Yes, you can use an NVMe drive with your ASUS Z-97K.
Yes, you can use an NVMe drive with your ASUS Z-97K.
You should check the specifications of the Samsung Evo 970 Plus 500 GB NVMe SSD. Confirm whether it supports NVMe technology. If it does, you can likely install it in the M.2 slot on your Asus Z-97K motherboard temporarily until you replace it with a new one.
They promote a 2x PCIe 2.0 connection instead of the complete 4x 3.0 for that device.
It will be significantly quicker than a SATA SSD, though it won't achieve its maximum performance.
It may occasionally cause an issue, as Windows sometimes fails to identify the new hardware and prompts you to provide the installation media and perform the repair. Once completed, the system should function properly.