Subject Laptop:
Acer Predator Helios 500 (Model:RYZEN PH517-61-ROGX) Bios V1.06(refer to attached graphic below for this issue)
There seems to be a difference on ACER's website regarding the published info on the two M.2 slots for the Helios 500 RYZEN and what is actually on the motherboard.
WHAT I OBSERVED: Both slots (1 & 2) are physically configured with a right-side notch typical for PCIe NVMe SSD's. ACER says Slot #2 is M.2 SATA only. What I learned is that the OEM M.2 SSD on Slot #2 is a PCIe SSD. Correspondingly, Slot #1 does not work with a 2TB PCIe NVMe SSD I tried to install, but is physically configured for it (right-side notch).
The OEM-installed 256GB SSD in slot #2 contains Win 10 OS. Upon inspection, this factory-supplied SSD in Slot #2 is in fact a PCIe SSD, not the SATA SSD specified for that slot on the website - See attached photo-illustration. I had purchased an Intel 660p M.2 2280 2TB NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 3D NAND that I originally intended to use as storage in Slot #1; however, the computer would not boot into Windows with the 2TB SSD in Slot #1. After posting the problem on this forum, a user suggested cloning the Windows OS from Slot #2 SSD onto the 2TB and just replacing it in Slot #2 to boost my storage capacity from the original 256GB SSD. I was able to successfully clone the OEM-supplied 256GB boot SSD in Slot #2 to the mentioned 2TB SSD in an external enclosure. Tthen I remove it from the enclosure and replaced the OEM-supplied SSD in Slot 2. The computer operates with no issues with the Intel SSD.
I'm just confused as to why the ACER website says Slot #2 is "SATA only" when I'm NOW operating the computer with the Intel 660p M.2 2280 2TB NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 3D NAND ?!
And what's up with Slot #1 not working with PCIe NVMe?
Bart
FAQ & Answers
Yup definitely sata only https://www.ebay.com/p/SK-Hynix-256gb-SSD-Solid-State-Drive-Hfs256gd9mne-6200a/663055103
https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/11532543
UserBenchmarks: Game 43%, Desk 61%, Work 40%
CPU: Intel Core i5-7300HQ - 63.5%
GPU: Nvidia GTX 1050-Ti (Mobile) - 41.9%
SSD: WDC WDS200T2B0B-00YS70 2TB - 71.4%
HDD: WD WD10SPZX-00HKTT0 1TB - 93.7%
RAM: Kingston HyperX DDR4 2666 C15 2x16GB - 76.8%
MBD: Acer Predator G3-572
I'm not an Acer employee. (just here to help in the best way i can)
If my answer fixed you issue please accept it for any other users who search for it would find it quickly thanks
If you want to learn more about undervolting/optimizing windows join the Predator fb group and youtube channel:
Owner/Admin (HOTEL HERO/Red-Sand/Opoka Opoka)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/PredatorHelios300
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJwGUHxSJ8FKqAhnOqQuAw
Acer support:
https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/service-contact
http://www.acer.com/worldwide/support/
Tinkerer
Hi Bart,
Thanks for detailing your experience when upgrading the drives
I just purchased a Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-61-R0GX Gaming Laptop, AMD Ryzen 7 2700 flavoured
and am wanting to upgrade the drives as well
Thank you for your post, as it gives me caution as to which SSD would do the job best
I have a couple links of SSDs i am looking at, and if you could (or anyone else knowledgeable on the matter)
could kindly point me in the right direction before i purchase?
these are the two i am looking at:
For Slot #2 [Win10 instalation]
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-970-EVO-1TB-MZ-V7E1T0BW/dp/B07BN217QG/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=1tb+nvme+pcie+3x4+ssd&qid=1565370686&s=gateway&sr=8-4
For Slot #1 [Data - Video,3D,etc...]
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-860-SATA-Internal-MZ-N6E1T0BW/dp/B07822Z77M/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=M.2+SATA+SSD&qid=1565037080&s=gateway&sr=8-4#Ask
My goal being to install the fastest configuration of SSDs into whats capable with this machine
Could you or anyone let me know if the above is a good option?
