Enabling the M.2 slot on your motherboard allows you to install an M.2 SSD for faster storage performance. M.2 is a form factor for internally mounted storage devices like SSDs that offers greater bandwidth and lower latency than traditional SATA drives. Here are some quick answers about enabling M.2 slots:
What is an M.2 slot?
An M.2 slot is a connection slot on a computer motherboard that accepts an M.2 SSD module. M.2 SSDs are small, thin drives that mount directly onto the motherboard without needing cables or mounting brackets. M.2 slots support PCIe and/or SATA interfaces for connecting M.2 SSDs.
Do all motherboards have an M.2 slot?
No, not all motherboards have an M.2 slot. Motherboards aimed at mainstream and budget users often lack an M.2 slot, while higher-end enthusiast and workstation motherboards usually include at least one M.2 slot and sometimes two or more.
Where is the M.2 slot located?
The M.2 slot is most commonly found on the motherboard near the CPU socket, but may also be located elsewhere such as near the bottom PCIe x16 slot or chipset heatsink. Consult your motherboard manual to find the exact location of the M.2 slot.
How do I tell if my M.2 slot supports NVMe or SATA?
There are a few ways to determine if your M.2 slot supports NVMe or SATA:
- Check your motherboard manual – it should specify if the slot supports NVMe, SATA or both.
- Look at the slot – NVMe slots will have more pins/contacts than SATA slots.
- See if there is a SATA port disabled when using the M.2 slot, indicating it is routed to the M.2 slot.
- Go into BIOS – compatible interface modes will be listed for the M.2 slot.
Knowing the interface support allows you to select a compatible M.2 drive.
How do I enable the M.2 slot in BIOS?
Enabling an M.2 slot is done in the BIOS on bootup:
- Reboot your computer and enter BIOS setup, usually by pressing the Delete or F2 key.
- Navigate to the boot menu in BIOS.
- Look for options related to “M.2”, “NVMe”, “PCIe/M.2” or “SATA/M.2”.
- Make sure the M.2 slot is set to enabled.
- Change any other settings if needed, like selecting PCIe or SATA mode.
- Save changes and exit BIOS.
The M.2 slot should now be ready for an M.2 SSD installation.
Do I need drivers to use an M.2 SSD?
Most M.2 SSDs, particularly NVMe models, do not require separate drivers for operation under Windows 10 and Linux. The necessary drivers are built into the operating system kernel. However, some motherboard vendors provide NVMe drivers for improved performance or compatibility, but they are not strictly required.
Conclusion
Enabling M.2 slots is straightforward – just make sure it is enabled in BIOS and set to the proper mode for your SSD. Selecting compatible components and following standard installation procedures will allow you to quickly upgrade your system with high-performance M.2 storage.
Installing an M.2 SSD in the Motherboard M.2 Slot
Adding an M.2 SSD is one of the best ways to improve your PC’s storage performance. Follow these steps to properly install an M.2 SSD in your motherboard’s M.2 slot:
Compatible Components
- Motherboard with M.2 slot (either SATA or PCIe/NVMe support)
- M.2 SSD in 80mm, 60mm, or 42mm length
- M.2 drive uses SATA or PCIe/NVMe based on motherboard slot support
- Optionally heatsink for M.2 drive temperature control
Installation Steps
- Check manual to locate the M.2 slot. Refer to your motherboard diagram to find the M.2 slot.
- Prepare the SSD. Remove existing heatsink if incompatible with motherboard. Some SSDs come with the required standoff pre-installed.
- Insert standoff if needed. If the motherboard slot doesn’t have a built-in standoff, install the correct size standoff into the mounting hole matching the M.2 SSD length.
- Insert SSD into slot. Hold the SSD labeled side up and slide into the slot at about a 30 degree angle. The notch should line up with the slot key. Apply even pressure as you seat the drive down.
- Secure with screw. Fasten the mounting screw through the thread hole at the end of the SSD. Do not over tighten.
- Attach heatsink. If adding a heatsink, remove protective film on thermal pads and press onto SSD. Do not block other components.
- Reassemble PC. Close case and connect power/video cables. Power on to confirm detection in BIOS and initialization in OS.
Once showing in BIOS and disk utilities, you can partition, format, and start using your new high speed M.2 SSD!
Performance Optimization Tips
- Enable PCIe mode instead of SATA in BIOS for NVMe SSDs.
- Install latest motherboard chipset drivers.
- Update SSD firmware for bug fixes and performance improvements.
- Enable write caching in OS if supported by SSD.
- Align partitions to 1MiB for optimal file system performance.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
| Not detected in BIOS | Reseat SSD, ensure enabled in BIOS, try different slot |
| Not found in OS | Check SATA/NVMe drivers, reseat SSD, ensure OS supports M.2 drives |
| Overheating thermal throttle | Add heatsink, enable airflow over drive, update SSD firmware |
Choosing the Right M.2 SSD
With many specifications and form factors available, selecting the optimal M.2 SSD for your build can be daunting. Here are the key factors to consider when choosing an M.2 solid state drive:
Interface
The interface determines maximum throughput speed and must match motherboard support:
- PCIe – NVMe protocol, up to 4 lanes (x4) of PCIe bandwidth, fastest option.
- SATA – AHCI protocol, equivalent performance to 2.5″ SATA SSD but in compact M.2 form factor.
Form Factor
Length of M.2 drive impacts compatibility:
- 2280 – Most common length at 80mm, fits majority of motherboard M.2 slots.
- 2260/2242 – 60mm and 42mm lengths, best for smaller motherboards and laptops.
