Purpose and characteristics of the ultra-fast M.2 connector. Choosing an SSD: review of technologies on the market and comparative tests

Although solid state drives (SSDs) have been around for a while, I only recently started using them myself. It was stopped by the price and small capacity, although it was supported by significantly higher performance compared to conventional hard drives. Before delving into the types of SSDs, manufacturing technologies, types of memory and controllers used, you should dwell on the form factor (i.e., essentially, the physical dimensions) of these drives, i.e., how they differ in shape, what connectors have and how to use them. If SSDs of the 2.5-inch form factor do not raise questions (in size and location of interface connectors they are almost identical to hard drives), then another type raises questions. SSD M2 - what is it, where to connect it, is it better or worse than usual? Let's figure it out

Development of the SATA interface

This interface replaced PATA, becoming more compact, replacing the wide cable with a thinner and more convenient one. The desire for compactness is a normal trend. Even SATA needed a variant that would allow it to be used in mobile devices or where there are special requirements for the size of components. This is how the mSATA option appeared - the same SATA, but in a more compact package.

This connector did not live long, because it was quickly replaced by another - M.2, which has great capabilities. Please note that the abbreviation does not contain the letters “SATA”, and I did not say that this is a new version of this particular interface. Why - this will become clear a little later.

I will only say that both mSATA and M.2 allow you to do without cables and power cables, which increases convenience and allows you to make your computer more compact. Moreover, M.2 is even smaller than mSATA.

What does M.2 look like and what is it for?

This is a small connector located on the motherboard or expansion card that fits into the PCI-Express slot. You can use M.2 not only for SSDs, but also for installing Wi-fi, Bluetooth modules, etc. The scope of application can be quite large, which makes M.2 very useful. If you are planning to upgrade your computer, then I believe that having this connector on the motherboard, even if you do not plan to install anything in it yet, can be useful. Who knows what will happen in a few months, what new device you will want to buy...

An example of M.2 can be seen in the illustrations. He might be like this

or like that.

What is the difference? In a jumper (called a “key”) that is in the connector. In order to understand its purpose, let's delve a little deeper into computer interfaces.

M-key and B-key

Modern hard drives (including SSDs) are traditionally connected to the SATA bus. I have, but I’ll repeat it briefly here.
SATA III has a maximum throughput of 6 Gbps, approximately 550-600 MB/s. For ordinary hard drives such speeds are unattainable, but for SSD drives it is generally not difficult to achieve much higher speeds. But there is no point in this if the interface still cannot “pump” the data stream at a speed greater than that of which it is capable.

Therefore, it became possible to use the PCI-Express bus, which has greater bandwidth:

• PCI Express 2.0 with two lanes (PCI-E 2.0 x2) provides throughput of 8 Gbps, or approximately 800 MB/s.
• PCI Express 3.0 with four lanes (PCI-E 3.0 x4) gives 32 Gbps, which corresponds to approximately 3.2 GB/s.

Which interface is used to connect devices determines the position of the key (jumper).

SATA (M+B key):

PCI-Express (M key):

SSD drives can have the following key options:

For example, let's take the ASUS Z170-P motherboard. It has an M.2 connector with an M-key. This means that the PCIe ×4 bus is used. The question immediately arises: is it possible to install an SSD drive with a SATA interface there? But this is an interesting question.

You'll have to look into the motherboard's specifications and see if it supports M.2 SATA. According to the manufacturer's website, then yes. This means that if you buy an SSD drive, for example, Intel 600p Series, then it was originally designed for the PCIe ×4 bus and there should be no problems.

What if there is, for example, a Crucial MX300 running on a SATA bus? According to the manufacturer's specifications, such an SSD should also work.

You should pay special attention when purchasing a motherboard whether the SATA bus is supported in the M.2 interface.

Let's summarize what has been said.

