Benefits of NVME for casual PC users?

[UsandThem]

So from watching the video, NVMe storage device are really a major benefit to professionals and content creators then.

That's where they really shine at this point in time, but things like installing/updating Windows, virus scans, software installs, etc. there is a noticeable difference. Plus, when that video was made, NVMe drives were roughly 2x more expensive than a SATA SSD. I just upgraded my son's PC with a NVMe drive, and in the 500GB range it was like only $20 more for the NVMe than a good mid-range SSD.

 

[whm1974]

That's where they really shine at this point in time, but things like installing/updating Windows, virus scans, software installs, etc. there is a noticeable difference. Plus, when that video was made, NVMe drives were roughly 2x more expensive than a SATA SSD. I just upgraded my son's PC with a NVMe drive, and in the 500GB range it was like only $20 more for the NVMe than a good mid-range SSD.

Well for $20 more, then I may consider getting a NVMe drive for my next build.

 

[UsandThem]

Well for $20 more, then I may consider getting a NVMe drive for my next build.

For me, it only makes sense. For $20 - $50 more people can get 3 - 5 times better performance. The drive I bought for my son's PC was a MyDigitalSSD SBX for $150. It's an entry-level NVMe drive and not as fast a drive like the 960 EVO, but it still offers around 3X the performance of a SSD.

 

[whm1974]

For me, it only makes sense. For $20 - $50 more people can get 3 - 5 times better performance. The drive I bought for my son's PC was a MyDigitalSSD SBX for $150. It's an entry-level NVMe drive and not as fast a drive like the 960 EVO, but it still offers around 3X the performance of a SSD.

What size?

 

[UsandThem]

What size?

512GB

https://www.mydigitaldiscount.com/m...-m.2-pcie-gen3-x2-nvme-ssd-mdnvme80-sbx-0512/

$10 more buying it on Amazon, but it is still sold by MyDigitalSSD and fulfilled by Amazon.

 

[JimKiler]

Is photo editing enough to get a boost from NVMe?

 

[UsandThem]

Is photo editing enough to get a boost from NVMe?

I would think so:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3904500
https://photographylife.com/nvme-vs-ssd-vs-hdd-performance

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I would think so:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3904500
https://photographylife.com/nvme-vs-ssd-vs-hdd-performance

From my point of view with a certain niche-software fixation, I could've saved myself $450, purchased only a 250GB 960 Pro/EVO, and still come out with the same performance. But I would have absolutely required the smaller NVME.

So for other folks, sticking with a MyDigitalLife or 600P NVME is all they'd want. Techno-Lust got the best of me, and I splurged out $600 for a 1TB 960 Pro. Now I wish I'd waited a year for an Intel 900P, because it really shines for 4K benchmark scores, and 4K-relevant file-sizes are a significant part of our mainstream computing habits. But, then, I'd have spent $350 on a 250GB 900P versus the $130 on a 960 EVO of the same size.

Maybe at year's end, after dental repair and rental-property renovation investment, I can throw that much money at one. But with an investment in RAM that I've already made, I can probably wait forever. By then, nobody will notice my extravagance, and I won't suffer any criticisms for being a spendthrift.

 

[cbn]

Depends on the game, but some current games get a small boost. However, I imagine going forward the game developers/Windows will take better advantage of the speed. There's a comparison video done on HDD vs. SSD vs. NVMe that I linked to a thread in the past, once I find it I will edit my post, and link to it here.

Edit:

Here are the scores for the above video (I posted these in another thread):

Samsung 960 EVO PCIe 3.0 x 4 NVMe M.2 SSD

Boot 6 seconds
Call of Duty Infinite Warefare 11 seconds
Civilization VI 43 seconds
Premiere Pro CC 6 seconds
Z-zip 61 seconds

Crucial MX300 SATA 2.5" SSD

Boot 9 seconds
Call of Duty Infinite Warefare 25 seconds
Civilization VI 53 seconds
Premiere Pro CC 11 seconds
Z-zip 251 seconds

WD Red Pro 4TB 3.5" 7200 rpm HDD

Boot 36 seconds
Call of Duty Infinite Warefare 53 seconds
Civilization VI 66 seconds
Premiere Pro CC 63 seconds
Z-zip 585 seconds

 

[IntelUser2000]

Been using a fast ssd for my OS & Apps and was mulling over getting an NVME m.2 drive but am not sure it would benefit me.

The reason storage gains are hard to quantify is that its "cold" storage. It almost doesn't have to do anything with compute. It's always about boot times, and load times, which can't be significantly sped up.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/crucial-mx500-ssd-review-nand,5390-2.html
https://techreport.com/review/33322/crucial-mx500-500-gb-and-1-tb-ssds-reviewed/5

Look at how little difference there is between the top and the bottom performer. It's in the 5-10%. It's nothing!

With memory, its "hot" storage. DRAM is used as a scratchpad for the CPU to do its work on. That's why DRAM speed affects compute performance.

 

[Micrornd]

I can tell you this, I boot from a 960 Pro NVMe and also use a 960 Pro NVMe as a data drive and it has made a definite difference in video manipulation and photo rendering compared to the 850 Pro SSDs I was using.
Before anyone asks, no, I don't have before/after times and if I had to guess, I would say 10-15% depending on what was being done.
Definitely noticeable in usage, but slightly slower in bootup (but with a server based board and 64gb memory "slow bootup" is a relative term anyway).

 

[nosirrahx]

I can tell you this, I boot from a 960 Pro NVMe and also use a 960 Pro NVMe as a data drive and it has made a definite difference in video manipulation and photo rendering compared to the 850 Pro SSDs I was using.
Before anyone asks, no, I don't have before/after times and if I had to guess, I would say 10-15% depending on what was being done.
Definitely noticeable in usage, but slightly slower in bootup (but with a server based board and 64gb memory "slow bootup" is a relative term anyway).

There should be a strong coloration between perceived speed and how frequently you deal with larger files when it comes to the 960 Pro.

 

[Micrornd]

There should be a strong coloration between perceived speed and how frequently you deal with larger files when it comes to the 960 Pro.

There is, I basically only deal with/manipulate larger files.
I rarely deal with video files of less than 3-4gb. Most are in the 12-60gb range.
B&W photos are usually in the 40-80mb range and color generally double that.
All HD aerial stuff that needs refinement and enhancement for various private parties/companies.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I can tell you this, I boot from a 960 Pro NVMe and also use a 960 Pro NVMe as a data drive and it has made a definite difference in video manipulation and photo rendering compared to the 850 Pro SSDs I was using.
Before anyone asks, no, I don't have before/after times and if I had to guess, I would say 10-15% depending on what was being done.
Definitely noticeable in usage, but slightly slower in bootup (but with a server based board and 64gb memory "slow bootup" is a relative term anyway).

My actual "serious demand" for tasks requiring computing speed have declined in number and impact. I anticipate finding new ways to use my computers; I spend more and more time tweaking Windows, BIOS, hardware and choices of software. So I have a general post-PC-era preoccupation with performance and benchmarks, to the point that performance and benchmarks have become a good part of the point of it. I also have a household IT budget and there are between 3 and 5 users logged on at any time. I have an annual household budget item to keep it all running and functional. It takes my time; I don't get paid. It must be a "hobby."

I'd say there is approximately one new system added and another old one decommissioned every three years. They get passed around to the fam-damn-ily before they're recycled into oblivion.

This time, I estimate that I probably spent about $250 more than fit the emerging plan of it all. But that's all more about excess capacity than performance.