Not from the images, and since it’s a generation that doesn’t natively support NVMe, swapping the WiFi card for an SSD likely won’t work. To fix the HDD port, you’d need someone skilled in soldering. Given the signs of age on the chassis (the screws look rusty?), it might be better to save for a new machine.
@Shiloh
Yeah, I guess a new one is better than fixing this. I’m mainly trying to fix it to see if I can (and probably sell it).
Beryl said:
@Shiloh
Yeah, I guess a new one is better than fixing this. I’m mainly trying to fix it to see if I can (and probably sell it).
You won’t sell this for much. It’s not worth the effort. Better to sell it as a soldering project if you get carried away messing with it.
@Blair
Spec-wise, it could work for something like Home Assistant, NVR, or Plex/Jellyfin.
Technically yes, but it won’t work since this PC is old. I’d recommend getting something newer and better. If that’s not an option, consider a SATA SSD from a reliable brand like Crucial.
Mackenzie said:
Technically yes, but it won’t work since this PC is old. I’d recommend getting something newer and better. If that’s not an option, consider a SATA SSD from a reliable brand like Crucial.
Yeah, I’m a bit short on money and wanted to see if I can fix this.
It’s a job for ‘The greatest technician that’s ever lived.’
Unlikely, I didn’t see any M.2 slots.
It doesn’t seem to have an NVMe slot.
If the SATA port is dead, probably not without serious work. You might be able to use the WiFi M.2 port if it supports booting, but you’d need an external USB WiFi dongle.
Check if the WiFi card slot supports data as well. You could buy a cable that connects to it. Preferably find someone who has done the same on the same model before committing.
The WiFi card is plugged into an NVMe slot; you could try that, but I don’t think it works on all devices, and you would lose WiFi connectivity.
Mori said:
The WiFi card is plugged into an NVMe slot; you could try that, but I don’t think it works on all devices, and you would lose WiFi connectivity.
Not all WiFi slots are NVMe compatible.
On a computer this old, you have two choices: 1. Replace the WiFi card with M.2, which may not work due to BIOS limitations, or 2. Use a SATA to M.2 adapter, which is generally more supported as the computer recognizes it as a SATA device.
Ask an electronics repair person for help. Do you have a repair café? They often fix things for free; just buy them a coffee.
Zev said:
Ask an electronics repair person for help. Do you have a repair café? They often fix things for free; just buy them a coffee.
I do repair laptops (people buy me coffee while I fix their PCs), but this needs soldering or a new part.
@Beryl
Soldering isn’t difficult, but remember that the computer industry uses leadless solder, so you need a hotter soldering iron.
As some say, it’s a first time for everything! What a Frankenstein kind of build! It’s not stupid if it works.
NVMe does have USB conversion chips. You can hook up an NVMe drive through USB, but it will still be slow.