Gigabyte Aero 15 XC 2021 Teardown and NVMe Upgrade Tutorial

Summary

In this video, Ed from the Digital Digest shares a detailed teardown and upgrade guide for the Gigabyte Aero 15 XC laptop. He demonstrates how to replace the SSD drives with a 4TB Sabrina Rocket Q and a 2TB Rocket 4 Plus, utilizing a Sabrina cloning drive for seamless data transfer. Ed also discusses the importance of using the correct tools, such as the iFixit kit, and provides tips for retaining dual-channel performance and dealing with larger drive cloning. The video is a comprehensive guide for those looking to upgrade their laptop's storage and performance.

Takeaways

• 💻 The Gigabyte Aero 15 XC is praised as one of the best laptops on the market, known for its ease of upgradeability.
• ⚙️ The laptop requires a T6 screwdriver to open, with a dozen T6 screws located around the chassis.
• 🔗 The user has installed a 4TB Sabrina Rocket Q and a 2TB Rocket 4 Plus, both NVMe drives, inside the laptop.
• 🔄 The Sabrina Rocket Q cloning drive is recommended for its high-speed dual NVMe cloning capabilities, but it requires a power brick.
• ⚠️ When cloning, ensure the target drive is the same size or larger than the source drive to avoid issues.
• 💾 The user notes that cloning to a larger drive will result in a partition that only utilizes the original size of the source drive.
• 🛠️ The Aero 15 retains dual channel performance due to user-accessible RAM slots, unlike some competitors with soldered RAM.
• 🔩 The laptop's design allows for easy upgrades, with both the SSD and RAM being user-replaceable.
• 🛡️ The user mentions that the laptop's build quality and craftsmanship are impressive, with attention to detail in the internal components.
• 📹 The video serves as a teardown and upgrade guide, demonstrating the process of opening the laptop, replacing components, and reassembling it.

Q & A

What is the specific model of the Gigabyte laptop discussed in the script?

The specific model discussed is the Gigabyte Aero 15 XC.

What type of drives does the Gigabyte Aero 15 XC model have inside?

The laptop has a 4TB Sabrina Rocket Q and a 2TB Sabrina Rocket 4 Plus, which is a 4th gen NVMe drive.

What is the purpose of the Severant device mentioned in the script?

The Severant device is used for cloning drives and can act as a dual NVMe Type C drive with high-speed capabilities, requiring a power brick for offline cloning.

How long does the cloning process with the Severant device take?

The cloning process takes approximately 20 minutes.

What is the importance of having a drive that is at least the same size as the one being cloned?

If the destination drive is smaller than the source drive, the cloning process will not be successful. The destination drive must be equal to or larger in size to accommodate the data from the source drive.

What is the maximum RAM capacity that the Gigabyte Aero 15 XC can support?

The laptop can support up to 64GB of RAM.

Why is it recommended to use a screwdriver with a magnet when upgrading the laptop's hardware?

A magnetized screwdriver helps prevent screws from being dropped inside the laptop, which could cause damage or make them difficult to retrieve.

What is the significance of the user-accessible RAM in the Gigabyte Aero 15 XC?

User-accessible RAM allows for easy upgrades and maintenance, and the ability to retain dual channel performance by ensuring both DIMMs are accessible.

What is the issue with the ASUS G15's RAM compared to the Gigabyte Aero 15 XC?

The ASUS G15 has soldered RAM, which limits dual channel performance to 16GB of RAM, even though it can be upgraded to 40GB.

What is the purpose of the thermal pads included for the NVMe drives?

Thermal pads are used to help dissipate heat from the NVMe drives, ensuring they do not overheat during operation.

What is the recommended tool for opening the laptop's chassis?

A T6 Torx screwdriver is recommended, along with a pry tool for opening the chassis without damaging it.