2230 or 2280: compare drive length and the documented host
WD_BLACK SN770M and SN770 have different lengths despite similar interface and performance labels. Compare the physical and host conditions separately.
Updated:
Choose the supported mounting length, not the larger speed label
A 2230 M.2 module is nominally 22 mm wide and 30 mm long; a 2280 module is nominally 22 mm wide and 80 mm long. Buy the length and interface explicitly supported by the exact host. A short module does not automatically have a usable mounting position in a long socket, and an 80 mm drive cannot be assumed to fit a space intended for 30 mm.
The WD_BLACK SN770M and SN770 make this concrete. Their 1 TB models both list sequential read up to 5150 MB/s, yet their documented lengths differ by 50 mm. Equal speed labels therefore do not establish interchangeability. This page compares the source-listed modules and a named motherboard condition; it does not approve an installation in every desktop, handheld or laptop.
Compare the actual 1 TB identities
The SN770M sheet identifies WDS100T3X0G and its retail packaging identity WDBDNH0010BBK-WRSN. It lists 30 ± 0.15 mm length, 22 ± 0.15 mm width and 2.38 mm height. The SN770 sheet identifies the 1 TB WDS100T3X0E at 80 ± 0.15 mm length, the same nominal width and 2.38 mm height. Preserve the final model character: G and E do not describe the same physical module.
Both documents list PCIe Gen4 with up to four lanes and backward-compatible PCIe paths. That does not approve a SATA-only M.2 socket or establish a bootable device in an arbitrary host. Read interface support, usable lane path and any boot restrictions separately from the mounting length.
| Exact 1 TB example | SN770M WDS100T3X0G | SN770 WDS100T3X0E |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal M.2 format | 2230 | 2280 |
| Listed length | 30 ± 0.15 mm | 80 ± 0.15 mm |
| Listed width / height | 22 ± 0.15 / 2.38 mm | 22 ± 0.15 / 2.38 mm |
| Interface | PCIe Gen4, up to 4 lanes | PCIe Gen4, up to 4 lanes |
| Maker sequential read / write up to | 5150 / 4900 MB/s | 5150 / 4900 MB/s |
| Listed endurance | 600 TBW | 600 TBW |
A real motherboard demonstrates the support-list boundary
MSI MPG B650I EDGE WIFI lists two M.2 sockets with 2280 and 2260 support. The specification does not list 2230 for those positions. Do not reinterpret the longer supported lengths as approval for an improvised 2230 mounting arrangement. If another retaining device is proposed, obtain explicit host and accessory documentation rather than assuming a mechanical adapter settles every condition.
Likewise, Sandisk’s description of compatible handhelds and laptops is conditional. It does not certify every revision of every machine in those families. Use the exact system model and service documentation, and confirm whether user replacement is permitted or requires qualified service. This guide provides a purchasing comparison rather than disassembly instructions.
Use actual photographs to identify the physical question
The actual short module photograph shows a 512 GB Kioxia BG4 2230 drive with a microSD card used as a physical reference. The separate long-module photograph identifies a Samsung 960 PRO 2 TB 2280 drive. Neither is a photograph of the compared SN770M or SN770 1 TB model. The figures are independently resized, not scale drawings: use the source-listed millimetres in the table. A 2242 module instead has 42 mm nominal length, so a small circuit board should not casually be called a 2230 drive.
The separate adapter board visibly labels 30, 42, 60 and 80 mm mounting positions, but it is marked SATA III to M.2 (NGFF). A range of retaining positions is not proof of a PCIe/NVMe host path. Do not transfer that adapter illustration into approval for either compared WD drive or for the MSI board whose specification lists only 2260 and 2280. Preserve the complete model identity and populated-component height, and verify heatsink or double-sided-module clearance separately; a photograph does not certify the host envelope.
Confirm the whole supported path before ordering
Write down the host model, supported M.2 protocol, lengths, mounting position and permitted component envelope. Match the complete drive part number to that record, then confirm any required mounting hardware is included. An offer that gives capacity and a transfer-rate headline but omits the model remains incomplete for a length-sensitive purchase.
No current UK price or stock feed is available for this comparison. The conclusion does not depend on a made-up value winner: these two documented 1 TB drives have similar headline transfer claims but different physical lengths. Select the explicitly supported format, keep backups, and use the manufacturer’s regional warranty terms rather than treating a stated TBW figure as protection against data loss.
