard supports in your computer.
Discs with key B will not fit into the socket with key M and vice versa. The solution to this problem is the B+M key. A motherboard with this socket provides compatibility with both types of drives. It should be kept in mind, however, that this is not the only factor indicating compliance.
NVMe technology is the new standard
Old HDDs and SSDs use the AHCI protocol to communicate between the controller and the operating system. Just like the SATA interface, it was created back in the days of hard disk drives (HDD) and is not able to use the maximum capabilities of modern SSDs.
This is why the NVMe protocol was created. This is a technology created from the ground up, developed with the fast semiconductor media of the future in mind. It has low latency and allows you to perform more operations per second with less CPU usage.
In order to use NVMe-enabled media, your motherboard must support the UEFI standard.
Which M.2 drive to choose
When purchasing an M.2 drive you should pay attention to:
- Size of M.2 connector that the motherboard has (2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 and 22110)
- The type of dongle that has an M.2 connector on the motherboard (M, B or B+M)
- Interface support (PCIe or SATA)
- Generation and number of PCIe lanes (for example, PCIe 3.0x4)
- AHCI or NVMe protocol support
Currently, the best choice is an M.2 SSD using the PCIe 3.0x4 interface and NVMe technology. This solution will provide comfortable work in games and programs that require very fast read / write and advanced graphics processing.
Some solid-state drives are also equipped with a heatsink that lowers the temperature, thereby increasing performance and stability.
Despite the fact that solid-state drives, that is, SSDs, have appeared quite a long time ago, many users are just beginning to learn about them and use them on their computers. Perhaps this is due to the high price and small capacity, although they are faster than standard drives and work much faster.
Before delving into the types of hard drives, their manufacturing technologies, memory types and controllers, it is necessary to focus on the form factor (size). Each device is different in size, has its own connection connectors and is used in completely different ways. If a 2.5-inch SSD does not raise any questions, since it is similar in size and placement of connectors to conventional hard drives, then other types raise a lot of questions.
Today we will talk about devices such as SSD M.2 drives, what they are, what their features and advantages are. This is a relatively new standard, which, according to many experts, is a revolutionary solution. Let's take a closer look at this topic and find out as much information as possible.
Development of the SATA interface
The SATA interface has become a good replacement for PATA, replacing the wide cable with a more compact, thin and convenient option. The main trend in its development was the desire for compactness, and this is quite normal. Even the new interface required a variation that would allow it to be used in mobile devices and where there are special requirements for the size of components.
Thus, mSATA was created - the same interface, only with more compact dimensions. But he did not live long and he was quickly replaced by a completely new one - the M.2 connector, which had even greater capabilities. Not by mistake, there is no word SATA in the abbreviation, since the new version does not apply to this standard. We will talk about this in more detail later.
The only thing that needs to be said is that the M.2 SSD drive is connected without power cables and cables, thanks to which its use becomes as comfortable as possible and allows the computer to be even more compact. This is one of its key advantages.
M.2 Interface Overview
M.2 is a connector on an expansion card installed in a PCI-Express slot, or on the motherboard itself. You can install not only M.2 SSDs in it, but other modules, including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The scope of this connector is quite wide, which makes it incredibly convenient and useful.
When upgrading your computer, be sure to pay attention to it and install a motherboard with this connector, even if you do not plan to install an SSD with this interface yet.
However, if you have a fairly old motherboard and you don't want to change it, for example, "GA-P75-D3" with a missing M2 slot, but it has PCI-E 3.0, which has a video card and a PCIe x4 slot. In this case, you can install an SSD on PCIe x4 through a special adapter, but its speed will be slightly lower.
Absolutely all M.2 SSD drives have recessed mounting in M.2 connectors. This form factor provides maximum performance with minimal resource consumption and is designed for technological improvements in hard drives in the future.
Moreover, as mentioned above, connection does not require cables and cables, which usually only take up extra space. To start working with the device, simply insert it into the connector.
M-key and B-key
Today's hard drives, including SSDs, are connected to the SATA bus. The maximum bandwidth of which is 6 Gb / s, that is, approximately 550-600 Mb / s. For a regular drive, such a speed is simply unattainable, but SSD drives can reach much higher speeds without any problems. Only their installation is absolutely meaningless if the interface cannot "pump" data at a higher speed than the one for which it is designed.
In view of this, it became possible to use the PCI-Express bus with a higher bandwidth:
- PCI Express 2.0. It has two lines (PCI-E 2.0 x2), is characterized by a throughput of up to 8Gb / s, or about 800Mb / s.
- PCI-Express 3.0. It has four lanes (PCI-E 3.0 x4), with a bandwidth of 32Gb/s, or about 3.2Gb/s.
