PCIe 3.0x4 runs in PCIe3.0x2 HP 255 G10 (Ryzen 5 7520U)

[SlavaG10]

Greetings,

I've purchased my laptop a few days ago and upgraded to SN770, but for some reason it's running in 

PCIe3.0 x2 and not as  PCIe3.0x4. Surely the motherboard supports PCIe3.0x4?   Any reasons as to why that is?  I did set my PCIE power options to "Maximum" to make sure it's not running in a power-saving mode.  Thanks!

[TzortzisG]

Hello SlavaG10.

The PCIe lanes that are used by devices are set up on a low-level, either by its hardware, or by the firmware (BIOS) and the way it communicates to the PCIe device controller (in this case the SSD). Windows Power Options have nothing to do with the number of lanes available. All the documentation for your laptop (datasheet1   datasheet2   manual   specsheet) shows that HP sells it with PCIe3 or PCIe4 SSDs, so I'm pretty sure this is an ordinary PCIe3.0x4lane config. There is something weird though. Most of these documents mention a 128GB 2230 drive, yet I can't for the life of me understand where this is supposed to go. The Laptopmedia review for the identical (Intel based) 250 G10 shows a Kioxia Gen4 drive installed, and when removed no screw hole for a 2230 SSD -nor are there any other m.2 slots on the mobo. Yet its manual also claims HP offers a 2230 SSD for it.

Anyways, back to your question. Since I'm positive that HP didn't design this laptop with the purpose of having the SSD limited to only two lanes, the issue is either with the motherboard (best case scenario you just need to reseat the drive, worst case a malfunction) or with the SN770 drive's compatibility with the laptop (probably BIOS level). This won't be the first time a Gaming SSD has problems working correctly on a HP laptop. So the real question is......did the original HP factory fitted drive also use only half of the PCIe3.0x4 lanes?