How to upgrade or add an SSD to Lenovo’s Legion 5i 15
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The Lenovo Legion 5i 15 is a formidable mid-range gaming option with plenty of features gamers will love. It also happens to have dual M.2 solid-state drive (SSD) slots, as well as space for a 2.5-inch SATA SSD. However, not all spots can be occupied at the same time. If you’re interested in upgrading your laptop’s storage after purchase, we have everything you need to know right here. Though we’re performing the operation on the Intel-based Legion 5i, it should be the same process for the AMD-powered Legion 5.
Hardware and software to get the job done
How to upgrade the main SSD in Lenovo’s Legion 5i 15
Note: Before beginning any upgrades on a PC, it’s a good idea toback up your datain the unlikely event something should go wrong. You’ll also want to ensure you’re not working in a static-filled environment since it can cause damage to a PC’s internal hardware. Consider investing in ananti-static wristbandto avoid unnecessary damage.
Lenovo’s Legion 5i 15is available in several different configurations to best fit your budget and needs. Baseline models usually ship with only an SSD, while more expensive options have both an M.2 PCIe SSD and a 2.5-inch SATA hard-disk drive (HDD). No matter what, the boot drive for Windows 10 will be the M.2 SSD for faster speeds.
The internals are laid out so that there’s always a spot for an M.2 SSD, whereas the secondary storage option must be either another M.2 PCIe SSD or a 2.5-inch solution (SSD or HDD). There’s no room for all three. Although a 2.5-inch SATA HDD or SSD is going to be cheaper for large storage sizes, we recommend upgrading with dual M.2 PCIe SSDs for better performance. Something like theSamsung 970 EVO Plusis an excellent option.
If you’re upgrading the M.2 SSD boot drive that shipped with the Legion 5i, you might want to invest in anSSD enclosure. This will allow you to connect the new SSD to the laptop and clone any data on the boot drive over to the new drive. For cloning we’ve had success withMacrium Reflect; we’ve even written aguide to get you through the cloning process.
If you’d rather replace the M.2 boot drive entirely without cloning any data, you can start fresh with a clean Windows 10 install once the upgrade is complete. There are some steps to take care of before you begin the SSD upgrade, so be sure to head over to ourguide to a clean install of Windows 10to see what’s required.
Once you’ve completed any cloning or have set yourself up for a clean installation of Windows 10, clear out a well-lit workspace and power down your Legion 5i 15 before proceeding with the steps below.
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You can now go ahead with a fresh install of Windows 10 or, if you cloned the drive beforehand, you can boot up the PC to see if the upgrade went according to plan.
How to add a secondary SATA SSD to the Legion 5i 15
If you’re content with the boot drive in the Legion 5i 15 staying as it is, you can still add a second M.2 SSD or 2.5-inch SATA SSD for bonus storage. In a gaming laptop that deals with colossal game file sizes, this is especially important. The way the laptop is designed, you can either add an M.2 SSD or a 2.5-inch SATA SSD, so you need to choose before beginning the upgrade process. In this section, we will deal with adding a 2.5-inch SATA SSD. We recommend theSamsung 860 EVOas an excellent pick for a 2.5-inch SATA SSD.
If your laptop already has a secondary SSD and you want to keep the data, you can always go through with the same cloning process, as we explained in the preceding section. Once you’re ready to upgrade, clear out a well-lit area and power down your Legion 5i 15.
You’re now free to boot up your PC to see if the upgrade went according to plan. If Windows 10 doesn’t recognize the drive, check out ourguide to formatting new storage.
How to add a secondary M.2 SSD to the Legion 5i 15
If you’d rather add a secondary M.2 PCIe SSD to the Legion 5i 15, we recommend theSamsung 970 EVO Plusas an upgrade pick. This will remove the ability to add a 2.5-inch SATA SSD. Here’s how to add a second M.2 SSD by first removing the 2.5-inch SATA SSD enclosure.
You’re now free to boot up your PC to see if the upgrade went according to plan. If Windows 10 doesn’t recognize the drive, check out ourguide to formatting new storage.
Our top hardware and software picks
Our top pick for thebest SSD for your laptopis Samsung’s 970 EVO Plus. It’s incredibly fast, it’s long-lasting, and it’s relatively cheap for the performance you’re getting.
Unreal performance up to 1TB in size
Samsung’s 970 EVO Plus brings blistering read and write speeds, a competitive price, and a five-year warranty, which altogether is an impressive package. Sizes start at 250GB and go up to 2TB.
If you’re looking to add quantity over speed, a 2.5-inch SATA SSD like the Samsung 860 EVO will perform well and won’t cost as much.
Not as fast but not as expensive
Get the Samsung 860 EVO in 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB sizes and enjoy read speeds up to 550MB/s.
Lenovo’s Legion 5i 15 is a solid mid-range gaming laptop withupgradeable RAMand storage. Be sure to check out our collection ofbest Windows laptopsto see how it compares to other popular options.
Unthrottled gaming performance
Get up to a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor and NVIDIA RTX 2060 dedicated graphics card for excellent mid-range gaming power.
Additional Equipment
To make the upgrade process easier and less risky, consider investing in some of these affordable PC tools, and don’t forget about Macrium Reflect and an external enclosure for those who want to clone drives.
SSK M.2 enclosure($26 at Amazon)
This affordable aluminum enclosure works with M.2 PCIe NVMe SSDs like the Samsung 970 EVO Plus for cloning. Connect to the Legion 5i with USB-C.
Macrium Reflect 7(Free at Macrium)
We’ve had success cloning drives with Macrium Reflect 7, and have evenwritten a complete guideon how to use it properly. A free edition is available, but you can purchase a full edition with a bunch more features for those who truly take backups seriously.
ORIA PC toolkit($35 at Amazon)
Having the proper gear to work on your PC will always make the job much more comfortable. Here you get a plethora of tools contained in a portable case.
Rosewill anti-static wristband($7 at Amazon)
Static electricity can damage sensitive PC parts, so remove the risk with an anti-static wristband. Fasten it around your wrist and clip it onto your PC for peace of mind.
Cale Hunt brings to Windows Central more than eight years of experience writing about laptops, PCs, accessories, games, and beyond. If it runs Windows or in some way complements the hardware, there’s a good chance he knows about it, has written about it, or is already busy testing it.
