Can I use an M.2 SSD as a boot drive?

by Paul | Last Updated: August 9, 2022

A boot drive could basically be the drive that contains the operating system, it serves as the physical hard drive in your computer where essential files that are important when it comes to starting your computer are located.

Can I use an M.2 SSD as a boot drive?

If your computer has capabilities such as the presence of the M. 2 slot , then yes, you can install M. 2 SSD on the computer and then set it as the boot drive. Using the M. 2 ssd as a boot drive is absolutely possible and there are a lot of reviews about this process, and it is known to be simple and fast because the laptop boots quickly after a couple seconds.

Using this solid state driver will be good for your operating system, your operating system is sure to boot faster with a solid state drive, if you want to perform any OS-related task that needs data retrieved from the drive, it will definitely be fast because of the SSD.

An M. 2 SSD is known to transfer data at up to 10 times the speed of a traditional solid state drive, pairing your computer with the M.2 SSD will provide you with incredible speed for data transfer and it is just an overall great advantage for boot drive usage.

The M.2 ssd requires M.2 connector slot to interface, it doesn’t require cable, so as long as you have the right connector slot, you could make use of the SSD  as a boot drive. M.2 uses SATA or PCIe or NVMe interface protocols to transfer data and all of the options are pretty great choices to pick from.

M.2 drive defines physical form factor, and there are so many advanced that come with making use of the M.2 SSD, one of the main functions of an ssd is to give you the fastest experience possible with your computer, and all you have to do is install your OS on the solid state drive.

Installation Steps For M.2 SSD

If your plan is to make your operating system run faster, then you have the chance to make use of the M.2 SSD drive as a boot drive, you can install your operating system on a super-fast storage,and  your computer will run quicker. Here are a few steps to install M.2 SSD;

The first thing you have to do is take various anti-static precautions, such as disconnecting your computer and if you’re installing the M.2 SSD in a laptop, you will have to remove the battery.

The first official step is to select the M.2 SSD you want. You have to make the right choice, based on your motherboard, size requirement, and budget, so the choice you make has to match the requirements of your motherboard and also your port key and it definitely has to match some of your personal requirements as well.

The next step is very focused on the need to check your motherboard specifications to determine which port the M.2 SSD should be connected to, with the motherboard comes different options, your motherboard could have multiple M.2 ports with different usage allowances, so it is important to know the specifics.

The next step is for uses of the M.2 ssd that might have a motherboard with no M.2 connector, in this case, you could definitely make use of an adapter like the PCIe adapter card that comes with an M.2 slot, this isn’t the best option for booting operating systems but it is great for fast storage, this just emphasizes the need for you to have a motherboard with the right connector.

The next step is the installation of the the M.2 SSD Drive, you need to start by removing the securing screw from the port, then make sure the SSD drive amd the connector are a match, you will then have to slide it into the port and if you want the M.2 ssd to be fully secure, push it against the motherboard and tighten it with a screw.

The final step involves the enablement of the M.2 in the BIOS/UEFI, you will definitely have to enable the M.2 SSD in your PC’s settings, so you will have to boot straight into the BIOS/UEFI screen. If it has been enabled, you can install your windows OS or any operating system of your choice on it.

Advantages Of M.2 SSD

The M.2 SSD definitely provides your PC with a fast storage, with faster storage  installed into your PC, your operating system will boot quicker and performance will improve, this is what every user wants, which is why using M.2 is a good idea.

With the M.2 SSD as your boot drive, you do not have to worry about having too many cables, the M.2 SSD makes use of a connector or M.2 slot, so it definitely offers you the ultimate cleaner PC interior environment with less cables to worry about.

The M.2 SSDs are way faster than the traditional or more conventional SSDs, you could use the M.2 SSD with either PCIe or NVMe, and you will definitely get ten times more speed than you would with a conventional SSD.

The great thing about the M.2 SSD asides its clean installation process and the space it provides, this ssd will generally boost your performance substantially and that is what you want from a boot drive, the best performance boost possible.

Another advantage that is obvious is that your computer will boot way faster, they are very reliable in a way that will definitely leave your computer to be extremely responsive, everything will be more responsive and they are also way better than mechanical drives.

Disadvantage Of M.2 SSD

The major disadvantage has to do with old motherboards, they might have M.2 SSD support which could possibly rely on the PCIe bus, which means devices are limited to 6Gb/s transfer speeds, and the M.2 SSD connection to the PCIe bus may limit its usage since it cannot be used as the system’s primary drive.