SSD advice

[surveyor]

My usual tech consultant has gone on holiday. I am adrift on the Ocean and in need/funds to acquire a new SSD.

My motherboard is a NZXT N5 Z690. It's spec says:


https://www.datocms-assets.com/34299/1689319342-mo...

I have spotted this.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CK2TC9XQ/ref...

Will it work? Should I be looking at something different? Is Gen 4 supported by my motherboard, or should I go to Gen 3?

I'm a bit confused. Grateful for any help!

[xeny]

Gen 4 should work fine. You've checked there's nothing currently in the M.2 slots?

What is the workload? If it's typical office productivity type stuff and funds are tight, a Gen 3 drive will be near indistinguishable and may be cheaper.

[surveyor]

xeny said:

Gen 4 should work fine. You've checked there's nothing currently in the M.2 slots?

What is the workload? If it's typical office productivity type stuff and funds are tight, a Gen 3 drive will be near indistinguishable and may be cheaper.

Gaming / Flight Sim.. The current SSD is SATA and seems to be a bottleneck...

ETA is it worth adding into the water cooing circuit? I ask a bit nervously as I had major issues setting the thing up in the first place.

Edited by surveyor on Wednesday 20th December 20:55

[xeny]

Looking at Page 25 of the manual, is there a heatsink for the primary M.2 slot?

[surveyor]

I think there is, but I also think access to that slot will be challenging if not impossible.

It’s not the slot of choice

[richhead]

Ive always found the crutial website good, you can download a system check that detects what is suitable upgrade for you system, never been wrong for me, you dont have to buy from them, but i always have and always fitted and just worked.

[xeny]

surveyor said:

I think there is, but I also think access to that slot will be challenging if not impossible.

It’s not the slot of choice

That's unfortunate, as I think that is the slot directly connected to the CPU rather than the one connected through the chipset.

[surveyor]

xeny said:

surveyor said:

I think there is, but I also think access to that slot will be challenging if not impossible.

It’s not the slot of choice

That's unfortunate, as I think that is the slot directly connected to the CPU rather than the one connected through the chipset.

Hmm. It's buried under a water block attached to the graphics card. If the difference is worthwhile I could move the graphics card onto a different slot and replumb...



ETA. Actually I think it's under this cover here.... Might get away with it...

Edited by surveyor on Thursday 21st December 15:06

[HRL]

Looks like you’d have enough play to remove the GPU, lift it out the way, then install the M2 drive, espcially if you turn the case on its side.

[xeny]

All that effort with water cooling and what looks like a very mediocre 500BX series SSD ??

[surveyor]

xeny said:

All that effort with water cooling and what looks like a very mediocre 500BX series SSD ??

You have no idea of how much effort... I managed to take out a motherboard and graphics card with water leaks which was eventually a mismatch between hose size and barbs....

But yes my SSD is probably the sole hanger-on from my old system hence now wanting to swap it out...