Adding Storage to your Gaming PC

M.2 SSDs have quickly become one of the most popular types of storage drives found in most PCs due to their compact size, impressive capacity, and availability making them a great fit for both desktop gaming PCs as well as mobile PCs and even some gaming handhelds.  Most M.2 SSDs sold will be M.2 2280 form factor drives, meaning that they are 22 mm wide by 80 mm long.  While there are alternative sizes available, most drives will fall in this form factor.

Installing your SSD

M.2 SSDs will connect directly to your motherboard via an M.2 slot (previously known as the Next Generation Form Factor (NGFF) slot).  The location of these slots will vary depending on your motherboard, but are normally located near the PCIe slots.  Depending on your motherboard, some of these slots may be covered by a protective plate or integrated heatsink.  For more information, please refer to your motherboard user's manual.

Before installing your SSD, check the slot to make sure that a standoff has been installed.  If there is not standoff in the slot, check your motherboard accessories for a small bag including the M.2 standoffs and mounting screws.  By default, many motherboards will have their standoffs included at the M.2 2280 size.

Insert your SSD into the M.2 slot.  When inserted properly, the drive will be at a diagonal angle from the motherboard as shown above.  With the drive in its slot, gently press the drive so that the edge of the SSD is resting on the standoff and secure the drive using one of the screws included with your motherboard.

If your motherboard includes a heatsink for over the M.2 drive, be sure to peel the protective film for the thermal pad so that the heatsink can make direct contact with the SSD.  In many cases this thermal pad will touch the label sticker on the SSD, but don't worry:  most SSD label stickers are made from a thermally conductive material and should not inhibit the heatsink performance.

Once your SSD has been installed, start up your PC and check the UEFI/BIOS to confirm that the SSD is being detected.  For more information on drive detection, please see the guide linked below:

NZXT Support - My Storage is Not Detected

Part of an older form factor, 3.5" and 2.5" drives are still a very popular option for adding storage to your PC.  Unlike M.2 drives which mount directly to the motherboard, these drives will instead mount within the case and will be connected to the Motherboard and Power Supply.  If you are considering either a 3.5" or 2.5" drive for your build, be sure to check the spec sheet for your case to confirm if there are mounting trays or a slots for these drives available.

3.5" Hard Drives in particular are popular for getting a large amount of storage for a lower price than a comparable SSD, with the main trade off being that Hard Drives will operate much slower due to being mechanical.

Regardless of whether you go with a 2.5" or 3.5" drive, all SATA based drives will include two key connections:  SATA Data and SATA Power.  The SATA Data connection is the smaller of the two connectors and will connect from the SSD directly to the motherboard's SATA data ports.  The cable necessary for SATA Data will be included in the accessories for your motherboard.

SATA Data ports on the motherboard are usually located along the right-most edge of the motherboard near the bottom-right corner and can be identified by their L-shaped connector..  The number and location will vary from motherboard to motherboard.

The SATA Power connection is the larger of the two connectors and connects from the SSD directly to your Power Supply.  This cable will either be integrated to the power supply itself (for non-modular PSUs) or part of a modular cable.  SATA Power cables may include multiple connectors usually ranging from 3-5 connectors.

Installing your SSD or Hard Drive

To connect a 3.5" or 2.5" SSD, it is recommended to start by mounting the drive to your case.  The steps for this will vary, so it is recommended to check the user's manual for your case.

The NZXT H5 Flow case includes an adjustable drive cage in the lower chamber that can hold two 2.5" drives as well as either one additional 2.5" drive or a full size 3.5" drive as shown above.

Once the drive is physically mounted in the case, connect the SATA data cable to the drive and motherboard, followed by the SATA power cable from the PSU to the drive.  From here, start your PC and check the UEFI/BIOS to confirm that the drive is being detected.  For more information on drive detection, please see the guide linked below:

NZXT Support - My Storage is Not Detected

By far the easiest type of storage to add to your PC will be an External Storage Drive.  These can come in many forms ranging from dedicated external storage drives to carriers or docks for normally internal storage media covered in the sections above.  For these drives, simply plug them into a compatible USB port and you'll be good to go.