M.2 SSD compatiablty

[heavyhook]

Hey Guys. I have an ASUS ROG G751JY-DB72 gaming laptop that's about 2.5 years. My OS is on an M.2 Samsung MZHPU256HCGL-00005 M-key 2.0x4 PCIE Express SSD. I am wanting to upgrade to a 500GB SSD. I have consulted with a local Computer Upgrade/Repair professional on what M.2 SSD to buy. He is recommending a Samsung 970 EVO M.2 which is a V-NAND MVME 3.0 X 4 PCIE Express SSD.
I am just wanting to know if this 970 EVO is compatible with my motherboard and system before I drop $200+ on the SSD and another $150 to install it.
My OEM I don't believe is an NVME or V-NAND SSD. It also is a 2.0 X 4, The 970 EVO is a 3.0 X 4. My Tech assures my their backward compatible? Both have a 22mm X 80MM physical size with an M-Key.
If the 970 Evo is not compatible with my motherboard/system could someone recommend the best 500GB M.2 SSD I can upgrade to? Thank you for your help!

 

[Barty1884]

The M.2 you have is an XP941 ..... essentially an OEM variant of one of their consumer drives (like a 950 Pro, or similar... I don't recall off-hand).

Yes, a modern 3.0 x4 drive will work in place of a 2.0 x4...... the speeds available will be limtied by the board/chipset used though.

Appears to be a Haswell era (i7-4720HQ)? Where you're likely limited to 2.0 x4, so spending money on a more modern 3.0 x4 drive makes zero sense. You'll be limited by the 2.0 x4 speeds (if you'd ever even notice anyway).

An older 2.0 x4 (or more budget 3.0 x4) NVMe drive probably makes the most sense IMO.

A 512GB A-DATA drive can be had for $98 USD right now (limited time, usually $160)
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIADF16R03239&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker,%20LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

Or a 512GB WD Black for $150
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/wjDzK8/western-digital-black-512gb-m2-2280-solid-state-drive-wds512g1x0c


Out of curiosity, does your laptop look like this?
https://rog.asus.com/articles/g-series-gaming-laptops/gallery-g751-upgrade-guide/

If so, $150 to install it is absurd!!! Physically, it won't take you longer than 5 minutes, and an OS setup isn't overly complicated either.

 

[heavyhook]

My ASUS Laptop is exactly like the pictures in the link you provided. Two issues I am having installing a new m.2 Windows 10 device manager nor the Bios will not recognize an M.2 970 EVO when it is installed. That's booting to a 2.5 HHD. That's the reason I consulted a local PC repair business for assistance. I will defiantly check out the links you provided to the compatible SSD's. I went back and looked @ ASUS website for the M.2 specs, it indicates M.2 X4 thats it. I wondering if it my MB might not be able to use a 3.0 X 4 M.2? I contacted ASUS support and those knuckleheads won't tell you anything about the system without paying to talk to Tech support. Really after spending $2500 on one of the there products. That's just crazy!!! Thanks, Eternal Champion for your input.

 

[Barty1884]

A 3.0 x4 will work, just at the lower 2.0 x4 speeds.

You've already installed the 970? If the older M.2 drive was detected without issue, I don't see any reason the new one wouldn't be.

What happens when you boot to installation media? (maybe remove the 2.5" HDD temporarily). When you boot into the install media & it asks for an install destination, does a drive appear?

 

[heavyhook]

I had changed out my 2.5"HHD with one that has a copy of Win7 on it so I would have a boot drive to start windows on. When I installed the 970Evo M.2 neither the Bios or Device Manager could detect the 970Evo. I had a local PC repair Tech try to figure it out but he spent 2 days the only way he could see it was in DOS but was unable to do anything with it. I actually had him look at the 970Evo specs before I ordered it to make sure it was compatible with my system. Charged me $25.00 for that. Now he's recommending I get a 960EVO. I've sent the 970EVO back to Amazon. I don't trust anything the Tech tells me at this point. I just want to get a quality M.2 that my BIOS can detect. I think I can figure out how to migrate my Win10 OS to a new M.2 of Drive using one of the software programs like AOMEI Backupper I've found! The only info I get from ASUS is that my OEM M.2 is a PCI-E X4 , unknown if its a 2.0,3.0,4.0 Gen. and I know its got a Type M key connection. I read somewhere in a post that an NVME SSD would not work. I'm not sure if that's right or not. I apologize for all this BS I'm posting. This has turned into a real headache. The A-Data drive you recommended is out of stock. I'm ready to order the WD-Black one if that's the only choice I have?