Question installing a ssd in an old desktop pc

[hukkus]

Hello, an old desktop pc is now extremely slow with Windows 10. It is an i7-2600 CPU @ 3.40GHz, with 4BG ram and a hdd.

I am thinking about buying a ssd, installing Windows 11 and all the programs there, and keeping the hdd as data disk. I had done this kind of basic things before with a couple of pcs I assembled myself and everything came easy.

But this pc was bought assembled and the power supply is closed with a label asking to keep it closed. Should I open it, or how can I bring power to the disk? The cable which supplies with power to the hdd continues and has a lose end (P5 in the picture). Would that supply with power to my new ssd?

https://postimg.cc/gallery/R4GKt75

Also, do you think I would need more RAM memory? Microsoft is asking for a minimum of 4GB Ram for Windows 11, but I wonder if that's really enough for smooth performance

 

[kanewolf]

Hello, an old desktop pc is now extremely slow with Windows 10. It is an i7-2600 CPU @ 3.40GHz, with 4BG ram and a hdd.

I am thinking about buying a ssd, installing Windows 11 and all the programs there, and keeping the hdd as data disk. I had done this kind of basic things before with a couple of pcs I assembled myself and everything came easy.

But this pc was bought assembled and the power supply is closed with a label asking to keep it closed. Should I open it, or how can I bring power to the disk? The cable which supplies with power to the hdd continues and has a lose end (P5 in the picture). Would that supply with power to my new ssd?

https://postimg.cc/gallery/R4GKt75

Also, do you think I would need more RAM memory? Microsoft is asking for a minimum of 4GB Ram for Windows 11, but I wonder if that's really enough for smooth performance

Your CPU is 6 generations too old for a supported Windows 11 configuration. Microsoft is actively working to ensure unsupported hardware won't run Win 11. I would not waste my time.

 

[USAFRet]

Hello, an old desktop pc is now extremely slow with Windows 10. It is an i7-2600 CPU @ 3.40GHz, with 4BG ram and a hdd.

I am thinking about buying a ssd, installing Windows 11 and all the programs there, and keeping the hdd as data disk. I had done this kind of basic things before with a couple of pcs I assembled myself and everything came easy.

But this pc was bought assembled and the power supply is closed with a label asking to keep it closed. Should I open it, or how can I bring power to the disk? The cable which supplies with power to the hdd continues and has a lose end (P5 in the picture). Would that supply with power to my new ssd?

https://postimg.cc/gallery/R4GKt75

Also, do you think I would need more RAM memory? Microsoft is asking for a minimum of 4GB Ram for Windows 11, but I wonder if that's really enough for smooth performance

That almost 14 year old processor is NOT, repeat NOT Win 11 capable.

Even if you were to forcefit Win 11 onto it (you can't), the 4GB RAM is a major limiting factor. As it currently is with Win 10.

Repurpose it as a Linux based house server, or let it fade away into the great Recycle Bin in the Sky.


But yes, you could add a SATA III SSD in there.

 

[hukkus]

I have a laptop with similar CPU, where I changed the old hhd for a ssd, and windows 11 for 6 months now (8gb ram there). All good so far, it works super well.

"But yes, you could add a SATA III SSD in there." Thanks, I will go ahead then. Probably just cloning the hhd in the ssd and keeping windows 10 to save some time.

 

[artk2219]

It won't be supported, but you can get windows 11 on there, I would upgrade to 8gb of ram though. You could also look into picking up a used office PC from 2018 or so, that should support windows 11 without an issue (core I 8000 series and Ryzen 2000 series and up). That would also get you a very nice performance boost vs your i7 2600. The reason it won't install without some tweaks is due to increased security requirements from Microsoft. Your CPU is still physically capable of running the OS though. You'll just need to modify the installer, and you'll have to manually install each update pack since they won't push from windows update without a change to your registry settings.

How to install Windows 11 on almost any unsupported PC

Want Windows 11 but have an unsupported computer? Here's how to install Windows 11 even if your PC doesn't meet the minimum requirements.

www.xda-developers.com

 

[geofelt]

You do NOT want to open up a psu.
The pics show a couple of sata connectors that are available.
It is not clear if there are any available sata data ports available on the motherboard.
Changing to a ssd will make the pc fly.
Buy a 2.5" sata samsung evo of the capacity you need to replace your HDD contents and then some.
Connect it to the pc via a usb sata connector and run the samsung ssd migration aid.
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.

semiconductor.samsung.com

When done(It might take a few hours) replace the HDD with the new ssd.
Repurpose the HDD as an external backup drive.

On ram, 4gb is not enough unless your windows is 32 bit which is likely.
That is all that a 32 bit os can support.
Changing to 64 is a relatively big effort.