Specification of new NVMe SSD to be purchased.

[satimis]

PC HDDs config:
==========
1TB NVMe SSD for running OS
4TB WD HDD for data storage

Now NVMe SSD is having insufficient space and I'm prepared to buy a new 2TB NVMe SSD.

Running following commands I found;

1)
$ sudo lsblk -e7

NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda 8:0 0 3.7T 0 disk
└─sda1 8:1 0 3.7T 0 part
nvme0n1 259:0 0 953.9G 0 disk
├─nvme0n1p1 259:1 0 512M 0 part /boot/efi
└─nvme0n1p2 259:2 0 953.4G 0 part
├─ubuntu--vg-root 253:0 0 930.4G 0 lvm /
└─ubuntu--vg-swap_1 253:1 0 976M 0 lvm [SWAP]



2a)
$ sudo hdparm -I /dev/sda | grep Serial

│ Serial Number: V6JA7AER │ Transport: Serial, ATA8-AST, SATA 1.0a, SATA II Extensions, SAT│A Rev 2.5, SATA Rev 2.6, SATA Rev 3.0; Revision: ATA8-AST T13 Project D1697 Revi│sion 0b

2b)
$ sudo hdparm -I /dev/nvme0n1 | grep Serial

HDIO_DRIVE_CMD(identify) failed: Inappropriate ioctl for device


2c)
$ lsblk -o NAME,FSTYPE,LABEL,MOUNTPOINT,SIZE,MODEL | grep nvme0n1

nvme0n1 953.9G INTEL SSDPEKNW010T8
├─nvme0n1p1 vfat /boot/efi 512M
└─nvme0n1p2 LVM2_member


3)
$ sudo lshw -short -C disk

H/W path Device Class Description
================================================== ================
/0/100/1.6/0/0/1 /dev/nvme0n1 disk 1024GB NVMe namespace
/0/7/0.0.0 /dev/sda disk 4TB HGST HUS726T4TAL


Motherboard
========
$ sudo dmidecode -t 2

# dmidecode 3.2
Getting SMBIOS data from sysfs.
SMBIOS 3.2.0 present.

Handle 0x0002, DMI type 2, 15 bytes
Base Board Information
Manufacturer: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
Product Name: PRIME X570-P
Version: Rev X.0x
Serial Number: 190753869002923
Asset Tag: Default string
Features:
Board is a hosting board
Board is replaceable
Location In Chassis: Default string
Chassis Handle: 0x0003
Type: Motherboard
Contained Object Handles: 0


Please advise what will be the specification of the new 2TB NVMe SSD to be purchased.

Thanks in advance.

Regards

[Dennis N]

Your current drive model is a QLC drive. These are the least expensive X4 drives for given capacity. But, they are slower and less durable than TLC drives, especially when writing to the disk. I would opt for a TLC drive myself. There are pros and cons. Read:
Article on pros and cons of QLC flash (https://www.howtogeek.com/428869/ssds-are-getting-denser-and-slower-thanks-to-qlc-flash/)
Other than that, be sure it has 4 channels (X 4) and not 2 (X 2) which would slow it down by 1/2. Most sold are (X 4).
Much depends on your use case.

[oldfred]

What does this show?
udisksctl status
and/or nvme, you may need to install
sudo apt install nvme-cli
nvme - the NVMe storage command line interface utility (nvme-cli)
nvme --help
sudo nvme list

Have you updated firmware on SSD & motherboard?
What does motherboard manual say about NVMe drives.
Some new ones now support more than one, but may prevent a SATA port from working or not have full speed on second one.

Do not know LVM, but those that do always want the LVM commands to see details.
sudo pvs
sudo vgs
sudo lvs

I upgraded my M.2 SATA SSD to larger NVMe SSD and put M.2 SATA drive in an external enclosure. Now sold on external SSD (really fast) over flash drives (really slow). Not sure that you get any extra speed thru USB3 adapter fro NVMe, perhaps with USB-C to take more advantage of NVMe's faster speeds.

[satimis]

Hi oldfred,

Thanks for your advice.

This AMD Ryzen 5 PC was built about 3~4 years ago. I have been planning to build a new AMD Ryzen 7/9 PC sometimes but unable to find spare time.


