M2 connector on the motherboard. What is the difference between SSD sata drives and SSD m2

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 hard drive HDD, cables, cords and jumpers are items known to everyone who has 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, as well as in computers such as SSD drives(solid-state drive).

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 latest version unable to take advantage of all opportunities. First of all, this is due to the limitation of 600 MB/sec, that is, the maximum throughput of the SATA 3 interface. This big problem, because SSD performance could be much more.

problem large size they tried to fix the carriers by introducing the mSATA standard, which is a connector directly on motherboard computer. 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.

Development owes, first of all, to Intel, which first used it in motherboards with H97 and Z97 chipsets for latest generation processors intel Core(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 (in any variant - 22 mm), 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 to contact motherboard uses the PCIe interface (PCIe 3.0 is currently in development), which overcomes the limitations of the SATA 3 interface. Depending on the number of lanes supported PCI Express, throughput 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 an 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 hard drives(HDD) and are 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, the 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 best choice is an M.2 SSD using PCIe 3.0x4 interface and NVMe technology. This solution will provide comfortable operation in games and programs that require very fast reading/writing and advanced graphics processing.

Some solid-state drives also come with a heatsink that reduces temperatures, thereby increasing performance and stability.

Don't know which interface to buy an SSD drive with? Then this article will help you with your choice! Today we will look at what interfaces exist for SSDs.

SSD drives have already been installed in almost all modern gaming PCs and laptops. Not surprising - the storage capacity is increasing, the price is decreasing, the choice is huge. Yes, not all of them are as good as we would like, but today we will not talk about that. But besides choosing a manufacturer and model, another question arises: what interface do we need a drive with?

Now manufacturers continue to develop in two directions - the transition from SATA to PCI-Express and the use of other physical interface. In the second case, several new types of connectors appeared before us. All this can take the user by surprise in case of upgrading his system.

SATA
We are already accustomed to the fact that SSD drives with a SATA interface are 2.5″ devices with a capacity of up to 1 TB. SATA III (6 Gb/s) interface provides real speed data transfer up to 550 MB/s. Such drives are most often found in PCs, monoblocks and laptops, while having maximum compatibility with platforms. But ultrabooks (for example, ASUS Zenbook) physically cannot accommodate such drives.

PCI-Express
Due to the peculiarity of the physical interface, PCI-Express SSD drives are used exclusively in PCs and servers. Depending on the drive, used PCI-Express interface x2, x4 or x8. The advantage of PCI-Express drives is the speed, because it significantly exceeds that available with SATA III (550 MB/s) - here we get more than 780 MB/s ( given speed taken from ROG RAIDR Express). And in more expensive solutions - more than a gigabyte per second.

mSATA
The mSATA (mini-SATA) interface can be found on some desktop motherboards (for example, the ASUS Maximus V) and in quite a few laptops. Drives with this interface comply with the SATA III specification (6 Gb/s) and can reach data transfer rates of 550 MB/s. The mSATA interface and devices are externally indistinguishable from the mini-PCI-Express interface and devices, but they are completely incompatible and installing an mSATA device in a mini-PCI-Express slot can lead to failure of these components. Currently, mSATA is already leaving the market, as it was replaced by more new interface— M.2.

SATA Express
The SATA Express interface is designed specifically for PCs and has a theoretical throughput of 10 Gbps (40% faster than SATA III). The new interface involves the use of a completely different connector on the board and on the drive, as well as the use of a new cable for transmitting information. For example, the new interface is already available on the motherboard ASUS board Z87 Deluxe/SATA Express, and will also be available on new motherboards based on Intel chipset Z97. True, the drives themselves will appear only by summer. You can connect one SATA Express drive or two SATA III drives to one connector.

M.2 Connector (NGFF)
Previously known as NGFF (Next Generation Form Factor - after mSATA), M.2 drives have taken a place in laptops and ultrabooks. But some desktop motherboards will also have this connector. The M.2 interface can support both PCI-Express lines and SATA lines. But in most cases, PCI-Express lines are used. So when choosing an M.2 drive, you should first find out from the specification of your device what type of M.2 interface you have on the board.

M.2 connector (formerly known as Next Generation Form Factor and NGFF) is a specification included in the SATA 3.2 standard for computer devices and their connectors, approved by the Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO) for tablets and thin computers. Created to replace the already outdated SATA, mSATA and Mini PCI-E formats. The key innovation of M.2 (NGFF) is support for data transfer via PCI Express 3.0 with a total theoretical throughput of up to 32 Gbps. Which is almost 6 times more than the SATA 3.0 standard allowed.

