Before I buy an SSD...some confirmation would gladly help!

[CostaP]

(Really sorry for the long read! First section is about what SSD and size etc. 2nd is the steps to install clarification and 1/2 questions)

Hi everyone!

I am going to Flash my BIOS so it updates to latest version (hopefully fix some performance issues)
This update will allow 'UEFI' mode enabled in my BIOS , but my Windows 10/PC performance will only work with the new UEFI mode., only if I clean reinstall Windows 10 again along with all my programmes. So now is a good chance to buy an SSD (after putting it off for so long!)

-I am thinking of buying a Samsung 850 EVO 250 GB. I hear this is what most people buy to be comfortable.
The thing is, I could stretch to buying a 500 GB SSD as I have £25 Amazon gift voucher, so the price will basically be £115 for 500GB SSD. So do you think the extra '£29' is worth it?

I know its been asked countless times and most SSD storage is filled with games right? I know editing software are installed there, which is what I will have, but I am not a hardcore gamer so wont have a lot. Most likely my main editing softwares:

-Maya -Unity -Photoshop -After Effects -Zbrush -Cinema4D (maybe some more), along with a few games (and of course my OS), is it better just to have a 250GB SSD?

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I have been given these instructions for downloading Windows 10 clean onto SSD whilst removing and then wiping HDD

1. Flash the BIOS update (I will use my PC for a few days to see that all works fine before I reinstall)
2. When I am happy with PC functioning normally, disconnect the existing HDD, leave it disconnected, install (I presume he means connect) the SSD.
3. Boot the computer into "BIOS" setup (it's really UEFI firmware). Make all the settings changes you need to. You will want to enable UEFI booting, and make sure the SATA disk controller is set to AHCI mode. You might not be able to move the SSD to the top of the boot order yet because the required files for UEFI booting are not installed on it yet.
4. Boot the computer from a Windows 10 installation USB flash drive or DVD and install Windows 10 onto the blank SSD which show now install in the format supporting UEFI.
5. After Windows is installed you might need to go back into "BIOS" setup and move the SSD (Windows Boot Manager) to the top of the boot order.
6. Now reconnect your HDD as a secondary storage drive. There are several ways you can use to clean up the drive and make it just a single storage space for data files that you want to keep that will survive a crash of Windows should it occur. It will also give you a place to make backup images of your SSD that can be easily restored if something happens to the SSD or the Windows installed on it.

Does this seem ok to you? Would you add anything else in, like how to wipe my HDD when I reinstall OS to new SSD?

Some extra questions:

1) Could I wipe my HDD, but just keep documents and photos? I have them all backed up so can just drag and drop..but I think clean wiping it is better?
2)Once I remove my internal HD, connect SSD and install Windows 10 on it, and it loads and works all fine, I re-connect my HDD. Wont my PC/Windows 10 be like..."hey, there is 2 OS installed here, one on SSD and one on HDD...WTF is going on!?"...

Thank you if you managed to read up to here and offer your kind and generous help, it is all much appreciated to reassure and make me confident in doing all this crazy complicated stuff! :/

P.S I am super excited for a clean and freshhh install of my PC (if it all work out fine!) :0

 

[DRagor]

I'll make it short
Bigger SSD=longer life, so it's certainly worth to get 500 Gb version. While you don't use many games, graphic programs tend to grow up in size in time (all those plug-ins and such).

Installing part is all ok.

EQ:
1) You either wipe whole drive or not. Unless you have it partitioned in such way that documents are on separate partition - in that case you can wipe all other partitions but leave the one with documents.
2) Nope - BIOS reads only one drive at a time, and you would have 2 OS but each on separate drive. As a matter of fact, you CAN leave your Windows installation on HDD intact, in case of any problems with SSD all you do is switch boot order to HDD first and you have a working computer instantly.

 

[CostaP]

I'll make it short
Bigger SSD=longer life, so it's certainly worth to get 500 Gb version. While you don't use many games, graphic programs tend to grow up in size in time (all those plug-ins and such).

Installing part is all ok.

EQ:
1) You either wipe whole drive or not. Unless you have it partitioned in such way that documents are on separate partition - in that case you can wipe all other partitions but leave the one with documents.
2) Nope - BIOS reads only one drive at a time, and you would have 2 OS but each on separate drive. As a matter of fact, you CAN leave your Windows installation on HDD intact, in case of any problems with SSD all you do is switch boot order to HDD first and you have a working computer instantly.

haha thanks for the short message 😛

And thanks for the info. I will need to decide what I want installed on the SSD and then see if I really need the 500

Is the wiping partitions part of the disk manaegment thing? I read that people said to download a software to completely wipe hdd

Also, I know I am overthinking/worrying but can anything go wrong with the removing hdd,plugging ssd, installing windows setup?

