I'm upgrading my PC to an MSI Z890 A Pro motherboard and I'm considering swapping out my existing SSDs for some m.2 drives. My current setup includes two SSDs and two HDDs, plus one m.2 for the OS. I have two extra m.2 drives leftover from a previous upgrade that I couldn't use due to limitations on my old motherboard. I want to know if replacing the SSDs with m.2s is a good idea, especially for reducing cable clutter. Any thoughts or advice?
3 Answers
If you want the best performance, I'd suggest just getting a large m.2 drive instead of messing around with multiple smaller ones. It can be more efficient! Plus, you won’t have to deal with the hassles of lane limitations as much this way depending on your workloads.
You should be fine with running three m.2 drives and four SATA drives on your new motherboard. The performance difference really depends on what you're doing, but for general use or gaming, the upgrade to m.2 could help simplify your setup. If reducing cable mess is your goal, go for it!
I'm curious if you're looking at SATA or PCIe m.2 drives. If you're replacing 2.5" SATA SSDs with PCIe m.2s, that's a good move for both speed and tidiness. Just make sure to check the models before you dive in!
Yeah, I'm aiming to replace two 2.5" SSDs specifically with m.2s to cut down on cables. I realize I should've waited to post until I had all the details handy.
I totally get the cable thing! I'm also trying to clean up my workspace. Just keep in mind what drives you have—if you're not using them to their full potential, it might not be a huge difference.