Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) is a new transfer protocol designed for solid-state memory. While SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) remains the industry standard for storage protocols, it wasn't built specifically for Flash storage like SSDs and can't offer the same advantages of NVMe. Eventually, SSDs with NVMe will replace SATA SSDs as the new industry standard.
NVMe vs SATA
One easy way of comparing NVMe and SATA is to think of them as race tracks since they are the path used to get data from the SSD to the CPU. A SSD is the Formula One race car of storage while spinning drives are more like an old family sedan. The SSD can only go as fast as the road it's riding on. If you put a Formula One car on a race track (NVMe) it's going to travel at it's full potential, but if you drive it on an old dirt road full of rocks (SATA) it needs to slow down.
Kingston NVMe SSDs
Kingston offers multiple SSDs that utilize the NVMe protocols. To see the latest offerings we have, check out the related productions section below. While NVMe SSDs are significantly faster than SATA SSDs, there are still differences between them. Some might support entry-level NVMe speeds while others might support the latest PCIe Gen4 standards for incredible performance available on the latest CPUs.
NVMe Hardware Compatibility
However, there are a couple of things to consider before purchasing an NVMe SSD. Is your system even compatible with NVMe? Two things you need to look for in your computer system are a built-in M.2 slot and support for NVMe. Check the product page of your computer to see if it accommodates an M.2 slot. Next, you need to see if your motherboard supports NVMe SSDs. Some motherboards that do support it may not always refer to it as NVMe. Instead, they might refer to it as "PCIe mode." Ideally, there should be an easier way to tell if your computer system can support NVMe but unfortunately, there isn't. You'll just have to refer to your motherboard's website or use Google to search and find out if it does.
NVMe Operating System Compatibility
Along with hardware compatibility, you must consider OS compatibility. The latest versions of Linux, Windows, Chrome OS, and Mac OS all support NVMe but Apple doesn't let you upgrade its hardware on most of their recent models so it might not be possible for Mac users. Cloning software is now compatible with NVMe drives as well. Kingston uses Acronis True Image software which comes included with many Kingston SSD. See the product pages for included software information. Most other major cloning software has been upgraded to support NVMe too.
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