Looking for help picking an M.2 for a prebuilt PC

[pegasins]

Hello,
I've recently run into an issue with storage on my pre-built PC, and I am looking to get a second SSD for my PC.
I'm incredibly inexperienced with computers and a friend of mine sent me this way to seek some help.
I've got a ROG Strix G15CE_G15CE model, and what i believe to be a ROG Strix B560-g motherboard. However, I couldn't find any specific information in my system info or BIOS, but it looks exactly the same.

Here is the page for that particular motherboard: https://rog.asus.com/motherboards/rog-strix/rog-strix-b560-g-gaming-wifi-model/
I couldn't find the version of the computer I have on the site, so i assume it is likely discontinued.
I've also attached a picture of the inside of my computer for reference too.
According to the site it has two slots for M.2's. I havent checked for myself since its difficult to reach with the GPU and fan, which I am a little bit afraid to remove unless I have to. I also haven't been able to find out what kind of M.2 I have currently and im unsure if it matters or not if its the same one.

Looking for something that is at least 1TB. So any advice is appreciated. Thank you very much for your time

[kokosnh]

Is it 10 gen or 11 gen cpu?

and what ssd it has now, and were? 
are you positive on the mobo model” cpu-z? 

[RevGAM]

Can you run Piriform's Speccy, select (wording may be different):

Problematic Devices 

List users and partitions

 

and then select publish? It'll give you a link that you can put here so we can see what's inside. 

Edited September 16 by RevGAM
Added selections

[pegasins]

3 hours ago, RevGAM said:

Can you run Piriform's Speccy, select (wording may be different):

Problematic Devices 

List users and partitions

 

and then select publish? It'll give you a link that you can put here so we can see what's inside. 

I ran speccy and here is the link http://speccy.piriform.com/results/vhg3KNSiRjYDUY5Yjno24

15 hours ago, kokosnh said:

Is it 10 gen or 11 gen cpu?

and what ssd it has now, and were? 
are you positive on the mobo model” cpu-z? 

It is an 11th gen cpu I believe.
I'm not completely positive on the mobo model. My system info and speccy both say its a g15ce but i cant find any information about it.
According to speccy this is the model of M.2 i have currently

"476GB Western Digital WDC PC SN530 SDBPNPZ-512G-1002" which I found on amazon here https://www.amazon.ca/Western-Digital-SDBPNPZ-512G-Desktop-Ultrabook/dp/B09X2QL5SP

 

[kokosnh]

Ok so 11 gen and one m.2 ssd nvme in. 
I will assume the mobo is the one you stated ( you could go to bios, usually the mobo model is there )

 

do you see that ssd under the gpu in the second m.2 slot? if not then it will be in the first one. 
 

you have one slot for pcie 4.0 x4 ssd, and one m.2 pcie 3.0 x4 

 

where are you buying from (country) and what’s the budget?

 

 

 

[pegasins]

I did look through my bios and could find any information there about the model of mobo there either unfortunately.
I'm in canada, and my budget is about $150 max

[RevGAM]

Operating System

Windows 11 Home 64-bit

 

CPU

Intel Core i7 11700 @ 2.50GHz: 

56 °C

Rocket Lake 14nm Technology

 

RAM

16.0GB Single-Channel DDR4 @ 1596MHz (22-22-22-52)

 

Motherboard

ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. G15CE (LGA1200): 

24 °C

 

Graphics

LC27G5xT (2560x1440@144Hz)

 

Kamvas 16 (1920x1080@59Hz)

 

4095MB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 (ASUStek Computer Inc): 

30 °C

 

Storage

931GB TOSHIBA DT01ACA100 (SATA

23 °C

476GB Western Digital WDC PC SN530 SDBPNPZ-512G-1002 (Unknown (SSD))

 

Optical Drives

No optical disk drives detected

 

Audio

Steam Streaming Speakers

 

 

This service manual is slightly more useful than the user's manual, which is a low bar. Very low.

 

According to Tech Specs, it uses PCIe gen 3 and supports NVMe. The mobo is a ROG Strix B560.

[kokosnh]

For now, the best ssd I can find on Amazon.ca is Crucial T500 1TB with Heatsink for 96$ 

https://www.amazon.ca/Crucial-Internal-Gaming-Desktop-Compatible/dp/B0CK2S298S

phison E25 + ddr4 + 232l TLC micron nand. 

 

can you confirm you have second free m.2 slot index the gpu (it should be visible)

[pegasins]

Are you asking if there’s one on the gpu? Or another one behind the m.2 cover?

thank you for the recommendation though. I really appreciate it!

[RevGAM]

36 minutes ago, pegasins said:

Are you asking if there’s one on the gpu? Or another one behind the m.2 cover?

thank you for the recommendation though. I really appreciate it!

I believe they meant "under" not "index." 

