M.2 SSD port type

[apurohit8]

What is the specification for the M.2 SSD port on this laptop? The specs don't tell you, and only say that the HP provided SSDs are B+M... but I need to know what the PORT supports - is it B or M?

[Huffer]

The port type is M.2. It can support keys on the M.2 SSD either B + M or M as it supports either a SATA or PCIe/NVME M.2 SSD. When you remove the back cover you see this:

M.2 port circled in red

Service manual

See p. 2 for confirmation it takes either type of M.2 SSD. To repeat: All M.2 ports on HP laptops look alike; they have two chambers and if you look at it you think only an "M" key will fit. But a B + M will also slide into those same 2 chambers and in your case either kind will work. Not true on all models but that is another story for another day. 

Post back with any questions and please accept as solution if its the info you needed. 

[apurohit8]

Thank you for the quick answer.

From what i'm seeing, B and M both support PCIe/NVMe.. but the latter is 4-lanes wide, and hence faster. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.2)

From what you're saying this is an M-port... if that's true, that's what I was looking to find out. Can you confirm? The pictures and specs don't make this clear.

Obviously, an M-socket will work with B+M and M-only drives, but the latter will be faster, but I want to be sure it works before I buy one.

I wish HP would simply list this somewhere on the specs... crazy that they don't.

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

You are not fully understanding. There is one kind of port on the laptop called an M.2 port. All of them look the same. 

M.2 port w/2 chambers

You are mixing together a couple concepts here. Yes you want a PCie/NVME M.2 and those tend to be M keyed like this:

NVME M.2 "M" key

You want a PCIE/NVME Gen 3 x4 2280 form factor M.2 SSD such as the one shown above. This is the fastest storage now available to the public. You will get roughly 3200 Mbps read speed. And your laptop will support it. It could also support a SATA M.2 with a B + M key but I am not sure why someone would settle for something 1/5 as fast. 

The Manual says it has an M.2 port which a technician understands will look like the one shown above and then confirms that the specific model supports a PCIe/NVME type M.2 so it tells a technician everything he or she needs to know. There is no such a thing as an "M" socket just "M" keyed SSDs and then B + M and some B only (never actually seen one of them). I know you will find some wiki sites and such calling it an "M" socket but they are not understanding. There is a lot of half-right information out there. 

Post back with any more questions and please accept as solution if this is the info you needed. 

[apurohit8]

Sorry if my wording was incorrect. I know there's only one "type" of port, but I meant to ask about they keying. Basically, I was looking to make sure that an M-only keyed SSD would work. My concern was that it might be a B-keyed port on the laptop, in which case an M-keyed drive would not work (but a B+M would, which is what the specs seem to state).

If it's an M-keyed slot, I'm happy... your post seems to indicate it is, so thank you!

[Huffer]

Yes I have seen pictures or B keyed ports but never seen one on an actual computer.