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What fits here?

1560 Views 20 Replies 7 Participants Last post by MisterEd51, Feb 16, 2022

CuriousChris

Discussion Starter · Feb 13, 2022

Hello, I was performing a battery reset because my network adapter failed to start, and also cleaned my fans out of dust a little bit. In that time, I realized an empty area in my computer with a white backing. I’m assuming this is space to add an internal SSD/HDD but I just want to be sure.

If it is, can anyone tell me what specifications I need to purchase a new one/extra one to fit there?

The bottom left white area is the one in reference to my question (image attached)

SYSTEM INFO
Acer Nitro AN515-55
Intel Core i5-10300H CPU @2.50GHz, 2496 Mhz
Stonic_CMS v2.03
RAM 8GB

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1 - 20 of 21 Posts

Digerati

· #2 · Feb 13, 2022

Just a guess but it looks like a place to install an optical drive that slides open to the side (top of your image). I am assuming that bottom half of your laptop, or similar versions of it, are used in other model laptops, some of which come with an optical drive.

Gr3iz

· #3 · Feb 13, 2022

Hello and welcome to TSG!!

I assume you are referring to the metallic area in the upper left-hand corner of your picture? It looks like a hard drive could be mounted there in some models. Is it about 2.5" wide? That would be the size of a laptop HDD/SSD. Unless you can find a SATA cable (proprietary in laptops) to fit it, a drive would do little good. I'm also not certain if the M.2 SSD would kill the SATA port that drive might use, or even if all the circuitry in in place on the board to support it.

Gr3iz

· #4 · Feb 13, 2022

Bill, you could be right. It does look wider than 2.5".

Digerati

· #5 · Feb 13, 2022

Gr3iz said:
It does look wider than 2.5".

That's what I was thinking too.

PeterOz

· #6 · Feb 13, 2022

This is what you want
ACER Nitro 5 2021 Tutorial - How to Upgrade SSD & RAM [ENG] - YouTube

Digerati

· #7 · Feb 14, 2022

I guess looks can be deceiving as that space clearly (now) is for a 2 1/2 inch SSD.

Thanks for that Peter.

MisterEd51

· #8 · Feb 14, 2022

Once the device is open, users will get access to the two M.2 slots, the replaceable Wi-Fi module, the battery and the fans. As you can see from the image below, there is a bay for a 2.5-inch drive, but there is no SATA connector.

Acer Nitro 5 AN515-55 Laptop Review - Price-to-performance champ with an RTX 3060
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Acer-...formance-champ-with-an-RTX-3060.540607.0.html

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Gr3iz

· #9 · Feb 14, 2022

Digerati said:
I guess looks can be deceiving as that space clearly (now) is for a 2 1/2 inch SSD.

I think it was the angle of the initial view ...

Digerati

· #10 · Feb 14, 2022

It was a lack of a quarter, dime or ruler for reference - required by tired old eyes!

MisterEd51

· #11 · Feb 14, 2022

I have an Acer Swift 3 laptop that I bought back in 2018. I believe my laptop has the same empty spot big enough for a 2.5-inch drive. Somebody asked on Amazon about that. The response from Acer was it couldn't be used because there was no connector for it.

I think that shows that Acer makes a lot of similar laptops. Some have 2.5-inch drives, some have M.2 drives, and some have both. What a particular model supports simply depends on what Acer decides at a price point what to include.

For the OP's laptop the motherboard may actually support a 2.5-inch drive. Its that Acer decided to save a little money by not including a connector for it.

PeterOz

· #12 · Feb 14, 2022

The video shows a cable you can get so there might might not be a spot

Gr3iz

· #13 · Feb 15, 2022

There appears to be a connector that might be for SATA, but if it is labeled, I cannot see it. The M.2 drive may prevent its use, too. Especially as there are 2 M.2 PCIE/SATA connectors. Dunno ...

Circuit component Electronic engineering Electronic component Computer hardware Electrical wiring

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MisterEd51

· #14 · Feb 15, 2022 (Edited)

Gr3iz said:
There appears to be a connector that might be for SATA, but if it is labeled, I cannot see it. The M.2 drive may prevent its use, too. Especially as there are 2 M.2 PCIE/SATA connectors. Dunno ...
View attachment 294307

Now I realize what the Acer rep was implying regarding my Acer Swift 3 laptop. There may be different variations of the Acer Nitro 5 (AN515-55) laptop also. This includes two connectors for M.2 drives. Some variations include a 2.5-inch drive and some don't. Even though both versions may support a 2.5-inch drive there is one problem. Even if you were to buy a 2.5-inch drive how are going to connect it to the motherboard. Is this a standard cable? Where can you buy it? Even if you were to connect the drive to the motherboard will it work?

When I was chatting with an Acer rep about a similar possibility regarding my laptop he wouldn't give me a straight answer. He would only say that my laptop was not user serviceable. In other words I was on my own so there would be no help from Acer.

Here is a video of the same computer model except this one includes a 2.5-inch drive. Note the drive is connected to the motherboard right where you thought it would.

Acer Nitro 5 (AN515-55) - disassembly and upgrade options

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PeterOz

· #15 · Feb 15, 2022

Maybe this
https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Predator-PH315-51-Connector-50-Q3FN2-002/dp/B07DLRKP4S

CuriousChris

Discussion Starter · #16 · Feb 15, 2022

Thank you all for the detailed responses to my inquiry. I have gathered that it is possible to put a 2.5 SSD inside as long as I purchase the connector from Amazon, because it seems my motherboard has the slot to plug into. All easy to do, I could just add it and screw it and and plug in - but my new question: Will my system be able to handle a new SSD being added? I’m concerned that i’ll spend the money on the cord and the new SSD, install it, but be put in my tracks and out of luck if my system/motherboard cannot support.
Could anyone give me some reassurance on whether it’s a good idea and possible?

Gr3iz

· #17 · Feb 15, 2022

I doubt we could guaranty it would work. There are variables that only Acer would be able to confirm. For example, will connecting a SATA drive there affect the M.2 drive? On many desktop motherboards, adding an M.2 disables one of the SATA ports.

Reactions: 1

ChristianM0498

· #18 · Feb 15, 2022

Gr3iz said:
I doubt we could guaranty it would work. There are variables that only Acer would be able to confirm. For example, will connecting a SATA drive there affect the M.2 drive? On many desktop motherboards, adding an M.2 disables one of the SATA ports.

Thank you, I completely understand what you mean - essentially Acer will be no help because they don't want me to customize around, and yet only they know if it would truly work or not but cannot tell me. It's a risk, essentially 50/50 on my own part.

Thanks everyone!

managed

· #19 · Feb 15, 2022

You could get the connector and SSD and if it does not work in that laptop use the SSD as an external drive with a Usb to Sata cable or caddy. The special connector would be useless then though.

PeterOz

· #20 · Feb 15, 2022

I also can't say 100% that cable will work.
If I was doing this I would take the risk and if it failed do as Allan says and make the ssd
a backup drive. (My bet is you don't have one now)
Can you return the cable if not fit for purpose?.
It also depends on your budget and the risk your willing to take.

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