M.2 expansion cards can provide various functions, such as: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, satellite navigation, NFC radio communication, digital radio, Wireless Gigabit Alliance (WiGig), Wireless WAN (WWAN) and others. Fast and compact solid-state flash drives (SSDs) are often manufactured in the form of M.2 modules.

The use of a new device format made it possible to use the DevSleep minimum power consumption mode, the Transitional Energy Reporting power management mechanism, the Hybrid Information mechanism (increasing the efficiency of data caching in hybrid drives) and Rebuild Assist (a function that speeds up the process of data recovery in RAID arrays).

Form factor and keys.

To put it simply, M.2 is mobile variety SATA Express protocol, described in the SATA 3.2 specification for tablets and thin computers. This interface can be compatible with devices using SATA, PCI Express, USB 3.0, I2C and others protocols. M.2 supports up to four PCI Express 3.0 lanes, while SATA connectors Express transmit data over only two PCI Express 2.0 lanes. The boards have 4 widths (12, 16, 22 and 30 mm) and 8 lengths (16, 26, 30, 38, 42, 60, 80 and 110 mm).

In addition to the length and width of devices connected to M.2, standards for the thickness of components on the board are described. Also, single-sided and double-sided mounting options (Single Sided and Double Sided), divided into 8 more types. For a more convenient understanding, I will provide a table below:

The thickness of the components on the board of the device connected to M.2 (dimensions are indicated in millimeters).

To indicate the M.2 type, devices are marked with a code according to the scheme WWLL-HH-K-K or WWLL-HH-K, where WW and LL are the dimensions of the module in width and length in millimeters. HH encodes whether the module is single-sided or double-sided, as well as the maximum allowable height (thickness) of the components placed on it, for example “D2”. Part K-K indicates key cuts; if the module uses only one key, one letter K is used. If K-K is used, then the module has 2 keys.

Diagram with detailed transcript all markings indicating the quantities.

As of 2018, the most popular sizes are defined as: width 22 mm, length 80 or 60 mm (M.2-2280 and M.2-2260), less often 42 mm. Many early M.2 drives and motherboards used the SATA interface, the most popular dongles for them are B(SATA and PCIe x2). Modern motherboards implement the M.2 PCI Express 3.0 x4 slot and the corresponding key M(SATA and PCIe x4). Devices designed for use in M-keyed connectors are not electrically compatible with B-keyed connectors, and vice versa, unless otherwise stated. Although it is not uncommon, as practice shows, they are physically compatible (if turned over). To connect expansion cards, such as WiFi, modules of size 1630 and 2230 and dongles are used A or E.

M.2 - the board must not only fit in size, but also have a key arrangement compatible with the slot. The keys limit mechanical compatibility between different connectors and M.2 form factor cards and prevent incorrect installation drives in the slot.

Actually, before purchasing an expansion card, you need to check with the manufacturer about the type of connector and compatible dimensions (length, width, thickness, single-sided and double-sided).

What are Socket 1, Socket 2, Socket 3 as applied to M.2 (NGFF) devices?

Indeed, the concept of a socket also appears for M.2 devices. I’m thinking of creating groups of M.2 connectors on Socket 1,2,3 for a simplified separation of devices that are not compatible with each other. Formally dividing all types of devices into 3 easy-to-understand types.

The division principle is clearly shown in the following table:

Let's look at an example based on real online stores:

SSD drive SAMSUNG M.2 860 EVO 250 GB M.2 2280 SATA III (MZ-N6E250BW)

From the description it is clear that we have a Samsung SSD with a capacity of 250Gb, designed for use in the M.2 connector. Next comes the marking “2280” indicating the physical size - 22 mm wide, 80 mm long. Not a word about thickness and single-sided or double-sided design. IN in this case You will have to check from other sources or the drive manufacturer. After indicating the size marking it is written - SATA III. What does this mean? This means that the drive uses the SATA III logical interface. That is, we still have the same classic SATA drive, but made to fit the dimensions and M.2 connector. The speed advantages of PCI Express are not used here.

That's all, the seller's description is exhausted. What are we still missing? We lack an explicit indication of the type of connector key; let this remain on the conscience of the seller. But we visually see 2 slots, this means the possibility of using of this drive as part of motherboards with connector type B and type M. This is a visual assessment, I repeat again - you need to check with the manufacturer.

