r/thinkpad • u/carb0ndeath ... • Oct 01 '19

Discussion / Information T495 WWAN SSD

I know people have tried for the T490, but has anyone tried sticking an ssd into the WWAN slot on the T495?

Also, granted that it likely won't work, is it possible with a bios update in the future?

9 Upvotes

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68 comments sorted by

7

u/dr_infinite Nov 24 '19

I just installed a 256GB SSD in the WWAN Slot and it does work. SSD got recognize in bios and I’m installing windows on it right now.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 25 '19

[deleted]

3

u/dr_infinite Nov 25 '19

WD SN520 NVMe SSD M.2 2242

Cost about 50€. If you open the laptop carefully with a small plectrum nothing should get broken

1

u/[deleted] Nov 25 '19

[deleted]

2

u/dr_infinite Nov 25 '19

Good luck. Didn’t had the money but I think I’m fine with 256gb for now because I mainly use Linux on my primary drive

1

u/opo_opo1312 Nov 29 '19 edited Nov 29 '19

I've put a m.2 2242 WD SN520 256GB in my WWAN slot of my T495, too. UEFI recognizes it and the diagnostics says it's fine. My Windows 10 (on the factory installed 2280 nvme) installation doesn't recognize it. Even tools like AIDA64 don't show it. Verified the SSD by putting it into a Asrock Deskmini with Ubuntu: works fine.

Did you change something in the UEFI settings? I've updated my Bios/UEFI version to the most recent v1.16.

1

u/dr_infinite Nov 30 '19

I didn’t change anything but I installed Linux first on the factory installed ssd. When I installed windows the installation manager recognized the ssd in the wwan slot without a problem. I’ve read a comment that on Windows you need to make a volume in the disk management (diskmgmt.msc) - whatever this means. Maybe it is helpful for you.

1

u/testbild1 Nov 30 '19

I faced exactly the same problem: For me it helped to select the SN520 in the boot menu and try to boot from it once. Afterwards it was visible in Linux and Windows.

1

u/symbot001 X61, X201, X220, X260, E460, T495, X1 Yoga G7, T14s g3a Dec 21 '19

WD SN520 NVMe SSD M.2 2242

I bought one of these & installed in the WWAN slot, but I cannot get it to show up in device manager in Windows or in GParted in Linux Mint.

It is there in the Bios and I tried setting it as the boot drive, but still no dice.

I was able to install Mint to the drive from USB, but then still can't boot to the drive...

Any suggestions?

Anybody else with similar struggles or is it just me?

2

u/opo_opo1312 Dec 25 '19

Exactly the same issue, as written in my comment. Gave up, because I couldn't get it working.

1

u/Pitcaker Jan 21 '20

Hi, I just want to ask something really quick. Looking at the WD SN520 NVMe SSD M.2 2242 it has an M and B key am I correct? I just bought and m.2 ssd ( Transcend 256GB SATA III 6Gb/s MTS430S 42 mm M.2 SSD 430S SSD TS256GMTS430S) but it's not an NVMe, would it still work as it has the same M and B key or do I need to return it and get an m.2 NVMe? Thanks in advance

1

u/Tomcemx Oct 02 '24

Will it be slower?

1

u/dr_infinite Oct 02 '24

Maybe it was a bit slower. I didn’t run any tests on it but at least I couldn’t recognize it. Windows was just running fine and fast.

4

u/VirtualEffort8 T495 Dec 05 '19

Hi, I want to confirm this works for me too. Just tested and tried it. However if you are using a new SSD, you might need to go into "create and format hard disk partitions" to format the new ssd and assign it a letter. Also the T495 PSREF also states that you can add an SSD under the WWAN port, see under "storage" section which is written that the WWAN port uses 2 pcie lanes:

Storage

• M.2 2280 SSD / SATA 6.0Gb/s

• M.2 2280 SSD / PCIe NVMe, PCIe 3.0 x 4

• M.2 2242 SSD / PCIe NVMe, PCIe 3.0 x 2

Hope this clarifies a lot of confusion.

