Questions about removing two SSD's from my laptop and installing them into my new desktop.

BNWilliams007 · Jan 12, 2016

Hello, so as the title suggests, I currently have two 256gb SSD's in one of my old laptops and would like to remove them and install them into my new desktop. I have a default 1TB HDD in my desktop right now, I plan to keep it in my PC if possible just as a backup/storage drive.

These are the two SSDs I have: http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Electronics-2-5-Inch-Solid-State/dp/B009NB8WRU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452657497&sr=8-1&keywords=MZ-7PD256BW

This is my desktop PC: http://www.frys.com/product/8524889

Here is the approximate partlist of my desktop PC: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/BNWilliams007/saved/Nw7xFT

My Questions:
1) Would my motherboard and power-supply even be able to accept these two SSD's? i believe that my power-supply in terms of voltage can handle it since when I put all my PC specs into outervision's power calculator I get a load wattage of 303W and my case has three internal 3.5 drive bays, but would the only way to see if my power supply and motherboard can take in two more SATA cables be to open up my computer and takes these PC parts out?

2) When I install these SSD's into my desktop, will I have to format and erase all the data on these drives before installing them?

3) I've heard that when upgrading to an SSD drive it's a good idea to install the OS onto the SSD. If I were to do this, is it possible to transfer the OS on my HDD to my SSD drive? Will I have to uninstall the OS from my HDD?

4) I currently use my desktop as a gaming and workstation PC so I have games and applications such as Photoshop on my HDD at the moment. If I install my SSDs and transfer my games and applications to an SSD would I see a speed performance for running games and applications, or would it not make a difference if I just kept them on my HDD (I currently have 879GB/930GB free so I should be able to transfer everything from my HDD to an SSD if possible.)

5) When installing an SSD into a desktop, should I only need a hard drive disk mounting kit and a SATA cable, or is there anything else I'll need to install it besides screw drivers? If not, will these items be reliable: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G57BN1M?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_2&smid=A29Y8OP2GPR7PE http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009GUXU52?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_5&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

6) I seem to have lost the box and software that my SSD's came with but I found the software available to download on the Samsung website. Would I normally want to download and install these before or after I put my SSD's into my desktop? http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/global/html/support/downloads.html

7) Is there anything else I'm forgetting or need to know about installing SSD drives into desktops?

Thank you for your time.

drtweak · Jan 13, 2016

1) Yes it will be able to take them without issue. SSD's use a mer 5 watts or so.

2) not really. depends on what you are going to use them for. if there is data on there you want to keep you can leave them be unless there is junk on there.

3) You can use Macriurm Reflect to clone your existing system to the SSD so long as the amount of data on the HDD isn't bigger than the SSD. So like if you have 300 GB of data on the drive you can't clone it till you clean it up.

4) You will see a startup speed increase for sure. Games you will see a loading speed increase but not always.

5) if you case has a 2.5 drive spot put it there otherwise yes just a 2.5 to 3.5 adapter and then a sata cable and power which your PSU should have a free connector already.

6) The migraction is only needed before, but macrium reflect is a better way to go. Other wise install the Samsung Magician after you are running on the SSD

7) Nope. Sounds like you got the general Idea. Move the SSDs, mount and install them, boot off your HHD, Clone your system to one of the SSD's, go into BIOS, set SSD as primary boot, and then do what you want with the other SSD and HDD.

jsmithepa · Jan 13, 2016

You should be an accountant.

1. SSD use minimum power compared to HDD, this is a non-issue. As long as your PSU has the extra power connectors, one per drive.

2. You don't need to do anything if you are going to use them as data drives, BUT no sane person put a SSD on a machine and don't use it to boot, so... you want to clone your HD --> SSD so you can boot with the SSD.

3. No uninstall needed. Since you have less than 10% usage on that 1TB, do a straight Clone to one of the SSD, move it to SATA0, (this will be you boot SSD), then hook up SSD2 to SATA1, and HD to SATA2. Once it boots up correctly and everything seems to work, you are free for format and wipe SS2 and HD to gain space.

4. You have a combined 512GB of SSD space, may as well put your Apps there. Save HD for large video files etc.

5. Mounting kit and extra SATA cables as needed.

6. The Samsung software are optional, you can install them at your leisure.

7. You just about covered everything + kitchen sink.

BNWilliams007 · Jan 13, 2016

Thank you both of you for your answers I greatly appreciate it.

However, after doing a little bit more research I came up with two more questions that I was hoping to get answered.

1) Would it be possible to combine my two SSD drives? I've heard something about a Raid technique, would you recommend it? I know that if one drive fails that it'll take the other drive with it so what exactly are the pros and cons of raids and how would one do this technique?

2) I've seen some people on YouTube using USB SSD converters to clone their HDD to their SSD. Would this be a useful accessory for me to purchase or is this more so for laptop users? If so has anyone here had any good experience with this adapter: http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-SATA-Drive-Adapter-Cable/dp/B00HJZJI84/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452669741&sr=8-1&keywords=ssd+usb+adapter

jsmithepa · Jan 13, 2016

1. As you said RAID0, but as you already know, it's not recommended, but if you insist, won't matter what we tell you right. Then you may not be able to RAID0 a Boot Drive, google to find out for sure.

2. Yes, laptop users can use something like that, I have no direct experience with the StarTech but you got all those reviews in Amazon! take advantage of them.

drtweak · Jan 13, 2016

Yea as jsmithepa said doing a RAID 0 is great if you need to space but if a drive fails and don't have a backup you have to start all over. Plus you lose some features with doing a RAID 0 on SSD's as well which is why you don't get double the speed out of them like you would if it was a RAID 0 of two regular hard drives. If you really need the the space you can do it but best not to.

And yea those are good to have on hand. I have a MSI one that I love and use all the time. Will work on almost any 2.5 HDD/SSD.

BNWilliams007 · Jan 14, 2016

Ok so hypothetically if I used Raid 0 with my two SSDs and one drive fails, would the drives be unusable for future use or is it just the data that is lost? I backup all my files on external hard drives on a regular basis so if it is the latter then it's not a big deal to me. But is there no speed increase doing Raid 0 with SSDs as drtweak suggested? If so then would it probably be more beneficial to use my two SSDs as separate drives?

drtweak · Jan 14, 2016

Well Depends why the failed. IF there is a hardware failure then that drive is toast. If they drives are fine and fail because of another reason then yes you can just reused the drives but will have to reinstall windows.

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Questions about removing two SSD's from my laptop and installing them into my new desktop.

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