[pegasins]

there isnt another slot under my GPU from what i can tell. I assumed they might both be under the cover or one is behind my gpu. But I'm unsure

[kokosnh]

 

this one, is it under gpu? And is empty?

[RevGAM]

If you've never done anything with M.2 SSDs, that grey plastic thing is the socket where you plug it in. 

[pegasins]

Ohh I didnt realize that was a slot for another m.2, my motherboard definitely has this! Thank you for showing me

[kokosnh]

Do yours has this, as there's like identical mobo variant without it. Just making shure. And is it empty ( you can use your phone to take picture under gpu to see )

[pegasins]

Excuse the dust, but here is a photo.

[kokosnh]

Ok. Where are you located, so I can compare some prices of the ssd.

So 1TB ssd m.2 nvme, what is the budget for it? 

[pegasins]

On 9/16/2024 at 4:12 PM, kokosnh said:

For now, the best ssd I can find on Amazon.ca is Crucial T500 1TB with Heatsink for 96$ 

https://www.amazon.ca/Crucial-Internal-Gaming-Desktop-Compatible/dp/B0CK2S298S

phison E25 + ddr4 + 232l TLC micron nand. 

 

can you confirm you have second free m.2 slot index the gpu (it should be visible)

You did give me this suggestion here, but I’m in Canada, and my budget is 150

[kokosnh]

yes, it was good deal for 96$ But it's 127$ now...  

So now on amazon.ca 
From the good PCIE 4.0 DRAMless ones 
WD_BLACK 1TB SN770  105$ https://www.amazon.ca/WD_BLACK-SN770-Internal-Gaming-Solid/dp/B09QV692XY
CORSAIR MP600 Elite 1TB  110$  https://www.amazon.ca/CORSAIR-MP600-ELITE-PCIe-Gen4/dp/B0CSG3V9GJ/

from good PCIE 4.0 TLC DRAM ones:
TEAMGROUP T-Force CARDEA A440 Heatsink 1TB 120$ https://www.amazon.ca/TEAMGROUP-Graphene-Aluminum-Heatsink-TM8FPZ001T0C327/dp/B0921KF4JC
MSI SPATIUM M480 Pro PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 1TB  120$ https://www.amazon.ca/MSI-SPATIUM-Internal-S78-440L1G0-P83-HD4114/dp/B0CDW66CG7
WD_BLACK 1TB SN850X 120$ https://www.amazon.ca/WD_BLACK-SN850X-Internal-Gaming-Solid/dp/B0B7CKVCCV  
Corsair MP600 PRO LPX 1TB 125$ https://www.amazon.ca/Corsair-MP600-NVMe-PCIe-Gen4/dp/B09Q2MW21F

best one is the M480 Pro, but it's still 120$ 
That T500 1TB with heat spreader, was a good deal for 96$, maybe there will be some promotion in near future.

Ps. After you buy the SSD, you will have to take out the GPU (watch some tutorials, there's a latch in PCIe x16 slot, that you have to disengage, before pulling the GPU, of course, you first have to unscrew it from case). 
Remove the current SSD from the top M.2 slot, and move it to the bottom M.2 slot. 
The you will take the new ssd, and put it in the top M.2 slot. (watch some tutorials on the SSD M.2, you have to be close to 30 degree, when inserting them)

When working on the PC, you want the PC to lay on it's right side, so you have access to it from the top, and GPU can't drop, as its vertical already.

[pegasins]

Thank you for the suggestions, I’ll take a look at some tutorials about removing the SSD and check these out. I appreciate the help!

[kokosnh]

as for taking out your GPU 
1. Disconnect the power (there is a latch on the top of the connector, when pressing it wiggle the connectors out, one by one)

2. Unscrew the GPU from the case 
3. disengage the PCIe x16 latch, by pressing on the black lever

You should be able to just take the GPU out
 

I don't know what's this on the right side of the GPU, it seems like a GPU support, you will have to see if it's not screw, or latched to the GPU, before doing anything to the GPU. 

 

[pegasins]

Yeah it’s screwed on the left side as well. This guide is super helpful thank you so much!

[RevGAM]

You can also consider gen 3 SSDs, as especially the best ones aren't that much slower than gen 4 and you probably won't notice the difference unless you're dealing with very large files. Also, for better performance, try to find one with DRAM. That SN770 is fine if you don't have really big files, but the lack of DRAM makes them a pain - I have one.

 

Be very certain you release #3. If you don't, you'll crack the card and the repair won't be cheap if it's even possible. If you have trouble releasing it, try using the eraser end of a pencil so that it'll grip that latch and even if it slips off it won't damage your mobo. I'll send you a link to an Asus M.2 SSD installation.

 

I'm not certain, but that ?? item in the photo could be a support for the GC so it doesn't sag. Check it out - the card may just slide out, or it may have a little bolt.