Do you use M.2 SSD (Solid State Drives)? If yes, please share details on how you use them. Thanks in Advance.
Dont have an option for no but planning on using one in the future. When i build my new computer i will definitely being using an M.2. The new samsung 950 looks beastly.
I use mSATA SSD's in a Dell Precision M6800 Mobile Workstation. They seem like they're pretty much the same thing. What is the difference if any?
They are much much faster than SSDs. Traditional SSDs use the sata III protocol which is limited to 6 gigabit/s (6gb/s is about 550 megabytes/sec). Modern SSDs already saturate the sata protocol. M.2 drives uses PCIe which is much much faster. Some of the newest M.2 drives are reaching 2.5 gigabytes/sec read. M.2 is also much smaller physically than an SSD so it makes them much easier to work with when building computers, it also doesnt need to wired (ie power/data).
To be honest, I'd never heard of M.2 SSDs until I saw this thread. I've just got one reglular 2.5" SSD.
yes, but can you feel it? under specific circumstances it should make sense but probably not for the majority of users
It isn't just the throughput of the storage device; it's the overall load/wait time of the computer. Basically, it's not just a faster path but also a shorter one.
I too never heard of it before For those who use it: what is a real life usage experience and difference between regular SSD and M.2?
I meant what is the difference between the mSATA variety I have and these M.2 things? I didn't do much research but seeing images on Amazon they look about the same, only the M.2's are longer... perhaps for PC's instead of laptops? The specs look pretty much the same too.
The M.2s are newer. The come in different lengths and the longer ones have bigger capacity. mSata drives can be used in the mini pci slots of some laptops which is their most attractive feature to me.
Thanks. Yeah I've fallen in love with mSATA drives too. The MoBo on my Precision has a dedicated slot for one as well as a mini PCI slot I can put a 2'nd one into. As well as 3 bays for regular SSD's. So I can boot to all different types of setups with this machine without switching in & out things... very handy. But I mostly use the main slot to run Win7 Ultimate x86, and don't use the regular SSD bays. The machine doesn't make any noise at all, literally, except for once in awhile when it's doing something resource intensive, like scanning. That's what I really like about mSATA's, and apparently M.2's you can say the same about. Regular SSD's were touted for being so much quieter, but mSATA's are literally soundless, obviously since it's just a chip. It also helps keep the temp. of the machine way down. I can keep it on all day and it barely gets warm. I did get a cooling pad for it though too, but rarely ever turn the fans on because then it would make noise... it's just to raise it so the vents on the bottom aren't blocked by sitting directly on the surface it's on.
