Solid state drives are the successor to the hard disk drive, and they’re different in many ways. Performance, method of operating, and shape are just a few things that separate solid-state drives from hard disk drives. With older HDDs, you could tell by simply looking at them that one used in a desktop computer could never fit in a laptop.
Now, because the shape of an SSD is different, you might be wondering if you can use leftover SSD disks from your desktop computer in your laptop, or vice versa. And if so, what’s the difference between them?
There’s no major difference between a solid-state drive used in a laptop and one used in a desktop computer. You can use SSD disks interchangeably between the two types of computers as long as they have the same type of interface/slot. Today, most desktop computers and laptops have a 2.5″ and/or 3.5″ drive slot and are either SATA, M.2, or PCIe.
Computers that only have 3.5″ slots can still hold 2.5″ solid-state drives by using an adapter.
The form factor doesn’t refer to the drive’s physical measurement of width or height, but the size of the computer’s slot. There are a few things you should keep in mind when moving disks interchangeably between the two, such as ensuring that they’re compatible.
Continue reading as we’ll go through everything you need to know in order to do the swap with as much ease as possible.
Is There Any Difference Between SSD For Laptops and Desktop Computers?
Easily put, there are close to no limiting differences between the two components. They are very similar to one another and can be used interchangeably but a few minor adjustments need to be made in certain situations.
The actual solid-state drive used in a laptop and a desktop computer are similar to one another, but there are different types that create a bit of variation.
The primary difference I can think of is the size and type of the computer’s sockets. Computers have a bunch of different sockets designed to hold each of the computer’s components in place.
Sockets can be found on the motherboard and inside the chassis. They are a part of both laptop and desktop computers’ structure. The difference between the laptop and desktop sockets is the actual form and size of those sockets or slots.
In desktop computers, most components are connected to the computer through their respective slot on the motherboard, but both hard and solid-state drives are connected to the motherboard with cables. This gives drives a bit more leeway than other components.
Why?
Because the size of the slot doesn’t NEED to be perfect in order for the drive to function. Having the proper size will ensure that your drive is mounted properly and safely, and while that’s an idea that I endorse fully, it’s worth knowing that there are workarounds.
Note: It’s important that the slot is of the matching version. We’ll get to that.
The most common form factor is 2.5″ for both desktop and laptop computers. However, it’s not unusual for a desktop computer to come with mounting slots for both 2.5 and 3.5″ form factors. They’re usually adjustable slots that can be opened up or closed to fit both form factors.
If your computer doesn’t come with two options, don’t fret.
You can purchase an adapter like this one to hold your solid-state drive (which requires a 2.5″ slot) in place even if the computer has a 3.5″ socket. Simply connect the solid-state drive to the adapter and then put the adapter with its tray in the 3.5″ slot. It should fit perfectly.
While researching the web to find answers on the topic, I found that users who weren’t keen on purchasing additional parts had come up with another solution; they mounted their solid-state drives in the 3.5″ slot and put duct tape around it to prevent it from moving around.
What Different Types of SSDs Are There?
Now, as I vaguely mentioned earlier, the slot on the computer’s motherboard must be the right standard in order for the SSD to work.
The difference is important to note because your motherboard may or may not host a slot for the different variations of drives. If that’s the case, you can purchase an adapter to connect your SSD.
Let’s take a quick look at the different versions.
SATA SSD
SATA SSDs are extremely common and can be found in both laptops and desktop computers. They come in different form factors but the most common is 2.5″ as it can be used in both new and old computers.
They’re considered a bit slower than other SSD counterparts but will still speed up a computer that’s using an HDD significantly.
PCIe SSD
PCIe SSDs are the fastest types of drives and are commonly marketed toward users who require top performance at all times, such as gamers or content creators. They’re more expensive than other versions of solid-state drives but deliver the best bang for the buck.
M.2 SSD
M.2 SSDs are small sticks commonly found in small devices, such as mobile phones or small laptops. They’re faster and more expensive than SATA SSDs. They’re flat and quite small, which makes them suitable for their area of usage.
You can put an M.2 SSD in your desktop computer too, but your motherboard must have a slot for it in order for it to work.
You can find out what type of connector slots your motherboard has by looking at the motherboard’s technical specifications on the manufacturer’s website. This will tell you if the SSD is compatible with both your laptop and desktop computer.
You can also Google images of the different types of SSDs and then compare them to your drive to identify which type it is.
Can You Put a Desktop SSD In a Laptop?
Because our garage is full of tech gadgets that I’m repairing and experimenting on, we’ve always got a bunch of components sitting about. Among these components, you can find a few solid-state drives which I’ve found no purpose for yet.
