What is needed to replace m2 SATA SSD with PCI-e 4x SSD in newer laptops?

I am shopping for a laptop with specs similar GS73VR or GE72VR. Originally I wanted to use M2 PCI-e drive (250gb Samsung 960), but not sure anymore since I've read that real life performance gain is not that significant while overheating might be an issue. Most of the posts about overheating and throttling were old and I am not sure if it is still a problem. Anyway, I'd like to have an option to install PCI-e drive later if I need to.
If I buy something like GS73VR with m2 SATA SSD, can I later simply remove it and connect PCIe 4x drive to the same m2 port? or m2 must be somehow configured differently at the factory to work with PCIe?
Regardless of the actual answer, is it the same for all newer laptops with m2 pcie support?

If I am also cloning the drive (with Win 10) at the same time (from SATA to PCIe), would I need to install PCIe/NVMe driver before cloning in order for the OS to boot?

PS: What is right place to ask questions about different laptop brands (not just MSI)? I am trying to compare a few MSI, Asus and Clevo models.

Thanks,
Mike

 

Yes, most newer models will have the ability to use both a Sata and PCIe / NVMe M.2 drive. You would generally want to maybe check that it has the PCIe-4x option in the specs, as those would typically mean it is NVMe capable. Some older models might not always have that option. I think M.2 throttling has gotten better, or at least it seems that way where it might not be as big of an issue. But even if an NVMe drive is throttling, it still is generally going to be faster than a Sata drive at max speed.

If you do update the drive, you may need to do some firmware updates possibly, or possibly install a driver on the system (typically most common with some Samsung drives, that I can think of). Yes, the drive would need to be installed before it would be able to boot from the drive.

 

Thanks Pat!

I was afraid that if I get a model with m2 SATA SSD, I will need to buy some kind of m2 hardware (like adapter) to connect PCIe x4 SSD even if the laptop officially supports m2 PCIe.
I guess the words "factory option" in the description refer to actual SSD type, not to m2 port.

Thanks,
Mike

 

Exactly. m.2 ports are compliant with both PCIe and mSATA. The board uses the protocol (mSATA or PCIe) that the drive uses automatically.

Yes, it's standardized.

As long as the OS has native NVMe support for the drive, then no, you don't need to side load any driver. Pretty much everything currently - including the current build of Windows - will recognize an NVMe/PCIe drive natively.

You're good here! You can also try What Notebook Should I Buy? If asking about hardware upgrades, you can also try Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades.

 

Thank you!

Do you guys know if any local stores sell Clevo laptops (rebranded probably) and might have them on display? I am in SF bay area, CA.
I went to local stores to compare MSI, Asus and HP in real life and it totally changed my opinion.

 

You're welcome!

Sadly, I don't know of any in your area. There are a few of us down here, in L.A county, but we (as in Prostar, specifically) don't have a showroom. I don't think most resellers do.

 

Many resellers aren't doing retail no more therefore majority of large chains have display units.

 

Well, that is too bad. Sounds like my options are MSI and Asus.

Since there are several resellers/reps helping me in this thread, I'll ask some waranty questions. You guys likely know the answers.

If I take off the bottom cover on Asus or MSI, does it void the warranty? Are there any stickers that prevent disassembly?
What if I replace 2.5" HDD, m2 SSD, RAM without damaging anything and later put original components back in? I've seen different answers to this question on this forum.
What about repasting? Most people say it voids the warranty.

How can I tell what actually voids the warranty?
Do you know if there is a written warranty agreement that explicitly mention re-pasting or HDD/m2/RAM replacement?
Or maybe there are some "warranty void if broken" stickers/seals on the heatsink, but no stickers on RAM/HDD or bottom cover?

 

They don't enforce these unless there are physical damages caused from doing so. There will be warranty stickers which is also used as an indication if a system has been tempered or not by the user. You can replace anything in the system as long as these components are compatible with the system. Repasting does not void warranty unless the excessive use of paste actually damage something such as shorted circuitry.

 

Interesting. If I understood you correctly, they do apply warranty stickers, but do not necessarily care if they are broken.
I watched your (Gentechpc) video review of Asus GL702VS with disassembly and I did not see any warranty stickers that would prevent replacing SSD/HDD/RAM. The stickers I see in the video should not break when removing parts. That's good.
Regardless of the details, I got your main point - upgrading or repasting does not usually void warranty.

Thank you!

Mike

 

They don't even apply the stickers on some models since they know users will perform upgrade on their own anyway. But other regions, or certain models may still have stickers on them.