Using M.2 Adapter w/ 2.5" SSD

[rash219]

Hi guys,

So I would like to upgrade my laptops hard drive and was just about to purchase the 850 Pro SSD and for some odd reason I did another search for fastest SSD and came across the article about Samsung releasing a new SSD the 950 Pro...now this new drive is spec'd as FAST but only problem is its M.2 form factor....the laptop I currently have does not have an M.2 port or an mSATA port. But, I did across an adapter on amazon that converts mSATA or M.2 to an SSD (2 in 1).

I was wondering if any of you have a good recommendation on these adapters?
and will using these adapter cause performance drops...will I also be able to observe the 2,500MB/s read speeds?

Thanks,

UPDATE: Ok so dug in a little deeper after some rest and I believe the answers is yes I can use the adapter to run the drive BUT whatever the case I will NOT be able to fully utilize the drives capability as the bottle neck would be the SATA 3 connector speed and depending on the chipset it would be 3Gb/s or 6Gb/s and there is no way around it sadly.....so in conclusion I am technically better off buying the 850 Pro SSD.

 

[rash219]

Figured it....I thinks

 

[VirtualLarry]

No, it wouldn't work. The 950 Pro is a PCI-E 3.0 x4 NVMe drive, and those M.2 to SATA adapters only work with M.2 drives that are themselves SATA.

 

[Oyeve]

It'll work, just not at the rated "theoretical" speed. It is backwards compatible.

 

[VirtualLarry]

It'll work, just not at the rated "theoretical" speed. It is backwards compatible.

No, it won't work, and no, PCI-E M.2 SSDs are NOT "backwards compatible" with SATA. Look at the number of reviews on Newegg, of customers of the Samsung PCI-E M.2 OEM SSDs, and the people have older Z97 boards with "M.2 slots" that are wired for SATA and not PCI-E, and THEY WON'T WORK.

There are a number of M.2 slot types, and some can support BOTH SATA and PCI-E. But some don't. Trying to use a SATA M.2 SSD, in a PCI-E M.2 slot, won't work. Nether will a PCI-E M.2 SSD in an M.2 slot wired for SATA. They use different pins on the connector, physically.

Edit: To add, those cheap M.2 and mSATA to SATA adapters, are simple pin connections, designed to be used with SATA M.2 and SATA mSATA SSDs. Not PCI-E.

Edit: Unless you mean that the 950 Pro M.2 PCI-E 3.0 x4 NVMe SSD, has a bi-compatible controller, and works in both SATA as well as PCI-E M.2 slots? That would be weird. Most newer (Z170) mobos' M.2 Ultra slots are also SATA compatible, how would the SSD know whether to use the SATA or the PCI-E interface, if both are connected up?

Edit: If it were true that the 950 Pro were bi-compatible with both SATA and NVMe PCI-E, wouldn't it be advertised as such? I haven't read anything that suggests that this is true.

 

[Oyeve]

Its M.2, It will work in anything that supports that standard. Why would they NOT? Its a consumer driver. Yes, it will work MUCH better in a PCIE 3.0 but it will work in standard M.2 configs and that will include 2.4 M.2 to SATA adapters.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

Its M.2, It will work in anything that supports that standard. Why would they NOT? Its a consumer driver. Yes, it will work MUCH better in a PCIE 3.0 but it will work in standard M.2 configs and that will include 2.4 M.2 to SATA adapters.

There are different keyings and different specs to the standard. It's not like other standards where "if the plug fits it works".

Also:
The M.2 to SATA adapters are keyed for SATA, and the 950 pro is keyed for PCI-e, it literally would not fit into the adapter.

 

[Oyeve]

There are different keyings and different specs to the standard. It's not like other standards where "if the plug fits it works".

Also:
The M.2 to SATA adapters are keyed for SATA, and the 950 pro is keyed for PCI-e, it literally would not fit into the adapter.

http://www.neweggbusiness.com/produ...OhSXWQ4LlFaXxrL9Wkn8UiCUi3zpbqCSMyBoCm2fw_wcB

This adapter will work. I use these in several systems with m.2 connects. It will accept the 950 as well as others.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

http://www.neweggbusiness.com/produ...OhSXWQ4LlFaXxrL9Wkn8UiCUi3zpbqCSMyBoCm2fw_wcB

This adapter will work. I use these in several systems with m.2 connects. It will accept the 950 as well as others.

No, it won't. You should stop right now before someone spends considerable money on something that will not work.

