Seeking to add another NVMe drive to Nitro 5 NC20C1 laptop. Help to find the compatibility

paulg1954
paulg1954 Member Posts: 3 New User
edited August 2024 in Nitro Gaming

I have a Nitro 5 with a NVMe WDC PC SN530 SDBPNPZ-512G-1114 installed. I wish to add another NVMe to the laptop. I believe there are faster/more recent NVMe drives available but I'm not sure which would be compatible with the existing config. To be clear, I'm not looking to replace the existing NVMe unless absolutely necessary. Looking forward to your answers. Paul.

[Edited the thread to add issue detail to the title]

[Edited the thread to add model name to the title]

Best Answer

  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 12,687 Trailblazer
    edited August 2024 Answer ✓

    paulg1954 the Samsung 990 Pro M.2 SSD is NOT suitable for your laptop (it will work as its backward compatible) but you will never ever utilize its full speed, your laptop has an M.2 SSD slot interface speed for a Gen 3x4 M.2 SSD drive, and the Samsung 990 Pro is a Gen 4 x4 type M;2 SSD, and fitting the Samsung 990 Pro is like having a Ferrari with a speed limiter on it that will limit the speed of your Ferrari by 50% 😁! Get the above Gen3x4 fatst M.2 SSD drive I've suggested and don't waste your money on the Gen 4 x4 Samsung 990 Pro drive.

    If this answers your question and solved your query please "Click on Yes" or "Click on Like" if you find my answer useful👍

Answers

  • Puraw
    Puraw ACE, Member Posts: 14,475 Trailblazer

    Hi Paul
    What full model Nitro5 do you have that Western is a slow Gen3 SSD?

  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 12,687 Trailblazer

    The WD 512GB SN530 NVMe PCIe3x4 M.2 SSD is a mid-range Read/Write speed M.2 drive that WD make, and Acer uses in allot of its older laptops as an oem M.2 boot drive. If your Nitro 5 laptop has an SSD1 as the WD SN530 512GB drive as a boot drive, then your 2nd SSD2 drive is a PCIe3x2 speed type M.2 slot. You would be best to buy a quicker M.2 boot drive and clone your OS onto the new quicker Gen3x4 M.2 SSD drive and put the 512 WD SN530 M.2 drive into the SSD2 M.2 slot of your laptop as a slave drive.

    The Gen3x4 M.2 SSD drive that I would recommend as a boot drive (as I'm also using it in my Nitro AN515-56 laptop and its been working faultlessly) is the 1TB Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus as its the fastest Gen 3x4 drive tested today and has a Write speed of 3331MB/s and Read speed of 3122MB/s or if you want a WD Gen 3x4 quick M.2 drive then the try the WD SN750 Black (if you can still get them?) as these two M.2 drives are the best and the quickest Gen 3x4 drives around. See this benchmark guide here SSD Benchmarks Hierarchy 2024. Good luck and hope this helps you out.

    If this answers your question and solved your query please "Click on Yes" or "Click on Like" if you find my answer useful👍

  • paulg1954
    paulg1954 Member Posts: 3 New User

    Not sure if I posted my reply earlier but to make sure ….

    Thank you both for your prompt answers.

    Puraw: the Nitro is a model NC20C1. Yes, the current SDD is considered slow these days. Have you thoughts on any alternatives ?

    StevenGen: I like the look of your suggestion: the 1TB Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus. I understand Samsung have the 990 now. What do you think of that one?

    Thanks again. Paul

  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 12,687 Trailblazer
    edited August 2024 Answer ✓

    paulg1954 the Samsung 990 Pro M.2 SSD is NOT suitable for your laptop (it will work as its backward compatible) but you will never ever utilize its full speed, your laptop has an M.2 SSD slot interface speed for a Gen 3x4 M.2 SSD drive, and the Samsung 990 Pro is a Gen 4 x4 type M;2 SSD, and fitting the Samsung 990 Pro is like having a Ferrari with a speed limiter on it that will limit the speed of your Ferrari by 50% 😁! Get the above Gen3x4 fatst M.2 SSD drive I've suggested and don't waste your money on the Gen 4 x4 Samsung 990 Pro drive.

    If this answers your question and solved your query please "Click on Yes" or "Click on Like" if you find my answer useful👍

  • paulg1954
    paulg1954 Member Posts: 3 New User

    Excellent. Thank you StevenGen for your answer. I like your analogy to a Ferrari. Truely appreciate your straightforward advise.

    Please regard my query as answered. With thanks. All the best. Paul