Cheap way to add SATA3

[koocha]

My motherboard only has SATA2. I'm looking at a cheap way to add SATA3 for my current SSD.

I've seen PCI-e x1 cards, but have read the x1 interface won't be quick enough for the full speed of the drive. A x4 card is too expensive.

So my other thought was a 2 step one - a PCI-e x4 M.2 NGFF card and an M.2 to Sata port adapter:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301724404684
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261984125690

If they will work then it will give me a path to an M.2 drive in the future if needed.

My motherboard (Fujitsu D2778-C1) has a PCI-e x4 gen2 slot so if the card and adapter will work together am I onto a winner?

Cheers

[kalniel]

For most situations a SATA 3 SSD plugged into a decent SATA 2 controller will be just as fast as one plugged into a SATA 3 controller. So you're doing a lot of faff for no real benefit.

On the other hand, M2 drives can be quicker again so if you really need that extra performance just going straight for an M.2 in your PCI-e x4 slot might be worth while (or a PCI-e SSD).

IE, if you absolutely need the IO/sequential performance go for a M.2/PCI-e SSD. If you don't, stick with your SATA 2 controller. All the gains with respect to random access speed (which are the ones you notice) are still present.

[koocha]

Ah right, thanks for that. I'll probably leave it then. Seems quick enough for me as it is. Cheers

[EndlessWaves]

My motherboard (Fujitsu D2778-C1) has a PCI-e x4 gen2 slot so if the card and adapter will work together am I onto a winner?

"Please note that for B key SSD the SATA 7 pin connector must be connected to motherboard"

In short, it just provides the connector and relies on your motherboard to provide the SATA controller.

[koocha]

"Please note that for B key SSD the SATA 7 pin connector must be connected to motherboard"

In short, it just provides the connector and relies on your motherboard to provide the SATA controller.

Yeah, but with the adapter being B+M key I figured I could plug it I to the slot closest to the PCI-e connector so it uses that (as it says on the PCB)

[EndlessWaves]

Yeah, but with the adapter being B+M key I figured I could plug it I to the slot closest to the PCI-e connector so it uses that (as it says on the PCB)

The keying is incorrect, it would need an SATA controller chip on it to work in a slot that only supported PCI-E drives.

[me-yeah]

you can buy pci-e sata controllers for £7-45 on ebay

[pastymuncher]

The problem with those are that most, if not all will be no better than the onboard sata 2 controller on the motherboard. I had a Asus P7P55D-E Pro that used a Marvell controller to supposedly give the board sata 3 ports. In actual usage they were slower than the Intel sata 2 controller on the board and this was a common theme across the motherboards and sata add in cards that used the Marvell controller.

In day to day tasks it is highly unlikley that you would even notice the difference between sata 2 and sata 3 anyway. The only time you would see a difference is when benching the drive. A Sata 3 SSD will still run very quickly on sata 2 and is a massive boost over a conventional hdd.