SSD for apps and OS, HDD for files?

[edweennguyen]

Hey guys, I know there are a lot of threads and resources on the installation of SSD's, but they weren't specific enough for my needs. I have a 1TB hard drive with about 700 GB's worth of stuff on it. I'm buying the Samsung 850 EVO 500gb ssd. I play a lot of video games and the SSD will decrease my load times significantly. However, I'd like to keep my HDD to store videos, documents, movies and other stuff. Is there a way to transfer my games and my OS to the SSD to speed up load times, while still keeping my files and data on the HDD as a mass storage device? Also, what else would I need to buy to do this? My friend got his 850 SSD yesterday and his only came with the SSD and samsung's migration software. It had no data migration cable, SATA to usb adapter or bracket for the SSD.

 

[mudpuppet]

Personally I would do a fresh install of the OS on to the new SSD and then move the other files (games etc) over to the SSD from the HDD if you want. I haven't used a migration software so I can't speak to anything with that, sorry.

 

[geofelt]

If your new ssd can hold most of the contents of your hard drive, you can use Samsung ssd migration utility to copy your os and apps to the ssd.
The utility has the option to exclude large data files such as videos.
Attach the ssd temporarily to a sata port.
When the migration is done, swap the ssd and hard drive attachments and you will boot to the ssd.
Then, you can delete whatever you want , including windows from the hard drive.

As to mounting a ssd, a 3.5 to 2.5 adapter is $5 or so.
But, usually, a couple of screws can be used with an existing 3.5 mount. If all else fails, duct tape the ssd to a flat pert of your case.

I saw a note today, that newegg has a promotion for a Samsung 1tb ssd for $380 including a 8gb ram stick.

 

[edweennguyen]

If your new ssd can hold most of the contents of your hard drive, you can use Samsung ssd migration utility to copy your os and apps to the ssd.
The utility has the option to exclude large data files such as videos.
Attach the ssd temporarily to a sata port.
When the migration is done, swap the ssd and hard drive attachments and you will boot to the ssd.
Then, you can delete whatever you want , including windows from the hard drive.

As to mounting a ssd, a 3.5 to 2.5 adapter is $5 or so.
But, usually, a couple of screws can be used with an existing 3.5 mount. If all else fails, duct tape the ssd to a flat pert of your case.

I saw a note today, that newegg has a promotion for a Samsung 1tb ssd for $380 including a 8gb ram stick.

What do you mean by swap the SSD and hard drive attatchments. Also, should I buy a SATA to USB adapter or should I just open up my rig and plug the SSD into the MB using a sata cable?

 

[geofelt]

If your new ssd can hold most of the contents of your hard drive, you can use Samsung ssd migration utility to copy your os and apps to the ssd.
The utility has the option to exclude large data files such as videos.
Attach the ssd temporarily to a sata port.
When the migration is done, swap the ssd and hard drive attachments and you will boot to the ssd.
Then, you can delete whatever you want , including windows from the hard drive.

As to mounting a ssd, a 3.5 to 2.5 adapter is $5 or so.
But, usually, a couple of screws can be used with an existing 3.5 mount. If all else fails, duct tape the ssd to a flat pert of your case.

I saw a note today, that newegg has a promotion for a Samsung 1tb ssd for $380 including a 8gb ram stick.

What do you mean by swap the SSD and hard drive attatchments. Also, should I buy a SATA to USB adapter or should I just open up my rig and plug the SSD into the MB using a sata cable?

Open up the case and use a sata data and power cable to attach the ssd while you copy.
You can leave it lying around and leave the case covers off.
The first boot will be directed to the sata port where the hard drive was originally, so that port is where you should attach the new ssd after the copy is done.
I suppose you could simply change the boot order, but swapping the attachment is less likely to encounter any other issues.

 

[edweennguyen]

If your new ssd can hold most of the contents of your hard drive, you can use Samsung ssd migration utility to copy your os and apps to the ssd.
The utility has the option to exclude large data files such as videos.
Attach the ssd temporarily to a sata port.
When the migration is done, swap the ssd and hard drive attachments and you will boot to the ssd.
Then, you can delete whatever you want , including windows from the hard drive.

As to mounting a ssd, a 3.5 to 2.5 adapter is $5 or so.
But, usually, a couple of screws can be used with an existing 3.5 mount. If all else fails, duct tape the ssd to a flat pert of your case.

I saw a note today, that newegg has a promotion for a Samsung 1tb ssd for $380 including a 8gb ram stick.

What do you mean by swap the SSD and hard drive attatchments. Also, should I buy a SATA to USB adapter or should I just open up my rig and plug the SSD into the MB using a sata cable?

Open up the case and use a sata data and power cable to attach the ssd while you copy.
You can leave it lying around and leave the case covers off.
The first boot will be directed to the sata port where the hard drive was originally, so that port is where you should attach the new ssd after the copy is done.
I suppose you could simply change the boot order, but swapping the attachment is less likely to encounter any other issues.

Thanks, I appreciate the help! Since the SSD doesn't come with any cables, I'll need a power cable and a SATA cable right?

 

[geofelt]

Your psu should have a sata power lead already.
Yes, you will need an extra sata data cable. They are cheap.