Comprehensive Guide: Acer Nitro 5 AN515-55 M.2 Upgrade

In this guide, you can learn how to upgrade your Acer Nitro 5 AN515-55 with an M.2 SSD for improved performance and storage capacity. Follow our step-by-step instructions and optimize your gaming experience.

By @Lily Last Updated February 28, 2024

Overview of Acer Nitro 5 AN515-55 gaming laptop

The Acer Nitro 5 AN515-55 is a powerful gaming laptop that offers an immersive gaming experience and impressive performance. Designed with gamers in mind, this laptop combines powerful hardware, stunning graphics, and a sleek design to deliver an exceptional gaming experience. It offers a range of impressive features, including:

  • High-performance Intel processor for smooth gaming and multitasking
  • Dedicated graphics card (NVIDIA GeForce GTX or RTX series) for stunning visuals
  • Supporting up to 3 drives (One 2.5" Solid State Drive or Hard Drive and/or Two M.2 NGFF (2280) Solid State Drives)
  • Multiple connectivity options, including USB ports, HDMI output, and Ethernet port
  • Reliable Wi-Fi connection for seamless online gaming and browsing

User case: Help me with Acer Nitro AN515-55 SSD upgrade

“I wanted to install a bigger SSD as a minor upgrade for my laptop (maybe just 256gb). Will any m.2 SSD work or will I run into compatibility issues? Sorry for noob question. Any recommendations are gladly welcomed.”

– Reddit

How to do Acer Nitro 5 AN515-55 SSD upgrade

Upgrading the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-55 with an SSD is a great way to enhance its performance and storage capabilities. Follow these steps to successfully perform the SSD upgrade:

Preparation

1. Gather the Required Tools

  • A small screwdriver set
  • An anti-static wristband (recommended)
  • AOMEI Backupper software for cloning (download and install)

2. Choose the Right SSD

Consider your storage needs and budget to select the appropriate SSD capacity. Also, opt for an M.2 SSD that matches the compatible form factor of your laptop.

3. Backup Your Data

Before starting the upgrade process, create a backup of your important files and data. You may use an external hard drive, cloud storage, or any other suitable backup method.

Clone old M.2 SSD to new M.2 SSD

1. Install the new M.2 SSD into the available slot on your laptop. Ensure it is properly seated and secured.

  • Shut down your Acer Nitro 5 AN515-55 and disconnect the power adapter.
  • Remove the back cover, locate the available M.2 slot, and gently insert the new M.2 SSD into the slot at a slight angle.
  • Secure the M.2 SSD and replace the back cover.
  • Power on and verify the new M.2 SSD is recognized in the BIOS settings. You may press Del or F2 during startup to access the system BIOS.

2. Start your Acer Nitro 5 AN515-55 normally. Open the AOMEI Backupper software. Select "Clone" from the main menu and then select "Disk Clone".

3. Select the old M.2 SSD as the source disk. Then select the new M.2 SSD as the destination disk.

4. Check “SSD Alignment” to optimize SSD performance.

5. Review the cloning settings, ensuring that the source and destination disks are correctly selected. Finally, click "Start Clone" to begin the cloning process.

🌟 Tips: ◑ To boot your laptop from the newly cloned SSD, you may set the new M.2 SSD as the first boot device in BIOS. ◑ If the new M.2 SSD works properly after a period of time, you can wipe the old M.2 SSD for reuse.

Post-upgrade optimization

After upgrading your Acer Nitro 5 AN515-55 with a new M.2 SSD, there are a few optimization steps you can take to maximize the performance and efficiency of your laptop. Follow these post-upgrade optimization tips:

1. Update Drivers and Firmware

  • Visit the official Acer support website and download the latest drivers and firmware for your laptop model.
  • Install the updated drivers to ensure compatibility and performance enhancements.

2. Perform Operating System Updates

  • Check for and install any available operating system updates.
  • These updates often include important bug fixes, security patches, and performance improvements.

3. Enable TRIM for SSD

  • TRIM is a feature that helps maintain the long-term performance of SSDs.
  • Open the Windows Command Prompt as an administrator and type the following command: "fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0".
  • Press Enter to enable TRIM for your new M.2 SSD.

4. Optimize Storage Space

  • With the new SSD, you may have more storage space available.
  • Regularly organize and clean up your files, removing unnecessary files, old backups, and temporary files to free up space and improve performance.

5. Enable Power Management Settings

  • Adjust the power management settings to optimize battery life and efficiency.
  • Access the Power Options in the Control Panel and choose a power plan that balances performance and energy savings.

Conclusion

The Acer Nitro 5 AN515-55 M.2 upgrade is a valuable investment for gamers looking to enhance their laptop's performance and storage capacity. By replacing the original M.2 SSD with a new one, users can experience faster boot times, quicker data access, and smoother multitasking.

The process involves selecting a compatible M.2 SSD, backing up data, and using cloning software like AOMEI Backupper for a seamless transfer. Optimizing the system with driver updates, enabling TRIM, and managing storage space further improves performance. Overall, the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-55 M.2 upgrade delivers enhanced gaming experiences, increased storage, and improved responsiveness.