Dell M.2 / NVME Specifications And Upgrade Requirements For Latitude, XPS, Precision Mobile and Optiplex

Hi Marc,

Yes, you can install a 2.5 inch drive when you have the 4 cell battery. You'll need to remove the 2280 drive in order to do so. Adding a 2242 to the WWAN slot would be optional at that point.

That user guide bit also does not look right to me. I'm able to configure a 2280 and a 6 cell battery with no errors in my sales tools. I'll see about getting the document corrected.

Thanks Justin,

Just stating the obvious to make sure I understand:

A 2.5" drive cannot fit with the 2280 m.2 ssd installed. So in order to fit two drives I need to purchase a 2242 m.2 ssd drive. Then I'll have room for a 2.5" drive. Or I can just replace the SSD with a larger capacity SSD, whether 2242 or 2280 size, foregoing the 2.5" drive. Do I have it correct?

Hi, I has Dell Inspiron 7460, it come with Sandisk x400 128gb in m.2 ssd slot, I plan to replace it using samsung 960 Evo 256Gb on it because it has same slot m.2 type that is M-Key, does it will support this samsung 960 evo?

Follow-up question:

Will the M.2 card installed into the 2.5" adapter be treated as a SATA SSD or as an NVMe SSD?

Otherwise, there a kits that will support TWO SSDs in ONE SSD adapter case.  For example, the StarTech.com 2x M.2 SSDs to 2.5" SATA (6Gbps) RAID Adapter Converter with TRIM Support 25S22M2NGFFR

Hi Justin,

I have a 1 month old Optiplex 3620 which is originally equipped with a 512GB M. 2 PCIe-NVMe from Toshiba. At first time the system worked perfectly. However, I never switched off the computer properly, only putting it into hibernation mode.

Last Friday a Windows update was distributed, prompting the PC to reboot. Afterwards the M. 2 was not recognized by the BIOS any more. I contacted Dell support and after some attempts they said I needed a new motherboard and a new PCIe-NVMe.

On Tuesday I tried to start the PC again, which worked to my surprise. I didn't turn it off for 2 days and it runs without problems during this time.

Due to delivery difficulties with the motherboard, the replacement was delayed until yesterday.

I don't want to list all the details here, that would be way too much information. In fact, a total of 2 x motherboards, 2 x Toshiba NVMe and 1 Samsung 960 Pro were tested in all conceivable combinations. But nothing worked, the computer only sporadically recognizes an M. 2, but cannot be booting in this case.

Do you have any other ideas? Dell support will now send me another Toshiba NVMe to exchange. I can already imagine the result of this test.

Thank you for your help.

Oh yes, you're right. It is a Precision (Midi) Tower 3620.

I'm sorry.

Are you sure you don't have a Precision 3620 instead of an Optiplex?

Duplicate posts typically delay answers, by the way.

@Orcrone,

You are correct. Just keep in mind that the 2242 that goes in the WWAN slot is a cache-only drive.

Yes, you can replaced the current M.2 with a larger M.2 if you don't want to install a 2.5 inch drive.

@Aliexdsg,

Sandisk x400 = B & M keyed M.2 SATA

Samsung 960 Evo 256Gb = M key M.2 NVME ( PCIE )

I took a look at the replacement parts we have for the 7460 and all I see is M.2 SATA drives. My assumption is that the 7460 only supports M.2 SATA and it's port not forwards compatible with M.2 NVME drives.

I don't think the 960 evo will work on the 7460.

@Critical1,

I was told by engineering that the 2.5 inch bay drive connector is wired as SATA and NVME. It's wired as 2X.

@Brueck,

Send me a friend request, including your service tag and email address. We can work something out.

Hi Justin,

I have a Precision 3520. It goes with 68 Whr and 2TB HDD. I would like to update to M2.0 SSD. I search google and I found your answers here. I would like to ask for detail.

Based on your information:

================================

Precision 3520

Maximum internal dives supported: 2

Drive configurations supported: (1x M.2) (1x 2.5inch SATA) (1x M.2 cache drive and 1x 2.5 inch drive )

PCIE Lanes:

M.2 slot supports 4X

2.5 Inch bay is wired as SATA

Parts needed to upgrade from 2.5 inch drive to M.2 drive:

1x 2FFR0 end bracket

1x X3DN4 -Thermal plate

1x 4270E - End screw

================================

My question is will compo 1x M.2 cache drive and 1x 2.5 inch drive returns performance as a 1x M.2?

If not I want to upgrade to M.2.

Do I really need to upgrade to 92 Whr like the manual suggest? or I can use my current battery? I don't want my laptop heavier.

Where can I get the part to upgrade to M.2 drive? Can you provide me a link for it?

Thanks

Thang Nguyen

I tried for 2 days on the phone with Dell support and sales trying to get 92Whr battery. They are not available. A senior tech finally told me the 68Whr battery should work fine as the M.2 will use less power than the 2.5 drive. Samsung M.2 950Pro works great in my 5580. The manual is incorrect.

Hi Justin

I just ordered the XPS 13 9360 Developer Edition. I ordered it with the 128GB SSD as my intention is to immediately swap it for a 1TB SSD.

The info at the top of this page states that the XPS 13 9360 M.2 slot supports up to 4X lanes. My intention is to install a Samsung 960 Evo SSD but I've ready conflicting reports on other forums stating that the 9360 only runs at 2X lanes and so the full speed potential of the drive cannot be achieved. Others say it's due to thermal throttling that the full SSD speeds are not being achieved.

Can you please confirm that the M.2 slot does in fact fully support 4X lanes and is compatible with NVMe SSDs using 4 lanes. If the speed is being choked by the M.2 slot there is no need to be spending a premium for a super high speed SSD if the speed isn't achievable.

Is anyone else here using the Samsung 960 Evo in the XPS13 9360 and achieving near full read/write speeds?

Thanks.

@Airthang,

Thank you for considering the Precision 3520.

The 2.5 + cache drive set-up is meant to improve performance. However, it does not provide the same level of performance that a single M.2 drive would.

As Trogspeed mentioned, our user's guide is wrong about the battery and I'm having that corrected. You can run either size of battery along with an M.2 drive. If you run a 2.5 SSD drive, only then do you have to run a 4 cell battery.

Send me a PM with your service tag and I'll see if we can get you a quote for the parts.

@H0llym0lly,

My data come from Dell engineering. I will do more due diligence however and get back with you.

Hi Justin

Any news back on whether the XPS 13 M.2 slot is fully 4 lane capable for NVMe SSDs?

Thanks

Hello Justin-C

Please excuse me for late reporting.. I am currently on vacation and rarely have access to the Internet.

On Monday 8 days ago I got a new motherboard from dell support. This was working with the new NVMe PM951, but not the previous Toshiba NVM. But as this doesn't brother me, I agreed with this constellation.

Last Monday, so. 3 days ago, the computer did not start again. So I called support again. Now I'm supposed to get another motherboard. The fourth one, now!

The reason why I'm writing this now is not to scold the German Dell support. I have rather made an observation on which I do not see a direct connection. I have connected two Dell U2412M units to the Precision 3620 by DP cable. If I disconnect one of them, I can start the computer. Mostly at least, but not always. Unfortunately.

Is it possible that two monitors are too much for the PSU? We have many of the U2412M, but no matter which one I use, the computer doesn't want to use 2 monitors.

Du you having any idea with that information?

Thanks for your help