Booting to PCI Slot

[ChrisPbass]

I have the GA-A75M-DS2 which I've paired with the AMD FM1 A6-3500 Llano chip.

I put this together myself...1st build ever.  I'm currently running W7 Pro installed on a typical HD in a tower.

I have a SSD mini pcie and I would like to boot to it.  I found an adapter that will fit in a PCI slot.  Can I boot to it?  I looked in the BIOS but didn't see anything but it seems like this BIOS won't give an option to boot to a device unless that device is installed.  Some BIOS will show every possible option even if there is no device. 

I could do a SATA adapter and boot from there (I believe) but I want to leave the SATA slots open.

Thanks!

[mikeyb5753]

I don't see why not but personally i'd go for a SATA SSD.  You won't get the full benefit if you run it on the PCI bus

[ChrisPbass]

Thanks for the answer.  Not seeing it in the BIOS I didn't want to install and have it not work.  The mSATA is still in the package and is still returnable.

I have 4 SATA slots and probably won't need them all.  Maybe I'll sacrifice one.

What is the difference in speed between SATA and PCI.  The adapter card manufacturer claims 6gb/s but maybe that is bottle-necked at the PCI slot?

[mikeyb5753]

the 6gb/s refers to the interface speed rather than the actual speed of the drive. 

I used to have a crucial M4 mSata SSD which I thought was good at the time, real difference from a mechanical drive but now I have a cheap sandisk sata SSD which is even better.

The mSata SSD was directly on the motherboard which would be better than a PCI-mSata card anyway so by using the card you won't get the SSD's full potential.

The whole process of converting one interface to another will slow things down and the PCI bus isn't a fast bus to begin with so you're better off with a sata SSD.

[ChrisPbass]

I get that I'm better of w/a standalone SSD but I have this card and I don't want to eat the return costs 

This is going to go in a home file server and I don't need a ton of speed.  I really have no other use for this card. 
It would be nice to know how much slower it would be. 
Other option is a  SATA to mini PCIE mSATA adapter.

[mikeyb5753]

if you want to stick with the mSata drive then the mSata to sata adaptor would be a better option