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December 21st, 2022 09:00
Optiplex 5000 Micro - Two M.2 2230/2280 slots for SSD
Optiplex 5000
Two M.2 2230/2280 slots for SSD
I am looking at my motherboard and the tech spec that says that there are 2 slots available ie. 2x M.2 2230/2280 slots. However, there is only 1 card reader insert, so 1x M.2 slot. Is it possible to buy a M.2 card reader insert and install it on the existing motherboard to make 2x M.2 slots?
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sam55todd
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243 Posts
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December 21st, 2022 11:00
There are two M.2 slots on Optiplex 5000 Micro model,
one for Storage with M-key (x4 PCIe lanes) marked green on picture below
(it is extendable between 2230 and 2280 standard by moving screw)
and another for WiFi card 2230 with E-Key (x2 PCIe lanes, supporting CNVio2 modules) marked red on picture below.
Third placeholder (marked as missing on your picture) is for a different PC model (OptiPlex 7000 Micro, this one is for 35W model, 65W version has a slightly different layout as it has extra placeholder for x4 PCIe raiser slot {but not installed anyways, probably some future plans/reservations or custom models, not all engineering ideas get to production stage unfortunately for various reasons}), they're using same PCB but different models have slightly different components mounted on it (cheaper have less to save costs, more advanced come with some extras).
You can clearly see a note on a so called "missing" M.2 slot near upper 2280 mounting screw saying: "Screw for 5-series only"
sam55todd
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December 21st, 2022 12:00
P.S.
As for buying "card reader insert" - really depends what you mean, if you want to fill placeholder marked as missing on your picture - then it would be very impractical as connector is not the only missing element, there are additional missing electronic components (with very specific characteristics) of a much smaller size on a board (possibly on both sides of it) which would have to be soldered on, then bios configuration to allow reading this slot/ make it acceptable by the system.
You can replace existing NVMe drive with larger capacity (these days it goes up to 8TB), or use SATA-3 connector (large black one closer towards back af the case, between coin-battery and CPU) to add additional storage device (although speed is limited up to theoretical max of 600MB/s, in reality around 500/550 MB/s), SATA 2.5'' consumer drives can go up to 4TB in size, or even plug in USB storage devices.
AvonM
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February 9th, 2023 10:00
I just bought a Dell Optiplex 5000 i5-12500t (Micro), thinking there is space for a second SSD based on the Dell slots description, which states:
1 M.2 2230 slot for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth card
Two M.2 2230/2280 slot for SSD Gen4x4
1 SATA slot for 2.5-inch HDD
So the description is wrong or at least misleading. I naively assumed there would be two free SSD slots - not none. I can accept that there is one occupied by the installed SSD, but I don't see why the second one is occupied by the Wifi/Bluetooth card when they list this separately under "1 M.2 2230 slot for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth card". This is really misleading and annoying because I bought a second 1 TB SDD. I now have to decide whether to send back the computer or replace the current 256 GB SDD with the new 1 TB SDD re-installing Windows, which I am sure will come with other problems.
Chino de Oro
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February 9th, 2023 11:00
I'm pretty sure that the volunteer Tech Experts and Rockstars are trying their best in assisting community members. Sometimes, the information were based on Dell published systems' tech specs.
It certainly is a blooper in the M.2 slot description. I just tried the shopping options for 5000 Micro and the configurator only allows one NVMe storage option.
If you decide to keep the system and will installing the larger 1 TB SSD, I suggest to go thru the Windows OOBE first to get your system activate with a digital license. So that when you reinstall Windows on the 1 TB SSD, system will have no problem with license. Personally, I would prefer a clean Windows install without all the Dell apps.
Still, it's your decision to make if you want to keep a system with limit storage expansion.
AvonM
2 Posts
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February 10th, 2023 05:00
Thanks for your advice. Maybe I should consider doing a clean Windows install. I am just unsure how that works with the licence transfer. How does the system know that this is still the same computer with a different SDD? In other words, how does it know that I am not installing Windows under the same licence on a new computer? But maybe I just give it a go, but first create an image of the original SDD as a backup.
Chino de Oro
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February 10th, 2023 08:00
1. Click here and download Windows creation tool. Double click to create a Windows 11 installation media, need at least 8 Gb USB drive.
2. Remove original SSD for backup. Installing the new 1 Tb SSD into system.
3. With Windows USB drive plugged in, boot the machine up and keep tapping F12 until one time boot appears. Select USB drive under UEFI boot selection. Windows installation will start.
Not sure how comfortable you are with working on PC, so I just outline the main steps. Your machine already has Windows license embedded in motherboard. It will automatically install to new Windows and will be recognized once connecting to online.
If you run into any issue, open your own thread to gain proper attention (and I may assist further) as this thread was about how many M.2 storage slot.