Use a PCIe x4/x8 M.2 NVMe adapter card (e.g., Sabrent, StarTech, or Dell part 8FKXC).
Insert the NVMe SSD into the adapter, secure it with the screw provided.
Plug the adapter card into an available PCIe x4 or x16 slot on the motherboard.
(Slots 4 and 5 are commonly used for storage or GPU add-ons.)
If your 7820 has FlexBays (front hot-swap bays), you can use a Dell NVMe carrier + PCIe cable kit to connect an NVMe drive directly.
This option allows front-access hot-swap NVMe SSDs.
Power off and unplug the workstation.
Remove the side panel.
Locate your chosen PCIe slot.
Insert the adapter with the NVMe SSD installed.
Screw the card bracket into place.
Reattach the side panel.
Power on the system and press F2 to enter BIOS.
Go to System Configuration → PCIe Slot Configuration to confirm the slot is enabled.
Under Boot Sequence, check if the NVMe drive is recognized.
If you plan to install Windows on it, ensure UEFI Boot Mode is selected and AHCI or RAID is configured appropriately (AHCI preferred for single drives).
If it’s a secondary drive:
→ Boot into Windows → open Disk Management → initialize and format the NVMe SSD.
If it’s a boot drive:
→ Install Windows 10/11 from USB and select the NVMe drive
