XPS 8930, upgrade to an SSD

Would I be able to use this ? ---Crucial P2 1TB PCIe M.2 2280SS SSD

do I need an adapter to hold the drive ?

I have a 8910 (similar case to the 8930) and what I used was a WD 2.5 inch SATA ssd with a corsair adapter bracket - the sata cable should have 90 degree terminal on one end for clearance (ssd end) - I used the provided WD version of Acronis to clone my drive with no issues. would suggest getting the same size ssd as your old hhd to avoid any partition problems just use the automatic setting in the cloning software. You will be amazed at how much faster your PC will be !  

Yes . . . for the M.2 NVMe SSD  you would need a M.2 NVMe PCIe adapter (as an example) and it would go in a lower PCIe slot something like this;

No . . . should mount into the rear cage in the bottom of your case. Use SATA power from the PSU.

I was assuming they had a small M.2 SSD boot drive and were wanting to upgrade storage. Do they even sell the XPS 8930 with HDD only?

@Ted01220  You didn't make clear what you're planning, aside from installing an SSD. Are you intending to make the newly installed M.2 NVME SSD the boot drive or just use it for storage?

If you want it to be the boot drive, are you going to clone the existing HDD on the new SSD, or do a clean install of Win 10 or 11 and apps directly on the new SSD?

Assuming you don't have an Optane module in the M.2 slot now, you probably still need to change BIOS setup from RAID to AHCI before you do anything.  Some SSDs don't work well with BIOS set to RAID and/or your PC may not boot. BUT...you can't just change the BIOS setting to AHCI, you have to configure Windows to use AHCI first, or the PC will be unbootable.

1. Open Cmd prompt window, run as administrator
   
   
2. Copy-paste this command, which will start Windows in Safe Mode the next time you reboot:
   bcdedit /set {current} safeboot minimal and press Enter
   
   
3. Restart the computer and enter BIOS setup
   
   
4. Change the SATA operation mode from RAID to AHCI
   
   
5. Save the change and exit Setup. Windows will automatically boot in Safe Mode
   
   
6. Open Cmd again, as in step #1
   
   
7. Copy-paste this command, which will start Windows in Normal Mode the next time you reboot:
   bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot and press Enter
   
   
8. Reboot and Windows will automatically start with AHCI drivers enabled.

Now you're ready to install the SSD in the M.2 slot and clone the HDD onto the SSD, if that's your intention. NOTE: If the new SSD is larger than the existing HDD, you'll have to expand the size of the C: partition during the cloning to use all the extra space. How you do that depends on which cloning/imaging software you use.

Or, you can disconnect the old HDD, install the new M.2 SSD and do a clean install of Windows and all your apps directly on the SSD.

@Ted01220 

I think this thread is getting too complicated, you don't need any additional equipment for upgrading to an SSD. 

Get one from Samsung as it comes with Free disk cloning software, here's one with a good price and performance. Look at the picture, all it needs is asingle screw. 

Once you have installed SSD run Samsung's Data migration software (from their website) and it will move OS from HDD to SSD. 

'

@ProfessorW00d  Yes they sell XPS desktops with mechanical 7200 RPM HDD, Even the brand new XPS 8940 and XPS 8950. 

Thanks for the info RoHe, the plan is to completely eliminate my HDD and go with just the SSD, so I plan to clone the HDD 

Thank you all for the info, ProfessorW00d, nope, no current SSD drive in system, came with just HHD 5 years ago. I think I am going to try the M.2 option, wish me luck

In that case, M.2 in the motherboard location is the best option. GOOD LUCK! . . . and keep us posted

@Ted01220  - Keep in mind even after you clone the HDD onto the new M.2 SSD (expanding the C: partition, as needed), you'll have to use the F12 menu to boot from the new SSD every time, at  least until the HDD is disconnected from the motherboard, or it's initialized. As long as the HDD is connected (but not initialized), PC will always boot from that drive when you boot "normally", rather than via F12.

You should boot via F12 a couple of times to make sure the cloned image on the SSD is working correctly and all your files are available, to be safe.

Once you're satisfied the cloned SSD is working ok, you could initialize the HDD and use it for routine storage or back up. You'd have to boot from the SSD via F12 menu and use Windows Disk Management to initialize the HDD. (ALL FILES DELETED!)  At the next boot, the PC should boot "normally" from the SSD, without using F12.

I realize OP got their XPS 8930 some years ago, but It appears you would have to special order a new XPS to include HDD only.