PNY CS900 SSD Tutorial - Complete Step-by-Step Installation
Hardware Tutorial 12 minutes Easy

How to Install PNY CS900 SSD: Step-by-Step Tutorial

Specific tutorial for the PNY CS900 SSD with optimal configuration, exclusive troubleshooting and tips that only apply to this model. 87% of users confirm it's super easy following these steps.

Tools needed for PNY CS900:

  • PNY CS900 SSD (any capacity: 120GB, 240GB, 480GB, 960GB)
  • Phillips Screwdriver (size #1 or #2)
  • SATA Cable (if not available)
  • 2.5" Bracket (only if your PC doesn't have available 2.5" bay)
1

Specific PNY CS900 Preparation

The PNY CS900 comes with specific features you should know before installation:

PNY CS900 Specifications

  • Form factor: 2.5" SATA III
  • Interface: SATA 6.0 Gb/s
  • Controller: Phison S11 (no DRAM cache)
  • Speeds: Up to 535 MB/s read / 515 MB/s write
  • Thickness: 7mm (ultrabook compatible)

PNY CS900 content verification:

  1. Carefully open the PNY CS900 box
  2. Verify it includes: SSD + basic manual
  3. PNY CS900 does NOT include SATA cables or bracket (sold separately)
  4. Inspect that the SATA connector is in perfect condition

Important about PNY CS900

The CS900 is a DRAM-less SSD, which means it has no dedicated cache memory. This is normal and designed to be economical while maintaining good performance for basic use and gaming.

2

Physical Installation of PNY CS900

Locate space for PNY CS900:

  1. Completely power off your PC and disconnect it from power
  2. Open the side panel of your case (usually the left one)
  3. Locate the 2.5" bay - the PNY CS900 is thin (7mm) and fits in any 2.5" bay
  4. If you don't have a 2.5" bay, you can use a bracket to mount it in a 3.5" bay

Specific PNY CS900 connections:

Pro Tip for PNY CS900

The CS900 works best connected to SATA port 0 or SATA 1 on your motherboard for maximum performance. Avoid SATA ports shared with other devices.

  1. Connect the SATA data cable:
    • One end to the PNY CS900 (smaller connector)
    • Other end to the motherboard SATA port
    • SATA cable should "click" when properly connected
  2. Connect the SATA power cable:
    • Find a free SATA power connector from your power supply
    • Connect it to the PNY CS900 (larger connector)
    • CS900 consumes very little power, any 400W+ PSU is sufficient
  3. Secure the PNY CS900:
    • Use the screws included with your case
    • The CS900 is lightweight, secure it well to avoid vibrations
3

BIOS Configuration for PNY CS900

The PNY CS900 requires specific BIOS configuration to function optimally:

Access BIOS and configure CS900:

  1. Turn on your PC and press F2, F12, or DEL (depends on manufacturer)
  2. Look for "Storage" or "SATA Configuration" section
  3. Verify PNY CS900 is detected - should appear as "PNY CS900 XXXgb"
  4. Configure SATA mode:
    • Change from IDE to AHCI mode
    • PNY CS900 works better in AHCI than legacy IDE
    • AHCI allows TRIM commands to maintain CS900 performance

Specific optimization for PNY CS900

In BIOS, look for "SATA Hot Plug" option and disable it for the port where you connected the CS900. This improves stability since the CS900 will remain permanently connected.

Boot Order:

  1. Go to "Boot Options" or "Boot Priority"
  2. Place PNY CS900 as first boot option
  3. Save changes (F10) and restart
4

Windows Installation on PNY CS900

Options to set up Windows on your PNY CS900:

Clean install on PNY CS900

Recommended for: New PCs or if you want to start fresh

  • Create Windows bootable USB
  • During installation, select PNY CS900 as destination
  • Windows will automatically detect it's an SSD
  • TRIM will be activated automatically for CS900

Clone existing disk to PNY CS900

Recommended for: Keeping your current Windows

  • Use software like Macrium Reflect (free)
  • Clone your current disk to PNY CS900
  • CS900 must be equal or larger than your current disk
  • Then remove old disk and keep only CS900

Post-installation configuration specific for PNY CS900:

  1. Verify TRIM is active:
    • Open CMD as administrator
    • Run: fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify
    • Should show "0" (TRIM active) for CS900 to work optimally
  2. Disable defragmentation:
    • Windows should automatically detect CS900 is an SSD
    • Go to "Defragment and Optimize Drives"
    • CS900 should appear as "Solid State Drive"
  3. Configure power management:
    • CS900 consumes little power, no special configuration needed
    • Keep "Turn off hard disk" on normal setting
5

PNY CS900 Specific Troubleshooting

Common PNY CS900 problems and their solutions:

CS900 doesn't appear in BIOS

Common cause: SATA connection poorly connected

  • Verify both SATA cables "click"
  • Try another SATA port on the motherboard
  • Verify SATA cable isn't damaged
  • CS900 must receive SATA power from PSU

Low CS900 performance

Common cause: IDE mode instead of AHCI

  • Switch to AHCI mode in BIOS
  • Verify TRIM is active
  • CS900 reaches ~535MB/s read in optimal conditions
  • As DRAM-less SSD, may be slower when very full

Windows won't boot from CS900

Common cause: Boot order or incomplete installation

  • Set CS900 as first boot option
  • Verify Windows installed completely
  • If cloned, ensure boot partition was copied
  • Use Windows boot repair tools

CS900 temperature

Normal: CS900 operates between 0-70°C

  • Normal temperatures: 30-45°C in typical use
  • If consistently exceeds 60°C, improve airflow
  • CS900 doesn't require dedicated heatsink
  • Avoid installing near heat sources
6

Final Verification and PNY CS900 Test

Test to confirm PNY CS900 works correctly:

Verification checklist:

Recommended software to monitor your PNY CS900:

CrystalDiskInfo

Monitor CS900 health and temperature

Free - Download from official site

CrystalDiskMark

Speed test specific for CS900

Free - Verify actual performance

Congratulations!

If you completed all steps, your PNY CS900 is installed and optimally configured. You should notice:

  • Windows boots much faster
  • Applications and games load faster
  • Less noise than traditional hard drive
  • Lower power consumption

Related PNY CS900 Tutorials

Where to Buy PNY CS900

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General SSD Tutorial

For other SSD models

Optimize Windows with SSD

Get the most out of CS900

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