Let's try again:

SSD Samsung drive 960 EVO M.2 250 GB M.2 PCI-E TLC MZ-V6E250BW

Here we see the Samsung 960 EVO SSD, also on the M.2 connector. In general, without indicating the marking of physical dimensions and type, presumably also “2280” (always needs to be clarified from other sources). The following are PCI-E and TLC, what does this mean? This means that the device uses the PCI Express logical interface (which 2.0 or 3.0 is not clear, and how many 2x-4x lanes are also not known). TLC is a type of memory chip device. At this point, the online store considered the description sufficient. I think the warranty will tell him otherwise later...

But visually we see in this image one slot in the M.2 connector (presumably corresponding to the key M). And here you need to be careful, the device may physically fit into the connector B. And most likely, it will burn the board and the device. Therefore, it is necessary to know exactly what type of connector is installed on the board and which one is purchased.

Implementation of logical interface and command set.

For M.2 expansion cards, there are three options for implementing the logical interface and command set, similar to the SATA Express standard:

"Legacy SATA" Used for SSDs with SATA interface, AHCI driver and speeds up to 6.0 Gbps (SATA 3.0) “SATA Express” using AHCI Used for SSDs with PCI interface Express and AHCI driver (for compatibility with a large number operating systems). Due to the use of AHCI, performance may be slightly less than optimal (obtained with NVMe), since AHCI was designed to interface with slower drives with slow sequential access (such as HDDs), rather than SSDs with fast random access. "SATA Express" using NVMe Used for SSDs with a PCI Express interface and a high-performance NVMe driver designed to work with fast flash drives. NVMe was designed to take advantage of the low latency and parallelism of PCI Express SSDs. NVMe makes better use of parallelism in the host computer and software, requires fewer stages in data transfer, provides a deeper command queue and more efficient processing interrupts.

What is NVMe?

NVM Express ( NVMe, NVMHCI - from English. Non-Volatile Memory Host Controller Interface Specification). The NVM Express logical interface was designed from the ground up with the main goals being low latency and efficient use of the high parallelism of solid-state drives through the use of a new instruction set and queuing engine optimized to work with modern multi-core processors.

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.

NVMe Controller Shows It All benefits of SSD: very low access latencies and 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.

Very important: in UEFI Motherboard BIOS The board must contain an NVMe driver to load the OS from the corresponding drive.

Conclusion.

In conclusion, the advantages adopted by the SATA 3.2 standard become obvious. The emergence of new specifications and connectors will expand the choice of compatible expansion cards for both laptops and desktop computers. Will also increase overall productivity computing systems from laptop to server.

The interface itself is fraught with large number traps both for simple user, and for a professional. Perhaps this is due to its novelty, or maybe some “dampness”.

In any case, I tried to collect as much as possible important information. Any questions you may have can be asked in the comments to the article. If this article helped you, you can thank me by sending donations to Yandex wallet, the form for sending money is located at the very bottom of the site (footer). Thank you for your attention to my article.

Good day.

For several years now, debates about the benefits of using SSD drives - now it is recommended to install it for everyone: not only professional gamers or programmers, but also ordinary users. The advantage in disk performance is colossal: 5-10 times!

However, now there are quite a lot SSD drives, differing in size (note: form factor): if with SSD form factor 2.5 inches (classic size, looks the same as a hard drive) there are not many questions, but with the “newfangled” SSD M2 there is real confusion!

Actually, in this article I wanted to look at the most basic things about SSD M2 drives: which drive is right for me, what interface is used, what kind of 2242, 2260, 2280 they are and the “M”, “B”, “B&M” keys on the drive labeling. ..

Choosing an M2 SSD drive: clearing up the confusion

In many new laptops and computers, the new M2 connector is increasingly appearing on the motherboard (which is not surprising!). After all, it replaced the interfaces: mSATA, mini PCI Express.

And here I would like to immediately note the advantage of the M2 interface: it allows you to do without power cables, separate cables, etc. (in fact, it allows you to connect devices simply by inserting a card into the slot!). In addition, it is smaller than the same mSATA. All this combined allows the M2 to be used in more mobile and compact devices, making it more convenient and popular.

I’ll add that M2 can also be used for installation Wi-Fi adapter, 3G/4G modems, Bluetooth module, and other devices. (Note: many people simply assume that M2 is used exclusively for SSDs)

By the way!