What does this show?
udisksctl status
and/or nvme, you may need to install
sudo apt install nvme-cli
nvme - the NVMe storage command line interface utility (nvme-cli)
nvme --help
sudo nvme list

$ udisksctl status

MODEL REVISION SERIAL DEVICE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTEL SSDPEKNW010T8 002C BTNH93310UXC1P0B nvme0n1
HGST HUS726T4TALE6L4 VKGAW41G V6JA7AER sda


$ sudo nvme list

Node SN Model Namespace Usage Format FW Rev
---------------- -------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------- -------------------------- ---------------- --------
/dev/nvme0n1 BTNH93310UXC1P0B INTEL SSDPEKNW010T8 1 1.02 TB / 1.02 TB 512 B + 0 B 002C


The running NVME SSD is pcie package. Pls refers to attached photo

How can I check the spec of the running NVME SSD, pcie 3.0 or 4.0 ?



Have you updated firmware on SSD & motherboard?
What does motherboard manual say about NVMe drives.
Some new ones now support more than one, but may prevent a SATA port from working or not have full speed on second one.

Sorry I couldn't recall. I haven't updated firmware for long time. Do I need to do it regularily? If YES, please advise HOW? Thanks

Where can I check? Hereinbelow is ASUS motherboard spec URL;

ASUS PRIME X570-P
https://www.asus.com/Motherboards-Components/Motherboards/PRIME/PRIME-X570-P/techspec/

Storage

AMD Ryzen™ 5000 Series/ 3000 Series Desktop Processors :
1 x M.2_1 socket 3, with M Key, Type 2242/2260/2280 (PCIE 4.0 x4 and SATA modes) storage devices support
AMD Ryzen™ 5000 G-Series/ 4000 G-Series/ 3000 G-Series/ 2000 Series/ 2000 G-Series Desktop Processors :
1 x M.2_1 socket 3, with M Key, Type 2242/2260/2280 (PCIE 3.0 x4 and SATA modes) storage devices support
AMD X570 chipset :
1 x M.2_2 socket 3, with M Key, Type 2242/2260/2280/22110(PCIE 4.0 x4 and SATA modes) storage devices support
6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s)
Support Raid 0, 1, 10


Pls refers to motherboard photo



Do not know LVM, but those that do always want the LVM commands to see details.
sudo pvs
sudo vgs
sudo lvs


$ sudo pvs

PV VG Fmt Attr PSize PFree
/dev/nvme0n1p2 ubuntu-vg lvm2 a-- <953.37g <22.05g


$ sudo vgs

VG #PV #LV #SN Attr VSize VFree
ubuntu-vg 1 2 0 wz--n- <953.37g <22.05g


$ sudo lvs

LV VG Attr LSize Pool Origin Data% Meta% Move Log Cpy%Sync Convert
root ubuntu-vg -wi-ao---- <930.37g
swap_1 ubuntu-vg -wi-ao---- 976.00m




I upgraded my M.2 SATA SSD to larger NVMe SSD and put M.2 SATA drive in an external enclosure. Now sold on external SSD (really fast) over flash drives (really slow). Not sure that you get any extra speed thru USB3 adapter fro NVMe, perhaps with USB-C to take more advantage of NVMe's faster speeds.
Does pcie SSD package have external enclosure?

Thanks

Regards

[satimis]

Your current drive model is a QLC drive. These are the least expensive X4 drives for given capacity. But, they are slower and less durable than TLC drives, especially when writing to the disk. I would opt for a TLC drive myself. There are pros and cons. Read:
Article on pros and cons of QLC flash (https://www.howtogeek.com/428869/ssds-are-getting-denser-and-slower-thanks-to-qlc-flash/)
Other than that, be sure it has 4 channels (X 4) and not 2 (X 2) which would slow it down by 1/2. Most sold are (X 4).
Much depends on your use case.
Hi Dennis,

Thanks for your advice.

My NVMe SSD is pcie package. Pls see attached photo

How can I check the spec of the running NVME SSD, pcie 3.0 or 4.0 ?

Edit
===
This PC is running Oracle VirtualBox with Ubuntu20.04 as host.

After adding a new 2TB NVME pcie SSD I'll use the old one to running KVM/QEMU. I need speed.

Regards

[oldfred]

Do not know Intel, but quick Google search said this site had firmware.
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000017245/memory-and-storage.html

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/17903/intel-ssd-firmware-update-tool.html

You compare the FW rev (firmware revision) number shown in nvme or udisksctl output. And then see if they have a newer one and how to install it.
With my Samsung it was a bootable ISO that was old school. Looked like an old DOS screen with just one update for my model NVMe drive.

To convert SATA SSD to external I had to buy a external enclosesure/adapter. Was inexpensive, but I noted the NVMe cases were more expensive. I do not think I would buy a NVMe drive to use as an external as extra speed would not be available. But since you will have one, then worthwhile?

