NVMe SSDs are so fast and easy to install, mind you, that they’re almost worth upgrading your motherboard for alone. Be careful about trying to add an M.2 drive to an older PC, as while these slots are common on recent mobos, you only have to go a few chipset generations back for them to be entirely absent.
M.2 SSDs can use NVMe or SATA, but both connect directly to your motherboard via an M.2 slot. M.2 SSDs can be installed in seconds - as long as you don't lose that miniscule screw. Your motherboard manual will tell you which SATA ports are switched off in this scenario, so just switch to a different port if an M.2 is blocking your SATA drive. It’s worth remembering that on many motherboards, installing an SSD in an M.2 slot can disable individual SATA ports, as there won’t be enough bandwidth to support both sets of ports being fully filled.
Plug the other end of the SATA cable into a spare SATA port on your motherboard, which are normally found near the bottom-right corner. Plug this into the SSD, and do the same with the SATA cable, which connects right next to it. They also both use distinctive L-shaped connectors, with the power cable being the wider of the two. With the SSD in position, you can now attach the power and data cables these come included with your PSU and motherboard respectively. Some mounting brackets secure the SSD from the underside, others from the edges. Replace the mount, if it’s a removable one. Place the drive in the mount with the holes aligned, then securely fasten the screws. If you’ve misplaced yours, it’s easy enough to buy replacement screws online, as all SSDs have the same size holes.
That’s right, you’ll need a crosshead screwdriver to both remove the mount and affix it to the SSD, before re-installing both to the case.įirst, locate the screws – these are very small, and will have come with the case.
It’s a little easier, however, if you have removeable mounts available, as these will let you do the fiddly screwdriver work mostly outside of the case. Some cheaper cases also have mounting holes drilled directly into the chassis.Ī removable mounting bracket like this one makes installation easier. Large 3.5in drive bays usually have mounting holes for fitting a 2.5in drive as well, or there might be dedicated 2.5in mounts attached to the case’s interior chassis. Cable management will be easier if the drive is already in place, so start by locating one of your PC’s 2.5in mounts. The bigger but generally more affordable breed of SSD needs three things: a power cable, a SATA cable, and somewhere to sit inside your PC. The SATA power cable (left) and data cable (right) connect at the edge of your 2.5in drive. This guide will show you how to set up both kinds of SSD, as well as the software-side setup you’ll need to perform if you’re adding a new SSD as your secondary or tertiary drive.
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