Upgrade NVME system disk

[colevalleygirl]

My current system spec is:

Case
FRACTAL MESHIFY C BLACK GAMING CASE (Window)
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X 12 Core CPU (3.8GHz-4.6GHz/70MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF X570-PLUS GAMING (USB 3.2 Gen 2, PCIe 4.0, CrossFireX) - RGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
64GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3200MHz (4 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
8GB AMD RADEON™ RX 580 - HDMI, DP - DX® 12
1st M.2 SSD Drive
250GB SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 2300MB/W)

Partitions: 250 GB
2nd M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 3200MB/W)

Partitions: 500 GB
1st Storage Drive
NOT REQUIRED
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
NOT REQUIRED
External DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
8x Slim USB 2.0 External DVD-RW
Power Supply
CORSAIR 550W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Corsair H100i RGB PLATINUM Hydro Series High Performance CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Wireless Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED)
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 11 Professional 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [MUP-00003]

I'm planning to upgrade the 1st M.2 SSD Drive to a Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2Tb M.2 PCIE NVMe (which I happen to have lying around unused... don't ask).

My question is: what is the best way to proceed? Clone the existing system disk to the new one using Samsung's Magician software and then replace it with the new one? Or install the new one and do a fresh Windows install?

I suppose a third option is to clone the existing system disk to the second NVMe (500Gb) and use that as my system disk, and install the 2Tb disk as D:. There's nothing on the current D: that isn't in OneDrive and also fully backed up to my NAS, so it can be overwritten without causing problems (just delay). Question: if I go this route, can I configure the BIOS to use this as the boot disk or will I have to relocate it?

I'm disabled, so need to minimise amount of effort expended messing around installing and deinstalling stuff...

My instincts say that having a fresh Windows system would be no bad thing, but I'd like to understand my full set of options and their pros and cons.

 

[TonyCarter]

I'd always recommend a clean install as it will get rid of years of detritus that has built up from installing/uninstalling apps, drivers, updates.

To answer your question, I'd remove the 256GB SSD, install Windows on the 512GB SSD and the BIOS will probably find that one automatically as the only drive with Windows on it. Then install the 2TB 990 Pro into the empty slot as your other drive.

However, if those older SSDs have been in the machine for a while, I'd use Samsung Magician software to check their health/durability/longevity, as you don't want to do all this work to find out they're past their best - especially when a brand new gen4 512GB drive can be had quite cheaply...

Crucial P3 Plus (4700MB/s) £35

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-Plus-500GB-PCIe-Internal/dp/B0B25NTRGD/

Crucial P310 (6600MB/s) £40

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-Internal-Gaming-Desktop-Compatible/dp/B0DC8K6KQD

 

[colevalleygirl]

The SSDs are 4 years old, but reported as in good health. I suppose it would be more future proof to remove the 256Gb, install the 2Tb and put Windows onto that...

 

[TonyCarter]

The SSDs are 4 years old, but reported as in good health. I suppose it would be more future proof to remove the 256Gb, install the 2Tb and put Windows onto that...

What else would be on the 2TB drive? If just Windows & apps, then you'll have about 1.75GB free.

You wouldn't want to be storing games or work files on there, as if it breaks then you lose everything...that's why we recommend a 500GB-1TB for Windows/Apps and keep the larger drive for game installs / large projects / etc.

But I'm not sure of the usage of the PC, so can't say whether that storage solution is more suitable or not.

 

[colevalleygirl]

What else would be on the 2TB drive? If just Windows & apps, then you'll have about 1.75GB free.

You wouldn't want to be storing games or work files on there, as if it breaks then you lose everything...that's why we recommend a 500GB-1TB for Windows/Apps and keep the larger drive for game installs / large projects / etc.

But I'm not sure of the usage of the PC, so can't say whether that storage solution is more suitable or not.

Windows, apps plus OneDrive data (less than 1Tb of data -- I have a NAS for the high volume stuff --4Tb of RAID5 on M.2 disks for important stuff, plus 5Tb of JBOD.

But it sounds like using the 512Gb for the system disk makes more sense.
However, I've just had a quick look inside the case (squinting via the tinted glass side) and I'm not convinced I can access the NVME slots without removing the graphics card. Which wouldn't have been beyond me 40 years ago (if such a thing had existed then) or even 10 years ago, but might give me grief now. I shall have to take the sides off and see what is doable.

 

[TonyCarter]

If I remember correctly (I had a Strix 570E motherboard), all the m.2 slots are also under a cooling plate, which would also need to be removed (after the GPU is out).

Removing a GPU is quite simple - just the screw holding it onto the backplate, and the clip rocker switch holding it in the PCIe slot.

The bottom m.2 has a small plate over it (to direct airflow from the motherboard fan)…but you may be able to access this one without removing the GPU…

 

[colevalleygirl]

One of the M.2 slots is in clear view. The other is under a cooling plate but not obstructed by the graphics card. All installed now and windows installation underway. Thanks for your help.