M1 and M2 are both types of SSDs, or solid state drives. An SSD is a storage device that uses flash memory to store data. There are many benefits to using an SSD, including faster read and write speeds, lower power consumption, and less heat production. So what’s the difference between an M1 and an M2 SSD Keep reading to find out!
M1 SSDs are a little older than M2 SSDs. They were first introduced in 2009, while M2 SSDs were first introduced in 2013. Because of this, M1 SSDs tend to be a little cheaper than M2 SSDs.
M.1
M1 was never used as a designation for SSD’s. The M.2 standard replaced the mSATA standard and form factor. mSATA (Mini-SATA) was a small form factor version of the 2.5″ SATA SSD’s They, like their bigger cousins, have an upper data transfer limit with SATA III of about 600 MB/s.
New SSD technology to replace the M.2 underway. Enter the PCIe that plugs into a graphics card slots. These drive are designed to move hundreds of thousands of files in just a few seconds for LOD scalable gaming as found in Lumberyard based games. Your motherboard better have at least 3 PCIe slots on it.
M.2
M.2 This drive has a restricted placement and must be plugged into your motherboard. It does not replace your HDD or cheaper SSD but is used for keeping your operating system and start up programs. SSDs must be plugged into a special PCIe adaptor plug between your Graphic card slots or under your chip set cover. The M.2 is 10 times faster than a normal SSD because it uses a more direct pathway to your CPU and bypasses the South Bridge. M.2 sticks are about 1.5 times the cost of a normal SSD .
New SSD technology to replace the M.2 underway. Enter the PCIe that plugs into a graphics card slots. These drive are designed to move hundreds of thousands of files in just a few seconds for LOD scalable gaming as found in Lumberyard based games. Your motherboard better have at least 3 PCIe slots on it.
Another difference between the two types of SSD is the size of their connectors. An M1 SSD uses a 2.5-inch connector, while an M2 SSD uses a smaller, mSATA connector. This means that an M1 SSD can’t be used in devices that require an M2 SSD, and vice versa.
there is a performance difference between these two types of drives. An M1 SSD has a read speed of up to 550 MB per second, while an M2 SSD has a read speed of 6.0 GB per second.
The M1 SSD uses a SATA connector while the M2 uses a mSATA connector, which means that an M1 cannot be used in devices that only accept an M2 drive. The size of the connectors also means that there is no way for either type of drive to fit into devices designed for the other one.
M1 SSD uses a SATA connector while the M2 uses a mSATA connector, which means that an M1 cannot be used in devices that only accept an M2 drive. The size of the connectors also means that there is no way for either type of drive to fit into devices designed for the other one.
M.2 is just the form factor. M.2 drives can come in SATA versions (like the Crucial MX500 M.2 for example) and NVMe versions (like the Samsung 970 Pro/EVO), which describes the bus they use to electrically communicate with the other PC components. SATA M.2 SSD drives and 2.5” SATA SSDs actually operate at virtually identical spec. Essentially, it allows flash memory to operate as an SSD directly through the PCIe interface rather than going through SATA and being limited by the slower SATA speeds. Put another way, it’s a description of the bus the component uses to communicate with the PC, not a new type of flash memory.
It is also unrelated to the form factor, which is why NVMe drives can come in both M.2 or PCIe card form factors. With both form factors, the component is connecting electrically to the PC via PCIe rather than SATA. Yes, it’s confusing, but stick with us.
