Upgrading a laptop with a Solid State Drive (SSD) is far from a straightforward affair—it’s a nuanced procedure that requires a keen understanding of your device’s internals. Unlike the simpler process for desktop motherboards, laptops require a delicate touch to disassemble, along with careful selection based on the motherboard’s specific needs. The complexity and technical knowledge required for such an upgrade are exactly why professional repair fees can be so high. Therefore, it’s crucial to get a systematic understanding of your laptop before proceeding with an upgrade.
1. SSD Interface Types
Older laptops often came equipped with 2.5-inch SATA mechanical hard drives, so to upgrade, you’ll need to purchase a SATA SSD, like the Samsung 870 QVO. The swap is direct, as the 2.5-inch form factor fits perfectly, and the performance leap is substantial—enough to breathe new life into an aging system for potentially three more years.
Later models of laptops began integrating SSDs, albeit with smaller capacities and mixed interface types. The earliest of these was the mSATA SSD—a transitional interface that’s not very common. A notable example of this product is the Samsung 850 EVO, which also utilizes the SATA path.
More recent laptops have adopted M.2 interface SSDs, but there are differences among motherboard models. Early versions came with the B&M Key, identifiable by two notches and limited to the SATA interface, such as the Samsung 860 EVO.
SSDs with a B key, characterized by a single notch, use the PCIe NVMe protocol. These drives are substantially faster—potentially ten times so—compared to SATA SSDs, making PCIe NVMe the standard nowadays. The Samsung 990 EVO represents this current universal standard.
2. SSD Performance
While SATA SSDs have essentially reached their performance ceiling—for instance, the Samsung 870 QVO boasts sequential read and write speeds of 560MB/s and 530MB/s, respectively—PCIe NVMe M.2 SSDs vary in speed depending on the PCIe version. For example, the Samsung 980 supports PCIe 3.0 with speeds of 3100MB/s read and 2600MB/s write, whereas the PCIe 4.0-enabled Samsung 990 EVO reveals even faster speeds of 5000MB/s read and 4200MB/s write.
A crucial aspect to consider is PCIe version compatibility. PCIe 3.0 and 4.0 are mutually compatible, but using a PCIe 3.0 SSD in a PCIe 4.0 slot wastes potential bandwidth, and vice versa—installing a PCIe 4.0 SSD in a PCIe 3.0 slot leads to underutilized performance and unnecessary cost.
Interestingly, the Samsung 990 EVO also supports the latest PCIe 5.0 protocol. As tested by Crystal Disk Mark, it exceeds the nominal speeds of 5000MB/s read and 4200MB/s write in both PCIe 5.0×2 and PCIe 4.0×4 modes, all while offering lower energy consumption, a point that will be discussed further later on.
3. SSD Size and Capacity
Though PCIe NVMe M.2 SSDs are uniform in width and contact points, they come in various lengths, such as 2230, 2242, 2280, and 22110. These numbers refer to the width (22mm) and the length of the PCB in millimeters. The short sizes, 2230 and 2242, are commonly found in tablets and x86 handheld gaming devices, and sometimes in laptops, while the 22110 size is rare outside enterprise-level products. Most desktop motherboards and laptops support the 2280 size, which most consumer SSDs, including the Samsung 990 EVO, conform to.
When it comes to capacity, it’s important to meet at least the minimum requirements; otherwise, the upgrade loses its purpose. Terabyte-level capacity is now mainstream, and the Samsung 990 EVO comes in hefty 1TB and 2TB options.
4. SSD Power Consumption and Heat Generation
When it comes to laptops, power consumption, and heat generation are key considerations. The internal space within a laptop is limited, exacerbated by heat sinks for the CPU and GPU, which makes high heat-generating components unsuitable. Laptop-compatible SSDs typically have more modest performance benchmarks, like the commonly seen Samsung OEM PM9B1 in laptops.
Battery life is directly influenced by the power consumption of internal components, and low-power SSDs can add about 2% to battery life. The power usage of an SSD depends largely on its components, such as the Samsung 990 EVO which uses a DRAMLess design, a 5nm controller manufacturing process, and a new architecture. Its surface is also fitted with a heat-dissipating label, making for an ideal upgrade option for laptops due to its excellent power and heat management.
As you can see, upgrading a laptop with an SSD is a task that tests both your technical skills and understanding of your device’s specific configuration. It’s recommended to consult teardown photos or videos online, or even better, to disassemble the device yourself before purchasing to ensure that you get the most suitable product for your upgrade.