Acer C720: Second NGFF Slot

[Pedro Nariyoshi]

As shown here: LINK, the Acer C720 has two NGFF slots. One where the original SSD is, the other close to the fan.

Is it possible to install a second SSD in the NGFF slot close to the fan?

[Shawn N]

No, it is not possible. The second NGFF slot does not have its SATA
pins connected to PCH.

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[Mike Frysinger]

thanks, i've added that note to the doc:
  The NGFF (M.2) WWAN connector cannot be connected to a SATA device as its SATA pins are not connected to the PCH.

-mike

[Pedro Nariyoshi]

Thanks for the clarification. It was a little unclear on the Wiki.
So, could a NGFF WWAN adapter be installed in it? I mean, is there any potential use for it?

Pedro Nariyoshi

[Shawn N]

Yes, the PCIe + USB pins are connected, so a non-SATA device should work fine.

I'll follow vapier and update the doc with this info.

On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 8:49 AM, Pedro Nariyoshi

[Tim Small]

BTW, there are already M.2 PCIe SSDs available (or soon will be), e.g.
Plextor M6e.  The PCIe interface available on M.2 is an x4 one, so
potential max bandwidth is significantly more than SATA offers (although
the M6e is PCIe x2).

Tim.

On 04/03/14 17:04, Shawn N wrote:

Yes, the PCIe + USB pins are connected, so a non-SATA device should work fine.

On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 8:49 AM, Pedro Nariyoshi
<pedro.n...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Gwendal Grignou]

On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 1:37 PM, Tim Small <t...@buttersideup.com> wrote:

BTW, there are already M.2 PCIe SSDs available (or soon will be), e.g.
Plextor M6e.  The PCIe interface available on M.2 is an x4 one, so
potential max bandwidth is significantly more than SATA offers (although
the M6e is PCIe x2).

From what I read that Plextor M6e PCIe SSD has a AHCI [Ata Host Controller Interface] compliant controller that sends ATA commands to the SATA flash controller [Marvell 88SS9187]. The Plextor M6e 128GB is of type 2242 [42mm long], so this one should fit. 

On chromeos, it may work [the partitions on the disk will appear in the 'files' app], or the bios might get confused, this is not a tested configuration. Let us know how it works for you!

Gwendal.

Tim.

On 04/03/14 17:04, Shawn N wrote:

Yes, the PCIe + USB pins are connected, so a non-SATA device should work fine.

On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 8:49 AM, Pedro Nariyoshi
<pedro.n...@gmail.com> wrote:

I mean, is there any potential use for it?

[Pedro Nariyoshi]

My guess is that it will probably be mapped as /dev/sdb by the kernel and so will appear as a storage device.
Worst case scenario, it could be mapped as /dev/sda, making it necessary to install the OS into it.

If these SSDs are affordable, I might give them a shot.

Pedro Nariyoshi

[Tore L]

Have anyeone had any luck with installing a 3G adapter in the NGFF slot, is it even possible ?

[Peter]

I would like to know this too, but, more importantly, do most C720s even have a second NGFF PCB socket?

The chromium.org wiki page seems to indicate many do not "NGFF (M.2) WWAN connector (probably missing on your machine)". In many of the YouTube disassembly videos a second connector does not seem to be present either.