Our Top Picks
Pros & cons
- Read and write speeds up to 7450/6900 MB/s suit demanding workloads
- Over 55% random performance improvement is noted versus the 980 PRO
- Up to 50% better performance per watt reduces power draw
- PCIe 4.0 speeds depend on a compatible motherboard slot to reach full potential
- 2TB capacity may require a larger model for extensive game libraries
To install an M.2 SSD, power off and unplug the PC, remove the slot heatsink if there is one, set the standoff screw to the 2280 position, slide the drive in at a slight angle, press it flat, secure it with one screw, replace the heatsink, and then initialize the drive in Windows Disk Management.
Before You Start
- Shut down Windows, switch off the power supply, and unplug the power cable. Hold the power button for a few seconds to drain residual power.
- Touch bare metal on the case to discharge static, and handle the SSD by its edges.
- Find your motherboard manual. It shows which M.2 slots exist, which are PCIe or SATA, which generation of PCIe each supports, and whether any slot shares bandwidth with SATA ports or other slots.
- Check the drive length. Most desktop SSDs are the 2280 size, meaning 22 mm wide and 80 mm long.
- Have a small Phillips screwdriver, usually a PH0 or PH1, and the screw or standoff that comes with the board or the drive.
Choose the Right Slot
Motherboards often have several M.2 slots with different capabilities. The slot closest to the processor is commonly connected directly to the CPU and is often the fastest, such as PCIe 5.0 on supported AM5 and LGA1851 boards, but this depends on the board. Slots lower on the board commonly connect via the chipset and may run at PCIe 4.0 or slower.
Samsung SSD 990 PRO 2TB, PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280, Up to 7,450 MB/s | NVMe Internal Solid State Hard Drive for High End Computing, Gaming, and Heavy Duty Workstations, (MZ-V9P2T0B/AM)
Chosen because it specifies PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 and Up to 7.
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Silicon Power 2TB NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen3x4 2280 SSD Solid State Drive (SP002TBP34A60M28)
Picked as a relevant option in this category.
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Samsung SSD 9100 PRO 2TB, PCIe 5.0x4 M.2 2280, Up to 14,700MB/s | NVMe Internal Solid State Hard Drive best for AI Computing, Gaming, and Heavy Duty Workstations (MZ VAP2T0B/AM)
Chosen because it specifies PCIe 5.0x4 M.2 2280 and Up to 14.
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SIX NVME M.2 SSD PCIe 4.0-1TB m.2 2280 ssd, Read UP to 7350MB/s 1TB for Gaming PS5 Memory Storage Expansion with Heatsink, Internal Solid State Hard Drive PCIe gen 4x4 Nvme for Laptop Desktop pc
Picked as a relevant option in this category.
View on AmazonAlso confirm the drive type. NVMe drives use the PCIe interface and typically have an M key with one notch. Some M.2 drives are SATA, which can have a different notch pattern, and not every slot supports both. The manual and the drive’s specification page tell you.
Step-by-Step Installation
- Open the case. Remove the side panel. If a large graphics card blocks the M.2 slot, you may need to remove the card first, following the card maker’s guidance and releasing the PCIe latch carefully.
- Locate the slot. Look for the M.2 label and the small mounting post at the far end. Many boards ship with a metal heatsink or cover over the slot.
- Remove the heatsink. Undo the screws holding the heatsink or shield. Some boards use a tool-free latch. Peel the protective film from the thermal pad on the underside of the heatsink if it is there.
- Set the standoff. If the board uses a standoff, move it to the 2280 hole and tighten it by hand or with the supplied tool. Some boards use a tool-free retention clip instead.
- Insert the SSD. Hold the drive at about a 30 degree angle and slide the gold contacts fully into the slot. The key notch makes it fit one way only, so do not force it.
- Press it down. Gently push the far end flat onto the standoff.
- Secure it. Fit the small screw, or lock the retention clip. Tighten until snug, not hard, because the threads are small and fragile.
- Refit the heatsink. Place the heatsink on the SSD with the thermal pad touching the drive. If the drive has its own heatsink, check the motherboard’s heatsink does not stack on top of it, as that may not fit and can block heat.
- Close up. Reinstall the graphics card if removed, replace the side panel, reconnect the power, and switch on the PC.
