Lenovo is making some nice gaming laptops in its Legion steady, and there are PCs with a variety of {hardware} and options that will help you get what you need. Certainly one of my favorites launched in 2023 is the 14.5-inch Legion Slim 5. Now in its eighth technology, it has been refined to ship a transportable however highly effective gaming expertise with a beautiful 2.8K OLED show, ample AMD energy, and extra nice options. In my Legion Slim 5 14 (2023) evaluate, I referred to as it “the 14-inch gaming laptop computer to beat.”
As high-end laptops get thinner and extra compact, the possibility that {hardware} inside — like reminiscence (RAM) and solid-state drive (SSD) — stays upgraeable goes down. And whereas the RAM within the Legion Slim 5 14 is soldered to the mainboard for no probability of DIY work, the laptop computer has two M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots for future SSD upgrades. Lenovo presents 512GB and 1TB SSDs in configured fashions, however for gaming these capacities can shortly replenish.
On this information, I will present you the best way to add a brand new SSD or improve the prevailing SSD in your Legion Slim 5 14 (2023).
What you will want
Instruments and {hardware} for the job
To improve the storage in your Legion Slim 5 14 (2023), you will want at minimal a brand new M.2 2280 SSD in addition to a toolkit with Phillips-head screwdriver and plastic pry device. In laptops the place there’s only one inside M.2 slot, I often advocate selecting up an exterior SSD enclosure for cloning. That is not needed right here, because the laptop computer has two native M.2 slots inside. You may set up the secondary drive, clone over your information from the manufacturing facility SSD, after which swap the brand new drive into the first M.2 slot.
There are numerous nice M.2 SSDs in the marketplace, however the Samsung 990 Professional is what I am recommending right here. It is a PCIe 4.0 drive out there in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities, and it is able to learn speeds as much as 7,450MB/s and write speeds as much as 6,900MB/s. That matches up properly with the manufacturing facility SSD, which I noticed hit 7,163MB/s learn and 6,445MB/s write speeds when testing for the evaluate.
The Samsung 990 Evo is a stable various to the 990 Professional, although it will not hit the identical most speeds. And whereas the 990 Professional has the potential to create extra warmth, you are possible solely going to expertise thermal points if you happen to’re consistently transferring massive chunks of information forwards and backwards. For gaming duties, it ought to work very properly.
To get the laptop computer aside, one thing just like the iFixit Important restore toolkit can have every little thing you want. It prices about $30, and it’ll come in useful anytime it is advisable tinker with electronics. Static could be a concern when engaged on a laptop computer, particularly if you happen to dwell in a dry local weather. Should you’re fearful about frying your internals with static electrical energy, an anti-static wristband will be bought on a budget.
The best way to again up and put together your information
Hold every little thing the place it must be
The Legion Slim 5 14 (2023) has two inside M.2 slots. This offers you the potential to make the improve as simple as attainable. So long as you do not thoughts protecting the first drive from the manufacturing facility in place, you possibly can merely add the brand new SSD to the secondary M.2 slot inside. This provides you with two drives to work with, utilizing one for Home windows and core apps and the opposite for big video games.
Should you’ve simply obtained the Legion Slim 5 14 and need to swap out the first SSD earlier than including something to the interior storage, I like to recommend swapping out the SSDs and doing a contemporary set up of Home windows 11. This may even work in case you have been utilizing the manufacturing facility SSD for awhile; simply transfer your necessary recordsdata to a dependable exterior SSD, swap the drives, reinstall Home windows, and transfer your information again to the system. We have now a information on the best way to set up Home windows 11 on a brand new PC to stroll you thru the method.
Notice that there are some steps it is advisable take earlier than beginning, so make sure you learn by the information earlier than starting the rest.
As a result of there are two M.2 slots inside, you do have the chance to clone the manufacturing facility SSD over to the brand new SSD with out the necessity for any additional {hardware}. This is a little more concerned and would require additional software program, nevertheless it’s a good way to have every little thing on the brand new drive simply because it was on the previous drive. As soon as the cloning is full, you possibly can put the brand new SSD into the first M.2 slot, wipe the previous manufacturing facility SSD, and use it elsewhere (even within the secondary M.2 slot as additional space for storing). We have now a information on the best way to clone onerous drives if you would like to go this route. Make sure you learn by it earlier than making a closing choice.
One closing notice. Even in case you are simply including a secondary SSD to the laptop computer, I like to recommend backing up any necessary information. You by no means know what would possibly go mistaken, and having your necessary recordsdata saved in a cloud or exterior SSD will prevent from a possible catastrophe.
The best way to improve the SSD in your Legion Slim 5 14 (2023)
You’ve got selected what you are doing together with your information, and you’ve got all of the required {hardware} in hand. It is time to transfer by the precise strategy of upgrading your laptop computer’s SSD. Earlier than you start, make sure you energy off your laptop computer, unplug any cables or dongles from ports, and put together a well-lit workspace. Screws within the Legion Slim 5’s backside panel will not be captive, so make sure you hold a small receptacle close by to carry the screws when you work.
Should you’re simply including a second drive to the empty M.2 slot contained in the laptop computer, skip steps 4 and 5 beneath. You may merely unscrew the fastener on the finish of the empty secondary slot, slide the brand new drive in, and fasten it down. The picture above reveals the interior format of the laptop computer that will help you discover the precise slot.
Should you selected to clone the manufacturing facility SSD to the brand new SSD utilizing the laptop computer’s inside M.2 slots, you also needs to skip step 5, get each SSDs put in within the laptop computer, after which go forward with the cloning course of. When it is completed, simply take away the previous drive as you don’t need two boot drives in your system.
1. Unscrew the 10 fasteners on the underside panel utilizing a Phillips-head screwdriver. Notice that the screws towards the again of the laptop computer are longer than these towards the entrance.
2. Pry the backside panel away from the remainder of the laptop computer utilizing a plasticpry device. I had success beginning within the again nook earlier than working my method round to the entrance.
3. Pull the backside panel fully away from the remainder of the laptop computer.
4. Unscrew the single fastener holding the M.2 SSD in place. Should you’re merely including a brand new SSD to the secondary slot, skip to step 6.
5. Take away the manufacturing facility SSD by pulling it out of the M.2 slot at a couple of 20-degree angle. Don’t elevate straight up to forestall injury to the M.2 slot.
6. Slide the new SSD into the empty M.2 slot at a couple of 20-degree angle. The top is keyed and will solely match a method into the slot.
7. Screw within the single fastener on the finish of the SSD to carry it in place.
8. Substitute the backside panel by lining up the small edge brackets and making use of even strain throughout the floor.
9. Screw within the 10 fasteners on the underside panel.
You are now free to energy in your Legion Slim 5 14. Those that merely added a second drive to the empty M.2 slot may not instantly see it when the system boots. In that case, try our information on the best way to initialize the SSD in Home windows. Those that determined to carry out a contemporary Home windows 11 set up can now additionally end the job as outlined above. And if you happen to cloned your drive, your system ought to look the very same because it did earlier than the method, albeit with extra or sooner storage.
I cherished the Legion Slim 5 14, nevertheless it’s definitely not the one high-end Lenovo laptop computer out there with upgradeable {hardware}. Check out our favourite upgradeable laptops to see how the Legion compares.
Lenovo Legion Slim 5 14 (Gen 8)
Superior compact gaming PC
$1193 $1440 Save $247
Lenovo’s eighth-gen Legion Slim 5 14 for 2023 is an impressive gaming laptop computer if you would like to maintain issues cellular. Its RAM is not upgradeable, nevertheless it does have two M.2 slots for simple storage upgrades after buy.
