pci express and a new SSD

[S3ndG]

Hello!

I have a desktop computer HP Pavilion Gaming - TG01-1149nf and I bought it with a 256 GB SSD m2 nvme inside.

I would like to add a new SSD, and I didn't see another empty  M2 slot.

Can I use the PCIe x1 empty slot that I saw on my motherboard? There is also an eSATA plug.

Thanks 😉

[Bill_To]

Hi @S3ndG 

Welcome to the HP Forum.

You could get a PCIe x1 adapter to add a second drive to your PC. This adapter would limit data transfer rates to one PCIe lane.

An x4 PCIe NVME drive connected to a compatible PCIe x1 adapter would not run at X4 speeds. But this drive would still be much faster when compared to a SATA platter HDD.

The eSATA connector would also be limited to SATA data transfer rates.

You could also upgrade the existing 256 GB M.2 drive to a larger drive if the system drive is running out of free space. Back up data on the system drive. Then clone the OS from the 256 GB SSD to the new larger SSD.

Regards

[S3ndG]

Bill_To,

could you please tell me with a few words how to back up data on the system drive and

clone my current 256 GB SSD?

I don't understand how I could boot with windows 11 after that...

 🙂

Thanks!

[Bill_To]

Hi @S3ndG 

My pleasure.

Most data on a Windows OS are located in your user account folders unless you store data in a different location.

You would connect an external USB drive of sufficient capacity to the PC. Then copy the data from your user account folders or other appropriate folders to the external USB drive. Your PC may have a second internal HDD. You can copy data to this location if desired.

Copying data will preserve your data should something bad happen (very unusual) on the source drive when cloning the source drive to a different target drive.

A clone duplicates all data and disk structures from one disk to a second disk. The second disk will load the operating system if the clone is successful.

Cloning disks is a fairly complex process.

You would need a USB/M.2 PCIe NVME adapter for the second drive because your MB is limited to one M.2 socket.

Some M.2 drive manufacturers provide cloning software. Or you may have to use free cloning software to do the clone.

Check this Site for steps to clone a disk using Clonezilla (free). This Site uses different free cloning software. I would try Lazesoft first as you should be able to clone in Windows when you use an external USB/M.2 enclosure.

I use licensed software to disk image and clone my PCs since I have had problems here and there when using free cloning software. 

You could also have a local PC Tech do this if you are uncertain about the cloning process.

Regards

[S3ndG]

OK I had a "brain storming" with myself and I was wondering if I can add a PCIx1 adapter in my PC. On the picture I've uploaded we can see that there is no space at the left, just above the nvidia graphics card.

Could you please explain me how to add a pcix1 "card" to my motherboard and tower?

👍

ps : is it this product I should buy? thanks!

adapter 

[Bill_To]

Hi @S3ndG 

My pleasure.

I am not familiar with the PCIe adapter manufacturer. Try it.

Amazon should accept a return if the component does not work.

Remove the rear I/O slot cover adjacent to the PCIe x1 slot.

Install the new PCIe NVME drive in the PCIe adapter.

Install the PCIe adapter in the MB.

Start Windows. Go to Disk Management.

Look for the new disk. It should be present showing unallocated space.

Right click on the new disk and select new simple volume. Follow prompts to format the new disk.

The new disk should now appear in File Explorer.

If you don't see the new disk in Disk Management (suggesting the BIOS does not see the new disk) then you have a problem with: the PCIex1 slot, or the PCIe adapter is faulty, or the new disk has a problem.

Regards

[S3ndG]

Hey Bill_To,

I have another question : I saw with crystaldiskinfo that my current SSD has a PCIe 3.0 x4 transfert mode.

Should I buy a PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD even if my empty pci slot is PCIe 3.0 x1 ?

Thank you 😉

[Bill_To]

Hi @S3ndG 

My pleasure.

You really have no choice if you want to use the PCie x1 slot with an M.2 adapter.

You'll only get up to x1 speeds vs up to x4 speeds using an x4 NVME drive but this will still be faster than using a slow platter 7200 rpm HDD.

Regards