Laptop SSD Upgrade for My Asus K501UB.

 In September 2017, I bought the Asus K501UB at around RM2200 (display set) + RM300 (8GB Ram) and the initial spec as below :-

- CPU : i7-6500U

- Ram : 4GB (onboard, 1066Mhz)  + 8GB (add on right after buying, Kingston Hyper X DDR3L 1600Mhz Sodimm, cost RM300 in Sep 2017)

- HDD : Hitachi 1TB SATA HDD 5400RPM

- GPU : Nvdia Geforce 940 + Intel HD Graphics 520

Initial user experience, it is so sluggish even though has high ram and top CPU. The screen will freeze whenever there is any windows update. It was so frustrated.

In recent day Dec 2021, I decided to give a try to 'save' the laptop as the response is so slow during opening or shuting down the laptop, opening the office and other programs. After some R&D, I am pretty sure by upgrading the HDD, it will boost the performance. To my happiness, after checking the laptop parts, I found there is a M.2 slot. I am confuse after reading online as there are different type of M.2. Eventually, I found out mine laptop is M.2 SATA as the motherboard is made in 2016. So I decided to give a try for the SSD M.2 SATA.

 Here comes another problem. What is the maximum capacity for the SSD the motherboard can support? I emailed to the Asus support center and I received the email saying it supports up to 256GB. I am not satisfy as if I wanna upgrade, I want to maximize the upgrade to 1TB SSD at least. But it would be a waste if I buy the 1TB SSD and the laptop not supports. I found a YT video showing it supports the Adata SSD M.2 2280 SATA 512 GB. It gave me some confidence.

I  try to chat and inquire a few sellers, all of them are not gurantee and will not refund if my laptop does not support the 1TB. I never give up, I keep browsing and reading. Lastly, I made a purchase for the WD Blue 1TB SSD M.2 2280 at mere RM 360 (after discount and rebate from RM440 advertised price) on 12 Dec 2021.

When the SSD arrived, I was a bit worry. All my doubt was clear, after my laptop bios detected the new 1TB SSD. Yahoooooo, I am so happy and glad to make a bold move. As I read some blogs, it mentions  the recommended maximum capacity SSD is based on that time at that technology. For the time being with the update of software as well as hardware, the maximum capacity SSD would be increased.

In conclusion, my laptop Asus K501UB made in 2017 able to support WD Blue 1TB SSD M.2 2280 SATA. It greatly improve the performance 5 times (SATA speed at 100MB/s and M.2 SATA speed at 500MB/s). I am delighted as my laptop like reborn again.

Yet, during the migration to the new SSD, it take some challenges. Anyone wanna know more? Do leave comments here.