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[Technology] Advice on selecting and using an SSD for a windows 7 PC



Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patreon
Oct 8, 2003
49,341
Faversham
Dear NSC hive mind,

I read on another thread that SSDs transform old PCs. I have had a shufty online, and I infer that what I need, if such a thing exists, is a plug and play SSD with built in software that lets me clone my PC HD via a USB port, then run the PC off that. I don't want to have to take the back off the PC and faff if this can be avoided.

Can I do that and, if so, are there any good recommendations?

I have Amazon Prime (yes, I know - but I have fluked a student membership trial) and I see SSDs from 30 to 150 quid, but I can't see whether the spec includes what I want.

I thank you. HWT
 


beorhthelm

A. Virgo, Football Genius
Jul 21, 2003
35,265
you'll have to take the back off the PC to mount the SSD after you've cloned the existing drive (which keep around as a backup then recycle as a spare data drive).

like anything, avoid the cheap end. i'd go for Samsung, Intel, non budget Kingston, capacity of at least 120GB. look for the speed for read/writes of 500Mbps up (avoid wildly asynchrons rating, like 100 write 600 read).
 


Saunders

Well-known member
Oct 1, 2017
2,292
Brighton
Another recomendation for samsung as their stats are good on read writes and their software is also very good.

A SATA SSD wont be as blisteringly fast as an M2 (assuming you dont have a motherboard compatible with an M2 drive) but it will be so much better than what you have now.
 


Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patreon
Oct 8, 2003
49,341
Faversham
you'll have to take the back off the PC to mount the SSD after you've cloned the existing drive (which keep around as a backup then recycle as a spare data drive).

like anything, avoid the cheap end. i'd go for Samsung, Intel, non budget Kingston, capacity of at least 120GB. look for the speed for read/writes of 500Mbps up (avoid wildly asynchrons rating, like 100 write 600 read).

Thanks. I presume I can clone the existing drive before mounting the SSD (via the usb port)?
 


vagabond

Well-known member
May 17, 2019
9,804
Brighton
You’ll definitely see improvements to load times, Windows and boot times especially vastly increase.

But nowhere near the dramatic positive effect a better processor and more RAM will give you. Not even close.

Strangely now might be a good time to order a PC / laptop, might get a good deal.
 




happypig

Staring at the rude boys
May 23, 2009
7,935
Eastbourne
Thanks. I presume I can clone the existing drive before mounting the SSD (via the usb port)?

USB will be a bottleneck.
You need to mount the SSD in the PC. If you don't, it's not worth bothering

What make/model is the PC ? On a lot of them it's fairly easy to change the HDD
 


beorhthelm

A. Virgo, Football Genius
Jul 21, 2003
35,265
Thanks. I presume I can clone the existing drive before mounting the SSD (via the usb port)?

you can, if the drive comes with a dongle to interface between usb and SATA (not familar with m2). its as easy to mount the drive first and do it across the SATA bus, unless its a laptop.

oh and check it does have the mount caddy or otherwise have to buy one (ebay a few quid). some models can look cheaper but not have the retail pack that includes the caddy and software.
 


Weststander

Well-known member
NSC Patreon
Aug 25, 2011
63,407
Withdean area
I was a similar boat, putting off the change from a Windows 7 Dell desktop, but finally biting the bullet last month.

I bought a new Dell desktop, and I didn’t clone as I wanted a fresh start with none of the old partitions and quirks of the 9 year old HDD. I copied all the old documents onto an external HDD, then onto the new machine. Predictably, the best part of a weekend was lost, with the installation of various specialist programs, MS Office etc.

With a new monitor, it’s amazing compared to the patched up old Dell.
 




Saunders

Well-known member
Oct 1, 2017
2,292
Brighton
Thanks. I presume I can clone the existing drive before mounting the SSD (via the usb port)?

If you have a spare SATA connector I would do it via that, USB may be a lot slower (dont know about the USB dongle mentioned). Samsung comes with data migration tool that can help transfer your data to a clean install but doesnt work for cloning for that there are other software/freeware available but i cant help much with that sorry apart from what I found on a quick google (anyone know if AOMEI is good?)as I usually prefer to do a clean install on a new drive.

Edit to add M.2 connects to a special connector on your motherboard if you have one.
 


Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patreon
Oct 8, 2003
49,341
Faversham
USB will be a bottleneck.
You need to mount the SSD in the PC. If you don't, it's not worth bothering

What make/model is the PC ? On a lot of them it's fairly easy to change the HDD

HP Pro Slimline Core i3
 


happypig

Staring at the rude boys
May 23, 2009
7,935
Eastbourne
HP Pro Slimline Core i3

as [MENTION=38362]vagabond[/MENTION] says, memory will give you much more of a boost than an SSD. I would try that first.

Go to https://uk.crucial.com/store/advisor and click on "Try our scanner tool", That'll tell you what memory to put in it (buy completely new and replace what's in it, to ensure it works best. It'll also tell you what SSD will work well too.
 




Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patreon
Oct 8, 2003
49,341
Faversham
as [MENTION=38362]vagabond[/MENTION] says, memory will give you much more of a boost than an SSD. I would try that first.

Go to https://uk.crucial.com/store/advisor and click on "Try our scanner tool", That'll tell you what memory to put in it (buy completely new and replace what's in it, to ensure it works best. It'll also tell you what SSD will work well too.

Many thanks.

Much appreciated, everyone :cheers:
 


schmunk

"Members"
Jan 19, 2018
9,405
Mid mid mid Sussex
as [MENTION=38362]vagabond[/MENTION] says, memory will give you much more of a boost than an SSD. I would try that first.

Go to https://uk.crucial.com/store/advisor and click on "Try our scanner tool", That'll tell you what memory to put in it (buy completely new and replace what's in it, to ensure it works best. It'll also tell you what SSD will work well too.

I completely disagree with this - s spinning hard drive is almost always the bottleneck in a system, and should be the first thing to upgrade.
 



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