The M2 interface was at one time called NGFF (Next Generation Form Factor). In some stores and some drive manufacturers you can find M2 SSDs with this marking.

What is the confusion?

1) SATA and PCIe

The M2 format, of course, is undoubtedly promising, but everything about it is not simple. I’ll say right away that it is divided into two large type: SATA and PCIe (and each of these types is divided into several subtypes).

Why was this done? M2, as I said above, was conceived as a universal interface that will replace the outdated mSATA and mini PCIe. But the fact is that the throughput of SATA III is 6 Gbit/s, and the SSD M2 PCIe drive is capable of operating speeds of up to 32 Gbit/s (you must agree, the difference is significant!).

I'll add that M.2 PCIe varies in speed depending on the number of lanes. So, for example, PCI Express 2.0 with two lines (designated PCI-E 2.0 x2) provides speeds of up to 8 Gbit/s, PCI Express 3.0 with four lines (PCI-E 3.0 x4) provides the coveted 32 Gbit/s.

The whole point is that most devices (say, laptops) support only one type of disk, for example, SSD M2 SATA III. Those. when choosing, you need to be very careful about what the device supports (but a few more words about that below).

2) Drive dimensions 2242, 2260 and 2280

Another important point: M2 drives (both SATA and PCIe) - can be of different sizes. There are three of them: 2242, 2260 and 2280.

The first two digits (22) are the width of the drive, the second (42, 62 or 80) are its length (see the screenshot below as an example).

The bottom line is that different motherboards support different drive sizes. And if a disk of shorter length can still be inserted into the slot, then if it is longer, it’s a disaster...

However, I note that now there are universal disks on sale, 80 mm long, which you can independently cut to the desired length (note: all the necessary microcircuits are located at a length of 42 mm).

3) Keys

Keys refer to contacts and their location on the drive. There are three types of keys: "M", "B", and the universal "B&M" (illustrative example below). Before purchasing a disk, you need to know which key is supported by your device.

Drives with different keys, a good example

Keys on SSD M2 drives: interface, mechanical compatibility, diagram

The whole point with these keys is that, for example, mat. a board with a PCIe x2 socket uses the “B” key, but there are M2 SATA SSD drives that also use the “B” key! Of course, if you connect such a drive to a motherboard with a PCIe x2 socket, it will not work!

4) NVMe technology

Old drives use the AHCI protocol, but with the advent of faster drives, it no longer copes with its task (does not allow using the maximum speed characteristics of drives). To solve this problem, a new protocol has been released - NVMe.

It provides more high speed, requires less processor resources during read/write operations, and has much lower latency. To ensure that your SSD can work with this protocol, pay attention to whether your motherboard supports it. fee for this technology.

Results (what to know before buying an M2 SSD so as not to be a “fool”):

1. what interface does your motherboard support (PCI-E 2.0 x4, PCI-E 3.0 x2, PCI-E 3.0 x4, SATA III);
2. dimensions of the SSD M2 drive that can be installed (2280, 2260, 2242);
3. key that your motherboard supports (usually SATA drives are released with the "M&B" key, and PCIe x4 - with the "M" key);
4. Is the mat supported? The board uses NVMe technology (if so, then naturally, and the drive is worth buying with NVMe support).

Only after answering these few questions can you choose the M2 SSD that will work for you.

Update from 01/27/2019. Now laptops (and motherboards) with universal ports, to which you can connect both PCI-E and SATA M2 SSDs.

Is the game worth the candle? Should I switch to SSD...

Many people often ask whether it’s worth switching to an SSD at all, is the difference really that significant...

As an example I will show comparison test several disks installed on my laptops/PCs. The first test is SSD M2 (NVMe), the second is SSD M2 (SATA III), the third is a classic HDD.

Speed ​​test of SSD drives (NVMe, SATA), HDD | Clickable (Crystal DiskMark - test utility)

Note! On the screenshots you see synthetic tests. IN real work(when loading the OS, launching games, working with software): many ordinary users note a huge difference between HDD and SSD (SATA), but hardly notice between SSD (NVMe) and SSD (SATA).

Pay attention to the first line. Read speed 2591 MB/s versus 73 MB/s - a difference of 30÷35 times! Those. if earlier, before SSD installation(NVMe), Windows booted within 1 minute - now it takes less than 10 seconds!

I'm not even talking about other programs: Word, browsers, players, etc. - they launch instantly, immediately after double-clicking the mouse on the shortcut!

Addition!

