Comparing NVMe to SATA III reveals a stark contrast in performance. Consider the Samsung 860 Pro, a 1 TB SSD utilizing SATA III, which boasts a sequential read speed of up to 560 MB/s. In contrast, its successor, the NVMe-based 960 Pro, surpasses it by over sixfold with a blazing fast speed of 3,500 MB/s. The discrepancy in speed stems from their underlying technologies. SATA III interfaces with PCs via the Serial ATA computer bus interface, while NVMe serves as the host controller interface for cutting-edge SSDs. While the terms "SATA III" and "NVMe" are commonly used to distinguish between older and newer storage technologies, it's important to note that NVMe represents a fundamentally different approach rather than a mere iteration of SATA III. The reasoning behind using these terms for comparison will be discussed further later on.

NVMe vs. SATA III

NVMe and SATA III represent two different generations of storage technologies. For instance, the Samsung 860 Pro, a 2.5-inch SSD, operates on SATA III, offering a maximum sequential read speed of 560 MB/s. In contrast, its successor, the NVMe-based 960 Pro, boasts speeds exceeding 3,500 MB/s, showcasing the significant performance leap provided by NVMe. SATA III refers to the third iteration of the Serial ATA computer bus interface, used by traditional SSDs. On the other hand, NVMe serves as the host controller interface for more advanced SSDs, offering higher speeds and lower latency. While both terms are commonly used to distinguish between older and newer storage technologies, it's important to note that NVMe and SATA III are not interchangeable—they represent distinct technologies with different performance capabilities. The reasons behind using the terms "SATA III" and "NVMe" to compare these technologies will be discussed further later on. In 2000, SATA replaced the older Parallel ATA standard, offering faster connections and significantly improved performance. SATA III was introduced eight years later with a maximum transfer rate of 600 MB/s. SATA III components require a specific connector for laptops and a particular cable for desktop PC motherboards. After connecting a drive to the computer via SATA III, it still needs a host controller interface to communicate with the system. AHCI is the most common interface for SATA III drives to communicate with a computer system. While SATA III and AHCI performed well for many years, including during the early days of SSDs, they were optimized for high-latency rotating media, not low-latency, non-volatile storage like SSDs, as explained by a representative from drive manufacturer Kingston.