1. M.2 is simply a different form factor (size and connector) of SSD drives. The SATA and/or PCI-Express bus is used. M.2 connectors installed on motherboards use the PCIe ×4 bus. The possibility of installing an SSD with a SATA interface must be indicated in the specifications for the motherboard.
2. The type of bus used by the SDD disk depends on the keys. SATA drives are usually available with M+B key formula, and PCIe x4 drives with M key formula.

2242, 2260, 2280 - what is it?

Looking at the characteristics of a motherboard or laptop that has an M.2 connector, you can see the following line in the description of this connector: “M key, type 2242/2260/2280.” Okay, with the “M key”, I hope it’s already clear, this is the location of the key in the connector (which indicates the use of the PCIe ×4 bus). But what does “type 2242/2260/2280” mean?

It's simple, these are the sizes of SSD drives that can be installed in this slot. Physical dimensions. The first 2 digits are the width, which is 22 mm. The second 2 digits are the length. It can vary and be 42, 60 or 80 mm. Therefore, if the selected SSD, for example, the same Crucial MX300, has a length of 80 mm, i.e., it belongs to type 2280, then there will be no problems with its installation.

SSD Transcend MTS400 with a capacity of 64 GB has a length of 42 mm, i.e. type 2242. If support for such an SSD is declared, then installing it will also not be difficult. In reality, this indicates whether the motherboard or laptop case has drive-retaining screws that accommodate the different lengths of modules being installed. Here's what it looks like on the motherboard.

Conclusion

M.2 is a more compact form factor of SSD drives. Many models are available both in the traditional 2.5-inch format and in the form of a small board with an M.2 connector. If a laptop or motherboard has such a connector, then this is a good reason to place a drive in it. Whether to make it systemic or use it for other purposes is a separate question.

Personally, when upgrading my computer at home, as I mean, I plan to use M.2 to install a disk for the system. This will reduce the number of wires slightly, and it will work quickly.

Still have questions? Ask. Am I doing something wrong? Always ready for constructive criticism. Did you leave something out? Let's figure it out together.

M.2 connector (formerly known as Next Generation Form Factor and NGFF) is a specification included in the SATA 3.2 standard for computer devices and their connectors, approved by the Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO) for tablets and thin computers. Created to replace the already outdated SATA, mSATA and Mini PCI-E formats. The key innovation of M.2 (NGFF) is support for data transfer via PCI Express 3.0 with a total theoretical throughput of up to 32 Gbps. Which is almost 6 times more than the SATA 3.0 standard allowed.

M.2 expansion cards can provide various functions, for example: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, satellite navigation, NFC radio, digital radio, Wireless Gigabit Alliance (WiGig), Wireless WAN (WWAN) and others. Fast and compact solid-state flash drives (SSDs) are often manufactured in the form of M.2 modules.

The use of a new device format made it possible to use the DevSleep minimum power consumption mode, the Transitional Energy Reporting power management mechanism, the Hybrid Information mechanism (increasing the efficiency of data caching in hybrid drives) and Rebuild Assist (a function that speeds up the process of data recovery in RAID arrays).

Form factor and keys.

Simply put, M.2 is a mobile variant of the SATA Express protocol described in the SATA 3.2 specification for tablets and thin computers. This interface can be compatible with devices using SATA, PCI Express, USB 3.0, I2C and others protocols. M.2 supports up to four PCI Express 3.0 lanes, while SATA Express connectors transfer data over only two PCI Express 2.0 lanes. The boards have 4 widths (12, 16, 22 and 30 mm) and 8 lengths (16, 26, 30, 38, 42, 60, 80 and 110 mm).

In addition to the length and width of devices connected to M.2, standards for the thickness of components on the board are described. Also, single-sided and double-sided installation designs (Single Sided and Double Sided), divided into 8 more types. For a more convenient understanding, I will provide a table below:

The thickness of the components on the board of the device connected to M.2 (dimensions are indicated in millimeters).