Which interface is used to connect a particular device determines the position of the jumper.
Currently, M.2 SSD drives have the following key options:
- B key “Socket2” (includes support for PCI-E ×2, SATA, Audio, USB and other modules).
- M key "Socket3" (includes support for PCI-E ×4 and SATA).
For example, we take a motherboard with an M.2 connector with an M-key. That is, the PCIe ×4 bus is used. Is it possible to install a SATA solid state drive in it? This is an interesting question that we will try to find an answer to.
You need to open the motherboard information and find out whether it supports M.2 SATA or not. Let's say the manufacturer says yes. In this case, you buy an SSD drive that was originally created for PCIe ×4, and absolutely no problems should arise when connecting.
When choosing a motherboard, be sure to pay attention to whether M.2 supports the SATA bus, so that you can use any hard drive.
Let's summarize all of the above and summarize:
- M.2 is simply a different form factor (connector and size) of solid-state drives. All motherboards that are equipped with this slot use the PCI-E x4 bus.
- The type of bus used by the drive depends on the keys. Usually the PCI-Express bus (M key) or SATA bus (M+B key) is used. The ability to connect an SSD with a SATA interface should be indicated in the specifications of the motherboard.
Size specification: 2260, 2280 and others
Often, when looking at the specification of a computer or laptop motherboard, you can come across the following line: “1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M Key, type 2260/2280” - this means that 1 M.2 slot with a type M key and size 2260/2280 is used. The first two digits “22” mean the width in “mm”, the second two digits “60” mean the length. Therefore, if you choose, say, Transcend TS128GMTS600, with a length of “60mm” and a width of “22mm,” then there will be no problems with its installation.
But even if you take the Kingston SHPM2280P2/480G with the “2280” type, and since the motherboard’s characteristics state support for this type of drive, installing it will not be difficult.
The motherboard can support many sizes of installed modules, and in this case, it has fixing screws that are designed for each length of the bracket.
NVMe technology
The older generation of conventional magnetic and SSD disks use the AHCI protocol, which was created relatively long ago and is still supported by many operating systems. But with the advent of more modern and faster SSDs, it does not cope with its task and cannot use all their capabilities to the maximum.
The NVMe protocol was created as a solution to this problem. It is characterized by the highest speed, lower latency and uses a minimum of processor resources when performing operations.
For the media to work using this technology, it must support it, so when choosing, pay special attention to this, just like the motherboard (it must support the UEFI standard).
Let's sum it up
After we reviewed SSDs with the M.2 standard, we can say that this is the most compact form factor of solid-state devices. And if the motherboard supports it, it is recommended to use it.
Let's look at a few that will help you make the right choice. So, first of all, when purchasing, you should pay attention to the following points:
- Does the motherboard have the required M.2 slot, and what size modules does it allow for use (2260, 2280, etc.).
- The type of key the slot uses (M, B or B+M).
- Does the motherboard support the SATA or PCI-E interface, and what version is used (for example, PCIe 3.0 4x).
- Do the operating system, the SSD itself, and the motherboard support AHCI or NVMe protocols?
After all, answering the question of what is better, an SSD with a standard connector or M.2, it is clear that you should choose the second option with NVMe support and install it on PCIe 3.0x4.
This will not only free up more space by reducing the number of wires, but will also increase transfer speeds, system speed and performance. The main thing is that it will make working at the computer more comfortable, enjoyable and efficient.
Detailed video review
Today we’ll talk a little about the present non-standard SSDs. The benefits of using solid-state drives have long ceased to be debated - today SSDs are recommended not only for gamers or designers, but also for all ordinary users. While the market is waiting for the release of revolutionary controllers that will take full advantage of PCIe, simplified analogues of the M.2 format confidently hold the lead in this direction. Initially, the “intermediate” form factor (on the way from SATA to full-fledged PCIe) managed to occupy its niche due to several advantages over older standards.
What exactly are the benefits?
First, obviously, speed: M.2 provides operation via the SATA 3.2 interface (6 Gbit/s), and many models support several PCIe lines simultaneously. It is worth mentioning that the controllers do not yet allow full use of the latest interface, but the recording speed was increased from approximately 500 to almost 800 MB/s).
Secondly, compactness. If we compare the sizes of M.2 drives with the previous standard, mSATA, the former can be at least a quarter more compact in size. Originally developed for ultrabooks and portable devices, the standard is now actively supported by manufacturers of motherboards for regular desktop PCs. In this case, for example, the memory capacity of the line SanDisk X300(represented by our SanDisk X300 SD7SN6S model) increases up to 1TB.
