Most modern computers and laptops use SATA drives. You can also purchase a hybrid HDD/SSD drive.īuy a hard drive that matches your model of laptop. They are much faster, quieter, and more expensive. They are usually slower, but less expensive. Hard Disk Drive (HDD): Hard Disk Drives are mechanical disk drives. Check the manual for your motherboard and make sure the M.2 SSD you purchase is compatible with your motherboard. An M.2 SSD with an M key slot will not fit in a B key connector.
You'll also need to check if the M.2 connector slot on your has an M or B key slot. 2280 is the most common size for desktop computers. In order to install an M.2 SSD, you'll need to see if your motherboard has an M.2 connector slot, and what size SSD the motherboard supports. For example, a 2280 M.2 drive is 22x80 mm, and a 2260 M.2 device is 22圆0 mm. This size of the drive is coded using a 4 digit number. All-in-one PC monitors may require a 2.7 inch (6.9 cm) SATA drive. 3.5 inch (8.9 cm) SATA drives are used in most desktop computers.
SATA is the most common hard drive type for modern computers, though many newer motherboards support M.2 SSD hard drives, which are much smaller and often faster than SATA drives (if the drive and your motherboard support NVMe).
Buy a hard drive that is compatible with your desktop motherboard.
