TC-780-ACKI5 Can I install M.2 3.0 x4 SSD in x16 Graphics Slot, and Use Onboard Graphics?

Bakes

I have a TC-780-ACKI5 with i5-7400, 12GB RAM, running onboard 630 graphics, and using the stock 2TB spinner HD. I want to ditch the spinner and upgrade to an M.2 SSD. Apparently, the onboard M.2 slot is limited to PCIe 3.0 x2, is this correct? And the M.2 SATA format is recommended, although it seems some have successfully installed an M.2 NVMe SSD.

There are readily available PCIe 3.0 x16 adapter cards to allow an M.2 SSD to install into a PCIe x16 slot. I want to use the graphics card slot for this PCIe 3.0 x16 adapter card with an M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD, and continue to use the onboard graphics. Is this possible? Will the SSD be recognized? And can the onboard graphics remain enabled?

If successful this may allow the SSD to run at 3.0 x4 speeds instead of 3.0 x2 speeds. I believe the graphics PCIe connection is directly to the CPU, instead of through the H110 Express motherboard chipset (PCH), which would allow for more (4) PCIe lanes to be used for the SSD. I believe the onboard M.2 slot is PCIe 3.0 x2 routed through the chipset (PCH), so only 2 PCIe lanes.

Will installing this PCIe x16 adapter card in the graphics slot automatically disable the onboard graphics? If so, is there a way to enable the onboard graphics when the adapter card is installed in the graphics slot? I read this onboard graphics enable adjustment is possible in a Gigabyte bios, but don't know if it is possible in my Acer.

https://support.punchtechnology.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/360011378818-How-to-enable-integrated-CPU-graphics-in-addition-to-a-discrete-GPU

[Edited the thread to add model name to the title]

StevenGen

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/707015/tc-780-acki5-can-i-install-m-2-3-0-x4-ssd-in-x16-graphics-slot-and-use-onboard-graphics

The Aspire TC-780 desktop has a 1x M.2 2280 Interface SATA 3.0 (se @at #9 below) its PCIe Interface Express x16 slot is a PCIe V3.0 speed so you can put an M.2 adapter and drive into that slot.

M.2 SATA SSD drives listed for the TC-780 by Acer

• Kingston – 96GB RBU-SNS8151S3
• Lite-On – 128GB CV1-8B128 / 256GB CV1-8B256 / 512GB CV1-8B512
• Toshiba – 128GB THNSNJ128G8NY / 256GB CV1-8B256

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billsey

The M.2 slot is SATA only, you can't use an NVMe drive whether it's x2 or x4. Here's that portion of the block diagram:

So SATA only, no PCIe channels to the slot. The Key E is for the WLAN card.

Bakes

Does anyone know if installing a PCIe 3.0 x16 adapter card (with M.2 SSD on the card) will disable the onboard graphics? And if so, is there a way to enable the onboard graphics, like through the bios?

billsey

It's tough to tell until someone tries it. We have seen models where anything in the x16 slot disables the onboard graphics and models where if the PCIe card isn't a GPU then the onboard still works. You model is old enough I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't work, but the only way to be sure is to try it. Most people looking for higher performance are more likely to be putting a GPU card in that slot, or upgrading to a newer model, since the TC-780 is eight years old this year.