A second M.2 NVMe SSD in an empty slot is the standard storage upgrade for a $700 gaming laptop, and the job usually takes about twenty minutes.
Three Call of Duty installs can bury a 512GB drive in six months. The fix for a $700 gaming laptop is adding a second M.2 NVMe SSD to an empty slot inside the chassis, and the whole job runs about twenty minutes with a single screwdriver. You keep the original drive and Windows install intact, so there’s no cloning or reinstallation.
The Storage Setup in a Typical $700 Gaming Laptop
Most gaming laptops at this price — the Lenovo LOQ 15, MSI Bravo 17, and ASUS ROG Strix G15 — ship with a single 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD. That space handles the OS and a few games, but modern titles like Starfield and Call of Duty push past 100GB each.
The practical upside is these models almost always include a second empty M.2 slot. The LOQ 15 and ROG Strix G15 both have an open 2280 slot ready for a secondary drive. Some older chassis, like the ASUS ROG Strix Scar III, include a 2.5-inch SATA bay, but current budget gaming laptops use M.2 exclusively. Adding a drive to the spare slot beats replacing the original — you avoid OS migration and keep warranty terms simpler.
What SSD Should You Buy for a $700 Gaming Laptop?
A PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 2280 drive is the right pick. Gen4 works in Gen3 slots and delivers read speeds above 5,000 MB/s, which translates to fast level loads and snappy boot times. If you’re still deciding on a machine, our roundup of the best $700 gaming laptops can help you choose one with an accessible upgrade slot. Here are the top options for a 2026 upgrade:
| SSD Model | Price for 1TB | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Crucial P5 Plus | $60–$80 | Best value, strong all-around performance |
| WD SN850X | $70–$90 | Top gaming read/write speeds |
| Samsung 990 EVO Plus | $65–$85 | Single-sided, fits thin laptops |
| Kingston KC3000 | $70–$85 | Great all-rounder with good endurance |
| SK Hynix Platinum P41 | $75–$90 | Excellent endurance and power efficiency |
| TeamGroup MP44 | $55–$75 | Budget pick with solid Gen4 speeds |
| Addlink S70 | $50–$70 | Entry-level option for tight budgets |
How Do You Install the New SSD?
This procedure follows the official ASUS ROG service guide and works for most gaming laptops with accessible M.2 slots.
- Drop the battery below 25% before opening. This reduces the risk of a short if the connector still carries current.
- Remove the bottom panel. Place the laptop face-down on a soft surface. Unscrew every screw along the bottom. If the panel doesn’t lift free, run a plastic pry tool along the seam to release the clips.
- Disconnect the battery. Locate the battery cable where it meets the motherboard. Slide the metal locking tab back, then pull the connector straight up to disconnect power.
- Install the SSD. Find the empty M.2 slot and unscrew the mounting screw at the far end. Insert the new SSD at a 30-degree angle, sliding the gold contacts into the connector. Press the drive down flat against the motherboard and reinstall the mounting screw.
- Reconnect and close. Plug the battery cable back in, press the metal tab forward to lock it, and close the bottom panel. Make sure every clip snaps and all screws are back in place.
- Initialize the drive. Boot Windows. Right-click Start → Disk Management. The new drive should prompt you to initialize it. Choose GPT, then right-click the unallocated space → New Simple Volume. Assign a drive letter and format it as NTFS.
- Confirm success. Open File Explorer — the new drive appears with the letter you assigned. You’re ready to install games.
ASUS ROG’s official upgrade guide covers the same sequence with model-specific photos.
Upgrading Storage in a $700 Gaming Laptop: Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping the battery disconnect. A powered motherboard can fry components if the screwdriver slips. Always unplug first.
- Using a 2.5-inch HDD. Hard drives bottleneck game load times. Stick with an NVMe SSD for the slot.
- Not initializing the drive. Windows won’t show the new drive in File Explorer until you run the New Simple Volume wizard in Disk Management.
- Defragmenting the SSD. Windows already trims SSDs automatically. Defragging causes unnecessary writes and wears the drive.
- Mixing Gen4 with Gen3 on a shared lane. Some laptops share bandwidth between slots. Check your model’s spec before buying.
- Using an external USB enclosure for game storage. USB read speeds lag far behind internal NVMe and hurt load times.
- Ignoring warranty terms. Some brands void the warranty if you open the chassis. Read the fine print before starting.
Replacing the Original Drive When There’s No Second Slot
If your laptop genuinely has only one M.2 slot, upgrading means swapping the original drive. The cleanest route is cloning the existing Windows install to the new SSD before removing the old one. Macrium Reflect (free) handles this with sector-by-sector mode, which preserves BitLocker encryption if it’s active. After cloning, shut down, swap the drives, and boot from the new SSD. Some ASUS models also offer ASUS Cloud Recovery through the BIOS — you replace the drive first, then reinstall Windows wirelessly. That method wipes everything on the original drive, so back up any files you need first.
FAQs
Will upgrading storage void my warranty?
It depends on the brand. ASUS and Lenovo generally allow user upgrades without voiding the warranty as long as you don’t damage components. MSI and some others may consider opening the chassis a warranty violation. Check your model’s terms before you unscrew the first bolt.
Can I use a SATA SSD instead of an NVMe drive?
Only if your laptop has a dedicated 2.5-inch SATA bay. Most current $700 gaming laptops use M.2 slots that accept NVMe or SATA protocols, but SATA M.2 drives are slower and offer no price advantage over NVMe. Stick with NVMe for gaming performance.
How do I know if my laptop has a second M.2 slot?
Open the bottom panel and look for an empty screw hole and connector pad near the existing drive. You can also check your model’s service manual online. Newegg’s 2026 upgrade planning guide lists slot configurations for most budget gaming laptops.
Do I need to reinstall Windows after adding a second drive?
No. Windows detects the new drive automatically. You only need to initialize it in Disk Management and assign a drive letter. The OS stays on the original drive untouched, and all your files and settings remain exactly where they are.
References & Sources
- ASUS ROG. “How to upgrade the RAM and SSD of your ROG Strix laptop.” Official step-by-step procedure with photos.
- TechTimes. “Laptop SSD Upgrade Guide in 2026.” Covers compatibility, pricing, and installation tips.
- PCMag. “The Best SSDs for Upgrading Your Laptop in 2026.” Reviewed and ranked current SSD models.
- Newegg. “Laptop Upgrade Planning Guide 2026.” Pre-purchase checks for expandability.