What is SATA SSD M2 and NVMe question is really overwhelming if you do not know the correct info. Let’s talk about SATA, SSD, M2 and NVMe clearly. Solid state drives (SSD) is one of the biggest revolutions that happened in the Tech world recently.
Usually the data storage is done by Hard Disk Drives (HDD) since the launching of Personnel computers (PC) in 1980s to Recent Past. So in HDDs, the data storage is done by moving read and write heads with the rotating motor mechanism on the rotating platters of HDD. This is the main data storage unit of a computer system that still functions since the early days to present day.
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| Mechanical Hard Drive |
So this is really a very limited system and It has been very hard to take to the next level since the launching date to today because the core function of this HDD is the data storing by very hard to improve technology (like the increasing speed of read write headers on the rotating platters).
But the Flash Drives or SSDs has done a significant change overall and on to the areas like Boot up time and the system responsiveness.
So in here we are going to pay our attention on to the NVMe (Non Volatile Memory Express) open standard. But before we come to this let’s talk about SATA- Serial ATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) and M2.
SATA vs M.2
So usually SATA is the main interface that connect the storage units to the computer system. So in here there are three versions launched as SATA 1, SATA 2 and SATA 3. And present day we are in SATA 3 version.
The Read and Write speed of SATA 1, SATA 2 and SATA 3 versions are as follows.
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| Speeds of SATA Versions |
So in here the speed of SATA 3 (600 MB/s) is well enough for a usual Hard Disk because the new 7200RPM and 10000RPM (RPM- Revolutions Per Minute) can achieve a speed of 100MB/s.
But when it comes to SSDs, the SATA interface the main limiting factor because a usual SSD reaches to the top read and write speed of 530 MB/s through a SATA 3 interface.
So If you thought that there is a huge difference between a SSD Drive that fixed outside and a M2 drive which plug to the Main Board has a huge difference on Data Speed, that is a wrong thought because, when we connect a M2 Drive to a Mother Board It is also operate through a SATA interface.
That is why, one of a remaining SATA Ports disables when we connect a M2 drive to a Main Board. You can find that, it is clearly mentioned on the Motherboard Manual also about this.
Differentiation of NVMe
So in here there might be a question that come up to you, what? M2 is equivalent to 2.5-Inch SSD why? every M2 Drive is not supported with NVMe. NVMe is not a type of a SSD, it is an interface like a SATA, or we can call a “BUS”. There are M2 SSDs with SATA interface which is can reach up to 530MB\s average which we talked at the beginning and also M2 with NVMe interface supported which can be reach up to 3500MB/s average.  |
| Read Write Speed Difference of SATA & NVMe Interfaces |
This is why a NVMe M2 SSD Drive is relatively expensive than a M2 SATA SSD. Even when the storage capacity is the same of the both drives.
So as well as, there is no definite of connecting a NVMe M2 SSD only through a M2 Slot or Port. This SSD can use an expansions card which also can be connected through a PCIE Slot.
Conclusion
Basically we can say SATA and NVMe are Interfaces that helps storage drives to connect and read and write data. SSD is a Solid State Drive which doesn’t has any mechanical system inside like a HDD and relatively function with higher read and write speed than HDD. SDD can be found as 2.5-inch form factor drives which function with SATA 3 interface and as M2 Drive which also function with SATA 3 interface and as well as NVMe interface. Both 2.5-inch internal Solid State Drive and SATA M2 function with same read and write speed up to 530MB/s average and NVMe M2 has read and write speed up to 3500MB/s (3.5G/s).
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