Add Ssd

[woodchopper]

Can a SSD be added to this MotherBoard?
https://support.hp.com/gb-en/document/c05440472

[Guilbert53]

An SSD does not actually fit to a motherboard (at least not directly) but does via a cable.

An SSD is a direct replacement for a hard disk so I think any case that can take a hard disk can take an SSD.

However note that an SSD is the same size as a laptop hard disk and so smaller than the "full size" hard disk that goes in a desktop PC.

Therefore as well as buying an SSD you need a "plate" that fits in the hard disk slot in the desktop PC and you fix the SSD to the "plate".

Some SSD makers do sell a "pack" that includes the SSD as well as the "plate" and screws for fitting the SSD to the plate.

Note that SSDs are only supported from Windows 7 onwards and really you need to do a fresh install of Windows so that Windows can install the right software for supporting an SSD.

(So you should not just copy Windows from the hard disk across to the SSD but do a clean install of Windows).

If you have two hard disk slots in the case you could put an SSD in the one and a "proper" hard disk in the other. Then you can put Windows on the SSD and all your personal files (music, videos etc) on the other hard disk.

[Guilbert53]

One extra thing.

You will of course have to connect the SSD to the motherboard using a SATA cable. It MAY come with the SSD but it may not.

Also if you are going to use the SSD AND a normal hard disk at the same time (if there are two hard disk bays in the case) then you will of course need two SATA cables, though of course one will probably already be connecting the hard disk to the motherboard.

But you may need to buy another SATA cable for the SSD.

[Guilbert53]

Here is an example of the mounting plate you may need to buy (this is just an example there are dozens to choose from).

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

As well as the SATA cable I mentioned above you will also need a power cable to connect the SSD to a power source, though most PCs come with spare power connectors inside the case so you wont need to buy one.

Note desktop PC hard disks are called "3.5 inch" and laptop hard disks are called "2.5 inch".

SSDs are also 2.5 inch so this is why you need to 3.5 inch to 2.5 inch converter so the SSD fits in a 3.5 inch slot.

[TheChair]

While Guilbert53 has supplied a pretty comprehensive answer concerning SATA SSDs, it should be noted that there are other types of SSD (mSATA and M.2) which will require specific motherboard or expansion card support.

[Guilbert53]

According to this page for the motherboard it DOES have an M2 SSD socket

https://support.hp.com/gb-en/document/c05408562

[woodchopper]

Can't decide which one to install - either the M.2 SSD or the one that plugs into the spare sata socket - any power supply issues with either??