NVMe Drives
For NVMe M.2 SSDs, higher sequential read/write speeds indicate better performance:
- Entry-level – Up to 1.2/1GB/s (SX6000 Pro, WD Blue SN550)
- Mainstream – Up to 3.5/3GB/s (Samsung 970 EVO, WD Black SN750)
- High-end – Over 5/4GB/s (Samsung 980 Pro, WD Black SN850)
SATA Drives
SATA M.2 drives offer similar speeds to 2.5″ SATA SSDs around 500-560 MB/s.
Focus on endurance, power loss protection, and tracking of used cells.
Recommendations
| Usage Scenario | Recommended M.2 SSD |
| Budget system boot drive | Crucial P2, WD Blue SN570 |
| Gaming | WD Black SN750, Samsung 970 EVO Plus |
| Workstation productivity | Samsung 970 PRO, Seagate FireCuda 520 |
| Content creation workloads | Gigabyte Aorus NVMe Gen4, Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus |
Selecting the right combination of interface, form factor, and performance for your workload and budget will allow you to take full advantage of the benefits of M.2 SSD storage.
Comparing NVMe vs SATA M.2 SSDs
When considering M.2 SSDs, there are two main interface options – NVMe and SATA. NVMe drives utilize PCIe lanes for faster speeds while SATA drives are limited to SATA III bandwidth. Here is an overview comparing the two technologies:
Speed
- NVMe SSDs have much higher sequential read/write performance, reaching up to 7,000/5,000 MB/s.
- SATA SSDs max out around 560/550 MB/s due to SATA interface limits.
- NVMe has up to 16x the throughput of SATA for drastically faster file transfers.
Latency
- NVMe has extremely low latency that is sub-millisecond.
- SATA SSD latency is higher in the tens of microseconds.
- NVMe offers up to 4x lower latency for reduced lag and faster response times.
Power Efficiency
- NVMe SSDs leverage PCIe 4x and PCle power states for lower idle power.
- SATA drives have higher active power consumption.
- Overall, NVMe offers better power efficiency over SATA.
Form Factor
- Both SATA and NVMe SSDs use the same M.2 form factors.
- NVMe may require 2-3 lanes so larger 2242/2280 lengths are more common.
- Form factor alone does not indicate NVMe or SATA – check keying.
Price
- SATA M.2 drives have the lowest cost per GB currently.
- NVMe is more expensive per GB but offers better performance per dollar.
- NVMe prices continue to decrease, closing gap with SATA.
Verdict
In summary, NVMe M.2 SSDs are significantly faster and more responsive but cost more than SATA M.2 units. NVMe is the preferred choice for performance PCs while SATA strikes a good value balance for more budget-focused builds.
Optimizing Windows 10 for M.2 SSDs
To get the full performance benefits from your shiny new M.2 SSD running Windows 10, there are several optimizations you can make:
Enable AHCI Mode
Make sure AHCI mode is enabled in BIOS instead of IDE or RAID mode. AHCI allows advanced features of M.2 SSDs to be used by Windows.
Update Chipset and SATA Drivers
Go to your motherboard OEM’s website and install the latest chipset drivers which often contain SATA and NVMe drivers, ensuring proper SSD support.
Disable Defragmentation
Defragmentation is not needed for SSDs and will only cause unnecessary writes. Disable scheduled defragmentation in Windows 10.
Enable TRIM
TRIM allows the SSD to efficiently handle garbage collection and clearing cells. Enable TRIM by using the ‘optimize drives’ command in Windows 10.
Use NVMe Drivers
For NVMe SSDs, install the vendor driver if available for improved performance and compatibility over the Microsoft driver.
Disable Superfetch and Prefetch
These features that accelerate mechanical hard drive access times are not needed for SSDs. Disable Superfetch and Prefetch in Services.
AHCI Link Power Management
Set AHCI Link Power Management to Active in Advanced Power Settings for better NVMe SSD power efficiency.
Partition Alignment
Align partitions manually on 1MiB boundaries for optimal performance based on how SSDs handle data in flash pages.
By following these tips, your M.2 SSD will perform at its full potential under Windows 10 whether its a SATA or NVMe drive.
Troubleshooting Common M.2 SSD Issues
M.2 SSDs are generally quite reliable but in some cases issues can arise with detection, connectivity or performance. Here are some common problems and fixes when troubleshooting M.2 SSDs:
SSD Not Detected in BIOS
- Reseat the SSD to ensure contacts are mated properly with the M.2 connector.
- Check that the M.2 slot is enabled in BIOS settings.
- Try resetting CMOS to clear any improper BIOS configuration.
- Inspect for physical damage or bends on the golden fingers.
- Attempt installing in another M.2 slot if available.
SSD Detected But Not Bootable
- Ensure SSD is set as primary boot device in BIOS settings.
- Confirm selected boot mode matches install (UEFI vs Legacy BIOS).
- Try reinstalling OS from scratch if drive does not contain bootloader properly.
Poor SSD Performance
- Check for latest SSD firmware and update if available.
- Re-run benchmark after rebooting to clear cache.
- Rule out other bottlenecks like CPU, RAM speed, drivers.
- Compare results to expected performance – may be incorrect expectation.
- Repartition drive alignment to 1MiB if OS partition is misaligned.
OS Not Detecting SSD
- Ensure SATA or NVMe drivers are installed properly for the OS.
- Confirm the M.2 slot is populated with a supported SSD.
- Inspect for physical connection issues or damage.
- Re-seat SSD and reboot to reinitialize connection if intermittent.
These tips should help isolate and fix most common problems with M.2 SSDs. If issues persist, contact the SSD or motherboard manufacturer for replacement under warranty if needed.