Is a 60GB SSD enough for Windows 7 and a few other programs?

[soulweeper]

I do Exede internet installations, and use my Asus laptop to set it up, so it goes in and out of my truck quite a bit, so I'm going to install an SSD, after transferring an image of the current HDD. It's a matter of time before the HHD suffers from all the movement, and the faster boot up will be nice too.

That being said, I don't use this laptop for much, besides work, so it doesn't need much beyond the OS, which is Windows 7. Right now it has a 320GB, 5400 rpm hard drive, and I'm thinking of using either this
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006VCP72W/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

but I'm wondering if I'm pushing it, as far as being too small? I've heard that the general rule of thumb is not to go beyond 80% of capacity.

Like I said.....I use it to do my Exede installs, and it has a few other programs, but it's very minimal.

On that note......my current HDD is partitioned from the factory, and it shows up as
OS ( C: ) 79.7GB free of 119GB
and
DATA ( D: ) 153GB free of153GB
so how will that work if I clone it and put it on a 60GB SSD?

I'm assuming it will simply show about 20GB free of 60GB, and no "D Drive"??, or will it partition the new SSD?? Hope I explained that right.

Would it be easier to just delete the D drive, as there is nothing on it, and just expand the C Drive to one big drive, then clone the drive???

My main question is regarding the 60GB SSD being big enough, especially with what I use the computer for, but I am curious about tha partition issue as well.

If not, I will go with this
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BQ4F9ZA/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Any feedback or input of any kind IMMENSELY appreciated!!

Thanks in advance!

 

[soulweeper]

Your MB drivers are the Lan, audio, chipset, usb and etc. All the drivers that make the devices on your MB & system work. Go into device manager and you will see what you have now.

Ah gotcha......drew a blank on that one, sorry. Would I need to download any of the BIOS drivers, you think.


So I'd basically remove the HDD, install the SSD, boot into BIOS, set it to AHCI, then boot to my ISO disc, install windows, then install all my drivers, yes>

I thought I read something about initializing a hard drive before installing it....something like that. What's that about?

 

[spooky2th]

You don't need to update your BIOS. But it is something to think about later on down the road. If your system is working like it should, there's no need. BIOS updates can be tricky and if you make a mistake you can "brick" your computer and the only recourse would be to send it back to ASUS.

You should be able to install your ssd and load windows right away. Windows should see it. Let Windows give it a quick format at the beginning of the install, then install. I've got 10 ssd installs under my belt and windows has always done the job.

Edit:
Yes, those are the basic steps. But if your system is already in AHCI, you can skip entering the BIOS.

 

[soulweeper]

You don't need to update your BIOS. But it is something to think about later on down the road. If your system is working like it should, there's no need. BIOS updates can be tricky and if you make a mistake you can "brick" your computer and the only recourse would be to send it back to ASUS.

You should be able to install your ssd and load windows right away. Windows should see it. Let Windows give it a quick format at the beginning of the install, then install. I've got 10 ssd installs under my belt and windows has always done the job.

Edit:
Yes, those are the basic steps. But if your system is already in AHCI, you can skip entering the BIOS.

Well, that was my desktop that I set to AHCI. My laptop is only a year old, but given that it's got a HDD, it's probably not, right?

Ok....so ignore the BIOS drivers, just get MB drivers, install the SSD, install Windows, and it should see the SSD, yes? By default, will it name it "C"

When I build my desktop, the guy from ASUS had me do something with the SSD and HDD, and I named them. I can't remember what we did, but I couldn't see them at first....something like that. I can't recall exactly what that was about.

 

[spooky2th]

If you are not sure if your laptop is set for AHCI or not, it wouldn't hurt to check before the windows install.

Check the web site of the ssd that you will be getting. There should be some info on how to install it. What you should or should not do.

 

[soulweeper]

If you are not sure if your laptop is set for AHCI or not, it wouldn't hurt to check before the windows install.

Check the web site of the ssd that you will be getting. There should be some info on how to install it. What you should or should not do.

Yeah, I'm getting either this
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006VCP7YA/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
or this
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BQ4F9ZA/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Probably the M500....save a few bucks, still get 120GB

Probably a dumb question, but does it matter if the SSD I get is SATA III or 6, or whatever? I have no idea what the port on the motherboard is, but as longs as it's SATA, it doesn't matter, correct?

 

[spooky2th]

Sata III and 6GBs are the same types of drives. Yes, get a sata 3 instead of a sata 2. Unless your laptop only has sata 2 speeds, then you will only get sata 2 speeds even with a sata 3 ssd.

 

[soulweeper]

Sata III and 6GBs are the same types of drives. Yes, get a sata 3 instead of a sata 2. Unless your laptop only has sata 2 speeds, then you will only get sata 2 speeds even with a sata 3 ssd.

How would I find out what speeds it has?

I'm also in the BIOS right now, and can't remember where I would check to see if it's set to AHCI.

 

[soulweeper]

Found it....it's set to AHCI already.

