Few questions regarding SSD/HDD Install

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darryl305

darryl305

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Aug 31, 2012
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OK, so basically I will be upgrading my MOBO, and CPU soon. I figure, it is also time to finally get an SSD.

So I have win 7 64 bit prem edition. It'sinstalled on a standard HDD (800 GB) On partition C:

On Partition D: I have some games, movies, pics, etc.

Well, I also have an external HDD usb3.0. So my plan, is to save all the pictures/movies, etc on to the external. ( NOT any games or applications. I will be doing re installs for that)

I want to get a 128GB SSD, and install Win 7 on there, as well as some essential programs ( WEb browser, drivers,media players, etc)

However I want to keep my old 800 GB HDD, and place on it the extra pictures, movies, and games. I plan to reinstall games , but install them back onto my old HDD ( games like Skyrim, Battlefield 3,4 And older games like Neverwinter Nights)

So my here are my questions:

1) Will it make much difference to install games on my old HDD, vs onto my new SSD? (Obviously 128 GB is not enough space to hold the 20-30+ games I intend to have)

2) How exactly do I go about wiping my old hard drive? I dont want any conflicts, as it WAS an Operating system hard drive. I want it wiped CLEAN!

3) After the wipe..how/what do I do to re format it, so I may use the space again?

4) I have no experience with SSD. I assume, you just hook them up to the SATA connectors, put in my Win 7 disk, and begin the install to the disk? ANything else I need to know?

5) Please teake a look at my desired MOBO, and the SSD I am looking at. Are they a good match?
Is this a fast SSD, or is something better out there? ( For relatively the same cost, mind you)

Here is the MOBO :http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128714

Here is the SSD:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820168088

I am also considering this SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA12K1RJ7416
 
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R
I'll have a go:

RE 1) Game & level load times will be much faster on an SSD. But once everything's loaded, it shouldn't make any difference whatsoever. If you have a couple of games you play often you can probably squeeze them on your SSD. But keeping the majority on the HDD is just fine. It's standard practice and won't be any worse than it is now.

2) My suggestion is to completely unplug the old HDD while you install the OS on the new SSD. Once everything is installed and working, plug the HDD back in (while PC is off!). When you boot to Windows, open Disk Management, delete all the partitions on the old disk and create a new volume filling the entire drive, perform a quick format, give it a letter, and you're good to go.

3)...
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rhysiam

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Mar 24, 2013
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I'll have a go:

RE 1) Game & level load times will be much faster on an SSD. But once everything's loaded, it shouldn't make any difference whatsoever. If you have a couple of games you play often you can probably squeeze them on your SSD. But keeping the majority on the HDD is just fine. It's standard practice and won't be any worse than it is now.

2) My suggestion is to completely unplug the old HDD while you install the OS on the new SSD. Once everything is installed and working, plug the HDD back in (while PC is off!). When you boot to Windows, open Disk Management, delete all the partitions on the old disk and create a new volume filling the entire drive, perform a quick format, give it a letter, and you're good to go.

3) As above - you can untick 'quick format' if you want, but there's not really any benefit, a quick format should do the job just fine.

4) The only thing you'll want to confirm BEFORE installing the OS is that your SATA mode in the BIOS is set to AHCI. That'll give you the best performance from the SSD. Otherwise, it's just like a HDD. I would expect a new mobo to be shipped that way, but it's worth checking.

5) They look just fine. I'd recommend a Crucial MX100 though. It's cheaper at just $72 and a really good model: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148819&cm_re=MX100-_-20-148-819-_-Product
Depending on how flexible your budget is, 250GB drive is not that much more expensive (just $42 extra for double the capacity) and really gives you enough space to not have to worry or tinker with things too much. Plus you can put a few extra programs or games on there. If the budget is tight a 120/128GB drive will do you just fine. But the extra $42 is worth spending if you have it.

Hope that's all helpful.
 
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