Install M.2 2280 NVMe SSD: Step-by-Step for Desktop & Laptop

Tired of watching loading bars crawl across your screen while your mates are already dropping into the action? That agonizing wait is often the fault of an old, slow hard drive. The solution is here, and it's simpler than you think. Learning how to install an M.2 2280 NVMe SSD is one of the most impactful upgrades you can make, slashing load times and making your entire system feel snappier. This guide will walk you through it, step-by-step. 🚀

Corsair MP600 PRO XT 4TB PCIe Gen 4 x4 M.2 NVMe SSD / Maximum Read Speed 7,100 MB/s / Maximum Write Speed 6,800 MB/s / Backward compatible with PCIe Gen3 / Aluminum heatspreader for cooling / High-density 3D TLC NAND memory / CSSD-F4000GBMP600PXT

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KLEVV CRAS C930 2TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 Internal Gaming SSD with Heatsink, Compatible with PS5, up to 7400MB/s with DRAM Cash / K02TBM2SP0-C93

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XPG 4TB GAMMIX S70 Blade PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 Internal Gaming SSD Up to 7,400 MB/s - Works with Playstation 5 / AGAMMIXS70B-4T-CS

R6999.00In Stock

ADATA XPG GAMMIX S55 1TB NVMe PCIe Gen4 x 4 M.2, R/W Speed up to 5,000/3,700MB/s, Internal Solid State Drive Great for Steam Deck, Microsoft Surface and Gaming Consoles / SGAMMIXS55-1T-C

R2499.00In Stock

KLEVV CRAS C910 4TB NVME PCIe SSD Gen4x4 / Sequential Read up to 5200MB/s / Sequential Write up to 4800MB/s / Aluminum Heatsink / 3D NAND Technology / K04TBM2SP0-C91

R5999.00In Stock

ADATA SE920 1TB External Solid State Drive / Up to 2000 MB/s Read Speed / Up to 3,700 MB/s Write Speed(3,200 MB/s with Thunderbolt 4) / USB4 USB-C Interface (Backwards Compatible with USB 3.2/2.0) / SE920-1TCBK

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Before You Begin: The Pre-Installation Checklist

Before you even think about opening your case, let's get a few things sorted to ensure your upgrade goes smoothly. A little prep work saves a lot of headaches later.

### Compatibility is Key

First, check your motherboard or laptop specs. Does it have a free M.2 slot? Most modern boards do, but it's crucial to confirm. You'll be looking for an "M-Key" slot to support the incredible speeds of NVMe SSDs. This is a massive leap from the performance of older 2.5-inch SATA SSDs, so you want to make sure you can take full advantage of the technology.

### Gather Your Tools

You don't need a full workshop for this job. All it usually takes is:

• A small Phillips-head screwdriver.
• An anti-static wrist strap (highly recommended to protect your components).
• Your PC or laptop's manual, just in case.

### Back Up Your Data

ADATA 1TB SSD Legend 900 PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe M.2 internal gaming SSD up to 7,000MB/s PS5 compatible (SLEG-900-1TCS)

R2299.00In Stock

Kingston Fury Renegade 2TB NVMe SSD / M.2 2280 Form Factor / PCIe Gen5.0 / Up to 14,700MB/s Read / Up to 14,000MB/s Write / SFYR2S/2T0

R6999.00In Stock

Crucial P310 2TB NVMe Internal Solid State Drive SSD / Sequential read/write speeds up to 7,100/6,000MB/s / Integrated power loss immunity / Error correction code (ECC) / CT2000P310SSD8

R3799.00In Stock

Western Digital 500GB WD Blue SN5000 NVMe Internal Solid State Drive SSD / PCIe Gen 4.0, M.2 2280 / Up to 5,000MB/s Read Speed / Up to 4,000MB/s Write Speed / WDS500G4B0E

R899.00In Stock

Teamgroup T-Force G70 PRO 1TB NVMe Internal Solid State Drive / Up to 7,000 Read Speed / Up to 5,500 Write Speed / Multiple Caching Systems Available / Patented Graphene Heatsink Technology / TM8FFH001T0C129

R2499.00In Stock

Western Digital Blue SA510 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (SSD) / Superior Performance / Multitasking / WD F.I.T. Lab Certified / WDS500G3B0A

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This is non-negotiable. Whether you plan to clone your existing drive or start with a fresh Windows installation, back up your important files to an external drive or cloud service. You can never be too safe!

How to Install an M.2 2280 NVMe SSD in Your Desktop PC

Installing an M.2 drive in a desktop is incredibly straightforward. It's a small board that plugs directly into the motherboard, no messy cables required!

