\n\nInstalling an M.2 or SATA SSD in your desktop is an essential part of every PC build, or an easy upgrade to make your PC feel faster. Luckily, installing an SSD is easier than finding the best one (we have a roundup for that!) or even understanding how they work. I\u2019m not going to cover any of that here, but I\u2019ll walk through installing both kinds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The steps below should apply to almost any model. I\u2019ll start with the M.2 SSD because it\u2019s a bit more tricky to install, and there are some things to research before you do it. Click this link to jump to the section on SATA SSDs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to install an M.2 SSD in a desktop PC
An M.2 SSD looks like a stick of chewing gum with chips on one side, a label on the other, and gold contacts at one end. Some will install just like that. Some will come with their own heat sinks and look more like a pack of gum than a stick of gum. Some motherboards will have a shield for the M.2 slot, and you\u2019ll have to shimmy the drive underneath it. We\u2019ll cover all the forms below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Find the M.2 slot
The first thing you want to do is find where the M.2 slot is on your motherboard. Look for a slot about one inch wide that protrudes from the motherboard about a quarter of an inch. Every motherboard is different, but the most common locations are below the CPU and around the PCIe slots in the lower half of the board. Check the manual if you have trouble finding it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some motherboards have a pre-installed shield in place that serves as a heat spreader but also can provide a nice piece of visual flair. This will obviously have to be removed before you access the M.2 slot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your motherboard supports two M.2 SSDs you\u2019ll need to consult your manual to see which slot is the recommended one for installing your boot drive. Each slot might offer different performance levels, while others might turn off a PCIe slot if used. In short, read the manual first!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 2: Find the M.2 Mounting System
Once you\u2019ve found the right slot, find the screw about three inches to the left that is inserted into a standoff. The standoff is there because when the drive is inserted, there will be a gap between the SSD and the motherboard. The standoff plays the crucial role of keeping the drive flat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your motherboard doesn\u2019t have the screw or standoff, look in the box\u2014it might be in a small plastic bag. If your motherboard features an M.2 shield, you\u2019ll need to find two screws that mount it to the motherboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 3: Prep for M.2 SSD installation
Now it\u2019s time to touch something metal, like a metal furniture leg, in order to ground yourself, then grab a screwdriver. Unscrew the screw from the standoff and place it somewhere safe\u2014you do not want to lose a screw, or have it roll around on your motherboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For those of you with a shield, unscrew it from the motherboard but take note of the underside, where there should be a thermal pad with a piece of plastic over it. Do not remove the plastic yet\u2014just place the shield somewhere safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most common M.2 size is 80 millimeters, but in any case you need to make sure the standoff is positioned correctly for your size of drive. Hover the drive over the slot and take note of the length. If necessary, use pliers to loosen the standoff and move it to the appropriate length position. Make sure the standoff is screwed in fully–not too tight, just snug. You don\u2019t want it spinning while we are trying to install the screw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For those of you with shields, you most likely don\u2019t have a standoff. Instead there should be a squarish brace of some sort for the drive to rest on while the shield holds it in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 4: M.2 SSD installation
The next step is to insert the drive. Consider the \u201ctop\u201d of the drive to be the side with the brand\u2019s label or sticker. The edge with the semi-circle notch is what\u2019s going to be held in place by the screw. The edge with gold contact points is what we insert into the M.2 slot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s a tiny notch dividing the contact points into two sections. You\u2019ll want to line up that notch with a notch inside the M.2 slot, with the top of the drive facing up. Insert the drive firmly at about a 15-degree angle until there\u2019s no more give, and let go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have a screw and standoff-based system you\u2019ll want to press down on the drive so that it lies flat, and the semi-circlular notch lines up with the standoff. While holding the drive flat, insert the screw and tighten to a comfortable point. Take care not to overtighten, or you risk damage to the drive, the screw, or the motherboard. If you\u2019ve installed it correctly, the drive should not shift in place at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For those of you with shields you\u2019ll have a bit more to wrangle, so take your time through these next steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because there is no screw to keep the drive flat, you\u2019ll have to hold it down while you place the shield over it, or get help from someone who can hold it flat while you handle the shield. It might help to do a dry run before you remove the plastic sheet from the thermal pad\u2014just be sure to not leave that plastic on permanently!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you are ready, take the plastic off and lower the shield straight onto the drive. It\u2019s important to lower it straight onto the drive, because the thermal pad is tacky and may cause the drive to slide out of its slot if you shift it after it\u2019s adhered to the shield. If that does happen, don\u2019t panic: Carefully remove the SSD from the thermal pad and start over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The hardest part here is lining the screws up to the standoffs. One trick is to hold the screws in place on the shield as you lower it. This allows the screws to touch the standoffs before the thermal pad touches the drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once the screws are lined up, lower the shield into place and tighten the screws. Again, no need to overtighten them–it just needs to be snug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
M.2 SSD Install: Final Notes
The last thing to note here is that some M.2 SSDs feature their own built-in heat sink. An Adata XPG Gammix S70 drive we reviewed had a heat sink so big, it made the drive a challenge to install. Most of the ones we\u2019ve tested are less obtrusive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your motherboard has a shield you don\u2019t want to place that over the included heat sink. Just store the shield somewhere safe in case you need to use it in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n