To indicate the M.2 type, devices are marked with a code according to the scheme WWLL-HH-K-K or WWLL-HH-K, where WW and LL are the dimensions of the module in width and length in millimeters. HH encodes whether the module is single-sided or double-sided, as well as the maximum allowable height (thickness) of the components placed on it, for example “D2”. Part K-K indicates key cuts; if the module uses only one key, one letter K is used. If K-K is used, then the module has 2 keys.

A diagram with a detailed explanation of all marking meanings indicating the values.

As of 2018, the most popular sizes are defined as: width 22 mm, length 80 or 60 mm (M.2-2280 and M.2-2260), less often 42 mm. Many early M.2 drives and motherboards used the SATA interface, the most popular dongles for them are B(SATA and PCIe x2). Modern motherboards implement the M.2 PCI Express 3.0 x4 slot and the corresponding key M(SATA and PCIe x4). Devices designed for use in M-keyed sockets are not electrically compatible with B-keyed sockets, and vice versa, unless otherwise stated. Although it is not uncommon, as practice shows, they are physically compatible (if turned over). To connect expansion cards, such as WiFi, modules of size 1630 and 2230 and dongles are used A or E.

M.2 - the board must not only fit in size, but also have a key arrangement compatible with the slot. The keys limit mechanical compatibility between different connectors and M.2 form factor cards and prevent drives from being installed incorrectly in the slot.

Actually, before purchasing an expansion card, you need to check with the manufacturer about the type of connector and compatible dimensions (length, width, thickness, single-sided and double-sided).

What are Socket 1, Socket 2, Socket 3 as applied to M.2 (NGFF) devices?

Indeed, the concept of a socket also appears for M.2 devices. I’m thinking of creating groups of M.2 connectors on Socket 1,2,3 for a simplified separation of devices that are not compatible with each other. Formally dividing all types of devices into 3 easy-to-understand types.

The division principle is clearly shown in the following table:

Let's look at an example based on real online stores:

SSD drive SAMSUNG M.2 860 EVO 250 GB M.2 2280 SATA III (MZ-N6E250BW)

From the description it is clear that we have a Samsung SSD with a capacity of 250Gb, designed for use in the M.2 connector. Next comes the marking “2280” indicating the physical size - 22 mm wide, 80 mm long. Not a word about thickness and single-sided or double-sided design. In this case, you will have to check from other sources or the drive manufacturer. After indicating the size marking it is written - SATA III. What does this mean? This means that the drive uses the SATA III logical interface. That is, we still have the same classic SATA drive, but made to fit the dimensions and M.2 connector. The speed advantages of PCI Express are not used here.

That's all, the seller's description is exhausted. What are we still missing? We lack an explicit indication of the type of connector key; let this remain on the conscience of the seller. But we visually see 2 slots, this means that this drive can be used as part of motherboards with a connector like B and type M. This is a visual assessment, I repeat again - you need to check with the manufacturer.

Let's try again:

SSD disk Samsung 960 EVO M.2 250 GB M.2 PCI-E TLC MZ-V6E250BW

Here we see the Samsung 960 EVO SSD, also on the M.2 connector. In general, without indicating the marking of physical dimensions and type, presumably also “2280” (always needs to be clarified from other sources). The following are PCI-E and TLC, what does this mean? This means that the device uses the PCI Express logical interface (which 2.0 or 3.0 is not clear, and how many 2x-4x lanes are also not known). TLC is a type of memory chip device. At this point, the online store considered the description sufficient. I think the warranty will tell him otherwise later...

But visually we see in this image one slot in the M.2 connector (presumably corresponding to the key M). And here you need to be careful, the device may physically fit into the connector B. And most likely, it will burn the board and the device. Therefore, it is necessary to know exactly what type of connector is installed on the board and which one is purchased.

Implementation of logical interface and command set.