1. Power Down & Unplug: Completely shut down your PC. Switch the power supply unit (PSU) off at the back and unplug it from the wall.
2. Ground Yourself: Open your case. Before touching anything inside, touch a large metal part of the PC case to discharge any static electricity. Better yet, use your anti-static wrist strap.
3. Locate the M.2 Slot: Find the M.2 slot on your motherboard. It's a small, horizontal slot usually labelled "M.2". There will be a tiny screw or standoff waiting nearby.
4. Insert the SSD: Gently slide the M.2 SSD into the slot at about a 30-degree angle. The gold contacts should go in first, and it should fit snugly.
5. Secure the Drive: Press the drive down so it lies flat against the motherboard. Use the small screw you located earlier to secure it in place. Don't overtighten it... just firm enough to hold it steady.

Installing an M.2 2280 NVMe SSD in a Laptop

Kingston KC3000 PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 1TB SSD - High-Performance Storage for Desktop and Laptop PCs / SKC3000S/1024G

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Kingston XS2000 4TB High Performance Portable SSD with USB-C | Pocket-Sized | USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 | External Solid State Drive | Up to 2000MB/s | SXS2000/4000G

R5399.00In Stock

Corsair MP600 PRO NH 4TB PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe M.2 SSD – High-Density TLC NAND – M.2 2280 – DirectStorage Compatible - Up to 7,000MB/sec - No Heatsink - Black / CSSD-F4000GBMP600PNH

R7499.00In Stock

ADATA SU650 1TB 3D-NAND SATA 2.5 inch Internal SSD / ASU650SS-1TT-R

R1399.00In Stock

ADATA SD810 4000G IP68 Water Resistance Up to 2000 MB/s USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-C External Solid State Drive - Black for iPhone 15/Pro/Max, Android / SD810-4000G-CBK

R6199.00In Stock

KLEVV CRAS C910 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 Internal SSD with Heatsink, up to 5000MB/s (K01TBM2SP0-C91)

R999.00In Stock

The process for a laptop is similar, but requires a bit more care due to the compact space.

1. Power Off & Unplug: Shut down the laptop, unplug the charger, and flip it over.
2. Open the Case: Unscrew the back panel to access the internals. Keep track of your screws, as they can be different lengths.
3. Disconnect the Battery: This is a crucial safety step. Before you do anything else, carefully disconnect the battery from the motherboard.
4. Locate, Insert & Secure: Just like with the desktop, find the M.2 slot, insert the drive at an angle, press it down, and secure it with the screw.
5. Reassemble: Reconnect the battery, screw the back panel on, and you're good to go! A quick M.2 2280 NVMe SSD installation can breathe new life into an aging gaming laptop.

Post-Installation: Getting Your New Drive Ready

You've physically installed the drive, but the job isn't quite done. Your PC needs to recognise it.

First, boot up your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI (usually by pressing DEL, F2, or F12 on startup). Check your storage or boot devices list to confirm the new drive is detected. ✨

Once in Windows, the drive won't appear in "My Computer" just yet. You need to initialise it.

• Right-click the Start button and select "Disk Management".
• A pop-up will ask you to initialise the new disk. Choose "GPT (GUID Partition Table)".
• Now, right-click the "Unallocated" space for your new drive and select "New Simple Volume".
• Follow the wizard to format the drive and assign it a letter.

Kingston KC600 SSD 1024G Internal SSD 2.5", SATA Rev 3.0, 3D TLC, XTS-AES 256-bit encryption / SKC600/1024G

R2199.00In Stock

Kingston Fury Renegade 1TB PCIe Gen 4.0 NVMe M.2 Internal Gaming SSD with Heat Sink | PS5 Ready | Up to 7300MB/s / SFYRSK/1000G

R2999.00In Stock

KingSpec X500 2TB NVMe Internal Solid State Drive / 3D NAND Flash Memory / PCIe Gen 5.0, M.2 2280, Up to 14 00MB/s/13 000MB/s Read/Write Speeds / X500-2280-2TB

R4499.00In Stock

Kingston 2000G NV3 NVMe SSD / Up to 6,000MB/s Read / Up to 4,000MB/s Write / PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe / M.2 2280 Form Factor / SNV3S/2000G

R3499.00In Stock

Kingston Fury Renegade 2TB NVMe SSD / M.2 2280 Form Factor / PCIe Gen5.0 / Up to 14,700MB/s Read / Up to 14,000MB/s Write / SFYR2S/2T0

R6999.00In Stock

Corsair MP700 PRO with Air Cooler 2TB M.2 PCIe Gen5 x4 NVMe 2.0 SSD – M.2 2280 – Up to 12,400MB/sec Sequential Read – High-Density TLC NAND – Black / CSSD-F2000GBMP700PROS

R6699.00In Stock

From here, you can either do a fresh installation of Windows for the cleanest performance or use cloning software to copy your old drive over. With a massive selection of SSDs available, from budget-friendly options to the absolute bleeding edge like blazing-fast Gen 5 NVMe drives, there's a perfect fit for every rig. For serious content creators or gamers who want zero compromises, there are even high-capacity 2TB Gen 5 models available. Whatever your needs, be sure to check out the best SSD deals to get top-tier speed without breaking the bank.