Installing Samsung 840 Pro on Vostro 460

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noonin

noonin

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I decided to enter warp speed and picked up my first SSD. I have a 3 year old Dell Vostro 460 (H67 chipset, i5 2400), and depending on where I ask, has SATA2 or SATA3. Either way, I'm installing the drive! I think I've gathered most of the info I need on steps to installing the drive, but am a little unsure about a couple details. First. to double check, does this all sound right?

1. Change Boot from HDD to DVD, insert Dell OS Re-installation DVD into drive and power down
2. Move old HDD to lower bay
3. Physically install new SSD, and plug in SATA cable from old HDD (from MoBo SATA Port 0)
4. Boot up, and install Windows, drivers , etc.
5. Change Boot from DVD back to primary, new SSD. Power down
6. Connect old HDD to SATA Port 2 (or switch with DVD drive, which is on Port 1?)
7. Reboot, and Viola, warp speed ahead.

I'm a little unclear on the following:

1. Do I need to change SATA controller from IDE Mode to AHCI Mode?
2. From OCZ ABC Guide "Run Windows Experience Index (WEI) straight after Chipset/VGA Drivers.
This is to disable any scheduled De-Fragmentation and 'synch' Windows Accelerators.

Please let me know what I've missed.
Thanks!


 
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burdenbound

burdenbound

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It's not necessary to physically move your old HDD to a lower bay slot. I tend to physically connect the SSD to the motherboard and instead of changing the boot order I enter the boot menu to select the DVD, this way I do not have to change it back after installation.

Do you plan on formatting the old HDD? If so you can format it when you boot to the windows install CD and select the SSD for the fresh install.

You do want to be on AHCI mode before you install the OS. I don't think you need to worry about running the windows experience index but it can't hurt, windows 7 tends to recognize the SSD right away and will set it so it doesn't run defrag.
 
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popatim

popatim

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I would install the hdd to sata port 1. I would probably move the DVD to port 3 if you have one. I like to leave room to throw in another HDD in the future...

If, after you restore to the SSD, you find that you cannot boot and get a blue screen error, change the sata type back to IDE and see if it will boot then. If so then its easy enough to change after the fact; its just Dell's restore image was taken in IDE mode is all.
 
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noonin

noonin

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You're right...Doh! I meant to say select DVD at boot, not change order (F12 on my computer)


Eventually. I have everything backed up, but a couple other things to do before reformatting it for all my file storage.

I assume it's not set that way already? Use regedit method I see most places?
Thanks

 
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noonin

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I think ports 0 and 1 are SATA3, and 2 & 3 are SATA2, so I guess the HDD would benefit more from SATA3 than the DVD drive?

Would the Dell image affect the SSD recognition if not connected yet? I heard not to connect it until after everything's up and running. Assume switching to SATA ACHI mode won't have a conflict with the old HDD?
 
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noonin

noonin

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How do I change modes in the BIOS? What I've read, I edit the registry first, then restart and enter the BIOS (before Windows boots) and change to ACHI mode there?

 
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noonin

noonin

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Thanks mad-max,
I just checked my BIOS and turns out SATA was already in AHCI mode, but good info for the future.
I was totally stoked about installing the Samsung, but the Dell Vostro drive slot didn't like the 2.5-3.5" adapter plate I bought, so will have to wait until the computer shop across the street opens and hope they have something...I was sooooooooooo close!


 
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noonin

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Just ran into a new, unforeseen problem...the 3.5"-2.5" adapter plate needs an adapter to fit into the proprietary Dell drive cage, and the way the screw holes are situated on the adapter bracket I bought, it must be mounted upside down, i.e. with the SSD mounted at the top of the bracket, open side of the bracket facing down. Do you guys think that would be a problem with heat, or any other reason? Of course all pictures in Samsung's and bracket mfg. instructions show the bracket open on the top, not the bottom.
 
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sunder25

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I just went through the same thing.
You need to change the controller from IDE to AHCI, but bios should do that on its own afaik.
First thing after getting to the desktop install Samsung Magician.
You should have it on a cd that came with the drive.
There you can optimize windows for SSD use.
That's what I did, anyway.
 
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noonin

noonin

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Thank you, sunder25,
Yes, I have the CD and will pop it in first thing after Windows is installed. I checked in the BIOS (recently updated), and SATA was already in AHCI mode :)

 
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noonin

noonin

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Thanks popatim,
Without some kind of power cable extension, I'm a little limited since my power supply cable hooks to my old HDD, and there's only a short run before the second drive power plug taps in, so the SSD drive has to be pretty close to the second HDD drive. If having the 2.5-3.5" adapter's metal plate 1/4" above the drive won't cause any cooling issues, I think I'll just stick it there.

 
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noonin

noonin

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OK, Samsung 840Pro 256GB SSD installed, Windows installed, Samsung Magician installed and updated. I installed a couple programs, but not much yet. New question is selecting Performance Optimization, OS Optimization, and Overprovisioning. I was going with someone's recommendation of 10% on Overprovisioning, probably pick Reliability for OS Optimization, but a little unclear on the Performance Optimization. Still pondering RAPID.
 
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Y

Y0GI

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OK, Samsung 840Pro 256GB SSD installed, Windows installed, Samsung Magician installed and updated. I installed a couple programs, but not much yet. New question is selecting Performance Optimization, OS Optimization, and Overprovisioning. I was going with someone's recommendation of 10% on Overprovisioning, probably pick Reliability for OS Optimization, but a little unclear on the Performance Optimization. Still pondering RAPID.
Click to expand...

I chose a Custom Optimization but "Performance" or "Reliability" is up to you and your wants/desires. I enabled Rapid Mode and it made a HUGE difference in benchmarks, but I can't say that I've seen any really noticeable difference in everyday operation. I figure it's like chicken soup for the flu: can't hurt and it may help so I leave it enabled.

Yogi
 
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