For M.2 expansion cards, three options for implementing a logical interface and command set are available, similar to the SATA Express standard:

“Legacy SATA” Used for SSDs with a SATA interface, AHCI driver and speeds up to 6.0 Gb/s (SATA 3.0) “SATA Express” using AHCI Used for SSDs with a PCI Express interface and AHCI driver (for compatibility with a large number of operating systems) . Due to the use of AHCI, performance may be slightly less than optimal (obtained with NVMe), since AHCI was designed to interface with slower drives with slow sequential access (such as HDDs), rather than SSDs with fast random access. "SATA Express" using NVMe Used for SSDs with a PCI Express interface and a high-performance NVMe driver designed to work with fast flash drives. NVMe was designed to take advantage of the low latency and parallelism of PCI Express SSDs. NVMe makes better use of parallelism in the host computer and software, requires fewer data transfer stages, provides a deeper command queue, and more efficient interrupt handling.

What is NVMe?

NVM Express ( NVMe, NVMHCI - from English. Non-Volatile Memory Host Controller Interface Specification). The NVM Express logical interface was designed from the ground up with the main goals being low latency and efficient use of the high parallelism of solid-state drives through the use of a new instruction set and queuing engine optimized to work with modern multi-core processors.

The NVMe protocol speeds up I/O operations by eliminating the SAS (SCSI) command stack. NVMe SSDs connect directly to the PCIe bus. Applications receive dramatic performance gains from shifting I/O activity from SAS/SATA SSDs and HDDs to NVMe SSDs. Memory devices of the new type of storage are non-volatile and the latency when accessing them is significantly lower - at the level of latencies of RAM (volatile) memory.

The NVMe controller demonstrates all the advantages of an SSD: very low access latencies and a huge queue depth for read and write operations. The extremely low latency of storage devices significantly reduces the likelihood of data table locks during updates. This is critical for multi-user databases with complex and interconnected tables.

Very important: the motherboard's UEFI BIOS must contain an NVMe driver to boot the OS from the appropriate drive.

Conclusion.

In conclusion, the advantages adopted by the SATA 3.2 standard become obvious. The emergence of new specifications and connectors will expand the choice of compatible expansion cards for both laptops and desktop computers. It will also increase the overall performance of computing systems from laptop to server.

The interface itself is fraught with a large number of pitfalls for both the average user and the professional. Perhaps this is due to its novelty, or maybe some “dampness”.

In any case, I tried to collect as much important information as possible. Any questions you may have can be asked in the comments to the article. If the article helped you, you can thank me by sending donations to a Yandex wallet, the form for sending money is located at the very bottom of the site (footer). Thank you for your attention to my article.

Despite the fact that solid-state drives, that is, SSDs, have appeared quite a long time ago, many users are just beginning to learn about them and use them on their computers. This may be due to the high price and small capacity, although they have higher performance than standard drives and are much faster.

Before delving into the types of hard drives, their manufacturing technologies, memory types and controllers, it is necessary to focus on the form factor (size). Each device is different in size, has its own connection connectors and is used in completely different ways. If a 2.5-inch SSD does not raise any questions, since it is similar in size and placement of connectors to conventional hard drives, then other types raise a lot of questions.

Today we will talk about devices such as SSD M.2 drives, what they are, what their features and advantages are. This is a relatively new standard, which, according to many experts, is a revolutionary solution. Let's take a closer look at this topic and find out as much information as possible.

Development of the SATA interface

The SATA interface has become a good replacement for PATA, replacing the wide cable with a more compact, thin and convenient option. The main trend in its development was the desire for compactness, and this is quite normal. Even the new interface required a variation that would allow it to be used in mobile devices and where there are special requirements for the size of components.

Thus, mSATA was created - the same interface, only with more compact dimensions. But it did not live long and was quickly replaced by a completely new one - the M.2 connector, which had even greater capabilities. It is not by mistake that the word SATA is not in the abbreviation, since the new version does not belong to this standard. We will talk about this in more detail later.

The only thing that needs to be said is that the M.2 SSD drive is connected without power cables and cables, thanks to which its use becomes as comfortable as possible and allows the computer to be even more compact. This is one of its key advantages.