Search on your model:
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/149407/intel-ssd-660p-series-1-0tb-m-2-80mm-pcie-3-0-x4-3d2-qlc/specifications.html
PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe

[Dennis N]

To get the information on your Intel drive, I googled the model number you showed in your output. It's PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe QLC but the indicated read and write speeds are just 1800 MB/sec. A PCIe 3.0 x4 TLC drive would be rated nearly twice as fast.

The specs say the Intel 660p is a PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe device. You can use PCIe 3.0 devices in a PCIe 4.0 slot, but it will work at PCIe 3.0 speed.

The 4.0 x 4 drives are going to be a lot more expensive for a given capacity.

If you are using a SATA drive as well, copying stuff from the NVMe drive to the SATA would be limited to the SATA drive speed. A SATA SSD max speed is around 500-600 MB/sec.

[satimis]

To get the information on your Intel drive, I googled the model number you showed in your output. It's PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe QLC but the indicated read and write speeds are just 1800 MB/sec. A PCIe 3.0 x4 TLC drive would be rated nearly twice as fast.

The specs say the Intel 660p is a PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe device. You can use PCIe 3.0 devices in a PCIe 4.0 slot, but it will work at PCIe 3.0 speed.

According to my recollection my NVME pcie SSD is pcie 3.0 ? How can I check it on Terminal? Thanks



The 4.0 x 4 drives are going to be a lot more expensive for a given capacity.
Apart from cost is there pcie 4.0 x 4 slot on my motherboard?

Storage

AMD Ryzen™ 5000 Series/ 3000 Series Desktop Processors :
1 x M.2_1 socket 3, with M Key, Type 2242/2260/2280 (PCIE 4.0 x4 and SATA modes) storage devices support
AMD Ryzen™ 5000 G-Series/ 4000 G-Series/ 3000 G-Series/ 2000 Series/ 2000 G-Series Desktop Processors :
1 x M.2_1 socket 3, with M Key, Type 2242/2260/2280 (PCIE 3.0 x4 and SATA modes) storage devices support
AMD X570 chipset :
1 x M.2_2 socket 3, with M Key, Type 2242/2260/2280/22110(PCIE 4.0 x4 and SATA modes) storage devices support
6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s)
Support Raid 0, 1, 10


I'm running Oracle VirtualBox here and I need speed. Is there any advantage on running pcie 4.0 x 4 SSD ?



If you are using a SATA drive as well, copying stuff from the NVMe drive to the SATA would be limited to the SATA drive speed. A SATA SSD max speed is around 500-600 MB/sec.
I only have one 4TB WD SATA HDD for data storage. There is no OS running on this HDD. Speed is not important

Regards

[satimis]

Do not know Intel, but quick Google search said this site had firmware.
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000017245/memory-and-storage.html

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/17903/intel-ssd-firmware-update-tool.html

You compare the FW rev (firmware revision) number shown in nvme or udisksctl output. And then see if they have a newer one and how to install it.
With my Samsung it was a bootable ISO that was old school. Looked like an old DOS screen with just one update for my model NVMe drive.

$ udisksctl status

MODEL REVISION SERIAL DEVICE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTEL SSDPEKNW010T8 002C BTNH93310UXC1P0B nvme0n1
HGST HUS726T4TALE6L4 VKGAW41G V6JA7AER sda


I suppose;
1) 002C is the firmware version of my NVMe pcie SSD
2) BTNH93310UXC1P0B is the serial number of my NVMe pcie SSD

But I couldn't re-confirm the firmware version according to following document;
Find the Firmware Version for Your Intel® Solid State Drive
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000005558/memory-and-storage.html

-> Expand all

running following commands on Terminal as advised on the said document;
1)
$ sudo fdisk -l | more

.....
Disk /dev/nvme0n1: 953.89 GiB, 1024209543168 bytes, 2000409264 sectors
Disk model: INTEL SSDPEKNW010T8
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
....


