84DE M2 NVME/PCIE SSD compatibility

[Avsynthe]

So this question has been asked before, though only roughly answered here:

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/M-2-SATA-or-PCIe-SSD-HP-ALL-%C4...

So upon checking the image of the motherboard here:

https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c05951583

I can see the M.2 slot in the top right right. Now the link that was posted to Crucial's website only depicts standard M.2 SATA SSDs and not NVME SSDs.

My confusion begins with the fact the M.2 slot on the board, has the pin separator positioned on the bottom of the slot, which is the position for an NVME slot. The normal M.2 SATA slots have the pin separator on the top.

NOW... Given that this a HP PC, its common knowledge that all HP's are built opposite to standard when it comes to towers. i.e the motherboard is always turned upside-down, and positioned on the left case wall, instead of the right. So could HP really have gone as far to create an M.2 SATA slot in the opposite orientation? A picture of an M.2 SSD installed on the 84DE would confirm this, as I'd be able to see if the front of the SSD faces the board instead of the logo facing out as usual.

Can anyone TRULY confirm whether or not an NVME drive is compatible?

TL;DR, the M.2 slot on the board looks as an NVME slot should, but as this is HP, you never know if they've turned things upside down, and if it may be an M.2 SATA slot upside-down

[Grzwacz]

Greetings,

Welcome to the forum.

I am not a HP employee.

The motherboard in your link has one M.2 socket 3, 2280 type for SSD.

Socket 3 indicates it should support PCIe 3.0x4 data transfer rates. Example of a Intel 760P drive at Amazon (Link).

It should be a Key M socket. A key M, M.2 socket will have a notch at the right of the socket which matches the gap on the drive.

Regards