How to check disk speed: HDD, SSD. Test to determine the difference in speed between SSD and HDD, is it worth switching to solid state drive -

How do I find out which M2 SSD my motherboard supports? fee, what to choose

A very popular question. To begin with, I want to say do not trust any utilities to view PC characteristics. The fact is that they may show the presence of an M2 slot, but in fact it may not be on the board (i.e. there is a place on the board for it, but there is no physical slot)!

And so, closer to the point...

1) Option number 1 - look at the mat itself. board.

If on your mat. The board has an M2 connector - in most cases there is a marking next to it, from which you can find out the necessary information (example below). In addition, immediately make sure that this connector is physically present (which is important to do before purchasing a drive).

2) Option No. 2 - look on the manufacturer’s website

Knowing the model of the motherboard (or laptop), you can go to its manufacturer’s website and look at the specifications. By the way, some motherboards are now being made universal, which can support several types of SSD M2 drives (laptop users in this case are less fortunate, since they most often support one specific type).

Characteristics of the mat. boards on the manufacturer's website

3) Option number 3 - watch the review specific laptop(mat. boards).

Many stores and users (who have already purchased this hardware) often do reviews, from which you can glean the necessary data. However, I recommend that you also support them with the first two options (since to say, see with your own eyes).

Additions are welcome...

In our enlightened age, many have heard about SSD drives, without going into much detail. Unlike traditional hard drives, which have only a couple of form factors – 2.5 “and 3.5”, there is a greater variety of standard sizes.

This is due to the wider range of applications of solid-state drives: the hard drive is used in desktop PCs and laptops, but SSDs can already be installed in a tablet and even a top-end “shovel recorder”.

Today we’ll talk about the difference between ssd and ssd m2: is this difference so fundamental and what? practical benefit the user can extract by giving preference to a certain part.

A little about SATA in relation to SSDs

Serial interface SATA data transfer, developed in 2003, replaced the outdated IDE on hard drives. Having successfully changed three revisions, it still holds a leading position. It is not surprising that with the advent of the first SSD drives, it migrated here as one (but not the only!) of the interfaces.

One of the disadvantages in relation to SSDs is that the phenomenal speed of memory cells, in this case, is limited by the transfer speed of the CATA interface. Yes, a solid-state drive can be connected to an old motherboard that still uses SATA ports of the first revision, but the user will not notice a noticeable increase in performance.
On the other hand, this is convenient for minor computer upgrades: there is no need to purchase additional adapters. As a rule, even a computer with a pair of hard drives and an optical drive still has free SATA slots.

Features mSATA and M.2

mSATA is a relatively new form factor for solid state drives. In addition to their dimensions, they differ in the connection method: such drives are plugged into a mini-PCIe slot. Except physical compatibility, an electrical one is also required, that is, the supply of the necessary voltage. Usually the manufacturer directly indicates this in the documentation for the motherboard.

The same is true for M.2 drives that are connected to the PCI-Express slot. There is one caveat: most motherboards have only one such connector, and usually it is already occupied by the video card. There is a high probability that a minor upgrade will not work and, on top of everything else, you will have to buy a new “mother”.

However, when building a computer from scratch, M.2 is a good option for connecting an SSD.

What is its advantage? Such drives are theoretically ten times faster than traditional SATA in data transfer speed. In practice, even triple the speed - and your computer “flies” even when running the most fashionable games (of course, if the processor and video card also match).

Delving into the description solid state drive M.2, you can also see strange sets of numbers - for example, 2242, 2260 or 2280. Everything is simple here: these are its physical dimensions. 22 is the width, that is, 22 mm, which corresponds to the width of the PCIe slot. The remaining two numbers are the length in millimeters.
When choosing such a drive, you should correlate this value with the dimensions of the case system unit: if its form factor does not match the length of the SSD, in order for the drive to fit, you will have to either change the case or “upgrade” the existing one using metal scissors. From an aesthetic point of view, this solution looks disgusting.

If you still doubt whether you need such a device at all or whether it’s better to use a hard drive “the old fashioned way,” I advise you to read the publications “” and “”. I hope I clearly explained what is needed.

And for those whom I have already convinced, and who will soon go to the store for a new disc, the rating will be useful solid state SSD drives that you find.

Personally, I recommend paying attention to the “traditional” Kingston UV500 2.5″ 3D TLC or "unconventional" Western Digital Green SSD 120GB M.2 2280 SATAIII 3D NAND(TLC) (WDS120G2G0B).