2)
$ sudo hdparm -i /dev/nvme0n1


/dev/nvme0n1:
HDIO_DRIVE_CMD(identify) failed: Inappropriate ioctl for device
HDIO_GET_IDENTITY failed: Inappropriate ioctl for device


Nor I can compare 002C, the firmware version of my NVMe pcie SSD with following URL;
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000017245/memory-and-storage.html

-> Expand all

Because I couldn't find INTEL SSDPEKNW010T8 on that page, the disk model of my NVMe pcie SSD



To convert SATA SSD to external I had to buy a external enclosesure/adapter. Was inexpensive, but I noted the NVMe cases were more expensive. I do not think I would buy a NVMe drive to use as an external as extra speed would not be available. But since you will have one, then worthwhile?
I don't have NVMe external enclosesure. Nor I would consider converting my NVMe pcie SSD to external



Search on your model:
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/149407/intel-ssd-660p-series-1-0tb-m-2-80mm-pcie-3-0-x4-3d2-qlc/specifications.html
PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe
Thanks

Interface = PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe

According the specification of my motherboard ASUS PRIME X570-P

Storage

AMD Ryzen™ 5000 Series/ 3000 Series Desktop Processors :
1 x M.2_1 socket 3, with M Key, Type 2242/2260/2280 (PCIE 4.0 x4 and SATA modes) storage devices support
AMD Ryzen™ 5000 G-Series/ 4000 G-Series/ 3000 G-Series/ 2000 Series/ 2000 G-Series Desktop Processors :
1 x M.2_1 socket 3, with M Key, Type 2242/2260/2280 (PCIE 3.0 x4 and SATA modes) storage devices support
AMD X570 chipset :
1 x M.2_2 socket 3, with M Key, Type 2242/2260/2280/22110(PCIE 4.0 x4 and SATA modes) storage devices support
6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s)
Support Raid 0, 1, 10

My motherboard supports PCIE 4.0 x4

So I can purchase;
Samsung 2TB 980 PRO M.2 2280 MZ-V8P2T0BW PCIe Gen 4.0 x4, NVMe 1.3c SSD

to install it on my motherboard ?

980 PRO PCIe 4.0 NVMe® SSD 2TB
https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/memory-storage/solid-state-drives/980-pro-pcie-4-0-nvme-ssd-2tb-mz-v8p2t0b-am/

Please advise. Thanks

Regards

[Dennis N]

$ udisksctl status[code]
Interface = PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe

According the specification of my motherboard ASUS PRIME X570-P...My motherboard supports PCIE 4.0 x4

So I can purchase;
Samsung 2TB 980 PRO M.2 2280 MZ-V8P2T0BW PCIe Gen 4.0 x4, NVMe 1.3c SSD

to install it on my motherboard ?

980 PRO PCIe 4.0 NVMe® SSD 2TB
https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/memory-storage/solid-state-drives/980-pro-pcie-4-0-nvme-ssd-2tb-mz-v8p2t0b-am/

Please advise. Thanks

Regards

Yes, that's going to be compatable. Probably the best you could get. Speed ratings from Samsung: Read/Write Speeds 7,000/5,100 MB/s (these are probably the maximums).

In fact, you have two m.2 slots on that motherboard from the illustration on the Asus product page. At least one should be PCIe 4.0.

[satimis]

Yes, that's going to be compatable. Probably the best you could get. Speed ratings from Samsung: Read/Write Speeds 7,000/5,100 MB/s (these are probably the maximums).

In fact, you have two m.2 slots on that motherboard from the illustration on the Asus product page. At least one should be PCIe 4.0.
Hi Dennis

I found the online schematic drawing of
ASUS PRIME X570-P motherboard
https://gzhls.at/blob/ldb/0/6/1/6/4e113977bf1a2eeec37f9d3c277a4563734b.pdf

How can I mount the 2TB NVME pcie 4.0 SSD on the PCIe 4.0 slots ? Pls see attached screenshots

Thanks

Edit
====
Just found following YouTube video;
How to install Samsung 950 PRO M.2 SSD in a PCIe slot with a Lycom DT-120 M.2 to PCIe adapter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDRm0Y8pNMo

I have to buy a Lycom DT-120 M.2 to PCIe adapter


Regards

[oldfred]

If you have two M.2 slots, why would you need an adapter?
I think that is only for those with one slot on motherboard.

[satimis]

If you have two M.2 slots, why would you need an adapter?
I think that is only for those with one slot on motherboard.
11 is M.2 Socket 3. Is it for pcie 3.0 ?

Pls see attached screenshots

Edit
===
I found it. Pls refers to attached screenshot - screenshot_socket3_55.png

For 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen™ Processors, the M.2_1 socket supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode
and SATA mode M Key design and type 2242 / 2260 / 2280 storage devices.
• For 2nd Gen AMD Ryzen™/2nd and 1st Gen AMD Ryzen™ with Radeon™ Vega
Graphics Processors, the M.2_1 socket supports PCIe 3.0 x4 mode and SATA mode
M Key design and type 2242 / 2260 / 2280 storage devices.
• The M.2_2 socket supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode and SATA mode M Key design and
type 2242 / 2260 / 2280 / 22110 storage devices.