 

[DRagor]

Is the wiping partitions part of the disk manaegment thing? I read that people said to download a software to completely wipe hdd

That only matters when you want to sell your drive and to make sure buyer will not be able to read your files.
Otherwise normal Windows disk management has all the tools you need for the job.

Also, I know I am overthinking/worrying but can anything go wrong with the removing hdd,plugging ssd, installing windows setup?

Always something can go wrong. Most typical problem here is that sometimes motherboard simply can't recognize that SSD has been installed.
But usually it's no more trouble then installing OS on fresh machine.

 

[CostaP]

Ok thanks

http://imgur.com/a/AcRrM
Is my current boot order correct? I am a little confused, usb key is 1, but I dont have a usb inserted (except wireless internet usb), and no cd in either. What is the harddrive in the list? I have a seagate barracuda 1TB but I cant see it

And when it comes to cables, I have a spare SATA power cable

So this spare SATA power cable is connected to Power Supply. This is plugged into SSD to power it on. Do I just buy a SATA cable and connect 1 side to a space in my MB and the other into the SSD (so my MB reads the powered on SSD?) There seems to be quite a few different ones on Amazon http://

 

[madmatt30]

Re cables - yes exactly that .
In fact just unplug your current Seagate drive from the cable & plug that cable into the ssd - you won't have to alter boot order then.

Boot 2 in bios is your Seagate - where it shows st2000.

 

[DRagor]

Also note that most motherboard come with 2 data cables included. So check your boxes if you can find that second cable somewhere. Or if it was prebuilt machine, it is possible second cable is already connected to motherboard.

 

[CostaP]

Re cables - yes exactly that .
In fact just unplug your current Seagate drive from the cable & plug that cable into the ssd - you won't have to alter boot order then.

Boot 2 in bios is your Seagate - where it shows st2000.

What do you mean? Dont I need both SATA power and SATA cable both plugged into both my HDD and SSD (when I get it?)

 

[CostaP]

Also note that most motherboard come with 2 data cables included. So check your boxes if you can find that second cable somewhere. Or if it was prebuilt machine, it is possible second cable is already connected to motherboard.

Ye I checked again and there are 2 data cables. One is plugged into my HD and the other is plugged into where the CD area is (top front of my PC, not sure what its called but where you place a CD, and where headphones/usb plugged in)

 

[madmatt30]

Yes you need another sata data cable then.
As you only have 2 cables & will have 3 drives.

Yes you need sata power & sata data (2 cables) connected to each drive.

The reason I said just unplug the data cable from the Seagate & plug it into the new ssd is because that sata slot is already down in bios as the first hard drive boot device - it will save you messing with boot order.
Plug the Seagate drive back in with a new sata data cable to a different sata port on the board.
Just trying to make it easier for you

 

[DRagor]

Madmatt, OP mentioned he does not have CD, so I guess 2 cables will be enough.

 

[CostaP]

Yes you need another sata data cable then.
As you only have 2 cables & will have 3 drives.

Yes you need sata power & sata data (2 cables) connected to each drive.

The reason I said just unplug the data cable from the Seagate & plug it into the new ssd is because that sata slot is already down in bios as the first hard drive boot device - it will save you messing with boot order.
Plug the Seagate drive back in with a new sata data cable to a different sata port on the board.
Just trying to make it easier for you

So this image http://imgur.com/a/VJwTd shows that I think I have understood it correctly..

But does the SATA 2/3 port on the MB matter? The Amazon description for all SATA cables mentions ' Compatible with SATA I and SATA II specifications'. I think cables are all SATA 2?

To confirm, http:// this is the exact one I need for Samsung SSD? Because my hd and CD has that (as shown in image). Or do I buy http://

 

[CostaP]

Madmatt, OP mentioned he does not have CD, so I guess 2 cables will be enough.

Ah my apologies. I meant as in, the CD boot order, I dont have a CD inserted when I boot my PC. I have the CD slot, but not a CD actually placed inside...my mistake for not making myself clear :/

 

[madmatt30]

Re pictures etc ?? Yes correct .

That cable is fine , there is no such thing as a sata 3 cable , a sata cable is a sata cable period - they're all capable of running sata 3 drives full speed.

 

[CostaP]

Re pictures etc ?? Yes correct .

That cable is fine , there is no such thing as a sata 3 cable , a sata cable is a sata cable period - they're all capable of running sata 3 drives full speed.

Ok nice, looks like I am all set with setup...now to decide 250 or 500GB

£86 for 250GGB or £115 for 500GB (Subtracting my £25 giftcard). If you had my decision, what would your choice be?

Like I mentioned in the first post, I will have softwares like:
-Maya -Unity -Photoshop
-After Effects -Zbrush -Cinema4D (maybe some more),
-And along with a few games (not like 6 or 7
(and of course my OS)

I guess I dont mind stretching to 115 but if its an overkill for a 500GB ssd?

