SSD newbie questions.

elisz · Aug 28, 2014

Hi,

I might be planning on buying an SSD soon and I wanna know a few things about it before I consider buying one.

Thank you.

- Are they worth it?

- What do I need to install an SSD onto my case and motherboard?
(I actually did a bit of research and I found out that you need to buy some SATA cables? because it's not included when you buy an SSD).

-How would I know if my mobo is compatible with an SSD?

-I have a non-modular PSU, so I might not be able to connect a SATA cable on my PSU and mobo.

-Would I need to do a fresh install of Windows?

-Is 250GB more than enough? I looked at my disk's properties and overall I only used up 148 GB out of 1 T.B. (So I think I answered my own question, but.. overall is it enough?)

-If you can, Could you recommend me any SSD that are around 140~150$ price range.

Thank you.

mrmez · Aug 28, 2014

Yes its WELL worth it.
It will connect like any HDD. 1 sata and 1 power cable required.
Fresh install recommended
250Gb can be plenty or nowhere near enough. Thats up to you. Most users use an SSD for OS etc, and a large HDD for everything else. I currently have a 128Gb ssd for my os and programs and a 3Tb HDD for everything else in my mac. PC is much the same but with 3x 3Tb HDDs. Macbook is much the same but with a 750Gb HDD.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-recommendation-benchmark,3269.html

christinebcw · Aug 28, 2014

You may need an extra SATA (data) cable but your power-supply probably has a spare SATA power-connector already. If not, "Y-splitter" connectors are available at Radio Shack type places, even WalMarts.

In that $150-or-less price range, you'll find a host of good 240-256Gb SSDs out there. Some folks enjoy Samsung EVOs because they have "management software" that can be useful for first-time SSD users. There's the new Crucial MX100s which are getting good performance reviews and are priced substantially less.

I know some folks are 'down' on the Kingston V300s of late and I saw those were being price-lowered currently to make them suddenly more attractive.

elisz · Aug 28, 2014

Update: Thank you for the great answers and tips.

I opened my rig and got my Motherboard's manual.
In the storage section it says it has
* 2 x SATA3 6.0Gb/s connectors, support NCQ, AHCI and "Hot Plug" Functions.
it says that twice. And there are 4 SATA connectors. Labeled 1,2,3,4. Where should I put the SSD? Kinda stupid because.. there are already 3 SATA cables connected. 1 on the HDD, 1 on the CD-Drive. But this is where the mystery starts. There is a RED SATA cable and it leads to the upper front of my PC Case. And upon inspection there is a connector in there which looks like an SSD connector if you compare it.

http://omg.wthax.org/52STXf.jpg
I don't know what connects in there, but it damn well sure looks like an SSD connector. Idk. Can anyone clarify if this is an SSD connector? or SD reader.
All I know is the RED SATA cable leads there w/ the rest of the cables (audio, usb, etc.)

I decided to buy this SSD btw: http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Electronics-2-5-Inch-Internal-MZ-7TE250BW/dp/B00E3W1726/ref=lp_1292116011_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1409221572&sr=1-1

My motherboard is an ASROCK H81M-HDS. If anyone is wondering.

Also I think I would need a SATA cable as those 3 are occupied. (Unless someone confirms it is an SSD connector which I can just put that sucker in there.) But if not, can you recommend me a cable based on what I have.

Another question: When I inspected my HDD, there is a cable that has a wide black cover and it spells "SATA" but there is another cord with the same thing but it's connected together. So if I were to put my SSD into that what would happen?

Sorry for all the questions, and thank you very much.

christinebcw · Aug 28, 2014

That "third" SATA cable sounds like it's going to an eSATA port on your PC's case. This allows an "External SATA connection" like is occasionally available thru NAS (network-attached-storage boxes of hard drives) or the lower-priced external drive cases (these usually offer USB 2 or 3 connectors, but some offer eSATA connections).

If you never use eSATA 'external drives', then you could unplug that cable from the motherboard and now you'd have 2 SATA connectors free.

You don't need to, at this point - you have 2 devices, and the SSD will be the 3rd.

When I install an SSD and load Windows onto it for the first time, I disconnect my existing boot drive's SATA connector so my Windows Installation isn't confused (nor am I) about which drive to install the new Windows to.

elisz · Aug 28, 2014

Hm, but when you look at the SS i took, it looks different from a eSATA port. Nonetheless, could I put my SSD there? Is there any difference performance-wise, etc.? If not, I could just remove the connection and use the SATA cable it's using and put it inside the PC's expansion bay.

Edit: Here's a better picture of what I'm talking about:

http://d3gqasl9vmjfd8.cloudfront.net/6141d828-1cfc-4f08-84c2-c6a3dfa842d8.jpg

It looks like its a external bay. It's slanted abit and the connector looks as if it's for an SSD. I did a comparsion picture of what the SSD connector looks like and it looks like a spot-on match.

Should I use this port or just put it inside?

christinebcw · Aug 28, 2014

Oh! That's a "sled" connector for quick, easy access to any SATA drive.

This case is a tech-staff's dream - users are always handing over drives saying, "It's bad - can you check it?" and he can use this case to easily slide the drive into that connector, and see what he can determine. Quick, easy.

For you, this might be a great thing to maintain - to leave that SATA cable connected to it. THen, in the future, if you wanted to create a "clone" copy of your Boot Drive, or plug in a raw SATA hard drive (no external case), you can copy files to and fro very quickly.

Now, I'd probably use that 4th SATA connector for the SSD.

RCguitarist · Aug 28, 2014

If you are building a completely new system you might as well get one. They are definetly faster than a 7200RPM HDD, but not as much as some people make them out to be. I just bought my first SSD a week ago (crucial mx100 256GB) and while it is faster than my Western Digital Caviar Black HDD, I wasn't blown away by a massive difference. Games load much faster, and it shuts down insanely fast, but the boot time, opening of programs, etc. isn't enough of a difference to make your jaw drop. So if you are building a new system, yes get one, but if you have a perfect running system that is using a good 720RPM HDD, I'd say wait to upgrade until the next time you need to do a reinstall of windows for whatever reason.

christinebcw · Aug 28, 2014

I want to reiterate what MRMEZ said in your post's original REPLY - "Fresh install, yes."

There are tricks you can do that MIGHT work, but "Fresh install of Windows and reloading of all programs" will give you best results for that SSD.

If you lack program-disks for any installations, then start considering "not spending for SSD" IF those programs are important to you.

RC's points about "system startup can be fast, program loads can be fast and shutdowns are fast" are my sentiments as well. Those are noticable speed-ups.

But I use my computers to produce, to work. The SSDs don't really help me type faster, jump higher, compile better. My 60-minutes-every-hour usage of computers isn't impacted by the speed of SSDs.

If "fresh install of Windows, loading all programs" doesn't sound inviting, then you may discover the SSD Speed Revues are hype, and may not be worth the money or your time.

You raised the legitimate question - "are they worth it?" For me, I reload Windows every so often anyway - I reload all my programs and enjoy a clean-machine. So a new SSD was simply part of my accepted process. But I'm also used to 20-minute or 2-hour long COMPILEs or Database Rebuilds. "That's why God invented the Lunch hour." The SSDs don't impact my Real Work.

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