Swift 3 - Empty drive bay?

porcupine

Could anyone tell me if there is an empty drive bay in the Swift 3, model SF315-51-518S? This model has a 256 GB SSD, but I'd like to add another drive for extra storage capacity. Thanks!

brummyfan2

Hi,
Yes, there's a space for HDD but you may need the FFC cable and a HDD bracket assembly.
Part numbers,
For cable: 50.GSLN5.006
For HDD bracket: 33.GSLN5.004

brummyfan2

porcupine said:

Thanks for your help! Will a 2.5-inch HDD like this fit? www.amazon.com/Seagate-BarraCuda-2-5-Inch-Internal-ST1000LM048/dp/B01LYNQXCP/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1510764450&sr=1-3&keywords=1+tb+hard+drive+2.5%22

Hi,
No problem, yes, that HDD will be fine, I forgot to mention about the screws for the HDD assembly, you need 4 screws (size  M3x3L)and the Part number is 
86.RYNN5.003  or you can use any spare old screws from HDD assembly , if lying around.

brummyfan2

Hi,
Yes, there's a space for HDD but you may need the FFC cable and a HDD bracket assembly.
Part numbers,
For cable: 50.GSLN5.006
For HDD bracket: 33.GSLN5.004

porcupine

Thanks for your help! Will a 2.5-inch HDD like this fit? www.amazon.com/Seagate-BarraCuda-2-5-Inch-Internal-ST1000LM048/dp/B01LYNQXCP/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1510764450&sr=1-3&keywords=1+tb+hard+drive+2.5%22

brummyfan2

porcupine said:

Thanks for your help! Will a 2.5-inch HDD like this fit? www.amazon.com/Seagate-BarraCuda-2-5-Inch-Internal-ST1000LM048/dp/B01LYNQXCP/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1510764450&sr=1-3&keywords=1+tb+hard+drive+2.5%22

Hi,
No problem, yes, that HDD will be fine, I forgot to mention about the screws for the HDD assembly, you need 4 screws (size  M3x3L)and the Part number is 
86.RYNN5.003  or you can use any spare old screws from HDD assembly , if lying around.

Abstracted

Acer customer service refuses to release instructions on how to upgrade the HD. Do you have anything that you can share? How difficult is it to add a second HD?

brummyfan2

Hi,
You need to remove the back cover after taking off 12 screws, disconnect the IO FFC cable from motherboard (remove both ends marked red rectangle in snip), remove HDD FFC cable from MB(yellow circle), then remove 4 screws and take off the HDD, installation is the reversal of these steps, it's not too difficult but needs to be patient.

Abstracted

Thanks a lot for your reply and the photos!!! That makes me feel so much better about purchasing this.

Abstracted

Part numbers,
For cable: 50.GSLN5.006
For HDD bracket: 33.GSLN5.004

Do you know where I can order these, and how much they cost?

brummyfan2

Abstracted said:

Part numbers,
For cable: 50.GSLN5.006
For HDD bracket: 33.GSLN5.004

Do you know where I can order these, and how much they cost?

Hi,
It's better to contact Acer Support centre in your country to find out the partner retailers' details or do a google search.

Abstracted

FYI, cost is $9 each part plus $4 shipping through Capitol Data, for US parts: 800-999-4409.

JordanB

@Abstracted

Sometimes youtube has disassembly videos.

Abstracted

JordanB said:

@Abstracted

Sometimes youtube has disassembly videos.

Thanks but I've checked and the only one available is for the 14" not the 15".

wolfy

just ordered these parts hope i can figure out where to fit the cable (when it arrives)

wolfy

so where do you put the cable that i got one end on ssd bur the other end?

brummyfan2

said:

so where do you put the cable that i got one end on ssd bur the other end?

Hi,
FFC cable connection on the motherboard is marked with yellow circle in the snip.

wolfy

Cheers for that but worked it out , so know i have a 256GB NVMe disc and a 960GB SSD :-)

Just forgot the extra screws for the bracket but the bracket is screwed to the ssd but i had to use double sided tape to fix it in the chassis.

brummyfan2

said:

Cheers for that but worked it out , so know i have a 256GB NVMe disc and a 960GB SSD :-)

Just forgot the extra screws for the bracket but the bracket is screwed to the ssd but i had to use double sided tape to fix it in the chassis.

You are welcome 

aerosax

wolfy said:

Cheers for that but worked it out , so know i have a 256GB NVMe disc and a 960GB SSD :-)

Just forgot the extra screws for the bracket but the bracket is screwed to the ssd but i had to use double sided tape to fix it in the chassis.

Hi Wolfy, congrats on figuring out that upgrade. I am also trying to add a second SSD in the empty drive bay, but support is telling me it's only compatible with a secondary HDD. Just to confirm, you were able to use the parts listed above with your 960GB SSD? Was that a normal 2.5" SATA SSD?

Thanks!

Moses83

Hi, I have an acer swift 3 sf315-52-81hd I am interested in installing a second drive so I called Capital Data and they sell the cable and bracket. They told me that only a standard hard drive can be installed and not a SSD. For real? I thought people can install ssd in any sata connection. And this laptop is 2018. Can someone confirm that info?