SSD Upgrade Compatible?

[JAGX]

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3 P55 R
CPU : CORE i5 760 2.80GHz
RAM : 8 GB GSKILL F3-12800CL7D
GPU: MSI|N460GTX Hawk Talon Attack
PSU: CORSAIR|CMPSU-750TX 750W
HD : Seagate Barracuda 2 TB 7200rpm [current]
OS: Win 7 Ultimate SP1
Case: Azza Solano 2000

I'm looking to upgrade to a SSD. Probably a Samsung Evo 840, either in 250 or 500 GB configuration. Then I want to use my current HDD for storage and backup.

I need to know if my current setup is:

1) compatible

2) will get the full benefit, what can I expect

3) what else do I need to hook it up/make it fit in my case

It's been few years since I've looked, I know some things like: TRIM, AHCI, SATA III, and all that are relevant to some degree but I'm not sure if I can fully benefit from a SSD?

 

[ThatVietGuy]

You can put an SSD in any computer as long as the mobo supports AHCI (though not a necessity) and has SATA connections. You install it like any other mechanical hard drive.

 

[JAGX]

You can put an SSD in any computer as long as the mobo supports AHCI (though not a necessity) and has SATA connections. You install it like any other mechanical hard drive.

Ah I see.

While it was originally a gamer rig, now I need something that excels at word processing and general office type productivity. It's getting to the point where booting, and loading word and adobe docs seems to be slowing me down.

That brings me to the second consideration I need. I read that you should keep 25% free in SSD to maximize performance. Aside from that, I don't know how best to maximize my performance when using a SSD.

Specifically, my current 1 TB HDD is full (mostly movies, no editing though). What is the best way to utulize the limited space on a new SDD? I know the operating system and drivers, perhaps my word files and install the games I will play on the SSD? The dynamic between a primary SSD and a secondary HDD is unfamiliar to me.

 

[ThatVietGuy]

SSD gets all your most used files, whatever they may be, and all program installations. Hard drive gets everything else.

 

[JAGX]

SSD gets all your most used files, whatever they may be, and all program installations. Hard drive gets everything else.

Sounds good. Just peeked into BIOS, and it has two AHCI options:

PCH SATA CONTROL MODE: IDE, RAID, AHCI

GSATA CONTROL MODE: IDE, AHCI

I don't know which one(s) would be correct to enable AHCI.

 

[pm4]

[strike]Your motherboard support only up to SATA II 3Gb/s in real life it's up to around 300MB/s that mean it will bottleneck your SSD. It will still be faster than classic HDD but it wont run at full speed as Samsung EVO features speeds around/over 500MB/s.[/strike]

EDIT: Ignore my post, I was blind when reading spec, you got 2x sata III so it should run at full speed when you plug it into one of SATA III slots.

 

[JAGX]

Your motherboard support only up to SATA II 3Gb/s in real life it's up to around 300MB/s that mean it will bottleneck your SSD. It will still be faster than classic HDD but it wont run at full speed as Samsung EVO features speeds around/over 500MB/s.

Check the link again, I believe "Provides newest Marvell SE9128 high speed SATA3 storage interface with superfast 6Gbps link speed" will qualify as SATA III correct? It has two of these, the rest are 3Gb/s.

 

[pm4]

Your motherboard support only up to SATA II 3Gb/s in real life it's up to around 300MB/s that mean it will bottleneck your SSD. It will still be faster than classic HDD but it wont run at full speed as Samsung EVO features speeds around/over 500MB/s.

Check the link again, I believe "Provides newest Marvell SE9128 high speed SATA3 storage interface with superfast 6Gbps link speed" will qualify as SATA III correct? It has two of these, the rest are 3Gb/s.

Yes I just edited my post when you posted response . I missed that 2nd chip on board. So you will be fine, just make sure you use one of SATA III (6Gb/s) slots and not SATA II.