M.2 Interface Overview

M.2 is a connector on an expansion card installed in a PCI-Express slot, or on the motherboard itself. You can install not only M.2 SSDs in it, but other modules, including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The scope of application of this connector is quite wide, which makes it incredibly convenient and useful.

When upgrading your computer, be sure to pay attention to it and install a motherboard with this connector, even if you do not plan to install a solid-state drive with this interface yet.

However, if you have a fairly old motherboard and you don't want to change it, for example, "GA-P75-D3" with a missing M2 slot, but it has PCI-E 3.0, which has a video card and a PCIe x4 slot. In this case, you can install an SSD on PCIe x4 through a special adapter, but its speed will be slightly lower.

Absolutely all M.2 SSD drives have recessed mounting in M.2 connectors. This form factor provides maximum performance with minimal resource consumption and is designed for technological improvements in hard drives in the future.

Moreover, as mentioned above, connection does not require cables and cables, which usually only take up extra space. To start working with the device, simply insert it into the connector.

M-key and B-key

Today's hard drives, including SSDs, are connected to the SATA bus. The maximum throughput of which is 6 Gb/s, that is, approximately 550-600 Mb/s. For a regular drive, such a speed is simply unattainable, but SSD drives can reach much higher speeds without any problems. But installing them is absolutely pointless if the interface cannot “pump” data at a higher speed than the one for which it itself is designed.

In view of this, it became possible to use the PCI-Express bus with greater bandwidth:

1. PCI-Express 2.0. It has two lanes (PCI-E 2.0 x2), characterized by a throughput of up to 8Gb/s, or about 800Mb/s.
2. PCI-Express 3.0. It has four lanes (PCI-E 3.0 x4), with a bandwidth of 32Gb/s, or approximately 3.2Gb/s.

Which interface is used to connect a particular device determines the position of the jumper.

Currently, M.2 SSD drives have the following key options:

1. B key “Socket2” (includes support for PCI-E ×2, SATA, Audio, USB and other modules).
2. M key “Socket3” (includes support for PCI-E ×4 and SATA).

For example, we take a motherboard with an M.2 connector with an M-key. That is, the PCIe ×4 bus is used. Can I install a SATA solid state drive in it? This is an interesting question that we will try to find an answer to.

You need to open the motherboard information and find out whether it supports M.2 SATA or not. Let's say the manufacturer says yes. In this case, you buy an SSD drive that was originally created for PCIe ×4, and absolutely no problems should arise when connecting.

When choosing a motherboard, be sure to pay attention to whether M.2 supports the SATA bus, so that you can use any hard drive.

Let's summarize all of the above and summarize:

1. M.2 is simply a different form factor (connector and size) of solid-state drives. All motherboards that are equipped with this slot use the PCI-E x4 bus.
2. The type of bus used by the drive depends on the keys. Usually the PCI-Express bus (M key) or SATA bus (M+B key) is used. The ability to connect an SSD with a SATA interface should be indicated in the specifications of the motherboard.

Size specification: 2260, 2280 and others

Often, when looking at the specification of a computer or laptop motherboard, you can come across the following line: “1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M Key, type 2260/2280” - this means that 1 M.2 slot with a type M key and size 2260/2280 is used. The first two digits “22” mean the width in “mm”, the second two digits “60” mean the length. Therefore, if you choose, say, Transcend TS128GMTS600, with a length of “60mm” and a width of “22mm,” then there will be no problems with its installation.

But even if you take the Kingston SHPM2280P2/480G with the “2280” type, and since the motherboard’s characteristics state support for this type of drive, installing it will not be difficult.

The motherboard can support many sizes of installed modules, and in this case, it has fixing screws that are designed for each length of the bracket.

NVMe technology

The older generation of conventional magnetic and SSD disks use the AHCI protocol, which was created relatively long ago and is still supported by many operating systems. But with the advent of more modern and faster SSDs, it does not cope with its task and cannot use all their capabilities to the maximum.

