How to install an SSD (SATA or NVMe) in your PC - Ultimate Guide

Performance and speed are essential criteria for a pleasant user experience on a computer. Adding an SSD (Solid State Drive) is a safe and effective way to boost your PC’s performance. SSDs are known for their speed, low power consumption, and durability compared to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). In this guide, we will show you how to install two types of SSD: classic SATA SSD and NVMe SSD.

Summary

Install a classic SSD (SATA)
Install an NVMe SSD
Commissioning an SSD on a Windows PC
Conclusion

Install a classic SSD (SATA)

1- Identifying the connectors: When looking at an SSD, you will identify two connectors. The longer connector, located on the left, is for power supply, while the connector on the right is the SATA interface, intended for communication with the motherboard.

Preparing the cables : To connect your SSD to your computer, have a power cable and a SATA cable (see photo below).
- The power cable is usually connected to the power supply unit of your PC. It has several connectors to power various devices such as hard drives, SATA SSDs or optical drives (Blu-Ray, DVD, etc.).
- The SATA cable is generally supplied with your PC’s motherboard.

3- Location of SATA ports on the motherboard: SATA ports on the motherboard are often labeled (SATA 1, 2, 3, etc.) and oriented to make cable management easier.

4- Connecting cables: Although the SATA ports are numbered on the motherboard, the order of connection is not crucial. Any power connector can be used for your SSD, and keyings prevent incorrect connections.

Securing the SSD in the case: Locate the slot for the 2.5″ SSD in your computer case. This could be a specific drive bay or mounting bracket.

Place the 2.5″ SSD into the mounting bracket or drive bay, aligning the mounting holes on the SSD with those in the bracket or bay.
Use appropriate screws to secure the 2.5″ SSD.
Make sure the SSD is secure, but avoid overtightening the screws to avoid damaging the SSD.
Once the SSD is securely attached and the cables properly connected, replace the side panel of your case and reconnect all external cables to your computer.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed your SATA SSD into your computer.

Install an NVMe SSD

1- Locating the NVMe port: Refer to your motherboard manual to locate the NVMe port, or look for a port with mounting holes and a notch.

2- Selecting a suitable model: Check your motherboard’s compatibility with PCI-E Gen 4 SSDs for a faster model.

3- Preparing for Attachment: Make sure your NVMe SSD comes with a screw, or check if your motherboard does. Otherwise, purchasing a screw is necessary.

4- Inserting the NVMe SSD: Remove the screw bracket from the original slot, place it in the appropriate slot for longer NVMe SSDs, insert the SSD into the port, and lightly press the opposite side to secure it.

5- Securing the SSD: Align the notch on the SSD with the screw bracket, insert the screw, and tighten it to secure the SSD to the motherboard.

Well done! Your NVMe SSD is now installed on your PC’s motherboard.

Commissioning an SSD on a Windows PC

1- When you install a new SSD on your Windows PC, it may not appear in File Explorer immediately. This situation is often caused by the disk being unallocated. To make it usable, you will need to create a new simple volume.

Right-click on the Start menu or press the Windows+ keys together and select “Disk Management” from the pop-up menu.
In the Disk Management window, locate your SSD in the list of available disks. It will usually be listed as “Unallocated Disk”.
Right-click the unallocated space on the SSD, then select “New Simple Volume”.
Then follow the Create a Simple Volume Wizard, which will guide you through the process of creating a new volume, including formatting the SSD and assigning a drive letter.
Once you have completed these steps, your SSD should now be visible and accessible from File Explorer, ready to be used to store your files and applications.

With these steps, your SSD will be configured and ready to use to store your data and applications.

Conclusion

Installing an SSD, whether SATA or NVMe, is a crucial step in building a PC. This significantly improves the performance of your machine with minimal effort. Follow these steps carefully to ensure a successful installation and enjoy a faster, more responsive computer.