Adding hard drive or SSD to my HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop 690-0805

[Svealf]

Hi, 

I’m trying to see if I can add an SSD or HDD to my Pavilion Gaming Desktop 690-0805. I see two sata-looking connections on the motherboard that says HHD1 and 2, but I’m not entirely sure if these can be used for SSD. 

Also, I can’t see them getting powered by the PSU, I can’t see any ekstra wires that can be used to power the SSD. 

any help would be appreciated.

[itsmyname · Accepted solution]

@Svealf -- I’m not entirely sure if these can be used for SSD. 

Yes. SSD devices were designed to use the same connections as HDD devices -- 100% compatibility is a good selling-point.

> Also, I can’t see them getting powered by the PSU, 

Some computers have a special cable, as shown below, to connect directly to the motherboard, and to have standard SATA power-connectors.

Power from motherboard to SATA devices

[Svealf]

Thank you! I have both wires you are showing me photos of, the last one connect via the mother board like you said. 

should I assume that I could install an extra SSD then?  

[itsmyname]

@Svealf -- should I assume that I could install an extra SSD then?  

Yes, but note the short distance between the two SATA connectors in the image that I posted.

For that cable, the "extra" device needs to be physically located close to the first device.

But, that image is only an example of a "special" cable. 

Other cables may have more connectors, or the connectors will be further apart.

Note that there are "Y-shaped" cables. The "bottom" of the "Y" connects to a SATA power-connector, and the two "tops" of the Y offer two SATA power connectors, thus allowing two SATA devices to receive power.

But, if the motherboard has exactly 2 sockets for SATA "data" cables, you may choose to add-in a PCI-E adapter card, to add one or two more sockets for SATA "data" cables. Of course, you have to find a "drive-bay" to hold the SATA device. 

Note that does exist a "stacked" adapter bracket, to let you stack 2 SSDs (one on top of the other) into one drive-bay.  Compare to a kitchen's bread-toaster -- you can put one piece of bread into one socket, and a second piece of bread into the other socket. The two pieces of bread do not touch each other. Neither do the 2 SSDs touch each other, when mounted into that "double-decker" tray.