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Switching from HDD to SSD

Tags:
  • Windows
  • SSD
  • Storage
  • Hard Drives
  • Evo
Last response: in Storage
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March 27, 2014 5:35:34 PM

My hardrive is getting a bit slow lately so I decided to upgrade to a SSD. I was thinking about buying either 840 pro or 840 evo not sure which(128 or 120 gbs). The price for pro is 125, while the price for evo is 85. Which one of these would be a better deal? Also if i buy it, is there a chance I can save the information on my current HDD? I've heard that I can switch the the starup setting in my bios so the the windows starts from SSD, but do I delete windows from HDD?
Thank you in advance

More about : switching hdd ssd

a c 921 G Storage
March 27, 2014 5:41:28 PM

840 EVO.
Clean install on the new SSD.

'Save the information' ? You can save your personal files. Any applications need to be reinstalled.
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Best solution

a b G Storage
March 27, 2014 5:42:50 PM

Go with 840 EVO, and get an external enclosure for your HDD.
Fresh install Windows onto SSD, and copy data from HDD to SSD after installation.

That's my recommendation.
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March 27, 2014 5:46:42 PM

Samsung includes software to clone your hdd, here is a video on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4lmGpGN3a0

Performance doesn't really matter so much in ssds, because they all blow hdds away(well any ssd made in the last 3 years). Just go for gb/$ and try to get one with the transfer kit.
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March 27, 2014 6:07:43 PM

The 840 PRO does have the 90K IOPS write rate. I believe the EVO is lower at around 37K IOPS write rate. That should be the only difference. I have two of the 256GB PRO's and love them. I do not own the EVO version. And, yep, even if you have a 1TB HD unit, as long as you pare down the total data on it so that it is lower than the storage capacity of the SSD, the Samsung software will clone the OS, apps, data, everything automatically (plus align the data on the proper SSD boundaries I think). So, if you have 900GB on a 1TB HD unit and buy the 256GB SSD that you want, somehow offload as much as possible from the 1TB unit so the 900GB value goes down below 256GB (preferably down to around 200GB). The Samsung software will take care of the rest. It even migrated (cloned) my Win XP 64BIT installation from a 2004 HD unit to a 840 PRO SSD (I really like XP64). The Samsung doc said it would do XP but did not say XP64 so I gave it a shot anyway and it worked great. Plus, I selected Samsung because Tom's has a chart that shows all storage makers (HD, SSD, hybrid, etc) and not only did the 840 PRO rock the stats in performance but the Samsung drive uses Samsung memory chips. I like products that are produced as much as possible by one single mfg so there is no finger pointing between Samsung and some other company. And Samsung should know how to best utilize their chips within the SSD while hopefully choosing an excellent high performance chip to do the (what is it called) Sandforce type work (the controller chip is it?). Brain fog for a sec here. Anyone please correct me if I am wrong. I believe that the EVO model can be encrypted in a slightly better (more secure) manner from what I see using the Samsung Magician utility software which comes with all Samsung SSD's, alerts you to firmware/software updates, drive health, drive performance tests, everything. Works very slick! The PRO model I think can only utilize the "first" of three different and increasing in complexity encrypting methods. (SOMEONE please confirm that - I'm not an encryption expert and my machines do not have the TPM chip).
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a c 943 G Storage
March 27, 2014 7:00:59 PM

And then there's rapid mode (Ramdrive cache software for the ssd) to equal differences out.
Either choice gets you a good solid drive.
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