Replacing/Upgrading Existing SSD in Laptop

[Andrew_R]

I have an Acer M5-481PT-6644 Laptop with both a HDD and a 20GB SSD (both stock).

First off, how do I access the SSD and put stuff on it? If it involves BIOS, the included .pdf manual says to press F2 at the boot screen but I can't seem to get that to work.

Anyway, the main question is, how do I go about upgrading my existing SSD with a higher capacity one (likely ~250GB)? What do I have to do to get it to work properly? Easy-to-follow/detailed instructions would be appreciated, as I am not too familiar with this sort of upgrade.

I have not used any of the 20GB from the stock SSD, so backing it up or transferring any files isn't necessary.

 

[RealBeast]

Your "20GB SSD" is an mSATA cache, so you cannot swap it out to a standard SSD. It is not usable as a separate drive so you don't have the option to access it independently. You would have to swap out the HDD to an SSD (7mm height). For that you need to migrate your OS to the SSD.

Be careful and retrieve your Windows 8 key using the free Belarc Advisor and, if you don't have media with the OS (an install disk), create a bootable installer or move the installation before removing the old drive.

 

[Andrew_R]

Your "20GB SSD" is an mSATA cache, so you cannot swap it out to a standard SSD. It is not usable as a separate drive so you don't have the option to access it independently. You would have to swap out the HDD to an SSD (7mm height). For that you need to migrate your OS to the SSD.

Be careful and retrieve your Windows 8 key using the free Belarc Advisor and, if you don't have media with the OS (an install disk), create a bootable installer or move the installation before removing the old drive.

What exactly does this mean, what is the point of it exactly? I'm not the best with this stuff in particular.

And so the only way to upgrade would be to upgrade the HDD to an SSD? Would I keep the stock 20GB SSD or get rid of it? And, compared to the laptop's current setup, would I even see a noticeable benefit if I were to upgrade to a, say, 500GB SSD considering it would be about $300?

Thanks

 

[RealBeast]

The 20GB is just a cache so it holds frequently used data to speed up your HDD, but at only 20GB it's not going to help much.

Yes, you would see a noticeable benefit but at the cost of the SSD. If you buy an SSD you can remove the mSATA card, it won't cache an SSD.

 

[Andrew_R]

The 20GB is just a cache so it holds frequently used data to speed up your HDD, but at only 20GB it's not going to help much.

Yes, you would see a noticeable benefit but at the cost of the SSD. If you buy an SSD you can remove the mSATA card, it won't cache an SSD.

So to be sure, there's no way I can use both the stock HDD and a higher capacity SSD (both as regular storage devices)? I though I heard that something can be configured in the Intel Rapid Storage Technology application, but I'm not sure. I've attached an image to show the details just in case. I also noticed that both the HDD and SSD are refered to as "SATA", not mSATA. What does this mean, and does it make any difference?

 

[RealBeast]

They will not physically fit inside the case together, there is only one 2.5 inch drive slot. The mSATA drive is very small, about .1 x 1 x 1.5 inches, the HDD or SSD is much larger. Google a picture of an mSATA drive.

 

[Andrew_R]

They will not physically fit inside the case together, there is only one 2.5 inch drive slot. The mSATA drive is very small, about .1 x 1 x 1.5 inches, the HDD or SSD is much larger. Google a picture of an mSATA drive.

I see, and that is a very big difference. Thanks for all the help. If I still feel inclined, I may buy a SSD down the road, but not until the prices are a bit lower because it isn't a huge deal if I don't have one, more like an upgrade that would make things even better. Hopefully I can get a 500GB one at a decent price in the future, I don't think 250 would be quite enough.

 

[mykol404]

I have the exact same model Acer. I am running Micro7 x64 off the 20GB mSATA SSD with ample room to spare (~12 GB). Truly an amazing machine when the OS is on the SSD, and the SSD isnt a cache.
It was so long ago, I think last Xmas, when I did this so I can't remember exactly. But basically I wiped off the new Windows 8-style BIOS (I forget what it was called, but it was horrible) and was able to go back to the traditional BIOS that is also on the motherboard preinstalled. From there, I was able to boot from the Micro7 DVD-Rom, and it sees the mSATA "cache" as just a 20GB HDD. Formatted to NTFS, and installed the light OS. Been smooth ever since. I have it pretty full now so I am about to buy a 240 GB mSATA SSD, clone the current mSATA 20GB, and use a full size mSATA as primary OS HDD. Cheers.