MSI GF63 SSD Upgrade Quick Guide [2 Options]

MSI GF63 series exclusively features "Thin" models for slimmer, lighter gaming laptops without sacrificing performance, prioritize portability to make it easier to carry around and use on the go, and comes with improved cooling system.

However, like any other computer, if you're experiencing a drop in performance or low disk space, the best and fastest way to go about it is to perform an MSI GF63 SSD upgrade. It doesn't matter if you don't know, we'll show you the full upgrade guide next.

Can You Perform an MSI GF63 SSD Upgrade?

Yes, most MSI GF63 Thin models are upgradeable, including the9SC, 10SCXR, 11SC-693, 12UCX-814US, and 12VE-437US. It depends on the disk interface (SATA vs. NVMe) and available slots.

❗❗❗Key Takeaways: 

- Most GF63 laptops support dual storage (M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen3 x4 2280 + 2.5" 7mm thick SATA), with newer models favoring NVMe.

- NVMe SSDs (PCIe Gen3/Gen4) offer 3-7x faster speeds than SATA.

- High-end NVMe SSDs (e.g., 990 Pro) may need a thermal pad or heatsink to prevent throttling.

- Older models (pre-2020) may need BIOS updates for larger SSDs.

Below is a breakdown for each model, along with best SSD recommendations for performance and compatibility:

👇For NVMe SSDs:

👇For SATA SSDs:

Pre-Upgrade Checklist

#1: Some necessary tools: phillips #0 screwdriver, anti-static wrist strap, USB-to-SATA or M.2 adapter (for cloning)

#2: Upgrade BIOS version: High-end SSDs such as Samsung 990 Pro require Gen4 support, otherwise, the performance will drop. You can check and upgrade BIOS version in MSI Dragon Center.

#3: Backup data just in case: For data safety, it’s wise to backup important files to external hard drive or cloud storage. This way, there is no need to worry about losing files in the process.

#4: Add a heatsink for high-end NVMe SSDs, e.g., Samsung 990 Pro. It can throttle but sacrifices speed without heatsink as most laptops (including the MSI GF63) don’t include.

#5. Pick a Reliable SSD Cloning Software

AOMEI Cloner is a reliable SSD cloning software that can clone hard drive or SSD in Windows 7, 8, 10, 11, and servers without reinstalling. The cloned SSD still remains bootable. You can also clone OS only to SSD (for a smaller one).

How to Upgrade SSD in MSI GF63 without Reinstalling

Before upgrading SSD in MSI GF3, you need to connect the new SSD using USB-to-SATA or M.2 adapter externally and be sure it’s recognized. If there are two slots available, usually one M.2 SSD and one SATA SSD, you can choose to install the new SSD into the disk slot.

Step 1. Open AOMEI Cloner after installing, click Clone > Disk Clone subsequently.

Step 2. In the Select Disk window, select the old hard drive you want to clone and click Next.

Step 3. In the Destination Disk window, select the new SSD drive (all data will be overwritten) and click Next. Click OK to continue.

Step 4(Important). Be sure to check the SSD Alignment feature to align HDD and SSD for better performance. Try the Edit Partitions feature in the following two situations. They both help a lot to avoid different cloning issues, such as SSD low performance, unallocated space left, boot issues, etc., after cloning.

Step 5. Be sure your settings and click Start Clone to cloneSSD in MSI GF63. By default, this software will enable the intelligent clone feature to clones only used sectors of a drive. It can avoid the cloned SSD won't boot issue to the greatest extent possible (if it's smaller).

After cloning, you need to swap both SSD drives and test if it’s bootable. Don’t format the old drive until you confirm the cloned SSD is bootable.

• Power off THE MSI GF63 completely and remove the back panel to access the SSD slots.
• Unscrew the screws securing the original drive or the slave slot. Please put them together for convenience.
• Gently remove the original drive and install the new SSD in it, usually at a 30° or 45°angle. (If it’s Samsung 990 Pro or other high-end NVMe SSD, you are advisable to add a heatsink before installing the new SSD). For slave slot, please directly install the new SSD.
• Reinstall the back panel and try to boot from the new SSD.

What Do You Get after SSD Upgrade?

• 1. Faster boot times
• 2. Quicker application loading
• 3. Improved overall system responsiveness
• 4. Enhanced gaming performance
• 5. Others, e.g., quieter, more durable, less power consumption, etc.

Conclusion

It’s time to perform MSI GF63 SSD upgrade if your computer is slower or requires more capacity, and you’ll have a brand-new experience in loading time, file transfer speed, system responsiveness, etc.

The key points are to get a compatible SSD and find a reliable SSD cloning software - AOMEI Cloner to migrate everything from one SSD to another with secure boot. You don’t need to reinstall Windows and programs.