SSD SATA 3 Problem

[coper210]

Hello, I am planning to get an SSD to boot off of and also store a couple of games but I have a problem, I already have a 750GB Hard Drive that has about 160GB's of data on it including the OS. Since I am on a budget I am planning on buying a 60GB OCZ Agility 3 SSD but I am planning on getting another 60GB SSD in the future but the thing is that my motherboard only has 2 SATA 3 ports so if I get the 60GB SSD right now and since I already have a Hard Drive plugged into the other SATA 3 port I won't have another SATA 3 port for the new SSD I plan on getting in the future. So what should I do?

 

[Dereck47]

Your motherboard has 2 SATA 3 (6Gb/s) ports and 4 SATA 2 (3Gb/s) ports.

Connect your SSDs to the SATA 3 ports and your HDD to the SATA 2 port.

The SATA 3 ports need to be in AHCI mode for maximum performance of your SSDs.

 

[coper210]

Your motherboard has 2 SATA 3 (6Gb/s) ports and 4 SATA 2 (3Gb/s) ports.

Connect your SSDs to the SATA 3 ports and your HDD to the SATA 2 port.

The SATA 3 ports need to be in AHCI mode for maximum performance of your SSDs.

Will there be a performance drop for the Hard Drive if I use SATA 2? and how much of a difference does changing to AHCI mode make?

 

[Dereck47]

No, there will be no performance loss for your HDD.
SSDs are designed to work best in AHCI mode. They will work in IDE mode, but slower.

 

[coper210]

No, there will be no performance loss for your HDD.
SSDs are designed to work best in AHCI mode. They will work in IDE mode, but slower.

I can currently grab a 60GB Agility 3 SSD for 50 bucks after MIR and a nice 10 dollar discount on Newegg... should I buy it?

 

[Dereck47]

Sounds like a good deal. Make sure the drive is on the latest firmware (2.22) before you install the O/S on it.

 

[Anub1s]

That would be cheaper than I got that drive for, I say go for it.

 

[coper210]

Sounds like a good deal. Make sure the drive is on the latest firmware (2.22) before you install the O/S on it.

how would I do that before I install windows onto the drive? would I just plug the drive into the computer and download the firmware then just put it on the SSD and run it?

 

[Dereck47]

how would I do that before I install windows onto the drive? would I just plug the drive into the computer and download the firmware then just put it on the SSD and run it?

Yes, connect the SSD to an available port. Download and install the OCZ Toolbox to your 750GB HDD. Run the Toolbox and check which version firmware you have on your SSD. If it's lower than 2.22 then update the SSD.

 

[coper210]

Yes, connect the SSD to an available port. Download and install the OCZ Toolbox to your 750GB HDD. Run the Toolbox and check which version firmware you have on your SSD. If it's lower than 2.22 then update the SSD.

thanks! one more question... to transfer the data from the HDD to the SSD I am going to use this.

http://www.apricorn.com/products/notebook-hard-drive-upgrade-kits/sata-wire.html

is there a better or free way to do it?

 

[Dereck47]

That looks good. Your SSD is only 60GB so you will have to use the "Data Select Tool".

 

[coper210]

That looks good. Your SSD is only 60GB so you will have to use the "Data Select Tool".

Do you know if you can just pick to transfer your OS in the data selection tool?

 

[Dereck47]

Sorry, I don't know.

 

[coper210]

Best answer selected by coper210.