3 ms·

Often, most parts will just plain fail to fit, and fit exactly one way. But the keys for the different type of M.2 slots are not large enough on M.2 SATA vs M.

Often, most parts will just plain fail to fit, and fit exactly one way. But the keys for the different type of M.2 slots are not large enough on M.2 SATA vs M.2 SSD to prevent them from mixing up. It's easy to force, and forcing it will be fatal for the device. I know this from an expensive lesson I learned, long ago :(

wtallis 6y ago
It's not quite that bad. A M.2 SATA SSD will fit into any socket designed for M.2 SATA or M.2 PCIe SSDs, without damage. A M.2 PCIe SSD that only uses two PCIe lanes will fit into any socket designed for M.2 SATA or M.2 PCIe SSDs, without damage. The only way to run into trouble is to force a M.2 PCIe SSD keyed for four lanes of PCIe into a M.2 socket keyed for SATA only with no PCIe lanes. Forcing this requires you to install the drive upside down and overcome the 0.5mm misalignment of the 1.2mm wide notch in the drive (meant to be filled by a 1.1mm key in the slot). If you merely install a SATA SSD in a slot only wired for PCIe, or a PCIe x2 SSD into a slot only wired for SATA, the drive will fail to work but nothing will be damaged. (You could theoretically also end up in trouble by forcing a SATA or PCIe x2 M.2 SSD into an appropriate slot, but upside down. However, this requires considerably more stupidity on the part of the user because in this scenario the SSD has two notches in the connector, so it is fairly obvious that any mechanical difficulty with installation could be due to having the card upside down. When installing a drive with only one notch, it's less obvious that the difficulty arises from a fundamental and intentional incompatibility.)
- jasonjayr 6y ago
  (Whatever I did; it let out the magic smoke, and the M.2 device was visibly scorched. The 2nd time I ordered the same part and very carefully examined the keying did I realize my error...)

wtallis 6y ago

It's not quite that bad. A M.2 SATA SSD will fit into any socket designed for M.2 SATA or M.2 PCIe SSDs, without damage. A M.2 PCIe SSD that only uses two PCIe lanes will fit into any socket designed for M.2 SATA or M.2 PCIe SSDs, without damage. The only way to run into trouble is to force a M.2 PCIe SSD keyed for four lanes of PCIe into a M.2 socket keyed for SATA only with no PCIe lanes. Forcing this requires you to install the drive upside down and overcome the 0.5mm misalignment of the 1.2mm wide notch in the drive (meant to be filled by a 1.1mm key in the slot). If you merely install a SATA SSD in a slot only wired for PCIe, or a PCIe x2 SSD into a slot only wired for SATA, the drive will fail to work but nothing will be damaged. (You could theoretically also end up in trouble by forcing a SATA or PCIe x2 M.2 SSD into an appropriate slot, but upside down. However, this requires considerably more stupidity on the part of the user because in this scenario the SSD has two notches in the connector, so it is fairly obvious that any mechanical difficulty with installation could be due to having the card upside down. When installing a drive with only one notch, it's less obvious that the difficulty arises from a fundamental and intentional incompatibility.)

jasonjayr 6y ago
(Whatever I did; it let out the magic smoke, and the M.2 device was visibly scorched. The 2nd time I ordered the same part and very carefully examined the keying did I realize my error...)