 

[madmatt30]

I'd you can afford a 500gb then buy one mate is my advice.

Ssd's have like a 10 year lifespan nowadays , the extra space will save you having to keep an eye on storage levels.

I am constantly monitoring storage on my PC's with 250gb drives

(I just bought a 500gb 850 evo bnib for £90 ;-) had to be done at that price)

 

[CostaP]

I'd you can afford a 500gb then buy one mate is my advice.

Ssd's have like a 10 year lifespan nowadays , the extra space will save you having to keep an eye on storage levels.

I am constantly monitoring storage on my PC's with 250gb drives

(I just bought a 500gb 850 evo bnib for £90 ;-) had to be done at that price)

10 years? nice, ye your right, saves having to buy more SSD's.

£90 for 500GB where on earth? Only Amazon is the best price I can see..well and its safe retailer!

Whats the diff between http:// and http://.

And as you mentioned, the new SATA data cable will be going into my current HDD, and the current SATA data sable I have already will switch to new SSD.
But is this safe as the SATA' power' cable wont change at all so I am worried and dont want further complications or my PC becoming confused

apologies to drag this on, thats probably my last concern

 

[madmatt30]

The power cables & data cables have nothing to do with each other.
I'd pick the more expensive cable from those 2 simply because it looks better quality & has locking tabs.

Re - drive for £90 ? I trade part time & have a lot of contacts , I see bargains daily for the most part , If I bought everything that I could get I would be skint & living in a box ;-)

For £90 though I couldn't turn it down at all even though I have 3 mx300 drives sat here still in the boxes.

 

[madmatt30]

Crucial MX300 525GB SATA 2.5 Inch Internal Solid State Drive - CT525MX300SSD1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01IAGSD68/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_TdlJzbN4Z46ZB

That's the drive to go for if you're going 500gb , they're fast & you get an extra 25gb which covers the os install.

Looking at your BIOS grab
Is your board an MSI b75ma-e33 ??
If so it only has a single sata 3 port & you 100% want the ssd plugged into that particular one for full speeds.

 

[CostaP]

*ignore comment*

 

[madmatt30]

Right mate , because of your board model you 100% want the ssd plugged into sata port 1 (this is the port that offers full 6gbps speeds which you want with an ssd)

Sata port 1 is the top left one which you already have a cable plugged into.

 

[CostaP]

Right mate , because of your board model you 100% want the ssd plugged into sata port 1 (this is the port that offers full 6gbps speeds which you want with an ssd)

Sata port 1 is the top left one which you already have a cable plugged into.

EDIT: Ah so its SATA port 1. How did you find this out? I am silly not not recognizing it myself

I think I feel a tad more comfortable going for the Samsung. it was like 4800 reviews...and although there is probably not any difference between the Samsung and the Crucial, its just preference for me.

Yes thats my MB. So I will just switch the current SATA cable (which will hold the SSD) from SATA_2 port to SATA 3 port. And plug the new SATA cable into the SATA_2 port and the HDD...right? 😱 http://

What are your mounting brackets like? Are the screw mounted http:// or the pull in and out http://

 

[madmatt30]

Re sata slots -/I'd like to say its magic but in all honesty I just used Google ;-)

You should be more surprised I got your board model from a bios screen grab !!

Re ssd fitting.

What I would do when you get your new ssd is

1. Remove both existing sata cables from the board ports (when installing windows on a ssd you only want the install media & the ssd connected)
2. Use the new cable in sata port 1 to the ssd.
3.plug in your usb installation media - use a rear black USB 2 port.
4.turn on PC , enter bios.
5. Set USB flash drive (it will show in boot order when plugged in ) as boot device 1.
6 .set ssd as boot device 2
7. Save settings & exit.

Should install then fine .

Worry about reconnecting the other drives once you have the ssd up & running with windows.

 

[CostaP]

Re sata slots -/I'd like to say its magic but in all honesty I just used Google ;-)

You should be more surprised I got your board model from a bios screen grab !!

Re ssd fitting.

What I would do when you get your new ssd is

1. Remove both existing sata cables from the board ports (when installing windows on a ssd you only want the install media & the ssd connected)
2. Use the new cable in sata port 1 to the ssd.
3.plug in your usb installation media - use a rear black USB 2 port.
4.turn on PC , enter bios.
5. Set USB flash drive (it will show in boot order when plugged in ) as boot device 1.
6 .set ssd as boot device 2
7. Save settings & exit.

Should install then fine .

Worry about reconnecting the other drives once you have the ssd up & running with windows.

Remove both sata cables? But the other one is for the CD drive. Or you mean use just 1 for SSD install, THEN reconnect CD sataport to sata port 2, and the HD to sata port 3? (the empty one below)

And mounting bracket doesnt matter, wether its the screw in one or the pully plastic one?