Getting SSD and 160GB Harddrive working on my system?

[Hassy]

So I am buying a KINGSTON SSD Now v100+ 64GB SSD for installing Windows 7 and programs onto it and I want to use my old 160GB harddrive for media files only. How do I get these drives to do exactly what I want them to do?

If I connect the cables up to them will they work just like that or will I have to change BIOS settings?

I do know that ones I go into, "Integrated Peripherals" it says "On Chip SATA Mode" and then the options I can choose are:
Auto
Enhanced
Compatible
Non compatible

I got no idea what is what. I do know, I need to choose either AHCI or IDE but I do not know which one of these options I must pick?
My motherboard is a Gigabyte 945GZM-S2

Thanks.

 

[drtweak]

Doesn't support AHCI or RAID so just leave that as Auto.

It's best to enable AHCI but it won't kill it. I haven't seen much of a different with it enabled or not on SSD machines.

Now as far as for putting your files on the 160 GB, Once you install windows, go to your user folder so it list like the Documents, Music, Favorices, Ect and right click on the ones you DON'T want on your SSD. Then click on the Location Tab and then move them got a folder of your choosing on the Hard Drive.

 

[USAFRet]

See these:
Win 7 & 8: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1834397/ssd-redirecting-static-files.html
Win 8.1: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2024314/windows-redirecting-folders-drives.html

 

[Hassy]

Doesn't support AHCI or RAID so just leave that as Auto.

It's best to enable AHCI but it won't kill it. I haven't seen much of a different with it enabled or not on SSD machines.

Now as far as for putting your files on the 160 GB, Once you install windows, go to your user folder so it list like the Documents, Music, Favorices, Ect and right click on the ones you DON'T want on your SSD. Then click on the Location Tab and then move them got a folder of your choosing on the Hard Drive.

So your saying when installing both the SSD and the 160GB Harddrive all I do is connect the cables to it and keep the setting on Auto and it all should set itself up? At the moment I have Windows installed on the 160GB which I am going to reformat ones I get the SSD and then install the Windows onto the SSD. Ones I do that the 160GB should show up in my computer right? I am just worried the 160gb drive wont show up as a long time back I had 2 160GB harddrives connected to this motherboard running windows 8 with the setting on Auto and my system kept crashing a lot even when it was a fresh copy of Windows 8 with a genuine license. I don't want to have to use just the SSD for the whole system because 64GB is just not enough for everything.

 

[USAFRet]

Install the OS with only the SSD connected.
Once the OS is up and running, connect the HDD. You might have to mark it as active, or give it a drive letter. But probably nothing more than that.

Install applications as needed, and see the above tutorial links.

 

[drtweak]

Yea as USAFRet said install with just the SSD. Then make sure the SSD in the Pirmary Boot Device in the Bios then add the HDD. Then once you are sure everything is off of it, Format it, and then change the folder locations as I said.

 

[hassy786]

Thank you, as you said my motherboard does not support AHCI, does this mean I wont be able to use the TRIM feature which comes with the SSD? and if the setting is on Auto will it affect the speed the SSD is running at?

Thank You, will reply back in the morning!

 

[drtweak]

Trim is OS dependant. AHCI is hardware Dependant. If you have at least windows 7 it will run trim. And no. But i'm assuming you are only running it over SATA II anyways since its a 945 chipset.