Size comparison of review model with OCZ Trion 100 drive
The third advantage is versatility. As mentioned above, some models have the ability to connect to both PCIe and SATA. Today the difference in speed is not as noticeable as we would like, but the future is obvious for PCIe. But in addition to storage devices, M.2 supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and NFC chips.
M.2 slot in Asus Maximus VIII Ranger motherboard
And finally, prevalence: while SATA Express was not widely developed, the M.2 slot managed to find its place in motherboards from leading manufacturers. As you can see, the standard has become a logical evolutionary branch in the development of the use of SSDs, surpassing mSATA and at the same time being the most compact and fastest solution on the market.
Excursion into history
The history of the development of M.2, like any other standard, contains a number of errors and “childhood diseases”: problems that were solved based on the experience of early shortcomings. The first solid state drive in M.2 can be considered Plextor M6e, not a particularly successful product, which nevertheless gave impetus to development.
It was preceded by other drives (from companies such as Intel, Crucial, KingSpec), but they were designed only for mobile and portable devices. Despite the capabilities of two PCIe 2.0 lanes used in the Plextor M6e, the drive in the new form factor did not give the expected results in terms of performance, and compatibility was hampered by the lack of custom M.2 drives on the market at that time. In fact, it was Plextor that opened up this new direction.
An important problem for a long time remained the reluctance of manufacturers to spend money on full PCIe support: when assembling drives in the M.2 form factor, they still reduced performance to a minimum. There were only a few models available in stores that supported SATA via a 2x or 4x PCIe interface. In this case, the advantage of M.2 over mSATA was only compactness and only slightly increased performance.
In addition, even when using PCIe capabilities, manufacturers resorted to AHCI drivers, although for SSDs it is much more profitable to use NVM Express.
Gradually, the market began to be filled with models from the manufacturers mentioned above: Crucial M500, Transcend MTS600, Kingston SM2280. However, the form factor of these models can still be called “half M.2”: no one wanted to fully use the capabilities of the new standard.
By the way, now the presence of certain keys in the selected drive model can cause difficulties when purchasing: it all depends on the user’s motherboard. Some boards only support drives with B-keys (2xPCIe), some - with M-keys (4xPCIe). It is clear that M is fully compatible with B, but if the “mother” is designed only for models with B-keys, you will have to forget about M-products. The length of the M.2 card will also have to be taken into account: on some boards, long drives with adapters simply will not fit.
Samsung is going to complete the development of M.2: the revolutionary Samsung PRO 950 finally switches to 4 PCIe 3.0 interfaces, allowing you to increase the write speed to 1500 MB/s. Samsung has specially developed a new controller that allows you to squeeze the maximum available out of the bus. At 256 GB, the drive's lifespan is equivalent to overwriting 200 TB: about 180 GB of overwriting daily for three years. The drive will go on sale in the near future, and its terabyte version will be available next year.
X300 – not the fastest, but inexpensive horses
But from expensive new products, let's return to firmly established models and talk about an affordable and successful option - Sandisk X300 128GBTechnology, connection
SanDisk is a well-known player in the storage drive market. Their proprietary nCache 2.0 technology (allows you to save device resources when working with small-block data; programmed at the controller level) has earned positive reviews from critics and specialists and is used in many of the manufacturer’s drives. Including in the X300 under consideration.
The drive is connected via the SATA 3.2 interface.
This is what a disk board looks like without a container
An important detail, by the way, is this treasured screw, which, of course, is not included with the disk. You need to look for it in the box with the motherboard. There should also be a special pad that is screwed into the board (or it may already be screwed in - depends on the manufacturer).
There are two versions of the drive - 128GB and 512GB with the same screw
The motherboard can accommodate M.2 cards of different lengths. It’s great that we came across exactly this one in the test – ASUS MAXIMUS VIII. It has several fasteners for fixing boards of different lengths.
Sandisk X300 on ASUS MAXIMUS VIII RANGER motherboard
The installed board takes up almost no space in the case. This is, of course, the main advantage in terms of ergonomics - no cables or rigid power cables from the power supply in the grid, with which we have no friendship.
Test results
We ran several tests using various software: the drive was tested on a system with Windows 10 Pro, an i7 processor and 16 GB of RAM.Test stand:
- OS: Windows 10 Pro
- CPU: i7-6700 @ 3.4GHz
- RAM: 16GB DDR4 @ 2140MHz
- MTHRBRD: ASUS MAXIMUS VIII RANGER
Test results in Crystal DiskMark:
Results of disk check using HD Tune Pro utility:
Indications from the HD Tune Pro utility and the standard Windows hard drive diagnostic tool when copying a large file from an OCZ Trion 100 drive to a Sandisk X300 drive:
Results of checking the disk using the AS SSD Benchmark utility:
