Hi, this video is a step by step detailed guide showing how to disassemble and upgrade
the 2019 Acer Predator Helios 300.
I will show you how to safely swap out the RAM, SSD and Hard Drive, so if you worry about
breaking something this guide is for you.
In the video description you can find recommended storage drives and RAM compatible with 2019
Helios 300.
If you want to skip to any part of this video you can use the timestamps down below.
I'm Chris from techfindsreview.com and now let's get to work.
Before we start it's worth mentioning that on HDD upgrade kit there is a sticker which
says that upgrading it on your own may affect the warranty and you can send the laptop to
Acer's service to get it done by professionals.
I recommend you to read your warranty terms or contact Acer since it may vary between countries.
To get access to the to the components we need to remove whole the bottom lid, so get
a small screwdriver and remove 10 screws holding it in place.
Now you can take off the lid.
It let go very easily in my case, but if it sits tight on your laptop, you need to get
some thin piece of plastick and slide around the body of the laptop to release it.
There are little tabs holding it in place.
You will feel the exact spots where they are located.
Once it's done, you can pull up the lid and inside you can see your 2.5" drive bay,
2 slots for M.2 SSD, and 2 RAM slots.
It is good to disconnect the battery before you start charging components,
but i usually don't to that so i will get to the hard drive first.
You have to wrap the blue rubber frame around your hard drive making sure that the pins
fit the holes and the bottom side of the hard drive is covered by thin rubber stripe
on the oposite edges.
I'm using Seagate FireCuda hybrid drive that costs a little bit more than regular HDD,
but in proper conditions it can work with nearly the same speed as SSD.
You can check it out in the link below the video.
Now take the ribbon cable and plug it into the motherboard.
It's kind of tricky.
If the slot is closed, you have carefully open it the way i show.
Then put the cable inside with the blue side up and close the flap.
Now connect your hard drive with SATA connector.
It will fit only one way, so you can't go wrong.
I made one mistake when i was recording, because i fit the drive inside the drive bay the top side up.
Simply ignore what i did and put the drive upside down so it's bottom and the pins are on top.
The cable should be above the drive and you have to match the blue rubber with the ridges down here.
Alright, it's done so now I will show you how to add RAM.
This is very simple process, just take one RAM stick and slide it into the slot at an
angle, then press it down unitl you hear a click.
If you want to take it out, on the sides you have 2 little tabs, if you push them both
RAM will pop out.
If you don't know which RAM you should buy you can find the list with compatible RAM
in the description.
If it comes to the M.2 SSD you have 2 slots, but by default the Predator comes with only
one SSD so you have one slot free for another drive.
There are only 2 screws to remove and the metal cover with thermal pad which is sticky.
To take it off move it carefully in different directions, slowly pulling up at the same
time until it lets go.
Now you can pull out the SSD.
To install the new one just do the steps vice versa.
I will install the same SSD in the second slot just to show you how to do it.
Slide the drive into the slot at an angle and push it down.
Next take the metal cover and place it on the SSD.
Now screw the screws in and it's done.
Now if you disconnected the battery don't forget to connect it back.
If you're done, place the lid on the laptop and push it down around the edges to make
sure that every tab clicked.
Now screw the screws in and it's done.
Alright, that's all for today, i hope that your upgrade was successful.
Thanks for watching and see you in the next video.