Check That the BIOS Sees the Drive
Enter the BIOS or UEFI setup by pressing the key shown at boot, commonly Delete or F2. Look for a storage, NVMe, or boot menu. The menu names vary by motherboard maker, so check the manual for the exact path. The drive model should appear in the list. If it does not, power down and reseat the drive, then confirm the slot is enabled and not disabled by another connected device, as the manual describes.
Avoid changing unrelated BIOS settings. Wrong storage or PCIe options can stop the system from booting, and changes beyond what the manual describes could cause instability.
Prepare the Drive in Windows
A new SSD is typically blank, so Windows needs to set it up before you can store files.
- Right-click the Start button and choose Disk Management.
- If a prompt appears to initialize the disk, select GPT (GUID Partition Table) for modern systems and click OK. If no prompt appears, right-click the disk label on the left and choose Initialize Disk.
- Right-click the unallocated space and choose New Simple Volume.
- Follow the wizard, choose NTFS, give the drive a letter and name, and finish.
Be careful to pick the correct disk in this tool, because formatting the wrong disk erases its data. Match the size shown to the drive you installed.
Quick Reference
| Item | Typical value or detail | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Common length | 2280 (22 mm by 80 mm) | Move the standoff to match the drive |
| Key type | M key for NVMe | Only fits one way |
| Insert angle | About 30 degrees | Then press flat |
| Partition style | GPT | Standard for modern UEFI systems |
| File system | NTFS | Default for Windows storage |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0, 4.0, or 5.0 | Depends on drive and slot |
| Heatsink | Board shield or drive heatsink | Use one, not both |
What Result to Expect
After setup, the drive appears in File Explorer under This PC. Speed depends on the drive and the slot it uses. A PCIe 5.0 drive in a PCIe 4.0 slot will typically run at the slower speed, and a slot that shares lanes with other devices may be limited. Reviewers often note that real-world game loading differences between fast drives are small compared with the gap between hard drives and SSDs.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting the protective film. Leaving the plastic on a thermal pad reduces cooling.
- Over-tightening the screw. This can damage the threads or the drive board.
- Using the wrong slot. Putting a fast drive in a slow chipset slot wastes performance.
- Disabling SATA ports by accident. Some boards share bandwidth between an M.2 slot and SATA ports, so a port may stop working. The manual lists these cases.
- Dropping the screw. Place a cloth or a magnetic tray under the area, and retrieve any dropped screw before powering on.
- Not initializing the disk. A drive missing in File Explorer often just needs initialization.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Not in BIOS | Not seated, or slot shares lanes | Power down, reseat, read the manual’s slot notes |
| In BIOS but not in Windows | Not initialized | Use Disk Management to initialize and format |
| Slow speeds | Slot limited, or thermal throttling | Use the main slot and make sure the heatsink touches |
| Won’t fit | Wrong size or notch | Confirm the drive type against the manual |
If the drive still is not detected, try it in another slot or test it in another PC. If it fails there, contact the drive maker about the warranty. If the motherboard slot appears faulty, contact the board maker or a technician rather than probing the board.
When Not to Do It
If your motherboard has no free M.2 slot, or its slots are the wrong type, consider a PCIe adapter card or a USB enclosure instead. If the PC is under a warranty that requires professional service, check the terms before opening it. Cloning or migrating a boot drive is a separate process, so back up data before any change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to remove the graphics card to install an M.2 SSD?
Only if the card covers the slot. Many boards have a slot above the graphics card that is fully blocked, so removing the card makes access easier.
Do I need a heatsink on my M.2 SSD?
Many motherboards include one, and fast PCIe 4.0 and 5.0 drives can get hot under sustained writes. If the drive has a heatsink, use it. Use only one heatsink, either the drive’s or the board’s.
Can I install an M.2 SSD with the PC on?
No. M.2 slots are not designed for hot-plugging in a standard desktop. Power off and unplug first to avoid damaging the drive or the board.
Why is my new SSD not showing in File Explorer?
New drives usually need to be initialized and formatted. Open Disk Management, initialize the disk as GPT, and create a new simple volume.
Can I use the SSD as my boot drive?
Yes, but you will need to install Windows to it or clone your existing installation, using the tools from the operating system and drive maker. Back up your files first.
