Using an M.2 SSD in the Pavilion 570-p017c

[trigeek]

I found an illuminating site for this motherboard https://universaldatasystems.org/shop/product/aahd3-hb-intel-hp-amd-hudson-d3-hibiscus-motherboard/

It states:

Expansion Slots:

PCI Express Generation 2 speed:

One PCI Express x16

3 PCI Express x1

1 PCI Express Mini

6 SATA 3.0 COnnectors (like I said)

and also has a motherboard layout diagram showing all those items clearly,

So, back to my stupid question, will a NVM SSD work, like, for example, the PNY CS1030 2TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen3 x4 Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - M280CS1030-2TB-RB?

[NonSequitur777]

@trigeek,

Perhaps a PCIe x1 to M.2 SATA NGFF M-Key SSD adapter would work to install an M.2 SATA NGFF M-Key SSD as a storage drive only: Amazon.com: JSER NVME to PCI-E 4.0 Low Profile PCI-E 3.0 x1 Lane to M.2 NGFF M-Key SSD Nvme AHCI PCI....

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[trigeek]

Yes, I'm thinking along those lines, too, but one site I found made me cautious about that:https://pcguide101.com/storage/can-you-put-m-2-ssd-in-pcie-slot/#:~:text=The%20short%20answer%20to%2....

But that seems to say I  cannot use PCIEx1 and must either use PCIEx4 or perhaps even PCIEx16. I found an adapter that may work https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-advanced-solution-Controller-Expansion/dp/B07JKH5VTL

but I want to have another look in my PC. If the PCIEx16 is empty, which I seem to remember it was, then the best route would be to get an adapter for that supporting an M.2 M key and I should be good to go. Does that sound right? I am/was a software engineer, not a hardware person, so I'm skating on thin ice.

[NonSequitur777]

@trigeek,

If you are going to use your PCIe x16 slot, based on my own experience with legacy HP desktops, I would recommend something like this: Amazon.com: SABRENT NVMe M.2 SSD to PCIe X16/X8/X4 Card with Aluminum Heat Sink (EC-PCIE) : Everythi....

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[trigeek]

Thank you very much - and for all your advice.

I do not relish getting a new PC for my wife and having to build it out with Ubuntu and then copy over the old hard drive and maybe have to reinstall apps, so this would extend the life. Cloning my old 2tB HDD to the SSD was quite simple. The hard part was ensuring the UUIDs were different so I could boot from the SSD. Also changing grub so I could power off the HDD.

[NonSequitur777]

@trigeek,

You are quite welcome, glad I could assist.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[trigeek]

The motherboard was as in the picture you posted and the PCIEx16 was indeed empty, as were the PCIE-x1 slots. So I proceeded to order the SSD and the Sabrent adapter you recommended, NonSequitur777. They're due tomorrow and I will install them and clone the 1 tB HDD to the SSD probably on Wed. and report on the results.

Once again, thanks for your unstinting help.

Kevin

[NonSequitur777]

@trigeek,

Like I mentioned three posts before, quote: "as a storage drive only".

Meaning -and this is based on my experience with legacy PCs, an M.2 NVMe SSD mounted on a PCIe x4/x16 slot using an adapter is available as a storage device, but your BIOS will not detect it as a bootable drive.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[trigeek]

That's sobering. Anyway, I installed the SSD in the adapter and the PC recognizes it. Now the big heave is to see how I can get it to boot. Worst case I would need a USB stick to boot from, then continue with the SSD. Stay tuned and, again, thanks for your support.

Kevin

[NonSequitur777]

@trigeek,

As introduced to me by @DGroves and @Paul_Tikkanen, there is, apparently, a way* to boot from your M.2 NVMe SSD as you can read here in one of my HP legacy upgrade projects: Solved: Upgrading HP Elite 8300 SFF - HP Support Community - 8509911.  I sort of pursued it, but realizing it was going to take a lot of time, I stopped working on it.

* "possible solution for your nvme drive is a software bootloader such as DUET/REFIND or clover"

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777