The NVMe protocol was created as a solution to this problem. It is characterized by the highest speed, lower latency and uses a minimum of processor resources when performing operations.

For the media to work using this technology, it must support it, so when choosing, pay special attention to this, just like the motherboard (it must support the UEFI standard).

Let's sum it up

After we reviewed SSDs with the M.2 standard, we can say that this is the most compact form factor of solid-state devices. And if the motherboard supports it, it is recommended to use it.

Let's look at a few that will help you make the right choice. So, first of all, when purchasing, you should pay attention to the following points:

1. Does the motherboard have the required M.2 slot, and what size modules does it allow for use (2260, 2280, etc.).
2. The type of key the slot uses (M, B or B+M).
3. Does the motherboard support SATA or PCI-E interface, and what version is used (for example, PCIe 3.0 4x).
4. Do the operating system, the SSD itself, and the motherboard support AHCI or NVMe protocols?

After all, answering the question of what is better, an SSD with a standard connector or M.2, it is clear that you should choose the second option with NVMe support and install it on PCIe 3.0x4.

This will not only free up more space by reducing the number of wires, but will also increase transfer speeds, system speed and performance. The main thing is that it will make working at the computer more comfortable, enjoyable and efficient.

Detailed video review

Good day!

Today, working on a laptop (PC) without an SSD drive is, I tell you, quite painful and painful. And in order to realize this, you need to work at least once with the system where it is installed: fast loading of the OS, instantly opening applications and documents, no freezing or loading the disk at 100% after turning on the device.

So, okay, to the point... In this article I will go through the step-by-step process of installing the “newfangled” M2 SSD in a standard laptop. Actually, there is nothing complicated about this, but there are quite a lot of questions regarding this disk format (and I decided to collect some of them here, summarize my past materials, and answer at once...).

Addition!

An SSD drive can be installed not only in the M2 slot. There are several more options for how you can connect 2-3 drives to a laptop (I recommend you check them out):

1) Drive selection

I think this is the first thing to note. The fact is that there are several types of M2 SSDs: SATA, PCIe (and these, in turn, are divided into several subtypes). It’s easy to get confused in all this diversity...

Therefore, before choosing and purchasing an SSD M2 drive, I recommend that you read this article:

For those who doubt whether to switch to an SSD drive, I recommend reading this material:

By the way, I also want to note here (since I’ve been asked more than once): the difference between switching from HDD to SSD (SATA) is noticeable to the naked eye, even a weak laptop begins to “fly”. But the difference between SSD (SATA) and SSD (PCIe (32 Gb/s)) is invisible unless you look at the test results (at least if you don’t work very actively with the disk).

Personally, I think that for most people it doesn’t make much sense to chase a “super” SSD (PCIe), but adding some kind of solid-state drive to a classic HDD is definitely worth it!

2) What do we need

3) Installation process (consider a couple of options)

There are dozens of laptop models on the market now. Conventionally, in relation to our topic, I would divide laptops into 2 parts:

• those devices that have a small lid for quick access to slots for installing RAM, disks, etc.;
• and devices that must be completely disassembled before the drive can be connected.

I'll consider both options.

Option No. 1: the laptop has a special one. protective cover for quick access to components

1) First turn off the laptop. We disconnect all devices from it: mice, headphones, power cable, etc.

2) Turn it over. If you can remove the battery, remove it.

Paying attention!

That before replacing or adding memory, disk, etc., some laptops (which have covers for quick access to memory, disk, but the battery is hidden inside the device), you need to switch to battery saving mode. For example, the HP Pro Book G4 (in the example below) needs to be turned off, connected to the power adapter, and press Win+Backspace+Power at the same time, then disconnect the power adapter. After the operation has been completed, the laptop will not start until the power adapter is connected, and you can safely upgrade the components.

3) Then unscrew the fastening screws that hold the cover. As a rule, there are 1-4 of them. (see example below).

