Will this SSD fit my motherboard, or what adapter do I need?

[Stephen8799]

I bought a computer off Cyberpower the other day and ordered it without a copy of windows as I currently have a Windows 8 key at home. I am hoping it is as easy as turning it on and popping my product key in/walking through the steps; if you have any experience ordering a pre-built without an OS maybe you can inform me a little? Anyway, I have a miniPCIe mSATA solid state drive (http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-PM841-MZ-MTD2560-MZMTD256HAGM-00000-Module/dp/B00T7MVO7U) sitting around from an old Razer Blade and was wondering if it will fit the motherboard I ordered (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130867) as I hate to see it go to waste. If it will not just pop in can someone recommend an adapter for me to use if it is even possible? Also, is there a way for me to find out what is on the drive (could have Windows and all my old stuff) before putting it in, such as through an enclosure of some sort?

 

[gamertaboo]

If you ordered the PC without an OS that means that there will be no OS on it when it arrives. You will need to download Windows 8, install it, and put in your key when it asks. I'm hoping this isn't the same key from the Old Razer Blade you're talking about, because that probably won't work. If it is a brand new key, then I'm not sure exactly what you can do to go about getting the .iso legally online. As far as I know, Windows 10 is the only OS that Microsoft will let everyone download from their site, and you cannot upgrade to Windows 10 without an OS already installed on your PC, as far as I know. There are of course other ways to get the Windows 8 .iso that aren't exactly legal, but since you are using a legal key it technically would be legal, for you. I will not risk talking about them in here.

Unless of course you already have the Windows 8 .iso? On a disc perhaps or maybe a flash drive? If you have that already then installing windows is easy peasy, takes like 10 minutes on an SSD. (msata)

Here is an adapter that you need. http://www.amazon.com/mSATA-Mini-SATA-NGFF-Adapter/dp/B00LSWLZUI
-or-
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XX4DM6Y/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687442&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00LSWLZUI&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1E76XM867P90S55Z8FT6

(there's a ton on Amazon)

Msata to M.2

Your motherboard has M.2 so it WILL need an adapter to work with the ever so slightly 'older' Msata drives.

As for an enclosure to check out what's on the Msata drive, try one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Enclosure-Adapter-Support-EC-UKMS/dp/B00LRZPNHM/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1446079402&sr=1-2&keywords=msata+enclosure
There are a ton of those on Amazon as well.

Hope this helps!

 

[Chayan4400]

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8

Use this tool to create a bootable windows 8.1 installation USB if you already do not have an installation DVD. It is an official tool from microsoft to make a bootable windows 8.1 installation USB. Be sure to select the x64 option, which will require an 8 GB USB.

Unfortunately, your motherboard does not support the older mSATA interface, so you will indeed need an adapter. It is better to stay away from the M.2 to mSATA adapters, since there is a chance that they will not fit on your motherboard due to size constraints, as mSATA is bigger than the typical M.2 slot. Additionally, if your case has a windows, it isn't that nice to see a big green adapter on the motherboard if you care about how the inside of the PC looks.

For these reasons, it is better to get an mSATA to SATA convertor, like this: Click here. It avoids any sizing restrictions and incompatibilities, since the adapter can be place in a HDD cage or drive bay. Since it is a 2.5" drive, it will not fit in either of these bays, however, since it a solid state drive you can attach the drive in place with a strip of double sided tape without any danger of damaging the drive.

EDIT: As for accessing the drive before installing it, the enclosure suggested above will work well. However, if you plan on buying the mSATA to SATA adapter I suggested above, then you may as well buy a 2.5" SATA enclosure, so that in future you will be able to use it to test any laptop HDDs or SSDs, or even install a laptop HDD / SSD in it and use it as a portable HDD / SSD. You would install the mSATA drive in adapter, and the adapter in the enclosure. This is a good one: Click here.