M.2 SSD slot configuration AND using the PCIe x16

[Maké]

Hi!, @trinlv :

When receive your SSD M.2 manipulate and install with very carefully, why can fail and destroy if received electrostatic discharge ( hysteresis ), of your hand's. Remember what your body is a condenser or capacitor. Don't use garments with synthetic fibers.

[trinlv]

The 970 is now installed and quite fast. However, I'm only getting the PCIe x2 performance, not the x4 which the drive is capable of delivering. I have checked the BIOS, but do not see any setting that would switch from x2 to x4. 

Any ideas?

I have already purchased a "StarTech.com PEX4M2E1 M.2 Adapter - x4 PCIe 3.0 NVMe" to fit into the only open slot. I'm OK with this as I do not anticipate ever buying a graphics card for this machine.  It's only $24 for the adapter.

Unless someone chimes in, I'll assume that the Menlo motherboard based upon the Intel 3270 chipset was implemented with a M.2 x2 interface only.

Thanks!

[Grzwacz]

Hi trinlv,

The Menlo MB should support PCIe 3.0 x  4.

PCIe 3.0x2 is unacceptable for this MB.

Did you install the 970 in the Star Tech adapter? Why? Not required.

The Menlo MB has an M.2 slot on the system board. This MB  M.2 slot slot should provide PCIe 3.0 x 4 speeds.

Regards

[trinlv]

The SSD is installed in the M.2 slot on the motherboard and the Samsung Magician for the SSD tells me it's the x2 speed and the test scores also confirm this. 

Larger motherboards based on the 3270 chipset have two M.2 slots, one that runs at x4 and the other that runs at x2. 

This motherboard has just one slot. 

The BIOS settings on the Menlo motherboard don't have anything I can change. The BIOS is dated from May 2018.

I too am disappointed that I can't use the full capacity of the system without buying an interface card. Not acceptable.

[Grzwacz]

Hi trinlv,

Very sorry to see the Menlo MB M.2 slot is limited to x2 speeds.

Z170, Z270, and Z370 MBs support PCIe 3.0x4  M.2 speeds based on the capabilities of the storage device.

I get  3500+MB/s read and 2500+ MB/s write speeds using a Samsung 970 EVO on my system.

Regards

[trinlv]

Sounds like you have a different motherboard than the one I have in this unit.

Anyway, a $24 interface card should get me to the x4 speeds....

$499 on sale at best buy

$170  for 500 gig 970 Evo SSD

$102  for 8 gig memory module

$  24   for interface card

---------

$795  for a small form factor core i7-8700 with 16 gig RAM and a screaming hard drive

[Grzwacz]

Hi trinlv,

Adding any interface card is not going to solve your problem.

I build systems.

I have an Asus system.

Adding a PCIe 3.0x4 M.2 riser card gets fuzzy with system integrator MBs.

No guarantee you can use the M.2 (970) device installed in a PCIe 3.0x4 socket as a bootable device.

Are you suggesting to build a new system?

Regards

[trinlv]

Yes, I'm aware the drive might not be bootable, but we'll see how it goes. My figures above is how much I've spent on this HP machine + upgrades. Thanks for the advice in this thread.

[Grzwacz]

Hi trinlv,

You're very welcome.

Regards

[trinlv · Accepted solution]

With the system upgraded to 16 Gig and the PCI interface card running at x4, here's the Samsung Magician results. From the time the system turns on (backlight keyboard is lit) it is just 2 seconds until login screen and 2 seconds once my PIN is entered and I'm using my machine....So blazing fast....It doesn't get any better than this.

with hardware upgrades and Samsung driver