e5-432 : Replace HDD with SDD

fgaudet
fgaudet Member Posts: 14 New User
in 2016 Archives

Just got the Aspire E5-432, which come stock with a 500Gb HDD that I would like to swap out for a SDD sometime in the future. I've not yet found any info through Google nor this forum.

 

Does anyone have any info regarding this? Is there a service manual available detailing how to replace the HDD in the e5-432?

 

Would I just need to clone the HDD to the SDD, do the swap and bootup?

 

Thanks for any info

Best Answer

  • fgaudet
    fgaudet Member Posts: 14 New User
    Answer ✓

    UPDATE : I just did the HDD/SDD swap in the Aspire E5-432. It was very easy to do.

    It now boots under 15 seconds. Much snappier.

     

    Prepare the SDD :

    1. Install Drive Clone or like software

    2. Connect SDD, through USB and clone HDD to SDD - cloning took about 1h 1/2 with a USB2 cable

        Note : leaving the partition size as DriveClone would not work (not enough space message), I reduced the main partition by about 400 Mb and everything went fine

     

    Removing the HDD :

    1. Shut down laptop, take out all screws from the bottom and crack it open

    2. One screw holds the HDD tray to the case, remove it

    3. One screw holds the USB/audio jack PCB, remove it

    4. On the USB/audio jack PCB, lift the release lever for the USB/audio ribbon cable

    5. On the motherboard, lift the white release lever for the USB/audio ribbon cable which is glued to the HDD tray

    6. Remove USB/audio jack  PCB and the right speaker held in place with pink silicone grommets 

    7. Slide the HDD tray to the right, then wiggle it out of there

    8. Take out 2 screws from HDD tray

    9. FLEX the tray by pushing on the top middle holding the sides, pushing the HDD out from the open side. Trying to pry the HDD out with tools won't work

     

    Do inverse steps to put the SDD back in, reboot, enjoy !

    Well worth the trouble!

     

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Answers

  • benton582
    benton582 Member Posts: 213 Enthusiast WiFi Icon

    If you can easily crack open the lid, and know 

    -If you can move the disk drive easily in or out.

    -Know what SATA cable it uses to transfer data.

    -The Form factor.

    Then yes, you can probably replace it. However, you still should ask support for your specfic model. And figure out how to clone a system, as your OS needs to be moved as well, the product key MUST be remebered though.

  • fgaudet
    fgaudet Member Posts: 14 New User

    benton, although I appreciate your contribution, you basically state the obvious that if I had all the info which I am asking for, then yes, I could replace the HDD by a SSD. HDD in laptops are not connected by cables, they connect to ports directly on the motherboards and unless you have a very high end laptop using M.2 interface, all drives in laptops and PCs are SATA, since about 10 years.

     

    I did chat with an Acer support agent last night who contributed these sad bits of info :

     - Acer does not have a service manual for the E5-432

     - There are no autorized Acer service depot where I could bring the laptop and have them replace the HDD with a SSD

     - Replacing the HDD myself will void the warranty on the laptop

     

    My options are therefore:

    1. Crack open this laptop and try swapping the HDD with a SSD on my own, without any prior knowledge of its internal layout and void the warranty

    2. Return the laptop and get another laptop with a serviceable hdd bay or pre installed SSD

    3. Keep the laptop as is. The stock HDD is very slow. Smiley Indifferent

     

    I've ordered a 2ndary HDD tray that takes the place of the optical drive, which is just a dummy tray on this model. I will see how that goes and decide which option I choose. 

     

     

  • MattmanCDN
    MattmanCDN Member Posts: 108

    Tinkerer

    Hdd caddy would be the simplest solution and just select to boot from that drive first  in the bios if you actually have a second channel ..also there are several youtube vids on doing a ssd upgrade  just not your exact model. watch a couple vids and decide if your up to the challenge ...if your laptop is new you may want to think bout warranty thou .

     

    I have two Acer laptops and the SSd upgrade made both incredibly faster and better battery life too!

  • philetus
    philetus ACE Posts: 4,759 Pathfinder

    It's not as simple as popping off the back.
    You have to remove the top case/ keyboard,etc.
    2016-03-02_1717.jpg

    The HDD caddy in the optical drive would be a lot easier.

  • fgaudet
    fgaudet Member Posts: 14 New User

    Found this vid detailing how to swap in a SDD for the 15" version of the same laptop (E5 573G) :

    https://youtu.be/pBnyjvYppDo

     

    Seems fairly simple, much simpler than the wifi card switch I did in another of my older laptops (HP-TM2).

     

    HDD caddy is on the way, will try that first at least to clone the drive. I'll I most likely take the HDD out after that. Not a fan of lugging around extra weight for nothing, 250GB is plenty for me, I don't need the extra 500GB and the noise/power drain that comes with it.

     

    On another note, I'm also thinking about swapping out the screen for a 1920x1080 IPS panel, the current 1366x768 TN panel is very.. ordinary. The IPS panels go for about $80, and the replacement looks even easier than the HDD/SDD swap.

     

    This screen should do fine :

    http://www.laptopscreen.com/English/model/Acer/ASPIRE~V5-473P-5602/

     

    I'll end up with a N3700/4GB/256GB ssd/1920x1080 IPS, 6h battery runtime, for about $630 CAD, with the possibility to add a 2nd drive... Not too bad... Smiley Wink

     

  • philetus
    philetus ACE Posts: 4,759 Pathfinder

    No on the video. The back does not come off. Everything inside is connected to the back and you have to remove the top and work down towards the bottom. It's not hard, but you have to be careful about all the connections.
    When you change the screen, you also have to change the cable from the MB to the display.

