Differentiating M.2 SATA from PCIe

[CluelessAboutTech]

I'm looking to add an M.2 SSD to my laptop but I don't know if the M.2 slot supports SATA or PCIe. Is there any way to know other than buying and testing?
Laptop is an Acer E14 E5-475G. I can't find anything about this on their website.
Thanks in advance, forum.

 

[drtweak]

read this

https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Overview-of-M-2-SSDs-586/

 

[CluelessAboutTech]

read this

https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Overview-of-M-2-SSDs-586/

Sorry, but the article doesn't really say how to know if the slot connects through PCIe or SATA.
The article mentions "So if you try to use a PCI-E drive in a SATA-only M.2 slot (or vice-versa) it will not function correctly." which is essentially my question, how do I know if the M.2 slot on my laptop's board is SATA-only or PCIe-only or if it supports both?
Or did I miss anything from the article?

 

[mbarnes86]

Hi

are you sure there is a M2 slot on the motherboard?

I looked at the Crucial memory site and they offer DDR4 SO dimms and standard 2.5" sata SSD with no M2 drives offered

EDIT I was wrong Crucial does not seem to be offering M2 SSD's
I found one link suggesting M2 SSD for that laptop
http://www.driver-solution.com/2017/09/acer-e5-475g-driver-download.html

also a youtube video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubRAfWRpiT8

sugesting using SSD M.2 850 EV0 250 GB


regards
Mike Barnes

 

[CluelessAboutTech]

Hi

are you sure there is a M2 slot on the motherboard?

I looked at the Crucial memory site and they offer DDR4 SO dimms and standard 2.5" sata SSD with no M2 drives offered

EDIT I was wrong Crucial does not seem to be offering M2 SSD's
I found one link suggesting M2 SSD for that laptop
http://www.driver-solution.com/2017/09/acer-e5-475g-driver-download.html

also a youtube video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubRAfWRpiT8

sugesting using SSD M.2 850 EV0 250 GB


regards
Mike Barnes

Yep. It has an M.2 slot. If the guy in the vid got an 850 EVO working, can I assume my laptop takes SATA M.2?

 

[drtweak]

read this

https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Overview-of-M-2-SSDs-586/

Sorry, but the article doesn't really say how to know if the slot connects through PCIe or SATA.
The article mentions "So if you try to use a PCI-E drive in a SATA-only M.2 slot (or vice-versa) it will not function correctly." which is essentially my question, how do I know if the M.2 slot on my laptop's board is SATA-only or PCIe-only or if it supports both?
Or did I miss anything from the article?

There is M key and B Key. M Key only is a PCIe Deivce a M + B Key is a SATA Device. If you look at your interface on your board and you see a notch ONLY for the M Key it will do both. If you see a notch for BOTH the M + B Key then it a SATA Only slot. Again this is looking at the board NOT the SSD Drive itself as a NVMe will be M key only while a SATA Device will have both but it all depends on what the motherboard is showing.

 

[jaguarskx]

Your Acer laptop will only have a m.2 SATA connection because it is a rather inexpensive laptop. M.2 PCIe NVME are basically found in more expensive laptops. Generally speaking, I would say they can be found in laptops that are equivalent to $1,100+ USD laptops.

 

[ArtPog]

Why don't you contact Acer tech support at https://www.acer.com/ac/en/MY/content/support and obtain a definitive answer to your question?

Have handy your laptop's model #, serial #, and the PRECISE make/model of the M.2 SSD you're possibly planning to purchase.