Adding an SSD to Dell XPS-435T / Studio 9000

[pelampe]

Hello,

I want to install a new SSD into a XPS-435T, which was built in 2010.

I know the motherboard supports SATA I, but am not sure about SATA II or SATA III. Screenshot below of the motherboard specs from CPU-Z.

So my first question is this: Does anyone know what SATA versions are available on this motherboard?

What is a good way to identify what type of SATA is built on it now?

Second, there are two HD :

Primary (boot) drive is a Seagate ST3320418AS (320gb). I believe it is SATA I.

Secondary (data) drive is a WD WD5000AAKS-75V0A0 (500gb). I believe it is also SATA I.

I want to replace the 320gb Seagate with a SSD drive. Probably a 250-500gb.

What I need to know is if there are any special warnings/issues in trying to replace a SSD from a conventional (previous) HD.

Also, what you guys think about the Crucial vs. Samsung SSDs?

i've read somewhere that the SATA III drives are backwards compatible with SATA I standard. Is this true?

Thanks in advance for you replies!

Phil in Sugar Land

 

[Someone Somewhere]

SATA is definitely backwards compatible. Any disk will work with any motherboard.

Ideally, you should set the BIOS to AHCI and reinstall windows - not essential, but gives you moderate performance improvements.

 

[hwc1954]

I think Dells of that vintage are SATA II. It doesn't matter, though. Any SATA III drive will work. I just upgraded a 2010 Dell XPS 7100 with an SSD. Best $99 performance improvment ever. Real world, getting Windows and apps loading so much faster is a big deal.

I looked at the Crucial and the Samsung. Ended up with a 240 MB SanDisk Ultra 2 for $99 from Amazon. It's a bit faster than the Crucial and less money than the Samsung with similarly advanced memory chips. I don't think it matters very much. Six in one, half dozen in the other.

My BIOS (untouched from Dell, I think) was already set to AHCI. I did not reintall Windows. Just moved all the data files off my hard drive and cloned it. It was a fairly uneventful process.

Make sure you order a SATA cable if you need one. And you might need a SATA-power cable splitter if you don't have a free one in the computer. Also, if you want to mount the drive in a drive bay, you'll need a 2.5 inch to 3.5 inch adaptor. Then, it can go in a 3.5 inch bay or a 5.25 inch bay with the additional rail extenders inside the computer.

 

[hwc1954]

One other tidbit:

Once you are all set and done, you'll need to go into BIOS to set the boot sequence to boot from the SSD. This is a two step process on the DELL BIOS.

First you go to the HARD DISK PRIORITY and set the boot order of the drives: SSD #1, and so forth.

Then you go to the BOOT PRIORITY tab and set the priority among CD/ROM and whatever hard drive you have already set as #1 (your SSD).