Many thanks in advance for any and all help you can throw my way
kind regards,
Carl
Tinkerer
Hi Bart,
First off, Thank You VERY MUCH for taking the time to review what i proposed to do & respond with your experience & advice. Input from forum members like yourself make blogs like these a true value to its members. Thank you much again.
Just to be sure Im headed in the right direction, after careful consideration & budgetary constraints,
Im going to purchase just one for the moment.
The one being the faster NVME M.2. Samsung 970 w insane read/write speeds for OS & VM:
https://tinyurl.com/y3rayk6m
along with the external enclosure you've mentioned that I found on amazon for cloning the OS:
https://tinyurl.com/yyn9myhg
Below I've put together a diagram of my planned upgrade path for the Helios500AMD laptop with the above 970:
Essentially, to be sure I understand you correctly. When I receive my laptop next week, I will want to first boot up as normal,
1- let the OS be installed on the Stock SSD which should be in Slot#2, then,
2- clone the drive to an external enclosure containing the Samsung970
3- swap out the Stock SSD with my new cloned OS Samsung 970 SSD
Thanks again for your previous help and for any additional help you can throw my way,
many thanks again & kind regards,
Carl
Tinkerer
Maaan Bart! Straight up, THANK YOU very much again, Your input & advice is extremely appreciated.
Great Advice regarding the enclosure swap. I'll wait for later to pop in a nice SATA in the other maybe next year or so.
Looking forward to the crazy read/write speeds boasted by the 970.
Its been a while since i upgrade, 7-8 years, so many parts of this laptop im impressed with ~ processor, ram, graphics chip, and now crazy ssd action,
I was fortunate to pick up this laptop, in a sale for less than i expected,
enabling me to use that unaccounted bonus to get a nice monitor & ssd with it too.
My current laptop was nice in its heyday, but this is quite a leap from my current setup,
i imagine that it will be a notably more satisfying performance to what im used to.
.. . crossing fingers all goes well.
for what its worth, will reach back out to update my progress
thanks again & kind regards-
Caito
https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/11532543
UserBenchmarks: Game 43%, Desk 61%, Work 40%
CPU: Intel Core i5-7300HQ - 63.5%
GPU: Nvidia GTX 1050-Ti (Mobile) - 41.9%
SSD: WDC WDS200T2B0B-00YS70 2TB - 71.4%
HDD: WD WD10SPZX-00HKTT0 1TB - 93.7%
RAM: Kingston HyperX DDR4 2666 C15 2x16GB - 76.8%
MBD: Acer Predator G3-572
I'm not an Acer employee. (just here to help in the best way i can)
If my answer fixed you issue please accept it for any other users who search for it would find it quickly thanks
If you want to learn more about undervolting/optimizing windows join the Predator fb group and youtube channel:
Owner/Admin (HOTEL HERO/Red-Sand/Opoka Opoka)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/PredatorHelios300
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJwGUHxSJ8FKqAhnOqQuAw
Acer support:
https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/service-contact
http://www.acer.com/worldwide/support/
Tinkerer
@xapim
Hi Bart, thanks again, I went ahead and ordered the SSD, some thermal paste and heatsink.
will update on my progress soon.
I plan to upgrade the RAM probably later this year, and will definitely pop back in here for advice regarding that before i make the leap.
up to this point, every bit of hardware on this machine is quite an upgrade leap for me as is, so one upgrade at a time for me. lol.
thanks again and will keep you all posted shortly
Se você gostou da minha resposta, marque como solução clicando em sim! If you liked my answer, mark it as a solution by clicking on yes!
Aceite somente a resposta que ajudou a solucionar o seu problema! Please accept only the response that helped to solve your problem!
Detection tool click here to find the serial number or partnumber of your model!
egydiocoelho
ProductKey clique aqui para descobrir o serial do windows! click here to discover the windows serial!
Para usuários da comunidade inglesa, espanhola, francesa e alemã, usarei o google tradutor!