Upgrading My HP i7-6700HQ Laptop with an SSD

Breathing new life into a seven-year-old machine with a simple drive swap

Years Old

Screws

TB Capacity

$110

Total Cost

Section I

Laptop Specifications

The HP 15t model 15-AB292NR was purchased in 2016 and features an i7-6700HQ "High Quality" Quad-Core processor.

→Processor — Intel i7-6700HQ
→RAM — 8 GB (DDR3 1600mhz SODIMM) [Max 16GB]
→HDD — 1 TB
→GPU — Intel Graphics 530
→Screen — 15.6" IPS
→DVD Writer — Yes
→Wireless — 802.11AC
→Operating System — Windows 10 Home
→Battery — ki04 (KI04) - 14.8v - 41 Whr (~2,600 Mah)

Section II

Why Upgrade?

My HP i7 has been my main Windows machine, but it often lagged behind my Linux-based i3 laptop. While an SSD doesn't increase raw CPU clock speed, it eliminates the bottleneck caused by mechanical hard drives, significantly reducing application load times and queue delays.

Section III

Installation Guide: Disassembling the Laptop

Upgrading this specific model requires more effort than older generations, as it lacks dedicated access panels. You will need to manage 20 screws and use a plastic pry tool carefully.

1. Power Down and Disconnect — Ensure the laptop is off, remove the battery, and unplug all power sources. 2. Remove Visible Screws — Flip the device and remove the 14 screws on the bottom. Remember that one screw secures the DVD player. 3. Remove DVD Player — Gently slide the unit out to reveal two additional hidden screws. 4. Remove Corner Pieces — Remove the large screws from the black plastic corner pieces, then pry them open to access further hidden screws. 5. Final Separation — Once all 20 screws are accounted for, use a plastic pry tool to separate the keyboard plate, being extremely careful near the delicate LCD display.

Tip: Keep your 20 screws organized during removal; using a magnetic tray or labeled cups will prevent losing small parts during the reassembly process.

Section IV

SSD Performance & Maintenance

Component	Old HDD	New SSD
Performance	Mechanical Bottleneck	High-speed NAND
Load Times	Slow (Queue-heavy)	Fast (~20s average)
Moving Parts	Yes	No

Windows Optimization

If performing a fresh installation, ensure you are running a current build of Windows 10 (1909 or later). If the update stalls, use the official Microsoft Update Assistant.

Crucial Maintenance

Important: Disable automatic defragmentation in Windows 10. Defragging is designed for mechanical HDDs to reduce latency; it is unnecessary for SSDs and can reduce the drive's total lifespan.

Section V

Final Thoughts

I opted for the 1TB Crucial BX500 3D NAND SATA drive. While a 500GB model would have been cheaper, the 1TB capacity allows me to maintain the recommended 30% free space buffer to ensure consistent speed. Additionally, I turned my old 1TB HDD into an external backup drive using a $10 case, making this a cost-effective and highly successful upgrade.