Hey everyone! My cousin recently upgraded his prebuilt PC and got a new motherboard, graphics card, and case. However, we discovered that his new board, the H470M-HVS, doesn't have an M.2 slot. We're in a bit of a bind here. He also has an M.2 SSD (SK Hynix NVMe) with Windows installed on it and a regular HDD. I'm worried he might lose all his data from the M.2 SSD. There's a converter for PCIe slots, but this board only has one PCIe slot left, which I was planning to use for a WiFi and Bluetooth adapter. Can he still use his SSD at all? If I build the PC without replacing the motherboard, will it even boot without Windows? I'd prefer not to wipe the HDD if it can be avoided. What should I do now?
3 Answers
Honestly, I'd recommend just getting a different motherboard. That one is pretty basic, and if you want to do a clean install of Windows anyway, it’s better to start fresh on a more capable board. Just remember, you'll need a new Windows key for the clean install. It's a little investment, but it'll pay off in the long run!
Yeah, time to look for a new motherboard! I'd suggest checking out something like a B560 board on eBay or Aliexpress. It should fit your cousin’s i7 10700 and 3070 GPU perfectly. Just make sure it has a WiFi feature and an M.2 slot for the SSD. Going used can save you a lot of cash compared to buying new!
Good idea! Just make sure to check seller ratings when buying used!
Firstly, it depends on the type of M.2 SSD. Make sure to check if it's SATA or NVMe. If it's NVMe, you're definitely going to need a new motherboard that supports it, since the H470M-HVS won't cut it. It might be worth looking for a new board that has built-in WiFi and supports M.2 so you don’t have to deal with the hassle of converters and limited PCIe slots. Just make sure it has the features your cousin needs!
Good point! Also, it might save you some future headaches if you go for a board that gives you more options.
Got it, thanks! But why a new key? Is it because of the hardware change?