In my example, by the way, I used an HP Pro Book G4 laptop - this line of HP laptops has very convenient maintenance: access to the disks, memory, and cooler can be obtained by unscrewing 1 screw and removing the protective cover.

Unscrew the screw securing the protective cover // HP Pro Book G4

4) Actually, under the cover we find the M2 slot - insert the drive into it (please note: the drive should fit into the slot without much effort, look carefully at the keys!).

5) Let me add that M2 SSD drives are secured at the end with a screw. It prevents the drive from accidentally flying out of the slot (the screw usually comes with the SSD. Don’t neglect fixing it!).

6) Well, all that remains is to put the protective cover back and secure it. Next, turn the laptop over and turn it on...

Paying attention!

After loading Windows, you may not see this disk in “My Computer” and in Explorer! The fact is that many new SSDs come unformatted.

To see the disc, go to disk management and format it ( approx. : to open disk management, press the Win+R button combination, and enter the command diskmgmt.msc in the Run window).

Option No. 2: there is no special device on the laptop. caps (complete disassembly...)

As a rule, there are no special covers on compact laptops (as well as on those devices with a metal body).

By the way, I’ll give you one piece of advice: before you start disassembling your laptop, I highly recommend watching a video of a disassembly of the exact same device model online. I especially recommend this to everyone who doesn’t do this very often...

I hasten to remind you that disassembling and opening the device casing may result in denial of warranty service.

1) The first step is similar: turn off the laptop, disconnect all wires (power, mouse, etc.), turn it over.

2) If you can remove the battery, remove it (usually secured with two latches). In my case, the battery was located inside the case.

3) Next, unscrew all the mounting screws along the contour. Please note that some of the screws may be hidden under stickers and rubber feet (which are often present on the device to reduce vibration).

For example, on the laptop that I disassembled as a test subject (ASUS ZenBook UX310) - two screws were exactly under the rubber feet!

Remove the cover - fastening screws || ASUS ZenBook UX310

4) Next, before touching anything or connecting/disconnecting, be sure to disconnect the battery (if you have it inside the case, like me. Simply, in the absence of a protective cover for quick access to the memory slots - usually the battery is located inside the laptop).

Typically, the battery is secured with several screws. After unscrewing them, carefully examine the cables: sometimes they go on top of the battery and if you remove them carelessly, you can easily damage them!

5) Now you can connect the M2 SSD by inserting it into the appropriate slot. Don't forget to secure it with the mounting screw!

6) Then you can reassemble the device in the reverse order: reinstall the battery, protective cover and secure it with screws.

By the way, as I said above, many programs in Windows (including Explorer) may not see your SSD. Therefore, you need to use either or the tool that is available in Windows - disk management .

To open disk management: press the Win+R button combination, enter the command diskmgmt.msc and press Enter. See two screenshots below.

4) Process of transferring old Windows | or installing a new OS

After the disk is installed in the laptop and you check that the device recognizes it and sees it, there will be 2 possible scenarios:

1. You can install a new Windows OS on the SSD drive. For information on how to do this, see here:
2. or you can transfer your “old” system from the HDD to the SSD. I also described how this is done in one of my articles: (note: see STEP 2)

Perhaps the only point worth noting: by default, your “old” Windows OS will boot from your hard drive (HDD) first. To change this, you need to go to the BIOS/UEFI section BOOT (boot) and change the priority (an example is shown in the photo below).

After a reboot, by default, the new system should boot from the SSD drive.

By the way, you can also select the default OS in Windows settings: to do this, open the control panel at - Control Panel\System and Security\System. Next, open the “Advanced system settings” link (in the menu on the left).

The "System Properties" window should open, we need the "Advanced" tab: it has a subsection "Boot and Recovery" - open its parameters.

In this subsection, you can choose which OS of all installed ones is considered the default and loaded when you turn on the laptop/PC.

Well, or, if you don’t get tired of it, you can manually specify the boot system every time you turn on the computer (see example below, a similar window should pop up automatically after installing the 2nd, 3rd, etc. OS) ...