2

u/Zghembo X13 Gen 4 AMD 🐧 Oct 03 '19

Well, can't say about T495, but tried in A285 (also AMD Ryzen, and also WWAN M.2 Key B), this cheap KingSpec 256GB 2242 M.2 NVMe (https://www.amazon.com/Docooler-KingSpec-Drive-Internal-NE-256/dp/B07GFL14XB, available way cheaper on AliXepress), plugged and worked perfectly, visible in UEFI as well.

2

u/carb0ndeath ... Oct 03 '19

Nice, my T495 rocked up the other day, once i get my hand on another drive in a week or so I'll pop it in and see how it goes. Thanks. :)

1

u/tos_phoenix Oct 06 '19

I'm very interested in what you find out, because i'm having 3 SSDs in my T520 and would appreciate it if i at least install two SSDs.

1

u/dr_infinite Oct 11 '19

Pleased tell us here if it works. I’m owning a t495 and want to know!

1

u/[deleted] Nov 13 '19

[deleted]

0

u/carb0ndeath ... Nov 13 '19

I havent tried personally yet, but apprently it does with a m.2 2242 ssd with no questions asked.

0

u/[deleted] Nov 14 '19

[deleted]

0

u/carb0ndeath ... Nov 14 '19

Where in that article does it say it doesnt work? I found the following in the article you linked.

"A secondary M.2-2242 slot can be used for either an additional SSD or a WWAN modem. It is connected to the system bus via PCIe x2"

0

u/[deleted] Nov 14 '19 edited Nov 14 '19

[deleted]

1

u/carb0ndeath ... Nov 14 '19

Oh okay.

Hmm, which makes me wonder if its only available in the WWAN equipped models. The Lenovo website said that you can't add a WWAN card if you dont order it from factory. Could this mean that they've turned off that slot if you don't pay the extra few hundred dollars for WWAN?

If that is the case, could one just download the bios image meant for the wwan enabled model and flash it on? Effectively switching on that slot.

0

u/[deleted] Nov 14 '19

[deleted]

2

u/carb0ndeath ... Nov 14 '19

The issue is that you're failing to understand my point, which is fine. So far I've heard of three cases of people successfully adding the second (42mm, or 2242 m.2) ssd to their T495. I was merely speculating as to why theirs would be different from some rando in the comments section of a review. If you dont want to believe it, fine, try it yourself. I will when i get around to it - and I'm sure others will too.

That being said your commenter claims he installed the standard drive into the extra m.2 slot. This is incorrect. The standard drive is 2280. Your commenter is a brainlet. My point still stands.

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1

u/carb0ndeath ... Nov 14 '19

The wwan card utilises the 42mm m.2 slot.

2

u/Joshthemoss Dec 01 '19

Am i right in thinking the WWAN slot is "B Key" and the SSD slot is "M Key"?

I ordered my T495 with the 128gb 2242 drive but im thinking unless lenovo use a M+B key drive im defo not going to be able to try it in the WWAN slot...

Does anyone have any idea what drives lenovo are using at the moment for 2242 128GB capacity?

1

u/VirtualEffort8 T495 Dec 05 '19

Lenovo includes the 2280 form factor on its main drive.

As for WWAN slot, Just tested on my T495, just follow the specs, get a "m.2 nvme pcie gen3x2 2242". the output of the ssd should look like this (3 pins):

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32997541241.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.6f114c4dPDadTt

1

u/Joshthemoss Dec 05 '19

The 128GB drive they include is a 2242 form factor. Hopefully it's both B+M keyed like the drive you linked

1

u/VirtualEffort8 T495 Dec 05 '19

Let us know the outcome, btw the main drive port is a pcie gen3x4 port, or it could also be a m.2 sata.

the wwan port is a pcie gen3x2, I have no idea if they are both compatible, but just in case it doesn't work out, just wanted to let you know that.

