Adding a 2.5" SSD SATA III to me Acer Predator Helios 300 model PH-315-52-72RG

Hello everyone, I own a Predator Helios 300, model PH-315-52-72RG and want to add extra storage. I bought a Teamgroup T-Force Vulcan-Z 1Tb SSD and installed it in the laptop, using the appropriate connector. I plug it into the motherboard connector, lower the clip and make sure the clip is holding the connector. Once done, I reconnect the battery, screw back the bottom plate and start the computer. I then go to Disk Management and I don't see this new SSD. I have tried several times, I make sure the blue color of the connector is facing up, the connector looks like it is as far into the motherboard connector as can be, but still nothing. There are 2 drives in the laptop. This one would be my third. What could be preventing the detection? Do I have to go into the BIOS and enable something?

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brummyfan2

Hi,

Could you please post the Disk Management picture while it's connected, bottom section like mine.

DannyBou

Thanks for your quick reply.

StevenGen

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/709769/adding-a-2-5-ssd-sata-iii-to-me-acer-predator-helios-300-model-ph-315-52-72rg

You need to make sure thet the SATA cable and plug are fully connected to the mainboard SATA clip plug and the plug top clips the cale fully into the plug, as having the SATA clip only halfway is not good enough as the cable is not making full connection with the mainboard and the 2.5" HDD will not be detected in Disk Management.

This is a very fiddly design and very hard to connect fully. I had the same problems with my 2.5" HDD in my Nitro laptop, as you need to attempt this a few times until the mainboard SATA cable clip is fully clipping the cable into the plug, otherwise the HDD will not be detected. Good luck and hope this helps you out and I know that its very annoying and fiddly, but have patience and keep trying to connect that cable to the mainboard plug😁

Here is the PH315-52 laptops 2.5" HDD SG instruction on fitting the 2.5" HDD

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DannyBou

OK thanks alot. I will try it again today. This time I will use a magnifying glass to check how deep the connector goes in. Cheers!

DannyBou

After several more attempts, even managing to unglue the blue tape on top of the connector, I can't get it in the Disk Management. Here are some photos of how it is inserted and as well, to make sure I am using the correct motherboard connector, where I am connecting it into.

[Edited the content to hide sensitive information]

StevenGen

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1288597#Comment_1288597

Make sure that you have the correct HDD FFC cable that Acer lists for your laptop above only, which is the Acer part #: 50.QMN4.005 as any other cable will not fit as its too thick for the mainboard clip to clip this cable into the plug and make a full connection, which is the main problem with connecting these 2.5” HDDs. This is a really bad deign and I don’t know why Acer uses it as in my case I gave up on fitting this 2.5” HDD and bought an enclosure and used it as an external drive as it was too fiddly and annoying to connect. Also make sure that you disconnect the main battery before you attempt to connect this SATA cable to the mainboard as if you don’t you can cause serious laptop damage and even burn out the chipset, so be very careful that NO power is connected to your laptop. Good luck.

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DannyBou

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1288624#Comment_1288624

Thank you. I bought the cable from Newegg.ca and made sure it was compatible with my exact model. But then again, is it…. can you point me on where I could order the cable from the Acer Store please? I go into the Acer store, type in the part number you quoted, and get zero results for it.

Commodore_1995#

Hello! Can you send a picture of the BIOS information tab? The new SATA 3 SSD must appear on this tab. If it appears on this tab, but is not appearing in Windows, the problem may be related to SATA mode.

Perform this procedure:

Press Windows+R and type msconfig.
Go to system startup and activate safeboot.
Restart Windows and access the BIOS.
Go to the main tab and change the SATA mode to AHCI.
Press F10 to save and exit.

DannyBou

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1288697#Comment_1288697

Hello, here is the BIOS information Tab.

StevenGen

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1288748#Comment_1288748

Update the bios to version 1.12 as that will also upgrade the Microcode and some bios default settings of your PH315-52, For the SATA 3 cable/plug Acer part #: 50.QMN4.005 see Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-52 Hard Drive HDD Connector Cable 50.Q5MN4.005 as it’s the same. Good luck.

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DannyBou

Hello, the inevitable happened, I broke a strand on the cable so I have to replace it now. One thing I noticed is that the cable I had bought from Newegg.ca has 12 pins and the connector on the motherboard has 10 pins…. could this be the issue? That cable was sold stating it would fit my laptop.