Add another SSD to 870-119

[calder12]

I have an Omen Desktop 870-119 X675AA#ABL

I'd like to install a second SSD to run Linux off of, I'm a software developer and would like an actual Linux install but I want Windows for regular use.

This computer has a 256GB SSD and a 1.5TB data drive and an optical drive. It appears to only have 3 SATA headers, all of which are in use by the drives mentioned. It has an M.2 slot but that is a socket 1 and is being used by the wifi card.

Is there any way I can do this without disconnecting the optical drive?

Thanks.

[wb2001 · Accepted solution]

@calder12,

This has been rehashed so many times, and the simple answer  is unhappily "NO".

Not to sound harsh, but Users that purchase these smaller chassis machines get into this situation. But, there is a work-around.

The solution is to disconnect the DVD drive. Then use the motherboard SATA header for the data.   I'd purchase an external USB DVD RW. There are 2 that I trust. Asus  or LG

[calder12]

Thanks WB, I was pretty sure that was the answer, I was just hoping it wasn't 🙂

[calder12]

So it turns out there is a solution. This motherboard has an PCIE x1 slot free, $20 for a sata card and I have my extra SSD.

Note to anyone trying this, the PCIE slot is VERY close to the wifi card and the teeny tiny connectors on the antenna wires are very easy to knock off and very hard to put back on!