Question about specs of m.2 socket

[IversonJu]

Hi all,

I recently purchased a nvme m.2 SSD supporting full speed with pcie gen3*4 as an upgrade for media and gaming storage. The installation was fairly easy, simply inserted SSD to the only available socket. Everything was fine until the benchmark was way off. Actually it was only halved of advertised performance for sequential reading. I searched around, then I found my m.2 socket was actually under pcie gen2*4 condition, hence halved the ability of the new SSD.

The mother board is so called HP 2B3A or IPM99-VK. It is a X99 mobo. The mobo does have pcie gen 3 channel as the graphic card is using 16 of them. I checked my specification and found another 16 are available throught pcie socket. My question is quite specific and I was not able to find any detail online. I simply want to ask, if it is possible for this certain model, to change the bandwidth of m.2 socket from pcie gen2 to pcie gen3?  Or the bandwidth of m.2 socket is fixed and there is no solution? 

I even tried to update the bios at a risk (bios only available for win8/7 while mine is win10), but there was no change after that. It would be a little sad given the amount of money invested on an expensive storage without making the most of it.

Best regards,

Ju 

[old_geekster]

@IversonJu, welcome to the forum.

HP has their motherboards made to their specifications.  They aren't the same as retail versions.  Therefore, it is difficult to find the correct information other than on HP's website.  I would be interested in hearing where you got the following information:  "searched around, then I found my m.2 socket was actually under pcie gen2*4 condition, hence halved the ability of the new SSD.".  I haven't been able to find any information on the M.2 slot other than what it shows here in the section titled Expansion Slots.

[IversonJu]

Thanks for your reply, the link you showed is exactly what I could find as well, and it didnt specify the bandwidth of the socket, hence the question asked here if any expert knows it. The way I found the socket was working under pcie gen2*4 came from the SSD tool of the manufacturor, it listed the detailed SMART info and socket information as well.

[old_geekster · Accepted solution]

You are welcome, @IversonJu.  Thank you for the additional information; especially where you got the information on the M.2 socket.

I don't believe that there is any way to increase the bandwidth of the M.2 socket.

[IversonJu]

Probably yes since the mobo is highly customized as a low end x99, possible solution is to get a pcie adaptor for the SSD.

[old_geekster]

@IversonJu, I believe that an adapter should work for you.  You can always check with the manufacturer's Tech Support to make certain.

Good luck!