I have an 250GB SSD (OS) that has only 11GB left and would like to get a new one....possibly a 500GB or more. I'm thinking to stay with Samsung as it's been solid, but would consider others if they're highly recommended. I'm even thinking of replacing all my normal HDD's with SATA SSD's (if I can budget it out), but first on the list is the boot drive.   
 
What are the benefits/downsides of using a PCIe vs. 2.5" SATA drive?
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UPDATE: I have 2 empty PCIe slots available and thinking of getting this Samsung 970 EVO - https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-970-EVO-500GB-MZ-V7E500BW/dp/B07BN4NJ2J/ref=dp_ob_title_ce
 
to go with this adapter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N78XZCH/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A32S73DAZ970X4&psc=1
 
Do you guys see any issues or concerns I need to look over?
 

PCIe x4 SSDs are extremely fast - the better drives sustain ~3200MB/Sec
SATA SSDs sustain ~540MB/Sec
 
The only downside to PCIe x4 SSD is cost.  
Since they require either a M.2 Ultra slot or a PCIe slot with 4 PCIe lanes, you can't install more than about three.
On most motherboards that have two M.2 Ultra slots, a pair of SATA ports typically shares bandwidth with the second M.2 Ultra slot.  Consult your motherboard manual for the details.
 
Use M.2 Ultra SSDs (PCIe x4) "strategically" for libraries that load slow... or libraries where you need to pull massive disk-streaming polyphony.
 
 

Hi Jim, thanks for the post. I saw some PCIe SSD's around/under $200 (Samsung 500GB), but not sure how reliable/good they are.
 
Is this what you're referring to on the PCIe x4?
 
 
- 2 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots (PCIE2/PCIE4: single at x16 (PCIE2) / x8 (PCIE4) or dual at x8/x8 mode)
- 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot (PCIE5: x4 mode)
- 2 x PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots
- Supports AMD Quad CrossFireX™, 3-Way CrossFireX™ and CrossFireX™
- Supports NVIDIA^® Quad SLI™ and SLI™
 
*PCIe Gen3 is supported on 3^rd Generation of Intel^® Core™ i5 and Core™ i7 CPUs.

Hi Mesh
I replaced my old HD's with Crucial MX300's  - price was good and so far performance excellent. Really gave my computer a new lease on life!!
Nigel
 

Thanks Nigel...will definitely take a look at those as well.
I still haven't decided on PCIe or SATA...

Bajan Blue
Hi Mesh
I replaced my old HD's with Crucial MX300's  - price was good and so far performance excellent. Really gave my computer a new lease on life!!
Nigel
 

+1 for the Crucial disks. I've got a few MX300's, and just got an MX500 to replace my SanDisk Ultra II (which died on me after 20 months of VERY light use).
 
Almost every YouTube video or site I looked at about dealing with a broken SSD was, guess what... a SanDisk. I'd recommend avoiding SanDisk.
 
The Crucials have been rock solid.
 
M.

I went all SSD not too long ago and I wouldn't even consider upgrading if I couldn't go all SSD. Fortunately, if you get your Boot drive done you can add the others as you can afford it. I have Crucial and Samsung. They are 2 250GB, a 500 and a 525. And a 128GB USB 3 stick drive on a PCIe USB 3 card. I do have a 1.5 TB in my docking station for backup. I have moved a few Kontakt sample libraries to the HD drive. I don't use them all that much and I needed to clear up valuable space on the SSDs. They are there for me, just take a bit longer to load.   

BassDaddy
I went all SSD not too long ago and I wouldn't even consider upgrading if I couldn't go all SSD. Fortunately, if you get your Boot drive done you can add the others as you can afford it. I have Crucial and Samsung. They are 2 250GB, a 500 and a 525. And a 128GB USB 3 stick drive on a PCIe USB 3 card. I do have a 1.5 TB in my docking station for backup. I have moved a few Kontakt sample libraries to the HD drive. I don't use them all that much and I needed to clear up valuable space on the SSDs. They are there for me, just take a bit longer to load.   

Thanks BD, I also want to go SSD for my samples drive. I think I read somewhere (regarding sample drives) saying it's better to have two 500GB drives than one large (1 TB) drive....so, that's definitely in the plans. 
 
I have about 1TB (maybe more) in my samples drive, but don't use most of them. Getting a few SSD will definitely help sort out my go-to's.
 
With all those SSD's in your machine, is there a special that way you set them up (RAID etc..)?
   

Hi Mesh - I managed to get 3 x 2Tb crucial drives and Basically installed them as 1 for main drive, then the other 2 for samples etc - I used the acronis disc to clone the main disc then I just copied over the samples - I fitted them exactly the same as the old had discs were fitted - been rock solid so far

(Updated OP)