To my understanding both M.2_1 and M.2_2 sockets support PCIe 4.0 x4 mode

Regards

[Dennis N]

To my understanding both M.2_1 and M.2_2 sockets support PCIe 4.0 x4 mode

Well, M.2_1 could be PCIe 3.0x4 or 4.0x4 depending on the processor you are using. If its 3rd generation processor, then it's PCIe 4.0. Otherwise, it's PCIe 3.0.

The other socket M.2_2 is PCIe 4.0x4 for all the mentioned processors.

That's how I interpret what it says.

[satimis]

Well, M.2_1 could be PCIe 3.0x4 or 4.0x4 depending on the processor you are using. If its 3rd generation processor, then it's PCIe 4.0. Otherwise, it's PCIe 3.0.

The other socket M.2_2 is PCIe 4.0x4 for all the mentioned processors.

That's how I interpret what it says.

$ lscpu | more

Architecture: x86_64
CPU op-mode(s): 32-bit, 64-bit
Byte Order: Little Endian
Address sizes: 43 bits physical, 48 bits virtual
CPU(s): 8
On-line CPU(s) list: 0-7
Thread(s) per core: 2
Core(s) per socket: 4
Socket(s): 1
NUMA node(s): 1
Vendor ID: AuthenticAMD
CPU family: 23
Model: 24
Model name: AMD Ryzen 5 3400G with Radeon Vega Graphics
Stepping: 1
Frequency boost: enabled
CPU MHz: 1652.418
CPU max MHz: 3700.0000
CPU min MHz: 1400.0000
BogoMIPS: 7386.09
Virtualization: AMD-V
....
....


1)
According to my CPU spec.
Whether I can use socket M.2_1 for PCIe 4.0x4 without loss in speed ?

2)
I can use socket M.2_2 for PCIe 4.0x4 without loss in speed, disregarding CPU ?

Thanks

Regards

[Dennis N]

1)
According to my CPU spec.
Whether I can use socket M.2_1 for PCIe 4.0x4 without loss in speed ?

2)
I can use socket M.2_2 for PCIe 4.0x4 without loss in speed, disregarding CPU ?


I'm not familiar with the AMD processors - all of mine are Intel. So you have to determine whether yours is considered 3rd generation. It might be so because of the 3XXX numbering. I'm not going to guess on that. Ask in a separate thread if you are not sure and can't figure it out by searching. Someone will know.

If it's determined to be 3rd generation, then the answer to (1) would be yes and (2) would be yes. If it's not 3rd generation, then the answer to (1) is no - the PCIe 4.0 drive would function at PCIe 3.0 speed; and the answer for (2) is yes - the 4.0 drive would work at full 4.0 speed. Page I-19 in the user manual sets no restrictions on the M.2_2 slot based on the CPU.

[Dennis N]

Follow up: I googled on the drive model shown in your post number 15. Is this your processor described here?
https://www.amd.com/en/products/apu/amd-ryzen-5-3400g
If so, the box in the top illustration says "2nd generation"
That would mean an NVMe PCE 4.0 x 4 drive would need to be in the M.2_2 slot to function at 4.0 speed. That should not pose a problem - you only will have one PCIe 4.0 drive.

[satimis]

Follow up: I googled on the drive model shown in your post number 15. Is this your processor described here?
https://www.amd.com/en/products/apu/amd-ryzen-5-3400g
If so, the box in the top illustration says "2nd generation"
That would mean an NVMe PCE 4.0 x 4 drive would need to be in the M.2_2 slot to function at 4.0 speed. That should not pose a problem - you only will have one PCIe 4.0 drive.
Yes.

Thanks for your information

A side question.
==============

I'm prepared purchasing;
Samsung 2TB 980 PRO M.2 2280 MZ-V8P2T0BW PCIe Gen 4.0 x4, NVMe 1.3c SSD

and connect it in M.2_2 slot

Which will be an easy and reliable way to migrate/dump all files from my old Intel 1TB PCIe Gen 3.0 x4 NVMe SSD

to it?

Thanks

Regards

[Dennis N]

Which will be an easy and reliable way to migrate/dump all files from my old Intel 1TB PCIe Gen 3.0 x4 NVMe SSD to it? Do you mean cloning (making an exact copy)? I've never needed (or wanted) to do that, so I'm not qualified to advise. I suggest making a new thread with that question.

[satimis]

Do you mean cloning (making an exact copy)? I've never needed (or wanted) to do that, so I'm not qualified to advise. I suggest making a new thread with that question.
Noted and thanks

Regards