1TB SSD for a laptop

ScoobyNZ on 09/05/2023 - 20:07
Last edited 09/05/2023 - 20:28

I'm looking at wanting to upgrade the 512GB SSD in my Dell XPS laptop and I'm wanting some advice as to what good upgrade options are. It's currently running:

  • Toshiba KXG50ZNV512G
  • M.2 2280
  • PCIe 3.1a Gen 3 x 4 Lane NVMe 1.2.1
  • Sequential Read: up to 3,000MB/s
  • Sequential Write: up to 2,100MB/s
  • Length: 22mm
  • Width: 80mm
  • Height: 2.23mm

Looking at 1TB options.

I've seen there have been some deals here in the past but nothing current. I've only just started my search, and I've whittled my PB Tech search to the following options in a list (Yes, I know there are a few) :

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/products/HDDSAM980600_HDDSAM990100_…

I'm hoping the shared list can be seen ??

Range in price between $106 to $212.

Is read / write speeds the major factors to consider? I'm also guessing the size, whether the SSD will actually fit?

Does anybody have any other good suggestions within this price range, outside of these options? I also have access to Samsung Education Store as well so potentially better prices there?

Samsung EPP Pricing

970 EVO Plus NVMe M.2 SSD - 1TB $111 rather than $250 (too slow read speeds @ 3,500MB/s ?)
980 PRO NVMe M.2 SSD 1TB $143 rather than $280
980 NVMe M.2 SSD 1TB $151 rather than $219 (same as PB Tech here, but too slow read speeds @ 3,500MB/s ?)
980 PRO with Heatsink PCIe 4.0 M.2 $199 rather than $309
990 PRO PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD $199 rather than $249 ($7 cheaper than PB Tech here)

Thanks in advance!

General Discussion

Comments

  • Kiwi on 09/05/2023 - 20:54

    You've more or less answered your own questions with your options at the end. The 970 Evo Plus would probably be the best bet, with decent TBW/warranty, but just know you aren't going to notice any real difference between what you've got and what you're looking at getting, other than the capacity.

    too slow read speeds @ 3,500MB/s

    Not a chance, looks like you're running PCIe 3.1, so you'd struggle to hit that anyway as it's pretty much as fast as it can go with 4 lanes.

    • ScoobyNZ on 09/05/2023 - 21:18

      Ahh okay, I was wondering this. So there is no point in getting anything newer / faster like the 980 / 990 PRO which is PCIe 4.0 ?

      • Kiwi on 09/05/2023 - 21:44

        Petty much, not unless your laptop is compatible, even then you're unlikely to notice the difference on a laptop.

        • ScoobyNZ on 09/05/2023 - 21:54

          Well the laptop is a Dell XPS 9365, a few years old now. I'm not sure how I can find out if it's PCIe 4.0 compatible, short of taking the back off and looking for motherboard model numbers.

  • ace310 on 09/05/2023 - 22:12

    If your budget is $200 why not go for 2tb 970 evo unless you are planning to change laptop in near future.

    • ScoobyNZ on 09/05/2023 - 22:26

      Well the budget was based on getting the best speed / buck, but if the higher speeds isn't compatible, then of course getting a higher capacity is an option. The 2TB version of the 970 EVO Plus is $183 via the EPP.

  • ScoobyNZ on 10/05/2023 - 13:50

    I have another follow up question to this - Is there a good / recommended Open Source software for cloning your existing laptop SSD, to an image say, on an external HD, and then copied to the new SSD, so it's an easy swap out from one to the other?

    Or, is there a USB —> SSD NVMe adaptor cable where the above-said software would clone the existing SSD onto the new SSD ?

    I can also then use the previous SSD as an external drive. Looks like the cheapest option from PB Tech is this guy:

    https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/ENCCXT31003/Cruxtec-USB-C-t…

  • kyogui on 17/05/2023 - 16:17

    Have you opened the laptop? Higher specs of XPS should have 2 x m.2 slots so you can put in another drive of whatever size you like, 512GB or 1TB.

    • ScoobyNZ on 17/05/2023 - 17:07

      To be honest, No I haven't, but I could do. However it's a few years old and a 13", not a 15 or 17, so space might be quite limited. Perhaps I can Google the 9365 specs online and find out without having to open it up

      • ace310 on 17/05/2023 - 20:02
        +1

        Only one slot

      • kyogui on 17/05/2023 - 20:48
        +1

        Yes there is only one slot, just if you decide to upgrade make sure you disconnect the battery first.

        • ScoobyNZ on 17/05/2023 - 22:45

          Ok thanks for the info, will do

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