How to upgrade the SSD in the CORSAIR ONE i500

The CORSAIR ONE i500 has two NVMe slots for 2280 format SSDs, one of which is occupied. The free slot can be used for additional storage. It is also possible to add a 2.5" SATA SSD.

The system is designed to make adding storage easy. You will need a PH1 Philips screwdriver to access the empty NVMe storage slot and the 2.5" drive bay. If you do not have the right screwdriver, we have the CORSAIR PC DIY PRECISION TOOLKIT which includes the necessary bits and more for all your PC building needs.

Opening the CORSAIR ONE i500 is very simple. First, make sure your system is shut down, the power is off, and all cables are disconnected from the system. Caution: When handling electronics, work in a clean, well-lit environment and ground yourself before touching parts such as motherboards and SSDs, as they can be sensitive to electrical discharge.

Remove the magnetically attached dust filter by pulling it away from the side panel and store it in a safe place. Use the PH1 Phillips screwdriver to remove the two screws holding the side panel in place and store them in a safe place. The side panel is held in place by two clips located at the top edges. Grasp each edge and pull the side panel away from the CORSAIR ONE i500. Once free, you can lift the panel away from the i500 and store it in a safe place.

Two screws hold the top fan and cooler assembly in place and will need to be removed. Keep these screws in a safe place as well.

The fan/radiator assembly can now be opened like a door. Be careful because the radiator and hoses are attached to the pump assembly that cools the processor.

Just below the pump assembly, you will see a heatsink covering the M.2 NVMe slot. The heatsink is attached to the motherboard with two screws that need to be removed. The screws do not separate from the heatsink when you loosen them. Be sure to hold the heat sink as you unscrew the second set of screws to prevent it from falling on sensitive components, potentially damaging them. Remove the heatsink for now.

You will see the slot available for inserting an M.2 NVMe SSD and the rotating black clip that holds it in place. The standard configuration is to install a M.2 NVMe SSD with 2280 form factor, such as the MP600 ELITE 2TB PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe 1.4 M.2 SSD. Before continuing, make sure that the lever of the black clip is at a 10 o’ clock position.

Insert the M.2 NVMe SSD at a 30° angle into the slot on the motherboard, making sure it is properly seated.

Push and hold the M.2 NVMe SSD down while rotating the black clip on the left edge of the SSD down to the 6 o'clock position to lock it in place. The SSD should not move back up once it is locked in place.

Take the heatsink you removed earlier, and peel off the protective film from the thermal pad before reinstalling the heatsink on the motherboard.

You are now finished installing a M.2 NVMe SSD into your CORSAIR ONE i500. Carefully close the fan/radiator door and secure it with the two screws you removed earlier. Reinstall the side panel with the two screws, followed by the magnetic dust filter, and plug the system back in.

Boot into Windows as normal and right click on the Windows icon in your taskbar and select "Disk Management". You should see your drive appear. You can right click on it to create a "New Simple Volume...". Follow the prompts to assign a drive letter and format the drive. You are ready to use the drive now.

The 2.5" SATA SSD drive bay is located on the right side of the CORSAIR ONE i500, and adding another SSD could not be easier. Caution: When handling electronics, work in a clean, well-lit environment and ground yourself before touching parts such as motherboards and SSDs, as they can be sensitive to electrical discharge.

Remove the magnetically attached dust filter by pulling it away from the side panel and store it in a safe place. Use the PH1 Phillips screwdriver to remove the two screws holding the side panel in place and store them in a safe place. The side panel is held in place by two clips located at the top edges. Grasp each edge and pull the side panel away from the CORSAIR ONE i500. Once free, you can lift the panel away from the i500 and store it in a safe place.

You will now see the mounting location for the 2.5" SATA SSD. There are two mounting brackets held in place by one screw each. Simply remove the brackets by loosening these screws. Within the brackets, you will find two screws per bracket. Unscrew these to mount the bracket to either side of a 2.5" SATA SSD.

At the bottom of the case you will find the data and power cables that need to be connected to the SSD. Connect both cables to the SSD while it is not yet installed in the CORSAIR ONE i500.

Use the two screws to fasten the SSD assembly to the case and you are done. Reinstall the side panel with the two screws, followed by the magnetic dust filter, and plug the system back in.

Boot into Windows as normal and right click on the Windows icon in your taskbar and select "Disk Management". You should see your drive appear. You can right click on it to create a "New Simple Volume...". Follow the prompts to assign a drive letter and format the drive. You are ready to use the drive now.