Vostro 3470, NVMe M.2

Thanks!

I am new to M.2 format drives. Thanks for the lesson.

Do you know if the Vostro 3470 will allow the 970 EVO NVMe M.2 drive with a PCI-e adapter to be a boot drive?

Adapters look to be $10 to $20 dollars. 

I don't see why not, as long as the BIOS is set to UEFI (which I think is the default).  If it comes up, note any disk/USB stick booting when set to UEFI must be formatted GPT (FAT32 might work as well), not MBR - otherwise it won't boot.

As already mentioned, you won't be able to add a discrete graphics card later if you want, since the x16 PCIe slot will be used by the M.2 adapter for the 970.  What's important to you all depends on what you're using the machine for...

I have the exact same problem.  Because I'm not that familiar with these different connectors, could you please share the link of the adapter that would work (i.e. that you purchased)?  (Dell actually recommended the 970 NVMe M.2 for my Vostro 3470, and I bought it directly from Dell.  It would have been nice if they had informed me that an additional adapter would be needed.)

I've used the SYBA SI-PEX40110 (also known as I/O Crest IO-PCE4X-M2 - same device, either may be shipped) in another machine with a Samsung 950 PRO.  Available here or here.

EDIT:  My reasons for choosing the above was its flexibility to also support 110 mm sized M.2 SSDs and I wanted to pick my own heatsink.  Heatsink chosen for it's large surface area was this one from OINVMEIO.  Keeps SSD about 11 degrees Celsius (20 degrees Fahrenheit) cooler when under load, especially writes.  (Note this system runs at PCIe 2.0, so cooling the M.2 NVMe SSD isn't as important as it would be running at PCIe 3.0.)

I'm glad to see I was not the only one to make this mistake. Before seeing Techgee lastest post about the /O Crest IO-PCE4X-M2 I ordered a GLOTRENDS M.2 NVMe Adapter Card with Heatsink from Amazon for $16. It will be here on 11/14 and I'll post the results. 

I ended up ordering this adapter.  I was able to successfully install the 970 EVO ssd and boot from it.  The ssd is indeed much faster!  

Many thanks to Taylorjimbo for posting this question and Techgee for the awesome answer!!!

Hi, I am trying to install an NVMe M2 Crucial ssd on a Vostro 3268 via PCIe x4 adapter.  I can see it in Windows and did a clean OS install via recovery USB but am still not able to boot up with the SSD.  It’s saying no hard disk found.  How did you guys successfully get the BIOS to recognize the SSD?  

Any screenshots with BIOS settings would be appreciated!!

Sorry i am new to the forum and i have been probably just as frustrated with this as all of you. They should come up with an upgraded BIOS for this PC to rectify the problem. Thanks for sharing the adapter resolution.

If your solution is correct then why is the M.2 located in the PCI section and not the SATA controller section.
In the BIOS of the 3470, the BIOS shows Slot 1  x16, Slot 2  x1 and  Slot 3 = M.2. 

If the M.2 is SATA only then why shouldn't the M.2 slot be in the SATA controller section with the other 4 slots? As i
have actually contacted tech support and they told me specifically that the M.2 was in fact NVMe. 

Just curious  ...

Hello Dell Team,

Dell Vostro 3470 Desktop is Support of WD 850X NVMe 2 TB?

@Techgee​ Can you let me know the SSD Size that can be used on Dell Vostro 3470? Any limitation such as Dell Vostro 3470 can support only 500GB/1TB/2TB NVMe SSD. Please let me know what is the maximum NVMe SSD on NVMe M.2 to PCIe adapter card to the x16 PCIe expansion slot.

@WishIKnewMore​ Hi, Can you let me know the Capacity of NVMe SSD recommended by Dell. What size Does Dell Vostro 3470 Can support and What you have installed in your Dell Vostro 3470? My hard drive on Dell Vostro Crashed without any warning and I am desparately looking for SSD and your comment would help in finding correct SSD. 

Vostro 3470 Setup and specification guide

Vostro 3470 Documentation