In general, that's all...

Greetings to all, dear readers of the blog site! In 2002, the SATA interface appeared, which is now used to connect the vast majority of hard drives and SSDs. Over the past 16 years, it has been updated three times, while maintaining backward compatibility. In 2009, a compact version of this interface appeared - mSATA, which is located directly on the motherboard.

Support for Connector m2 on motherboards began in 2013. In terms of its purpose, it is very similar to mSATA, however, it allows you to bypass the bandwidth limitation of the SATA interface. Since the mSATA standard is based on SATA 3, its throughput is only 600 MB/sec, while modern SSDs already operate at speeds of 3000 MB/sec and higher.

This is what an SSD looks like in M2 form factor

Using the M2 connector, you can install not only an SSD in your computer, but also other ngff devices: Wi-Fi cards, Bluetooth, NFC and GPS expansion cards. With this type of connection, you will get rid of numerous wires running from the drive to the motherboard. Thus, you will save space inside the system unit, improve its cooling and simplify maintenance.

SSD drives using the M2 connector are similar in appearance to RAM strips - they are just as thin and are inserted directly into the computer motherboard. It is noteworthy that initially the m 2 connector was used in laptops and netbooks, because their cases are thin enough to install full-size devices there. Then, the m2 connector began to be found on regular motherboards - on stationary PCs.

Connector m 2 uses an interface type such as PCI Express to communicate with the motherboard. Just don’t confuse it with the PCI Express connector itself, of which there may be several and which are located below the video card connector and are present even on older motherboards. This is a little different, although there are SSDs that connect via a PCIe port. And here’s what the M2 connector looks like on the motherboard:

Peculiarities

SSD drives designed for the M2 connector are available in different sizes: 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 and 22110. The first two numbers indicate the width, and the next two indicate the length (in millimeters). The longer the strip, the more chips you can place on it, and the greater the disk capacity. Despite such a variety of form factors, the most popular is 2280.

The m2 connector on modern motherboards may have different positions. We are talking about some “keys”. Again, we can draw an analogy with RAM strips: DDR3 memory differs from DDR2 in the location of the keys - small cutouts in the strips and the slots themselves, respectively. Same here, small cutouts can be located on the left and right sides of the port.

Connector m2 can have two keys: B and M. It turns out that they are not compatible with each other. However, you can find motherboards with a B + M (combined) connector. In addition to the PCIe interface, the m2 port also supports SATA mode. But the speed in SATA mode will be significantly lower than in PCI Express. The keys usually determine what type of interface will be used.

In conventional hard drives (HDD), the controller communicates with the operating system via the AHCI protocol. But, this protocol is not able to use all the capabilities of modern solid-state drives. This prompted the emergence of a new protocol called NVMe. The new protocol is characterized by low latency and allows you to perform more operations per second, while minimizing the load on the processor.

How to choose m2 SSD

When purchasing an SSD drive operating via the m2 interface, be sure to pay attention to the following things:

• Port size m2. Select a disk so that it can be installed in the motherboard, so that nothing rests anywhere.
• Key type - B, M, or combined. Both the motherboard and the SSD drive itself must have compatible keys. SATA m2 SSD drives are usually available with “M+B” keys, and PCIe m2 SSDs are available with “M” key.
• Interface version and number of lanes: PCI-E 2.0 x2 has a throughput of 8 Gbit/s, and PCI-E 3.0 x4 has a throughput of 3.2 GB/s.
• Which interface is supported - PCI Express or SATA. Of course, PCIe looks preferable because it allows you to work at higher speeds. The possibility of installing an M2 SSD in SATA mode should be indicated in the instructions for the motherboard.
• Support for the NVMe protocol is desirable. If it is not there, then AHCI will do.

An SSD drive that meets all the parameters will be much faster than one connected simply via SATA ports. This solution may be required in games and programs that require high read/write speeds from the disk. The best option would be a drive that uses the PCIe version 3 interface with four lanes and the NVMe protocol.