M.2 Upgrade rant.

GradyB · April 23, 2021

In 2015 I was attending local University classes and my HP laptop blew up. So I saved up a bought an Alienware 17” that had the ability to use a desktop GPU in the same brand graphics amplifier. Here it is 2021 and this laptop is still great for my needs. I opened it up and saw that I had 5 M.2 expansion slots plus the main and a 2.5” slot. So I got on the Newegg site and researched the m.2 after watching LTT install loads of them never really know what my laptop had under the hood.

I soon found out my older M.2 had a different key gap than the modern m.2 sold for gaming or storage. Since I have done the research a s purchased mistake and talking to a Best Buy geek squad who had no idea what I was talking about I’ll post a link.
Newegg had a 14 day shipping so I ordered one from Best Buy to pick up in store. Turns out the WD black I bought was the new key and not the old key so I had to settle for a blue with both keys open to fit my expansion slots. After returned the m.2 to bestbuy and asking geek squad what to search for he had no idea what I was talking about. So below are pictures.

now since I got the two key version from Amazon I get the Amazon “can you answer this question” people infuriating me by asking does this fit my pc or laptop and just throw out a model number. Which after the pain I went through trying to ask technicians more knowledgeable than myself I kind of want them to learn the lesson I learned. I’m sure That this post has loads of typos to thanks for letting get that out.

FYI I have also see loads of Bluetooth and WiFi cards that are now m.2 as well.

Which I upgraded one of those too. Super fun.