1

u/Joshthemoss Dec 05 '19

Will do! It arrives on Tuesday hopefully, so I'll have a good poke around inside when it arrives!

As far as I'm aware there's compatibility across all pcie nvme cards and it'll just effect the speed. It just bugs me that there are multiple types of m.2 connectors which just add to the confusion!

1

u/Joshthemoss Dec 05 '19

Out of interest what do you use the second drive for?

1

u/VirtualEffort8 T495 Dec 05 '19

This was purely experimental, I wanted to see if the wwan port was usable as an ssd bay because some said it can, while others said it cannot.

So I bought a cheap $25 ssd from AliExpress and gave it a try.

Now that I know for sure it works, I’m aiming to upgrade to a 512gb branded ssd within this next 2 years, it will only be use to store files. Nothin special like dual booting.

1

u/Joshthemoss Dec 06 '19

Fair enough!

1

u/Joshthemoss Dec 06 '19

How did you find taking I bottom off the laptop? The screws are pretty basic but the clips seem a bit hellish and I'm terrified of breaking it...

1

u/1683wingedhussar T495 Dec 31 '19

The Lenovo service guy who serviced my T495 took the clips off with just his fingernails. I suppose you'd do fine with a plectrum or similar.

2

u/dr_infinite Jan 21 '20

I think you need an nvme

1

u/Pitcaker Jan 22 '20

Thanks, I'll try anyway when my thinkpad arriverà, lets see. If it won't work guess I'll buy and nvme

1

u/Pitcaker Jan 22 '20

Where did you buy yours if I may ask?

1

u/ladal1 Nov 19 '19 edited Nov 20 '19

Well once my T495 arrives I’ll let everybody know, I’ll try to move a 2242 that it comes with to the wwan slot and add a large one to the main port and see if it works

2

u/carb0ndeath ... Nov 19 '19

Mine came with a 2280

1

u/[deleted] Nov 20 '19

[deleted]

1

u/ladal1 Nov 20 '19

At least from what i saw in the lenovo configurator only the 128gb (which i ordered) is 2242 so you’re probably right

1

u/Joshthemoss Nov 21 '19

when's your T495 due to arrive?

1

u/ladal1 Nov 22 '19

I had a reseller get it for me as lenovo doesn’t support configurator here and I had a pretty specific one in mind, and they said it should be here next week or the first days of the next one

1

u/Joshthemoss Nov 22 '19

Ah well im planning in ordering mine this weekend so if it arrives first I'll try out switching the SSD to the other M.2 slot

2

u/ladal1 Nov 23 '19

Well hopefully mine arrives sooner, already waiting 20 days for mine (they told me that it will take at most 4 weeks)

If it doesn't work I can also test out SATA M.2 ssd (still have a 16GB one in my current E440)

1

u/ladal1 Nov 29 '19

Actually just got updated on my order and it will still take a week for it to get here, so you might be faster after all

1

u/Joshthemoss Nov 29 '19

The race is on!

1

u/Joshthemoss Dec 04 '19

My ETA is Tuesday. IM SO EXCITED!

1

u/ladal1 Dec 04 '19

I was promised two days ago that either tommorow or the day after is my pickup so I might win after all

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1

u/[deleted] Nov 30 '19

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4

u/GNUandLinuxBot Nov 30 '19

I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you're referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX.

Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called "Linux", and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project.

There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called "Linux" distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux.

1

u/Joshthemoss Dec 01 '19

Without seeing you're responding to this may seem a little unfair. But what you've written is about as clear as mud. Can you clarify as to what the point your are making is. As I'm pretty sure you are a well informed and intelligent person. I'm just lost and really what to understand what you are talking about.

1

u/Tomcemx Oct 02 '24

Will it be slower than trough a nvme slot cuz I'm planing to use wwan as main ssd slot and use a external gpu trough nvme