  • MattmanCDN
    MattmanCDN Member Posts: 108

    Tinkerer

    fgaudet sounds like your gonna be set man ....while your in there maybe look at increasing ram to 8 GB then you will be done . I just upgraded a first gen core i3 acer model 7739G from 4 to 8 and was well worth the 40 bucks   on top of the SSD Upgrade  the laptop listed below in my sig was not worth the 16Gb kit I put in there being only a single channel mem controller.

  • fgaudet
    fgaudet Member Posts: 14 New User

    The back does not need to come off : the front bezel covering the screen comes off very easily, I took it off in under a minute, no tools required except something try pry it open.

    After that the screen is completely exposed, only four screws to remove.

     

    I didn't know about the cable though, that's a bigger issue. I confirmed this with a support agent on that laptop screen site...

     

    Anyone know where I might fight the correct WUXGA cable for this ?

     

  • fgaudet
    fgaudet Member Posts: 14 New User

    I just traded in a blue HP Stream 13 (Celeron N3050, 2Gb ram, 32Gb eMMC) for this Acer.

    The HP was just way too underpowered and can't be upgraded in any way. It's too bad because the HP is *really* a very very nice, solid device, perfect size... This Acer is more of a real laptop than the HP, but just not as nice in the hand. Can't complain at this price point though.

     

    This Acer will be doing pretty ligth duty Office/Web/etc. Do you think 8Gb would make much of a difference over 4Gb ?  As is, the 4Gb doesn't seem to be maxed out. I know the SSD will be a night & day difference...

     

    Will keep some stuff to upgrade for later ! Smiley Wink

  • MattmanCDN
    MattmanCDN Member Posts: 108

    Tinkerer

    My experience with ram upgrades tells me that windows opens up at 8 GB  desktop or laptop, more so if your going from single to dual channel with that upgrade like that core i3 laptop I mentioned above .... its up to you based on what your doing and budget of coarse .

     

    Cheers

     

    Matt

  • philetus
    philetus ACE Posts: 4,759 Pathfinder

    Memory is cheap. If I can upgrade to 8gb I do it, but you can get by with 4gb.

     

  • fgaudet
    fgaudet Member Posts: 14 New User

    If the memory modules are not too expensive, I'll do the upgrade - right now I can't find any modules for the E5-432. This laptop seems too new to show parts on 3rd party suppliers...

     

    The screen upgrade is a bit more costly than I thought : a nice wide gamut 14" IPS screen retails for about $100, but I still have to find the correct eDP video cable, which will run another $20, plus shipping etc.

    If I can find the right eDP video cable, I'll definitely do the upgrade.

     

    I'll start a thread for the monitor upgrade.

  • MattmanCDN
    MattmanCDN Member Posts: 108

    Tinkerer

    Just curious if you have two ram slots ? and would be capable of dual channel by adding 1 more 4 GB stick  I have 1 DDr3L 1600 @ 1.35v from acer listed below message me if interested ...some intel boards only have 1 ram slot so would need 1 8 GB stick. some AMD boards have two ram slots but only have single channel mem controller so its not as good of an upgrade.Just FYI. Keep us posted Smiley Happy!

  • philetus
    philetus ACE Posts: 4,759 Pathfinder

    I doubt if there are any major differences in the eDP cables. This one would probably work

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Acer-Aspire-E5-422-E5-473-Laptop-Edp-Lcd-Video-Cable-DC020025D00-Non-Touch-/121845707273?hash=item1c5e91f209:g:j9QAAOSwSHZWeCY9

     

    The memory is

    http://www.amazon.ca/1600mhz-Ddr3l-Non-Ecc-Sodimm-1-35v/dp/B00CQ35HBQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457112982&sr=8-1&keywords=KVR16LS11%2F8

  • MattmanCDN
    MattmanCDN Member Posts: 108

    Tinkerer

    So only 1 ram slot on this one was wondering bout that  thanks philetus.

  • philetus
    philetus ACE Posts: 4,759 Pathfinder

    Yes, it has 2GB soldered to the MB and 1 slot.

  • MattmanCDN
    MattmanCDN Member Posts: 108

    Tinkerer

    so is it running 2 on the board and two in the slot dual channel ? or is the soldered video ram?

  • philetus
    philetus ACE Posts: 4,759 Pathfinder

    I believe he said he has 4gb so, 2 soldered and 2 in the slot for 4gb dual channel. In a case like this, I would take 2 soldered and 8 slot for 10gb single channel.

  • MattmanCDN
    MattmanCDN Member Posts: 108

    Tinkerer

    Thanks i sent you a PM to not go too off topic here Smiley Happy

  • fgaudet
    fgaudet Member Posts: 14 New User

    Hi philetus,

     

    I cracked open the e5-432 tonight out of curiosity. That dc020025d00 video cable is the original one in the e5-432, no need in purchasing the same one. I doubt that cable is FHD - none of the supported models have FHD screens.

     

    As for the memory module, it's on the other side of the motherboard, not easy to access; I'll keep that project for another day and just get the SSD / IPS screen upgrade done - if I can get my hand on a FHD eDP cable...

     

    For inquiring minds here are some pics of what the e5-432 looks like inside :

     

    Aspire.e5-432.inside1.PNG

     

    This is the eDP video cable connecting into the motherboard:

    Aspire.e5-432.eDP.cable.PN.PNG

     

     

    This is the part number for the stock 14" TN panel, it's a LG Display LP140WH8-TPE1:Aspire.e5-432.screen.PN.PNG

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