M.2 SSD communication format

[nathanloiselle]

I'm looking at updating the PC with a SSD as it only came with a HDD.  I was considering using the open M.2 slot as it could be faster for speed but I don't know whether the slot will accept SATA or PCIe.

[Grzwacz · Accepted solution]

Greetings,

Welcome back to the forum.

I am not a HP employee.

Your PC has a key M socket.

HP has been consistently only doing PCIe NVME on the M.2 sockets included in newer consumer motherboards.

Key M sockets can support both SATA and PCIe but the OEM decides whether to support both protocols. SATA and older PCIe specifications work using a B+M socket.

I believe Socket three refers to PCIe x4. Four PCIe lanes.

Regards