motherboard,m2 question

[xwrench3]

ok, i am still looking at motherboards. only today i made up a primitive fill in the blank database sheet, so i can actually compare them apples to apples across the entire range. anyway, i have run across this several times. and i am not sure how to take it. the description says " 1 M2 Wi Fi module slot ". i have not yet come across an M2 wifi module, but i have not looked at wifi units in about 3 years. to me, the best purpose for an M2 slot is a SSD.  so what is this slot for????  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA6ZP3R88269 

     scroll down into the specs to find it.

[tt2468]

15 minutes ago, xwrench3 said:

ok, i am still looking at motherboards. only today i made up a primitive fill in the blank database sheet, so i can actually compare them apples to apples across the entire range. anyway, i have run across this several times. and i am not sure how to take it. the description says " 1 M2 Wi Fi module slot ". i have not yet come across an M2 wifi module, but i have not looked at wifi units in about 3 years. to me, the best purpose for an M2 slot is a SSD.  so what is this slot for????  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA6ZP3R88269 

     scroll down into the specs to find it.

That isn't even an m.2 slot. That is mpcie. It does not support msata ssds.

[xwrench3]

Quote

That isn't even an m.2 slot. That is mpcie. It does not support msata ssds.

you are talking about the sideways one correct?

[zberry7]

The specs for the m.2 slot are missing but it looks like it IS an m.2 slot with the M key, but the slot is limited in length. I don't know what the standard length for a wireless module is but from what I've seen, any m.2 SSD would be too long to fit in that slot, and if it supported SATA or NVMe drives, it would be advertised. 

 

M.2 Wireless module are VERY common now, especially in laptops, it's a very easy and space efficient and fast way to add wireless capabilities. If you want an SSD in the m.2 form factor you need to find a board that explicitly supports it. And further, there are SATA and NVMe drives that are in the m.2 form factor and your board needs to explicitly support the correct protocol you intend to use.

Hope this helps

[ThomasD]

M.2 WiFi is supposed to be either A or E key, but the manual does not seem to specify which it actually is.

 

As noted, the space is also very short, even if it did support an SSD (which I doubt) you'd be limited to a very small one.

[xwrench3]

i thought it was odd, which is why i asked. i will shy away from that board. and a couple other like it.  i have seen many that brag about having a 32gb/s m2 slot.  thanks to everyone for the help.