[SOLVED] From HDD to SSD

[ajdin2003]

As the title says, I'm planning on going from a HDD to an SSD.
In my 10+ years of gaming, I have never used or owned an SSD, and I'm expecting to be mindblown.
Problem is, I dont know what SSD to choose.
I just need a recommendation for an SSD. Highest I can buy is a 1TB SSD, so either that or a 500gb. (pref 1TB)
Thanks

Specs:
Asus RStrix B450-F
Ryzen 5 3600X
Gtx 1060 6gb

 

[USAFRet]

What is the budget for this?
What market are you buying in? What is available here may not be available there...

 

[ajdin2003]

What is the budget for this?
What market are you buying in? What is available here may not be available there...

Max budget is 150$, I'm in Norway, and most items are available. If availability is an issue, just come with multiple recommendations.

 

[USAFRet]

There are two basic types of SSD.
SATA III and NVMe

NVMe is "faster", but depending on use, that may not actually be seen. And more expensive per GB.

Your motherboard can take either.

In a $150 budget, and a 1TB desire...

The Crucial P1 might be a good choice.
https://www.amazon.de/Crucial-CT1000P1SSD8-Internes-NAND-NVMe/dp/B07J2Q4SWZ
99 Euro for 1TB

Samsung 970 EVO for 140 Euro
https://www.amazon.de/Samsung-MZ-V7E1T0BW-970-Interne-NVMe/dp/B07CGJNLBB

 

[ajdin2003]

There are two basic types of SSD.
SATA III and NVMe

NVMe is "faster", but depending on use, that may not actually be seen. And more expensive per GB.

Your motherboard can take either.

In a $150 budget, and a 1TB desire...

The Crucial P1 might be a good choice.
https://www.amazon.de/Crucial-CT1000P1SSD8-Internes-NAND-NVMe/dp/B07J2Q4SWZ
99 Euro for 1TB

Samsung 970 EVO for 140 Euro
https://www.amazon.de/Samsung-MZ-V7E1T0BW-970-Interne-NVMe/dp/B07CGJNLBB

Thanks, I'll go for the Crucial P1 just to save some bucks.

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks, I'll go for the Crucial P1 just to save some bucks.

Are you planning on a clean OS install on this new drive?

 

[ajdin2003]

Are you planning on a clean OS install on this new drive?

Im planning on moving my OS and games to this drive, and keeping images, videos etc on the HDD

 

[USAFRet]

Im planning on moving my OS and games to this drive, and keeping images, videos etc on the HDD

Moving "parts" of your current C drive contents is problematic.
Generally, a clone operation is all or nothing.

How old is this install?
Win 10?

 

[ajdin2003]

Moving "parts" of your current C drive contents is problematic.
Generally, a clone operation is all or nothing.

How old is this install?
Win 10?

Ye, its windows 10

 

[USAFRet]

How much space is consumed on your current C drive?

 

[ajdin2003]

How much space is consumed on your current C drive?

Around 440 / 930 GB is used

 

[USAFRet]

Around 440 / 930 GB is used

For that, you can migrate everything to the new drive, format the old, then move what you want back on to the now blank old drive.

-----------------------------
Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive

If you are going from a smaller drive to a larger, by default, the target partition size will be the same as the Source. You probably don't want that
You can manipulate the size of the partitions on the target (larger)drive
Click on "Cloned Partition Properties", and you can specifiy the resulting partition size, to even include the whole thing

Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe all partitions on it.
This will probably require the commandline diskpart function, and the clean command.

Ask questions if anything is unclear.
-----------------------------

 

[ajdin2003]

For that, you can migrate everything to the new drive, format the old, then move what you want back on to the now blank old drive.

-----------------------------
Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive

If you are going from a smaller drive to a larger, by default, the target partition size will be the same as the Source. You probably don't want that
You can manipulate the size of the partitions on the target (larger)drive
Click on "Cloned Partition Properties", and you can specifiy the resulting partition size, to even include the whole thing

Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe all partitions on it.
This will probably require the commandline diskpart function, and the clean command.

Ask questions if anything is unclear.
-----------------------------

Thanks, I'll screenshot this for now

 

[geofelt]

I am a fan of the samsung ssd migration app.
You can download the app and instructions here:

Tool & Software Download | Samsung Semiconductor Global

Download various software related to your product, including Samsung Magician, designed for use with Samsung's memory products, and find related information.

www.samsung.com

You should also install the samsung nvme drivers.
The process is simple.
Install the new ssd and the drivers.
Run the app.
Remove the old drive and boot.
Later, you can reconnect the HDD and do with it what you wish.
One option is to put it aside as a backup snapshot of what you have now,

I would suggest repurposing the HDD to be used as a usb connected external backup device.