Question Will this NVME work in my laptop?

[gonzotrocity]

I have a Lenovo Ideapad 530S-15IKB laptop with a Western Digital WDC PC SN520 SDAPMUW-256G-1101 NVME storage device. This is a 2242 form factor 256GB NVME.

I'd like to upgrade my storage to a 512GB NVME but 2242 NVME's are almost impossible to find where I live. After a couple of YEARS of looking, I've found a Samsung Mz-alq5120 NVME for sale. Strangely, I can find nothing about this device at samsung.com, but an Amazon listing describes it as a PCIe Gen3 x4 device. My Western Digital NVME card is a PCIe Gen3 x2 device.

Can I replace my current NVME with the Samsung NVME? It's so hard for me to find a 2242 NVME that I don't care if the Samsung device's performance will be degraded by using it in my Ideapad.

TIA to all who reply.

 

[CountMike]

I have a Lenovo Ideapad 530S-15IKB laptop with a Western Digital WDC PC SN520 SDAPMUW-256G-1101 NVME storage device. This is a 2242 form factor 256GB NVME.

I'd like to upgrade my storage to a 512GB NVME but 2242 NVME's are almost impossible to find where I live. After a couple of YEARS of looking, I've found a Samsung Mz-alq5120 NVME for sale. Strangely, I can find nothing about this device at samsung.com, but an Amazon listing describes it as a PCIe Gen3 x4 device. My Western Digital NVME card is a PCIe Gen3 x2 device.

Can I replace my current NVME with the Samsung NVME? It's so hard for me to find a 2242 NVME that I don't care if the Samsung device's performance will be degraded by using it in my Ideapad.

TIA to all who reply.

Yes, they are downward compatible,

 

[faalin]

you might want to open the laptop, from the pictures i see on the interweb it looks like it has a full length NVMe slot for a second drive.


Link to Ifixit with a tear down and photo of a 2280 nvme drive installed LINK

 

[Fix_that_Glitch]

It has 2280 size nvme listed as compatible for your laptop. laptops and netbooks :: 500 series :: 530s 15ikb :: 81ev Lenovo PC Support - Lenovo Support US

 

[Bob.B]

I have a Lenovo Ideapad 530S-15IKB laptop with a Western Digital WDC PC SN520 SDAPMUW-256G-1101 NVME storage device. This is a 2242 form factor 256GB NVME.

I'd like to upgrade my storage to a 512GB NVME but 2242 NVME's are almost impossible to find where I live. After a couple of YEARS of looking, I've found a Samsung Mz-alq5120 NVME for sale. Strangely, I can find nothing about this device at samsung.com, but an Amazon listing describes it as a PCIe Gen3 x4 device. My Western Digital NVME card is a PCIe Gen3 x2 device.

Can I replace my current NVME with the Samsung NVME? It's so hard for me to find a 2242 NVME that I don't care if the Samsung device's performance will be degraded by using it in my Ideapad.

TIA to all who reply.

Some reading.
https://www.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/lenovo/ideapad-530s-15ikb

 

[gonzotrocity]

I've been all over looking for a screwdriver that fits the base screws but can't find one.

Here's what lshw reports:
$ lshw -C storage
*-storage
description: Non-Volatile memory controller
product: Sandisk Corp
vendor: Sandisk Corp
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:02:00.0
version: 01
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: storage pm msi msix pciexpress nvm_express bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=nvme latency=0
resources: irq:18 memory:a1000000-a1003fff
*-nvme0
description: NVMe device
product: WDC PC SN520 SDAPMUW-256G-1101
physical id: 0
logical name: /dev/nvme0
version: 20110001
serial: 183034459323
configuration: nqn=nqn.2018-01.com.wdc:nguid:183034459323-0001-001B444A444C0142 state=live

Like I said, this is a 2242 device.

@faalin: Teardown video shows a Samsung PM981 which is a 2280 device. That's not what I have.

@Bob.B: Your link only shows Crucial 2280 devices.

@Fix_that_Glitch: Your Lenovo link shows mostly 2242 devices with a sprinkling of 2280 devices.

Thanks to everyone who replied. After Easter, I'll pull the trigger on the Samsung Mz-alq5120 NVME I mentioned in my OP. Basically, I'm accepting @CountMike's statement that the Samsung device is compatible with what I have.

 

[Fix_that_Glitch]

Either way you will have to open the laptop to replace the nvme. Seeing what nvme your laptop can use would clear up any doubt.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Like I said, this is a 2242 device.

Probably have some kind of M.2 extension adapter in there to fit 2242 drive.
2280 drive can be installed without any adapters.

 

[faalin]

I've been all over looking for a screwdriver that fits the base screws but can't find one.

Here's what lshw reports:
$ lshw -C storage
*-storage
description: Non-Volatile memory controller
product: Sandisk Corp
vendor: Sandisk Corp
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:02:00.0
version: 01
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: storage pm msi msix pciexpress nvm_express bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=nvme latency=0
resources: irq:18 memory:a1000000-a1003fff
*-nvme0
description: NVMe device
product: WDC PC SN520 SDAPMUW-256G-1101
physical id: 0
logical name: /dev/nvme0
version: 20110001
serial: 183034459323
configuration: nqn=nqn.2018-01.com.wdc:nguid:183034459323-0001-001B444A444C0142 state=live

Like I said, this is a 2242 device.

@faalin: Teardown video shows a Samsung PM981 which is a 2280 device. That's not what I have.

@Bob.B: Your link only shows Crucial 2280 devices.

@Fix_that_Glitch: Your Lenovo link shows mostly 2242 devices with a sprinkling of 2280 devices.

Thanks to everyone who replied. After Easter, I'll pull the trigger on the Samsung Mz-alq5120 NVME I mentioned in my OP. Basically, I'm accepting @CountMike's statement that the Samsung device is compatible with what I have.

there's two slots for m.2, the one that i posted shows there is room for a 2280 style drive. then there is also a 2242 which is right under it next to the battery. which means you dont have to try and find a 2242 drive since there is a slot for a 2280 which more common size.

 

[Pextaxmx]

isn't 2230 size NVMe rather common? If 2280 slot doesn't workout, I think you can get a 2230 size and use extention. You can DIY using some thin plastic piece and nuts and screws.