Can I use any SSD in any laptop?

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Pre-Context: I'm good with software but newbie in hardware. I had issues replacing memory for notebook, I found out that there are several models and types of ram memory, and stuffes like voltage, cycles, and others things matter and I didnt know.

Context: My hard drive is hdd and I want to change to SSD, but I don't know if the SSD I buy will work in another notebook whatever notebook is. If I buy the SSD(which is kind expensive) and my notebook dies suddenly, I want to know if this SSD can be used in (any)other notebook or its like ram memory: full of specifics details.

So can I use any SSD in any laptop? Thanks

PedroTNascimento

Posted 2017-06-26T00:02:33.303

Reputation: 81

2Can you use any SSD in any laptop, no of course no, but you can install a any compatible SSD in that laptop – Ramhound – 2017-06-26T00:08:59.590

2It sounds like you just want to purchase yourself a 2.5" SATA III SSD. Just keep it mind we don't do hardware recommendations here at Superuser. – Ramhound – 2017-06-26T00:13:16.900

What version of SATA do you have? Maybe the laptop is too old for supporting SATA 3 speeds, so you might lose at least 1/3 speed in that case. Also saw once an old HP laptop with 2.5" HDD, with unconventional connectors, so make sure, if having older laptop, that connectors are standard. – African Networks – 2017-06-26T01:07:08.633

2Who cares about 1/3 speeds when 1/3 speeds are still faster then the mechanical hdd the author has currently. – Ramhound – 2017-06-26T01:09:59.080

It'll still work, assuming you have AHCI capability. I have most of my c2d laptops upgraded with cheap and cheerful SSDs and they work a lot better. – Journeyman Geek – 2017-06-26T01:10:34.960

Thanks, very nice, I'll check it out whether my laptop supports SATA 3. – PedroTNascimento – 2017-06-26T01:15:54.427

There are some rare incompatibilities, but you should be able to use any ssd. – Moab – 2017-06-26T01:47:22.507

you can even find SSD with IDE/PATA for ancient computers, although not very easy. So no worry about the SSD, just make sure that you buy the one with the correct connector – phuclv – 2017-06-26T02:37:06.523

@African Networks: the unconventional connector you're talking about is removable and transferrable to a replacement drive. They're rare since the IDE/PATA days though. – Dylan Knoll – 2017-06-26T09:26:19.657

Answers

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Almost

At this point of time there's roughly 3-4 common SSD form factors. In most cases on any laptop that has a conventional hard drive), a 2.5 inch sata hard drive should work. The 7mm Z height is essentially the standard here and should work. This is a safe bet unless your next PC is a really cheap emmc based one (which has soldered on memory) or you have a ultrabook (which probably has no sata bay). If it has a hard drive, a sata drive will work.

However there's 2 newer form factors which some systems may use. msata is obsoleteish these days and is a smaller, lighter alternative. Its been replaced mostly by m.2 (which has sata and pcie flavours - and not all ports support both). Quite a lot of laptops also have these alongside a traditional bay too, and they're more future proof.

Journeyman Geek

Posted 2017-06-26T00:02:33.303

Reputation: 119 122

Thanks a lot man, my notebook has 1 year only, it's a intel i3. but well, you said: or you have a ultrabook (which probably has no sata bay). That means ultrabook or comes with ssd or you can't change it? (Yeah, I'm dummie) – PedroTNascimento – 2017-06-26T01:21:47.997

ultrabooks are so slim they either solder in storage, or use a smaller slimmer M2 or msata drive. – Journeyman Geek – 2017-06-26T01:47:28.123

Asked: 2017-06-26T00:02:33.303

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