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XPS 8940, M.2 SATA SSD in the M.2 WWAN (wireless slot)
This never occurred to me until a quick search turned up a YT video of someone installing a 512Gb SSD in the M.2 slot of a laptop meant for the wireless card.
In my XPS desktops, I've never had the need to use wireless. Seems too good to be true that I could pull out the M.2 wireless card and drop in an M.2 SATA 2242 SSD.
redxps630
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September 26th, 2021 07:00
CTG is correct. OP is also correct that WWAN slot may accommodate B+M-keyed ssd in selected motherboard(s). OP says (s)he has XPS desktop and not XPS laptop. XPS desktop PC mobo is not equipped with WWAN technology, which is primarily used in laptop or tablet/iPad for on the road wireless access via cellular data.
M.2 connectors on the host are called "sockets." Each socket has a unique mechanical key, and modules are not interchangeable between sockets. According to PCI Express M.2 Specifications Rev. 1.1, the sockets are distinguished as follows:
Socket 3 configuration is for PCIe in a x4 configuration
An M.2 B+M key SSD may support SATA bus or PCIe x2 bus. If the SSD only supports SATA bus (so-called M.2 SATA SSD), its speed will not exceed 600 MB/s. If the SSD supports PCIe x2 bus, its speed will be around 1000 MB/s.
WWAN
+ Utilize cellular technology to securely transfer data or connect to the Internet
WLAN
+ Most computers come with WLAN technology built in
+ commonly known as Wi-Fi
speedstep
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September 25th, 2021 22:00
@rh310
Please press the blue Accept as Solution button below if this answers your question.
WIFI cards are A E keyed.
MSATA has nothing to do with M2
M2 sata drives B & M Key come in 2242 2260 2280 22110.
Totally different size and shape as well as socket specificaition.
So no you can't do that.
If you look at them side by side you can see the PHYSICAL reason why its not ever working.
This card uses X16 slot which is wired as X4 on Tower units to support all 3 kinds of M2 storage.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/174710551961
CTG_8273
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September 26th, 2021 04:00
@rh310
Is this the video? It was on a Latitude and if you buy the correct one. It has to be WWLAN not the WLAN.
m.2 in WWLAN on Latitude
This may not work on all laptops.
Zheino mSATA SSD
rh310
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September 26th, 2021 10:00
Thanks EVERYONE. I'd forgotten that WWAN = Cellular and that's usually only on laptops. I'd not looked closely and just assumed that desktops used the same slot for the wi-fi card.
So, that trick might work on my precision laptops. But, surprisingly Dell included plenty of M.2 slots in those - which are now filled. I might experiment with the laptops later but the XPS desktop was my focus.
This is the video I came across. Installing a SSD (mSATA) into a WWAN Slot
redxps630
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September 26th, 2021 11:00
your video link reveals a very interesting fact. WWAN hardware technology has two variants:
mPCIe socket vs M.2 socket. these two sockets have different foot print.
mPCIe socket requires a slightly larger footprint than M.2 (30 mm vs 22 mm width). While the mobile computing industry that has pretty much completely gone to M.2, many other types of devices include both an M.2 and mPCIe connector allowing the OEM to integrate either type of card in their products.
mSATA and mPCIe share identical form factor and physical connector (in 30 × 50.95 mm full-size and 30 × 26.8 mm half-size form factor). but the signaling standard is different. In some selected laptop model(s), you can install and run mSATA ssd in mPCIe socket.
For example, Latitude E6x40 and 7xx0 have combo mini PCIe/mSATA/USB slots that support mSATA SSDs.
On the other hand, Latitude E6x20, E6x30 have WLAN/WWAN slots that are mini PCIe/USB only. They do not support mSATA SSDs.
M.2 SSDs are 22 mm wide and 60 mm or 80 mm long; although card lengths can vary.
speedstep
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September 26th, 2021 14:00
@redxps630
WWAN
+ Utilize cellular technology to securely transfer data or connect to the Internet
Whether its MINI PCI or A&E keyed it uses USB to communicate with the card. In the case of A & E WIFI6 this requires USB header to the motherboard on a desktop.
WLAN
+ Most computers come with WLAN technology built in
+ commonly known as Wi-Fi
Most computers have WIFI/Bluetooth as an OPTION especially desktops. And the Bluetooth portion uses separate USB header for that side of the WIFI 6 AX200 AX201.
gc_wb867d_i_bluetooth_4_0
802-11ax-Tri-Band with BT and motherboard header cable
@CTG_8273
"m.2 in WWLAN on Latitude "
any user who buys the zheino msata drive thinking it will go into the M2 WWAN slot will find that its not keyed the same and won't physically go in.
MSATA does NOT work in ANY M2 socket.
You linked Zheino mSATA SSD 256GB
Its not a good idea to be ignoring the physical fact that it won't fit in A & E keyed M2 slot nor will it fit in B & M Keyed M2 slot. This information is not helpful. Users will buy MSATA Drive and find out there is no place for it to go on Desktop OR Laptop.
MSATA on left side M2 on right side.
WWAN Slots are VERY short as in 2230 or 2242
Not 2260 or 2280.
Msata uses 2 screws M2 uses 1.
cornet1544
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January 15th, 2022 10:00
You are confusing M.2 card keys with m.2 socket types. Any card that will fit in a M-Keyed socket should work in an M-Keyed socket. That include A+E keyed cards and obviously M-Keyed cards. Many many M.2 SATA SSD use M+B keying to allow use in either M or B keyed sockets. This explains why many laptops use M-Keyed sockets exclusively, it's a superset of interfaces..