Install SSD to ASUS P7H55-M

[tritzium]

Hello!
I've been thinking about installing an SSD into my computer, however I have no idea if I can do that with my motherboard.
Can I have an SSD on my motherboard?
Does SSD's need a specific place to be mounted on or do I just install them at the normal places for HDD's? (Do they get installed on the MOBO or in the "case")
What kind of connectors do they use? (SATA-3?)
ASUS website with specs on the mobo

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

You install and connect an SSD exactly the same as installing an HDD, into an empty drive bay inside the PC case.
Connect the SATA power cable to it, connect a SATA data cable to it, job done.

All SSDs are SATA devices (usually SATA 6GB/s) but they will still work on slower SATA ports.
Your motherboard has SATA 3Gb/s ports (also known as SATA II).

 

[JohnnyLucky]

First, you have an older motherboard that was first introduced in 2010. It does not properly support modern SATA 3 6Gb/s solid state drives. Your motherboard is limited to support of the earlier SATA 2 3Gb/s ssd's. Fortunately, modern SATA 3 ssd's are backward compatible with SATA 2. A SATA 3 6Gb/s ssd will work but performance will be limited to SATA 2 levels.

Second, you cannot install one of the brand new PCI-e or M.2 solid state drive directly to your motherboard. Your motherboard is too old and does not support these newer ssd's that were recently released.

Third, standard 2.5 inch SATA 3 6Gb/s solid state drives are installed in an available drive bay. It is very similar to installing a hard disk drive or optical drive. You will need a drive bay adapter if you want to install the ssd in a 5.25 inch or 3.5 inch drive bay.

Finally, standard SATA 3 6Gb/s ssd's are connected via a SATA cable to a SATA connector on the motherboard. There is only one international standard for the SATA data cable. There is no such thing as a SATA 2 or SATA 3 cable. If you do see them advertised as SATA 2 or SATA 3 just consider it as an advertising gimmick.

Due to the age of your motherboard, I recommend purchasing the least expensive ssd available. That is especially true if you are not planning to upgrade your motherboard in the near future. The Crucial BX100, OCZ Arc 100, and PNY Optima are examples of entry level or value ssd's that are worth considering.

I maintain the ssd database listed in a sticky at the very top of this forum section. Here is the link:

http://www.johnnylucky.org/data-storage/ssd-database.html

Scroll down to the SATA 3 section and look for brands and models you might be interested in. You can follow the links to technical reviews.