M2 PCIE in a M2 SATA

[Jokester]

Possibly a daft question, but if you plug a PCIE M2 drive in a SATA M2 socket (if it's even possible!), does it just run at the slower speed or not at all?

 

[HoneyBadger]

Typically it will run at the slower speed. If you can tell us your motherboard I can confirm it.

 

[Tute]

It seems to be board dependant. When I tried the opposite my Asus Impact wouldn't detect the drive but my Asrock X99 would.

 

[Jokester]

Was looking at the Asus ROG Crosshair VI Hero board:-

1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110(PCIE 3.0 x4 and SATA modes) storage devices
1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110(SATA mode) storage devices

I think this actually a mistake in the description on OcUK, the Asus site only states one port for storage plus an M2 socket for WIFI.

My other choice was the Asrock Taichi board which has 2 M2 ports, both of which state they're full PCIE so not worried about that one.

 

[demonix]

You wouldn't even be able to put an nvme PCIe m.2 SSD into a socket for a SATA m.2 SSD as the connections are completely different (it's why SATA m.2 SSDs have two gaps in the connector while a nvme PCIe m.2 SSD only has one as a SATA m.2 SSD can be put (compatibility depending) into a PCIe/nvme capable connection, but you can't put a PCIe/nvme m.2 SSD into a slot specifically for a SATA m.2 SSD).

That video has some better explanations along with actual pictures of the two connection types (you'll have to go to around half way through the video to get to the required part).

 

[Big.Wayne]

Hi Jokester,

A PCIE M.2 drive would work fine in a M.2 socket that can handle both PCI-E & SATA (as is the case of the Asus ROG Crosshair VI Hero board).

Some more info here on the different M.2 "key" types. You're looking at "M" Key for the best performance