2023: Is the nvme port really only gen 3x2? (Aspire a315-24p-r6sk)

I noticed that the crystaldiskMark and windows disk test results for my gen4x4 nvme was not as fast as it should be.

I should be getting 5000MB/s+ for my drive.

I looked at CrystalDiskInfo and it appears the ssd nvme port itself is only gen 3x2. This doesn't make ANY sense, because the laptop is advertised as having gen 4x4.

Is the hardware nvme port in fact only gen3x2? Is this a manufacturer's defect?

If so, how do I go about claiming this?

3x4 I would still complain, but that seems very odd that the laptop specifically advertises nvme gen 4x4, but the actual port is only gen 3x2.

Acer Aspire a315-24p-r6sk

https://store.acer.com/th-th/notebook-aspire-a315-24p-r6sk-pure-silver

Manufacturer's date is July, 2023 . You can clearly see in the product description that the port should be gen 4x4

Edit: Win 10 LTSC 2021 x64. Although that shouldn't affect the hardware.

Accepted answers

All comments

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/695697/2023-is-the-nvme-port-really-only-gen-3x2-aspire-a315-24p-r6sk

Your laptop has one M.2 PCIe x4 slot, limited to Gen 3 SSD so the NVMe Gen4 drive runs at lower Gen3 speed.
https://laptopmedia.com/highlights/how-to-open-acer-aspire-3-a315-24p-disassembly-and-upgrade-options/

4EverMaAT

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1244165#Comment_1244165

Is it supposed to be that way?

How would I have known that by the Acer packaging? What Acer has said the laptop spec has.

StevenGen

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/695697/2023-is-the-nvme-port-really-only-gen-3x2-aspire-a315-24p-r6sk

Yes 1700MB/s is the Normal PCIe3x2 M.2 slot laptop drive speed, as its very strange that your Aspire A315-24P-R6SK has the PCIe3x2 M.2 slot SSD speeds, as it should have PCIe4x4, as its official advertised Acer specs and this exact laptop model sold in New Zealand was an M.2 Gen4 SSD drive laptop, and the Acer advertised web page, quotes the below specs:

This is the Acer official Subsystem Specs for the Aspire A315-24P from its SG:

The above specs differences between the two is enormous in Sequential and Random read/write speeds between the two, as the official Aspire A315-24P-R6SK model that Acer was selling in New Zealand had an M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4 SSD drive slot and its totally difference to its SG of PCIe3x2 slot, the speed difference is between 3.500MB/s to 5000MB/s speeds.

4EverMaAT

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1244165#Comment_1244165

How would I have known any of this, based on the Acer packaging of the product? I used official acer references to research this product before buying.

How would I have known that the port was not 4x4, but was actually 3x2?

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1244175#Comment_1244175

Not 3x2 but Gen3x4, read that Laptop media review I posted: "For storage, you get one M.2 PCIe x4 slot, limited to Gen 3" PCIe Gen 4 doubles the data rate of PCIe Gen 3. (Source: Kingston).

4EverMaAT

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1244174#Comment_1244174

This is the Acer official Subsystem Specs for the Aspire A315-24P from its SG:

@StevenGen What exactly is SG?

and can you actually provide a url link to this spec where it states gen 3x2?

And the New Zealand version of this laptop…did you actually test this personally and it actually had 4x4 m.2 slot?

And of course the spec difference is substantial. And gen 3x2 is so old. I have 2 slightly different 8th gen Intel laptops (Acer A515-52g) and their m.2 ports are gen 3x4.

So 2023 laptop where they advertise gen 4x4 spec, it is in fact only 3x2 (not even 3 x 4).

It's really just by chance that I wanted to explore a Ryzen processor. And I realized the memory was soldered on, so I went with 16GB.

StevenGen

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1244180#Comment_1244180

What I mean 4EverMaAT by the “SG” is the Official Acer Aspire A315-24P Service Guide (which is a general released service guide for this laptop) there is NO URL for this manual as this is an internal Acer document and its not available to the public.

Note: all Aspire laptop models, have many variable models with different specs for the Aspire A315-24P-XXXX laptop, but NOT for the specific Aspire A315-24P-R6SK that you have, as this model laptop should all have the M.2 SSD PCIe4x4 slot speed mainboard and an oem Gen4 M.2 SSD supplied inside by Acer and NOT a mainboard with an M.2 SSD PCIe3x2 spec slot speed like you have and you do a test with CrystalDiskMark and you get 1700MB/s with an M.2 SSD Gen4 drive - THAT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AS ITS WRONG.

The Aspire A315-24P-R6SK New Zealand model is proof that your laptop if it’s the Aspire A315-24P-R6SK model (please check the exact and full model again and see if it’s the Aspire A315-24P-R6SK?) then it should have a mainboard with an M.2 SSD Gen4 x4 SSD slot and it should be exchanged for the right laptop.

4EverMaAT

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1244178#Comment_1244178

My screenshot of actual product usage of the a315-24p-r6sk (not a 3rd party website) is showing hardware m.2 slot as gen 3x2, NOT 3x4. Let me provide that screenshot again.

I relied on official acer website and the seller's website for information. And I provided those links earlier. Here they are again:

a315-24p-r6sk

The other website you mentioned may have been testing a different model or variant, and it may have actually had gen 3x4. Although they did not provide any proof using nvme monitoring software as to the exact hardware being tested.

4EverMaAT

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1244183#Comment_1244183

(please check the exact and full model again and see if it’s the Aspire A315-24P-R6SK?)

lol. Ok. The acer care center software doesn't show the full model number (go figure). But the receipt and the bottom panel should do the trick.

And this one might be helpful.

Bought in Thailand with reputable distributor of computer electronics. Not sure other than the keyboard if this would make a difference in the motherboard specs. And if so, why not have a different -XXXX to indicate a different model.

Hopefully that is enough proof that laptop in question is in fact model A315-24P-R6SK

NO URL as this is an internal Acer document and its not available to the public.

Go figure. But good that someone with this knowledge can validate what is being said.

——————

If it does come down to returning laptop (I think I only have like 2 more days to do that; unfortunately I didn't test all this stuff right away).

I need something canonical from Acer preferably that can be shown to Acer Thailand and they are compelled to (or can get the store to) return it. I'm hoping you could provide that, even in a DM if needed.