SSD Options AspireTC-885

I get this from Googling. I would say that the 500GB ($59) should be big enough. Others can help with the installation process.
https://www.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/acer/aspire-tc-885-accfli5

Thank you Larrlodie. I will take a look at it.

You may have a M.2 Slot on that unit as this post.
https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/567392/tc-885-accfli5o-ssd-as-boot-drive

I'm finding more discussions re ssd on your unit, when I search this blog. search TC-885-ACCFLi5O DESKTOP-7JHQF5T

@thebreeze

I have a TC-885-UA91. You have not mentioned having a PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 NVMe SSD but just a 2 TB HDD. I always suggest people to use M.2 NVMe SSD instead of the traditional, mechanical HDD (100-120 MB/s read), because the speed is like 20+ times faster with the x4 M.2 NVMe SSD (3,400 MB/s read). Using it as a boot drive will be a pleasure in comparing with a mechanical HDD boot.

However, accessing the M.2 slot to install the M.2 NVMe SSD needs more work to remove the HDD tray and the DVD drive first, non-technical people will probably found it to be a big project. There are some Youtube videos for that if you want to do it.

On the other side, adding a 2.5" SATA3 SSD is relatively simple. As long as the unused power connectors and wires are pulled out properly (can be tricky, be sure not to pull by force to break wire to the front panel), it is the matter of mounting the SATA SSD to the HDD tray with four screws and connect a data cable from motherboard to the SATA SSD and connect a still opened SATA power connector to the SATA SSD.

Here is a link of my previous discussion with other Acer Community members.

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/606254/aspire-tc-885-ua92-additional-ssd-drive-installation-instruction#latest

There is still a very good compromise though.
Seemed like you are not a gamer, assuming you still have the PCIe x16 slot open, you can use a PCIe adapter putting a x4 M.2 NVMe SSD there at the x16 slot. TC-885 motherboards support booting OS with the x16 slot. I have tried different Linux OSs and even another Win 10 Enterprise to the x16 slot.

I agree with @Larryodie that 500GB is probably good enough for you, since you have 2TB HDD, which is more than enough for people who do not accumulate a lot of videos. Normally, a 500GB M.2 NVMe SSD will be slightly slower than 1 TB and 2 TB models because less cache being used.

If you decide to get a M.2 NVMe SSD, don't forget to get heat sink for better temperature. I always suggest people to use heat sinks for M.2 NVMe SSDs.

And yes, the TC-885 models do have an M.2 slot that supports an NVMe x4 drive. If you have a spinning HDD in there now you might have an Intel Optane drive used to accelerate the HDD in the M.2 slot. You'll have a couple of extra steps to go through in order to upgrade your system form the HDD to the SSD in that case.

No problem, keep us informed what you go for the upgrade.

@thebreeze

To use M.2 NVMe SSD, you may need to give up the Optane memory, as it occupied the M.2 slot already. Definitely worth it to use NVMe SSD than using the transition technology, the Optane memory.

All comments

I get this from Googling. I would say that the 500GB ($59) should be big enough. Others can help with the installation process.
https://www.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/acer/aspire-tc-885-accfli5

Thank you Larrlodie. I will take a look at it.

You may have a M.2 Slot on that unit as this post.
https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/567392/tc-885-accfli5o-ssd-as-boot-drive

I'm finding more discussions re ssd on your unit, when I search this blog. search TC-885-ACCFLi5O DESKTOP-7JHQF5T

@thebreeze

I have a TC-885-UA91. You have not mentioned having a PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 NVMe SSD but just a 2 TB HDD. I always suggest people to use M.2 NVMe SSD instead of the traditional, mechanical HDD (100-120 MB/s read), because the speed is like 20+ times faster with the x4 M.2 NVMe SSD (3,400 MB/s read). Using it as a boot drive will be a pleasure in comparing with a mechanical HDD boot.

However, accessing the M.2 slot to install the M.2 NVMe SSD needs more work to remove the HDD tray and the DVD drive first, non-technical people will probably found it to be a big project. There are some Youtube videos for that if you want to do it.

On the other side, adding a 2.5" SATA3 SSD is relatively simple. As long as the unused power connectors and wires are pulled out properly (can be tricky, be sure not to pull by force to break wire to the front panel), it is the matter of mounting the SATA SSD to the HDD tray with four screws and connect a data cable from motherboard to the SATA SSD and connect a still opened SATA power connector to the SATA SSD.

Here is a link of my previous discussion with other Acer Community members.

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/606254/aspire-tc-885-ua92-additional-ssd-drive-installation-instruction#latest

There is still a very good compromise though.
Seemed like you are not a gamer, assuming you still have the PCIe x16 slot open, you can use a PCIe adapter putting a x4 M.2 NVMe SSD there at the x16 slot. TC-885 motherboards support booting OS with the x16 slot. I have tried different Linux OSs and even another Win 10 Enterprise to the x16 slot.

I agree with @Larryodie that 500GB is probably good enough for you, since you have 2TB HDD, which is more than enough for people who do not accumulate a lot of videos. Normally, a 500GB M.2 NVMe SSD will be slightly slower than 1 TB and 2 TB models because less cache being used.

If you decide to get a M.2 NVMe SSD, don't forget to get heat sink for better temperature. I always suggest people to use heat sinks for M.2 NVMe SSDs.

https://youtu.be/EIdCtubHFPk

Thank you Larrlodie. I will take a look at it.

Commodore_1995#

Also check this link: https://www.userbenchmark.com/System/Acer-Aspire-TC-885/93029

See this video:

And yes, the TC-885 models do have an M.2 slot that supports an NVMe x4 drive. If you have a spinning HDD in there now you might have an Intel Optane drive used to accelerate the HDD in the M.2 slot. You'll have a couple of extra steps to go through in order to upgrade your system form the HDD to the SSD in that case.

Thanks very much for all of the information. I will be looking into all of it. My system does have an Intel Optane drive installed. Thanks again.

No problem, keep us informed what you go for the upgrade.