Dell Optiplex 3060 SFF Hard Drive Upgrade Questions Current Drive Related Hardware: 250 GB Internal M.2 SSD Internal DVD RW Optical Drive No Internal Backup Drive Ultimate Goal: 1 TB SSD Drive as OS (C Drive plus data storage (primarily family photos/family videos). Existing M.2 used as backup for family photos/family videos which are located on the 1 TB SSD Drive. Future planned steps go something like this: 1. Purchase 1 TB 2.5 inch SSD Drive. 2. Purchase appropriate Dell hard drive caddy for above Drive. 3. Cold Image the current M.2 SSD to an external USB hard drive. 4. Shutdown the PC. 5. Install the 1 TB SSD & caddy. 6. Connect SATA data cable between the unused motherboard SATA port and the 1 TB SSD Drive. 7. Connect the motherboard SATA power cable (May need a power splitter cable). 8. Boot Imaging Software (USB). 9. Restore the M.2 Image to the new 1 TB SSD. 10. Go into the BIOS and change the boot order so that the 1 TB SSD is first. Save BIOS Settings. 11. Boot the Imaging Software (USB) and Delete the M.2 Partitions. I am concerned that Windows 10 may not like being able to see the same Windows 10 on two different drives on the same PC. 12. Boot into Windows 10. Questions: 1. Did I miss anything? 2. Do you have a better way of doing things? Please offer any comments & suggestions that you may have. Thanks in Advance.
I need to check to see whether it is MBR or UEFI. It will be a few days before I can check. I am planning to use IFL on a USB Flash Drive. The PC is a 3rd Party (Not Done By Dell) Refurb.
One thing to consider. Having the OS on the M.2 SSD or the new SSD. The OS would be faster on the M.2 SSD. Re Optane. I've avoided it. Expensive and difficult to manage. Intel stopped making it a few years ago.
machine looks like my HP SFF with i7-8xxx. M2 possible currently and before SSD on SATA. possible 2x M2, or 1x M2 and 1X wlan. M2 has less lifetime as ssd, backup regularly. from dell: optane and M2, to read! https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/...spiron-precision-and-alienware-systems?lwp=rt
Thanks. Looks good. UEFI. Are you still planning to transfer the OS to the new SSD or leave it on the current NVMe SSD?
I will most likely purchase a new larger (1 TB) NVMe M.2 SSD to replace the current one. Also plan to purchase a 1 TB 2.5 inch SSD. How do I know what Generation 1 TB NVMe M.2 SSD I need to purchase? I will most likely purchase from Crucial and they have three GEN choices (GEN 3, 4 or 5). Would the best choice be this one? https://www.crucial.com/ssd/p3/CT1000P3SSD8
Check your motherboard. The computer is 6 years old so it's unlikely it supports Gen 4 or 5. I'd expect you will get Gen 3.
A Google search indicates your NVMe PCIe is Gen 2. More research needed. A Gen 3 NMVe won't be any faster. If it works at all. A standard SSD will probably be just as fast. Can you check the speed of your NVMe with Atto? You have two drives. What is on the second one?
It may be a few days before I can run the Atto check. Currently the PC has only one drive (M.2): SanDisk SD7TN3Q-256G-1006 There is an empty 3.5" HD caddy along with a SATA data cable and spare SATA power cable. I am planning to buy a 2.5" HD caddy for the future SSD.
BIU shows you have 2 drives. Click the drop down arrow to access the second drive. Screenshot please.
I am not at the location of the PC now. I am guessing that the other drive was the 64 GB USB Flash Drive which I booted from (IFL).
I am confused on the Dell Storage Specifications. Are these specifications implying that I cannot install a 2.5 inch SATA SSD drive larger than 512 GB? The following crucial M.2 would 'most likely' work on this Dell PC? I would update the BIOS to the latest version prior to upgrading. Crucial P3 1TB PCIe M.2 2280 SSD https://www.crucial.com/ssd/p3/CT1000P3SSD8
It sounds to me like it should work but with reduced performance? This PC is used as a casual Web Surf Box and to backup family photos/videos.