Adding an extra M.2 SSD in Z4G4 Core i9 system

[gauthsree]

I have a Z4G4 workstation with Intel i9 processor , 256GB M.2 SSD and Windows 10 OS.  Now I need to add an additional 1TB M.2 SSD to install another OS (Ubuntu). However the system doesn't have an additional M.2 Slot to install the new M.2 SSD drive . I learned that the new M.2 SSD can be installed in the PCIe slot.

With this background , I have few questions:

1. Can I add an additional M.2 SSD directly to PCIe slot without any PCIe adapter ?

2. Can I use the M.2 SSD to install the OS(boot drive) when it is connected to the PCIe slot using any of the PCIe adapter available in the market. ?

3. What is HP's Turbo Drive ? Is it just a PCIe adapter ?  or is it a PCIe adapter + SSD combo?

4. Can I use any brand of M.2 SSD with the Turbo Drive If it is just an adapter.

[DGroves]

the HP Turbo drive is a pci-e card with a "AHCI" based ssd

the HP Turbo drive G2 is the same pci-e card but with a nvme based ssd

the turbo drive card is locked by HP to specific hp systems, and will not work in other systems unless the card is modded to be unlocked, pre modded cards can be found on ebay using the keywords "tubo drive unlocked" the mod is to remove one transistor (Q1) from the card

if buying a 3rd party m.2 pci-e card try to stay with name brand cards as no name cards can be poorly designed/built

depending on which Z4 G2 model you have  (Xeon or Core cpu) will determine if you have one or two m.2 sockets

only the xeon based boards support dual m.2, and the motherboards ARE DIFFERENT

your answers,

1 = YES

2=YES

3= see comments above

4=YES provided the PCI-e adapter is a M,2 NVME (no AHCI or SATA)

4A=YES provided the PCI-e adapter is a SATA one (no NVME)

AHCI ssd's are now rare and were almost as fast as nvme, but did not require the bios to have nvme boot code as such it can boot from non nvme based bios's the only widely available one was the samsung 950 pro although some OEM models were also available