Dell G5 5000 SSD Upgrade - Can it use a second NVME M.2 SSD?

If you haven't installed any PCIe x4 cards, there will be an open slot you can use to install a PCIe to NVMe adapter -- that's the only way to add another NVMe drive to the system internally.

@ejn63​ I haven't installed any PCIe cards. Where would I get the adapter from? 

Example below - there are many of these, some supporting one and others multiple drives.

https://www.siig.com/m-2-ngff-ssd-pcie-card-adapter.html

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@ejn63​ Thanks, and do NVME SSD's generally work better than their SATA equivalents? 

Also, how would I install one of these on my G5?

NVMe drives are many times faster than SATA drives, but I suspect you'll find that you need to leave your boot drive attached to the system board and put the storage drive (non-bootable) on an add-in PCIe card.  

@ejn63​ how noticeable would the speed difference be between the two, especially if I kept for example train simulator content on my built in SSD and moved all other games (which include Train Sim World, GTA 5) to my new SSD?

Also, how easy is it to fit a PCie card to my G5 5000's motherboard? Can I source one from either Amazon or Dell themselves? 

It's more important to boot the OS from an NVMe drive -- if you swap the OS to a SATA drive, the system will be appreciably slower.

Installing an add-in card is relatively simple.  See the service manual:

https://dl.dell.com/topicspdf/g-series-5000-desktop_service-manual_en-us.pdf

@ejn63​ link doesn't seem to work I'm afraid! 

Needs a PDF reader to open -- or look here for the HTML version

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/product-support/product/g-series-5000-desktop/docs

Thanks for that, though where on the motherboard would I install the PCIE adapter? 

Also, would something like this be compatible with the G5? 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sabrent-NVMe-PCIe-aluminum-EC-PCIE/dp/B084GDY2PW/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2N7BY3Y9DUEAP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.6y072D4UFLUkMJTZixcVdz0d3bxmf3HRj9QI5ilt0aFGpQ9fLyHQBb4sc1dMIdZ0cdL6SBNqKTsR8CHrUXNHh_t-FNGCBh5pEKFcTjb-ZkJqal_FPsJcuudBcTe-jH4cSNel4Vjpu5Y03pAoUNWzIKb1uBNNEIVTxR3Kxa31OBjOZE4AOiRL5KM7JwZqUXJk0rNah_BBhLlsqb4volUoBmVNvTysT1lDjvtw2xSg_PA.WXQo72mIOIN_5nbo2AbsK_fSXIVRF1yniwVAkB5u5JE&dib_tag=se&keywords=pcie+m.2+adapter&qid=1713087712&sprefix=%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-3

@zm407​ Should work, as long as it fits PCI Express x4 slot (my G5 5000 had an x4 and x1 slot free, so you should be good to go). This is the one I used for my 2nd NVME drive, works great. 

Amazon.com: GLOTRENDS PA09-HS M.2 NVMe to PCIe 4.0 X4 Adapter with M.2 Heatsink for M.2 NVMe SSD : Electronics

There is always the alternative of imaging the 512 GB SSD onto a larger NVME SSD in the M.2 slot, replacing the 512 GB SSD as boot drive. And then you could put the 512 GB SSD on a PCI-e x4 adapter for extra storage. (You will eventually have to wipe the 512 GB SSD because you don't want two drives, both with Windows on them, installed.)

You can use imaging software to create an image containing all partitions on the 512 GB SSD and save the image on an external USB HDD.  Then swap in a larger (empty) NVME SSD into the M.2 slot and copy the image from the external drive onto the new SSD. You will have to expand the size of the C: partition when you copy it onto the new SSD so it uses all the extra space.  The imaging software should be able to do that for you, so be sure to carefully read/follow its instructions...

@Mennogreg​ Thanks, where can I find the PCIe x4 slot on the motherboard? Just want to make sure I can fit it in before ordering! 

Service Manual

@RoHe​ Thanks for that, that's a great help! I'll order the one that I've linked above as long as it's compatible with the G5 5000!