Once your laptop arrives at our workshop, the SSD upgrade itself is typically completed within 1–2 working days. This timeframe covers the physical installation of the new solid-state drive as well as initial setup and preparation of the system. In many cases the work is completed sooner, but allowing a short service window helps ensure each device is handled carefully and tested properly before being returned.

If your existing drive is still readable, we transfer the contents of the original drive to the new SSD so that your files, programs and Windows installation remain intact. The time required for this process can vary depending on the size of the drive and the condition of the original storage device. For example, transferring data from a smaller, healthy drive may complete relatively quickly, while copying large amounts of data or working with a drive that is slowing down can take longer. After the transfer is complete, the laptop is tested to ensure the new SSD is functioning correctly.

When courier transit time is included, most customers receive their upgraded laptop back within approximately 3–5 days from the time it is shipped to us. This includes delivery to our workshop, the SSD upgrade itself, system testing, and the return shipment. Because the service operates nationwide, delivery times may vary slightly depending on location and courier schedules, but the majority of upgrades fall comfortably within this overall timeframe.

Gaming laptops commonly use either SATA SSDs or NVMe SSDs for storage. SATA drives are typically found in older laptops and offer a significant improvement over traditional hard drives. NVMe SSDs, however, are much faster and are commonly used in newer gaming laptops, delivering quicker load times and faster data transfer speeds. During the upgrade process we install the fastest compatible SSD supported by the laptop’s hardware, ensuring the system benefits from the best performance available for that device.

Most gaming laptops allow the storage drive to be upgraded, especially if the device originally shipped with a smaller SSD or traditional hard drive. Many models include accessible M.2 or SATA storage slots, making it possible to install a higher-capacity or faster SSD. Before carrying out the upgrade, we check the laptop’s configuration to confirm which storage type and capacity are supported, ensuring the new SSD is fully compatible with the system.

Modern games can require a large amount of storage space, with many popular titles using 50GB to over 150GB per game. Because of this, upgrading to a larger SSD can be beneficial for gaming laptops that frequently install multiple games at once. For many gamers, 1TB or larger SSD upgrades provide a more comfortable amount of storage for modern titles, updates, and additional applications.

While a 256GB SSD can technically run modern games, the available storage can fill up very quickly. After accounting for the Windows operating system and essential applications, there may be limited space remaining for larger game installations. For this reason, many gaming laptop upgrades opt for 500GB or 1TB SSDs to provide sufficient room for several modern titles without constantly needing to uninstall games.

SSD upgrades and RAM upgrades improve different aspects of laptop performance. Installing an SSD mainly improves game loading times, system startup speed, and file access, allowing games and levels to load significantly faster. Upgrading RAM, on the other hand, helps with multitasking and reducing stutter when multiple applications or background processes are running. For gaming laptops that still use a hard drive or have very limited storage space, upgrading to an SSD is often the first upgrade that delivers noticeable performance improvements. Before carrying out an upgrade, we always assess the system to determine whether storage or memory is the bigger limitation.

In many cases, yes — especially if the laptop still uses a traditional mechanical hard drive (HDD). Older hard drives are significantly slower than modern solid-state drives and are often the main cause of long boot times, slow application launches, and constant high disk usage. Replacing the HDD with an SSD allows the system to access files much faster, which can dramatically improve startup speed, program loading times, and overall responsiveness. Many laptops that previously took several minutes to reach the Windows desktop can start in well under a minute after an SSD upgrade. If your laptop still uses a mechanical hard drive, upgrading to an SSD is usually the single most noticeable performance improvement available.

An SSD can improve certain aspects of gaming performance, but it is important to understand what it does and does not affect. Installing an SSD typically reduces game loading times and can help prevent stutter caused by slow storage when games stream data from disk. Levels load faster and updates install more quickly compared with traditional hard drives. However, an SSD does not increase frame rates (FPS). Frame rate is primarily determined by the laptop’s CPU and GPU performance. Memory can also play a role — while SSDs improve storage speed, RAM helps with multitasking and system responsiveness during heavy workloads.

Although SSDs are generally very reliable, a failing drive can sometimes lead to slow performance or system instability. Signs of potential SSD issues may include unusual system freezes, file read errors, or repeated operating system warnings related to the storage device. These situations are relatively uncommon, but they can occur as hardware ages or if the drive develops a manufacturing fault. As part of the upgrade process, we run basic drive checks and system diagnostics to confirm that the new SSD is operating correctly before the laptop is returned.

While upgrading to an SSD can significantly improve storage speed, it does not resolve every type of performance issue. Some problems are related to other components of the laptop. For example, an SSD upgrade will not fix overheating issues, failing batteries, or hardware faults such as damaged graphics processors. It also cannot overcome limitations caused by very old processors or insufficient RAM during demanding workloads. In those situations, improving system performance may involve additional upgrades or repairs beyond storage replacement.