Looking to upgrade HDD, need help

[jordawgg]

Hello tomshardware users,

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

I have a computer that I built about 3 years ago. Most of the components were new/newish at the time of the build, except for the Hard Drive. I was trying to build on a budget so I used one I had lying around. Fast forward to now and I believe the hard drive is dying.

For reference, in Device Manager my Hard disk was a "Toshiba DT01ACA100 ATA Device". I am going to guess that is an old piece of garbage?

My motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-78lmt-s2p model. I would like to get a small SSD (>100$) for my OS and often used programs and newer 1TB HDD to put my general files onto.

I am not very sure of what limitations there might be on any potential purchases, and if so, what I should buy? Again, I'm trying to keep the cost down since I am a college student with little money, but I am afraid my hard drive is gonna bite the dust soon.

Thanks for your help!

 

[glamdringfh]

Hi jordawgg,

The Samsung 850 EVO 250GB would be a perfect SSD for what you described:

Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($87.91 @ Amazon)
Total: $87.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-04 16:27 EST-0500

- It's currently the best price/ performance SSD on the market
- 5 Year warranty
- Comes with a great software suite for easy SSD management
- Enough space for you OS and other programs without having to worry about the drive overflowing too quickly

For the HDD drive, the WD 1TB Blue would be a good choice:

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($51.88 @ OutletPC)
Total: $51.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-04 16:31 EST-0500

 

[AmusingUserID]

Id probably go for something like a samsung 850 120/250gb SSD for OS and a WD Blue 1tb (super cheap) both will be SATA so fine on your motherboard.

That would be a very cheap solution

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

The only choices are 850 EVO or BX100 in that order.

Currently the 2 best on the market.

Samsung has a 35% market share for a reason , they are the best ad their SSD's have the longest lifespan.

http://ssd.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Samsung-850-Evo-250GB-vs-Crucial-BX100-250GB/2977vs3145
Compare here ^

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8747/samsung-ssd-850-evo-review/4
Samsung Lifespan

http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/global/html/ssd850evo/reviews_awards.html
Awards from tech sites.


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($67.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $67.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-04 16:31 EST-0500

OR

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Storage: Crucial BX100 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($64.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $64.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-04 16:33 EST-0500

 

[jordawgg]

Thank you all for your answers.

I was wondering if perhaps these would be decent choices in addition to the ones described above.

Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive

According to PCPartPicker they would be compatible with my mobo and case as well. Both are around $50 on Amazon so it would keep me under 100 dollars <-- aka happy student

Unless the difference was so great between the Kingston and the 850 Evo that I would be stupid to buy the other one?

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

I would get the SEAGATE and the Samsung.

Samsung reliability can't be beat.

 

[glamdringfh]

Those would both be good choices and work well together, though I agree with Blackbird that the 120GB Samsung + the Seagate would be ideal.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

I like the Seagate , but the Samsung is a must , in my opinion.

 

[jordawgg]

I would get the SEAGATE and the Samsung.

Samsung reliability can't be beat.

Okay. Final question then, if I have my hard drive connected to the motherboard and no other cables, would the hard drives come with the right cables to connect to the motherboard? I have a mid sized ATX case with several storage bays.

 

[glamdringfh]

The SATA data cables you would need usually come with your motherboard. You'll need to pick up a couple new SATA data cables if you don't have them, as they don't typically come with the drives.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

If they are OEM or bard drives they won't come with cabels.

Do you have any Sata cables left over from your motherboard.

The EVO will need a cable for sure.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812422653
Coboc Model SC-SATA3-18-LL-BK-90 18" 90 Degree to 180 Degree SATA III 6Gb/s Data Cable w/Latch,Black

Sata cables great price.

 

[jordawgg]

Thank you so much everyone. You answered all my questions.
Thanks for your help.