 

[soulweeper]

This may sound like another dumb question but....I noticed they have drivers on the Asus site for USB 3.0, and my laptop has 2.0 and 3.0, so I'm assuming the 2.0 will work with the new SSD, without any drivers needed? I started wondering how I'd install drivers from a thumb drive if the USB port doesn't work

 

[spooky2th]

Windows will install a basic driver when you install a usb device. Your 2.0 usb driver is probably included in the chipset and the 3.0 usb is separate and might not work until you install the driver.

You can find out if you have sata 3 or sata 2 in your specs on web site where your drivers are. What is your laptop's model and manufacturer?

 

[soulweeper]

Windows will install a basic driver when you install a usb device. Your 2.0 usb driver is probably included in the chipset and the 3.0 usb is separate and might not work until you install the driver.

You can find out if you have sata 3 or sata 2 in your specs on web site where your drivers are. What is your laptop's model and manufacturer?

ASUS A53E-ES92

I couldn't find any specs that would tell me that.

 

[spooky2th]

I didn't see anything either. Your laptop is probably only sata 2. Especially since it has a slow 5400RPM HDD in it.

 

[soulweeper]

I didn't see anything either. Your laptop is probably only sata 2. Especially since it has a slow 5400RPM HDD in it.

Yeah....I was gonna say, just that alone tells you how much improvement there will be, switching to SSD. Even though I don't demand anything at all from the laptop. My main concern is the vibration from riding in my truck all the time. I drive some pretty nasty roads sometimes too. Plus, just the fast boot up will be helpful, getting out of a house a little quicker.

I'm still contemplating the 60GB Intel 520 series
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006VCP72W/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

over the 120GB Crucial
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BQ4F9ZA/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

only because the 60GB is within my budget, and still Intel. They have a good reputation, and I have the 120GB in my desktop, but it's a little pricey...otherwise I'd just get it.

I probably should just get the crucial.

 

[spooky2th]

With a sata 2 comp it probably won't make much difference in speed between the two.

 

[soulweeper]

With a sata 2 comp it probably won't make much difference in speed between the two.

You mean between the Crucial and Intel, or between an SSD and the 5400RPM HDD that's in there?

 

[spooky2th]

Between the two ssd's.

 

[soulweeper]

Between the two ssd's.

Ah....ok. I should get a significant improvement by simply switching to SSD though, correct?

The Intel is only 60GB, so I'm still debating whether or not to just go with it.

Seriously, if I did a clean install of Windows 7, a lot of the crap ASUS has on there would be gone, I'd have a couple browsers, Adobe reader, and maybe a small handful of essential programs like that. I think the 60GB would more than cover that. The 120GB Crucial would just give me way more insurance. It's not an expensive laptop, I'm just worried about the HDD dying from vibration, but I want to use the right SSD too.

 

[spooky2th]

Yup, with either ssd you should see a good improvement in boot time and responsiveness of your comp.

 

[soulweeper]

Yup, with either ssd you should see a good improvement in boot time and responsiveness of your comp.

What do you think about the 60GB? A few posts back, when I was talking about cloning it, you said I'd probably have less than 20GB left, which sounds about right, as there is about 40GB used now on my laptop.

Obviously it would be even better with a fresh install of Windows.

 

[spooky2th]

60Gb is too small for me. But thats just my opinion. If you think thats all you need for what you use your laptop for, then it is an option for you to think about.

 

[USAFRet]

For my use, a 60GB is too small. My current 128 Sandisk has 63.3 used space. Win8 Pro, plus most of the applications. Lightroom, an older version of PS, PaintShop Pro, etc, etc, etc.

I could probably squeeze that onto a 60GB drive, but I'd be sweating the free space all the time.

The price difference between a 60 and a 128 isn't all that much. At Amazon, the Crucial M4 64 is $82, and the 128 is $121.
Choose accordingly.

 

[soulweeper]

For my use, a 60GB is too small. My current 128 Sandisk has 63.3 used space. Win8 Pro, plus most of the applications. Lightroom, an older version of PS, PaintShop Pro, etc, etc, etc.

I could probably squeeze that onto a 60GB drive, but I'd be sweating the free space all the time.

The price difference between a 60 and a 128 isn't all that much. At Amazon, the Crucial M4 64 is $82, and the 128 is $121.
Choose accordingly.

Well.....I was contemplating the M500 120GB, which is 114.99, and it's the latest generation from Crucial, so between you and spooky2th, I think I'll go with that. I'd rather have the Intel 120GB, but it's $35 more, and though they have a great reputation and warranty, Crucial is a solid company as well.

 

[soulweeper]

I ordered the Intel 520 120GB. It's what I have in my desktop.
I ordered the cloning kit, just in case, with the Apricorn software and USB to SATA cable, but I'm still on the fence about that. The guy at ASUS said it will only clone the first partition, and not the hidden recovery partition, but that the old HDD would serve as a backup. He also suggested a fresh install of Windows 7, which still sounds good to me. I'm a little concerned about screwing something up with the drivers and whatnot, but that's just because I don't do this all the time. I built the desktop I'm using, so I guess there is nothing to be afraid of, but it's still not second nature to me.

The guys at ASUS also said that Windows has most of the drivers for the laptop, including touchpad drivers and whatnot, so for the most part, after installing a fresh copy of Windows 7, the laptop will pretty much function normally.