Read up on the standard here. You can clearly see according to the standard (And the photos of the adapter and the 950 PRO) that the adapter is a 'B' keyed M.2 connector, designed for the SATA/PCI-e 2x drives. The 950 PRO is 'M' keyed, so it will only fit into an 'M' keyed connector for the PCI-e 4x support.

It will not physically fit into the adapter.

Edit:

If you need further proof, count the pins on the top and bottom of the keyed portion of the adapter. 6 pins on top, 5 pins on bottom constitutes a 'B' key.

Looking at the photos of the 950 PRO, the keyed portion has 5 pins on top and 4 pins on bottom, an 'M' key.

 

[Oyeve]

No, it won't. You should stop right now before someone spends considerable money on something that will not work.

Read up on the standard here. You can clearly see according to the standard (And the photos of the adapter and the 950 PRO) that the adapter is a 'B' keyed M.2 connector, designed for the SATA/PCI-e 2x drives. The 950 PRO is 'M' keyed, so it will only fit into an 'M' keyed connector for the PCI-e 4x support.

It will not physically fit into the adapter.

Edit:

If you need further proof, count the pins on the top and bottom of the keyed portion of the adapter. 6 pins on top, 5 pins on bottom constitutes a 'B' key.

Looking at the photos of the 950 PRO, the keyed portion has 5 pins on top and 4 pins on bottom, an 'M' key.

My GOD! Dude, it will work. I use many M, B and B+M cards in these things! Samsung did not invent a new connector or format. I'm done. I should just probably send you real world pictures of these things in action.

 

[VirtualLarry]

My GOD! Dude, it will work. I use many M, B and B+M cards in these things! Samsung did not invent a new connector or format. I'm done. I should just probably send you real world pictures of these things in action.

What about the issue of converting the SATA protocol (host interface to adapter) to PCI-E signalling for the 950 Pro? How do you explain that working?

 

[sm625]

You should try to avoid buying an SSD knowing right off the bat that it would need some sort of adapter.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

My GOD! Dude, it will work. I use many M, B and B+M cards in these things! Samsung did not invent a new connector or format. I'm done. I should just probably send you real world pictures of these things in action.

Show me proof of how you managed to plug an M key only drive into a B key only adapter, please.

 

[Farhan]

No, it won't. You should stop right now before someone spends considerable money on something that will not work.

Read up on the standard here. You can clearly see according to the standard (And the photos of the adapter and the 950 PRO) that the adapter is a 'B' keyed M.2 connector, designed for the SATA/PCI-e 2x drives. The 950 PRO is 'M' keyed, so it will only fit into an 'M' keyed connector for the PCI-e 4x support.

It will not physically fit into the adapter.

Edit:

If you need further proof, count the pins on the top and bottom of the keyed portion of the adapter. 6 pins on top, 5 pins on bottom constitutes a 'B' key.

Looking at the photos of the 950 PRO, the keyed portion has 5 pins on top and 4 pins on bottom, an 'M' key.

Finally, after having trouble in two days trying to find the right compatible 2.5 sata converter for m.2 m key adapter, I think the Samsung 960 Evo will definitely fit into this adapter. I found this on Amazon. What do you think?
https://www.amazon.com/Ableconn-IU2-M2132-SFF-8639-2-5-Inch-Aluminum/dp/B01HR0PKJQ

Also, will this be compatible with windows 7, because I was hoping to clone hard drive (including recovery partition) to the M.2 nvme ssd, by using the sata adapter USB cable.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

Finally, after having trouble in two days trying to find the right compatible 2.5 sata converter for m.2 m key adapter, I think the Samsung 960 Evo will definitely fit into this adapter. I found this on Amazon. What do you think?
https://www.amazon.com/Ableconn-IU2-M2132-SFF-8639-2-5-Inch-Aluminum/dp/B01HR0PKJQ

Also, will this be compatible with windows 7, because I was hoping to clone hard drive (including recovery partition) to the M.2 nvme ssd, by using the sata adapter USB cable.

It sounds like you want to plug a 960 evo into an adapter to allow you to use it over SATA, is that correct?

 

[Farhan]

It sounds like you want to plug a 960 evo into an adapter to allow you to use it over SATA, is that correct?

Yes

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

Yes

1) AFAIK that isn't possible
2) That would lose all the benefits of a 960 evo over an 850 evo
3) The adapter you linked is for M.2 PCI-e to U.2, not SATA. U.2 is the standard for PCI-e over a cable for drives.

 

[corkyg]

Y'all seem to forget the target is a laptop. I don't know of any laptop that has space for any adapter connected to an internal drive. Use the SATA SSD as is. You may have to put t in your laptop's caddy or carrier.