How to install SSD, all models
Installing SSD (Solid State Drive) on laptop or desktop PC is a must, as its benefits are simply too many to ignore. Without an SSD, your computer will have a slower operating system startup time and slower application startup time. There is also a significant difference in application startup time on a non-SSD system. Although installing SSD is simple, people unfamiliar with this type of operation may have a hard time detecting the SSD port and inserting cables. With that in mind, we are here to walk you through the process of installing the SSD to the motherboard. It’s easy to install SSD on notebooks and desktop PCs, let’s see how it’s done.
Read also: How to update SSD firmware
Before getting started, you should know that there are five different types of SSD drives. We will walk you through the process of connecting each of these drives to the motherboard. However, it’s always a good idea to have your motherboard manufacturer’s user manual handy when following these steps.
Among these types of solid state drives, mSATA and M.2 SATA are used in laptops and tablets. Therefore, we will not talk in detail about the installation of these components. However, since installing them is quite simple and similar to installing NVMe, we will briefly talk about how to install SSD on desktop and laptop PC.
We have explained how to install solid state drives on motherboard based on drive type below.
The 2.5-inch SSD is one of the most commonly used storage devices when building a PC. In terms of budget, this is the first choice of most PC builders. However, installing them can be a hassle as it requires two cables.
The SATA cable is usually supplied with the motherboard and the power cable is supplied by the power supply unit (PSU). Before connecting them, you must first screw the SSD onto the CPU case.
When fixing the SSD into the bracket, make sure the ports of the SSD are easily accessible, as you need to plug in the power and SATA cable.
After securing the SSD into the bracket, it’s time to insert the cables. You need to plug two cables into the SSD when connecting it to the motherboard. One is the SATA cable and the other is for thePower supply. The port where the power cable plugs into is relatively larger than the SATA port, so it will be easier to differentiate the two. The motherboard usually includes the SATA cables and not the SSD. Both ends of the SATA cable are the same, so it doesn’t matter which end you plug into the SSD.
The cable will have an L-shaped port. Then, on the motherboard, look for any L-shaped headers. These SATA headers are typically found on one side of the motherboard. These SATA slots can also be parallel to each other. If you can’t find the SATA header on the motherboard, you always can refer to the user manual. Once you have located the SATA header on the motherboard, insert the other end of the cable into one of these slots.
Now you need to power up the SSD by connecting it to the power supply.
Then, enter your motherboard BIOS to check if your system detects the SSD. If not, make sure the power cables are fully inserted into both the power supply and the SSD.
Also Read: How to Clone Hard Drive to SSD
The M.2 NVMe (Non-volatile Memory Express) SSD is basically a compact version of a 2.5-inch SSD with a lot of additional features. This is a thin rectangular chip that you can place directly on the motherboard. Unlike the 2.5-inch SSD, the M.2 NVMe does not require a separate power source. Also, no cables are needed as it connects directly to the motherboard. There are basically two types of M.2 NVMe depending on the type of connectors:
So, if you have an NVMe SSD with M-key connector, but your motherboard doesn’t have this slot, you may need to replace NVMe with an M + B key connector.
To install NVMe SSDs on the motherboard, you need to locate the NVMe slots first. The M.2 slots are usually located near the PCIe slot on the motherboard. You can recognize the PCIe slots on the motherboard by its long frame. However, PCIe slots look a lot like DIMM slots (which contain RAM). DIMM slots will have blocks at both ends and PCIe will have blocks at only one end.
If you can’t find the M.2 slots, there may be a thermal protector above it. A thermal shield is a metal heatsink included with most high-end motherboards, which sits on top of the M.2 NVMe. You need to remove this metal cover to reveal the M.2 NVMe slots. Refer to your motherboard user manual if you have trouble finding M.2 slots.
Once you have located the PCIe slots, you can easily locate the M.2 slots. Look for words like M2_1, M2_2 near the PCIe slots. These NVMe sticks are flat on the motherboard or horizontally, so the M.2 port is not to be confused with the PCIe x1 or x4 slots, which are located vertically.
After locating the NVMe slots on the motherboard, follow this procedure to insert the NVMe drive into the NVMe slots.
Also Read: The Complete Guide to Solid State Drives [SSD]
This is a special solid state drive which is more expensive and has more features than the standard M.2 NVMe and 2.5-inch SSD. These drives are installed in the motherboard’s PCIe x4 slots. Like NVMe SSDs, they are powered by the motherboard and do not require a separate power cable.
The PCIe SSD goes inside the PCIe x4 slots on the motherboard. So in case this slot is not present on the motherboard, you may need to switch to another SSD. Finding the PCIe x4 slots is fairly straightforward as they are located next to the PCIe x16 slots (which contain the graphics card) and are nearly half its size. The PCIe SSD scan is another way to find the PCIe x4 slot.
Compare the length of the interface (the gold strips that connect it to the motherboard) with the length of the PCIe slots. If the lengths match, the slots are PCIe x4. If you are having trouble locating the PCIe x4 slot, you can always refer to your motherboard user manual.
To install PCIe SSDs, you must first remove the metal part that holds the PCIe bracket from the rear end of the CPU.
Since this SSD does not require a power cable, you can simply plug it in and configure it from the BIOS.
Mining on RTX 3070. Overclocking, tuning, profitability, consumption: If you are interested in finding more…
Mining with GTX 1660, 1660 Ti, 1660 Super. Overclocking, settings, consumption, profitability, comparisons - If…
Mining with RTX 2070 and 2070 Super. Overclocking, profitability, consumption, comparison What the RTX 2070…
Mining with RTX 3060, 3060 Ti. Limitations, overclocking, settings, consumption, profitability, comparison Let's look at…
Alphacool Eisblock Aurora Acryl GPX-A (2022) with Sapphire Radeon RX 6950 XT Nitro+ Pure in…
In the ever-evolving landscape of business strategy, Bitcoin has emerged as a pivotal asset. With…
This website uses cookies.