They’re both from desktop computers and laptops. Naturally, I had to swap them to see if it could be done and learn everything that was worth considering before doing it.
You can put a solid-state drive used in a desktop computer in a laptop as long as the SSD itself uses a 2.5″ form factor and the laptop has the appropriate connector slot – M.2, SATA, or PCIe depending on what type of SSD you’re trying to move.
If the SSD used in your desktop computer isn’t standard SATA, but an M.2 SSD, then you don’t have to worry about the form factor as they’re different in size and shape. First and foremost, check that the connection standard is the same.
If the connector in both computers is standard SATA, check if the form factor is the same. It should be 2.5″.
While mounted on the desktop computer, the drive was most likely connected to a mounting tray. You need to remove the bracket or tray around the drive before connecting it to the laptop because otherwise, it won’t fit inside the laptop’s slot.
If you’re replacing an old HDD with an SSD you should notice a significant increase in your laptop’s performance, regardless of the type of SSD used. When compared to HDDs, solid-state drives provide a much smoother experience with shorter loading and response times.
With that out of the way, does it work the same the other way around? Moving an SSD from a laptop to a desktop computer.
Can You Put a Laptop SSD In a Desktop Computer?
Whether you’re installing your first SSD or adding an additional drive to your desktop computer, you’re doing the computer a great favor, and you’ll end up reaping the rewards by having more storage and faster loading times.
Even if the solid-state drive was put in a laptop originally, it can still be used in your desktop computer if the desktop computer and the laptop have similar slots. For instance, if the laptop had an M.2 SSD stick and the computer only has SATA ports, it won’t function.
You need to make sure your desktop computer’s motherboard supports the type of SSD connector that your laptop’s drive is. Your laptop will most likely have either SATA or M.2 solid-state drives, and your desktop will almost certainly support SATA – but possibly M.2 too.
SATA SSDs for laptops are most commonly 2.5″ in size. Most modern chassis should come with mounting slots for 2.5″ SSDs, or at least with adjustable trays that can be modified to fit 2.5″ or 3.5″ drives.
Therefore, almost all SATA SSDs in laptops can be used in desktop computers too. Other versions, such as M.2 or PCIe might require some research in order to make sure the motherboard supports it.
Can You Put an SSD In an HDD Slot?
Older hard disk drives are larger than solid-state drives. The slots used to connect the drives to the motherboard are also larger. Regular HDDs have a 3.5″ form factor and require a 3.5″ mounting slot in order to fit, whereas most SSDs have a 2.5″ form factor and should be mounted in a 2.5″ slot.
But a slight difference in size doesn’t mean they’re totally incompatible, especially not after doing some minor adjustments.
Simply placing a 2.5″ solid-state drive in a 3.5″ hard disk drive slot won’t work very well because the SSD won’t be attached firmly to the computer. You’ll have no way of ensuring that the drive is secured if you place it in a larger tray.
However, you can purchase an appropriate adapter to convert your HDD slot into an SSD slot. Alternatively, see if your chassis comes with adjustable mounting trays, different trays, or duct tape the drive to secure it within the larger disk drive.
Your best bet is to purchase the adapter if you ask me.
How To Connect an SSD To Another Computer
Removing a drive from one computer and installing it in another one is a straightforward procedure when it comes to moving the hardware. Sometimes, you’ll have problems with Windows installations and so forth.
Moving a disk with a Windows installation, drivers, and other files can cause the drive to not boot properly when connected to the new computer.
The recommendation is to do a clean Windows install once the disk has been moved and store important files and settings on an external hard drive or in the cloud.
With that taken into consideration, proceed to remove the disk from the computer. Start by identifying the standard connector of both computers to make sure the disk can be swapped between the two. If they’re the same type of drives you’re good to go.
You can do this two ways. The first method is the one you should go with if you want to mount the drive in the computer while the second is a better option if you only want to use the SSD as an external drive.
Method 1
Solid-state drives in laptops are often connected without cables. They’re often just screwed in place or hinged. In that case, remove the SSD from the laptop using the needed tools then proceed from step number 4.
- Turn off the computer and remove the power cable.
- Disconnect the SATA cable from the drive.
- Disconnect the power cable from the drive.
- Open up the other computer and identify a free drive bay for the drive. This will look different depending on if it’s a laptop or desktop computer.
- Connect the SATA and power cables from your motherboard to the SSD.
- Make sure everything is connected properly.
- Plug in the power cable and start the computer
Method 2
- Unplug the SSD from the old computer
- Connect one end of a USB cable to the solid-state drive and the other end to an empty USB slot in the computer.
- You can now access the drive and use it as an external data storage