I built my first PC a little over a year ago and I have recently decided to upgrade from my HDD to an SDD for my OS and games. I wanted to check with the braniacs on the forum to find out what is the best way/steps to go about this. Mostly just looking to but Diablo 3 and Windows 7 on the drive for the time being. Being that i am still new to the PC building community i wanted to get some extra info from you all who have done this before. I have read a some of the process online on a few different websites but got the best info from here when building the PC so i wanted to check back before i attempted the install. Thanks for the help in advance everyone!
Upgrading to new SSD drive
- Thread starter Slee1324
- Start date
- Mar 16, 2013
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2 options to move from an HDD to a new SSD
1. Clean install of the OS and applications. My usual recommendation
2. Migrate from the HDD ot the SSD. This requires some consideration.
Primarily, how much total used space is on the HDD, and how large is the SSD. If you have 550 total used space on the HDD, and get a 250GB SSD...that won't work.
1. Clean install of the OS and applications. My usual recommendation
2. Migrate from the HDD ot the SSD. This requires some consideration.
Primarily, how much total used space is on the HDD, and how large is the SSD. If you have 550 total used space on the HDD, and get a 250GB SSD...that won't work.
MarkW
Judicious
- Dec 7, 2009
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Before you attach the SSD, go into the BIOS, and turn on AHCI. Systems only need this turned on when an SSD is in the mix.
Second, treat the SSD exactly like a hard drive, except that you do not need to defrag it. Memory is so fast, fragmentation is not a big deal.
I prefer to do a clean install of Windows to my SSD's when they are added to a system. Others like to clone their old hard drive and start the SSD with that. Most of the time though, the hard drive is bigger than the SSD, so cloning cannot be done.
Beyond that, its all pretty much what you have been doing all along. Your system will boot much faster, and things will load much faster as well.
Second, treat the SSD exactly like a hard drive, except that you do not need to defrag it. Memory is so fast, fragmentation is not a big deal.
I prefer to do a clean install of Windows to my SSD's when they are added to a system. Others like to clone their old hard drive and start the SSD with that. Most of the time though, the hard drive is bigger than the SSD, so cloning cannot be done.
Beyond that, its all pretty much what you have been doing all along. Your system will boot much faster, and things will load much faster as well.
Yea essentially my HDD is just going to be used for basic applications, photos and music. I want to use the SDD for the OS and main game i play currently but got a 250gb to have room for expansion as i add more to the PC. I am definitely looking at the most seemless transition from one drive to another. and if cloning is easier and works the same as a clean install im happy to do that.
MarkW
Judicious
- Dec 7, 2009
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The one thing that I do not like about a cloning process is that the junk that has accumulated in the registry and temp files and all of that comes with the files you do want to keep.
And it is nice every now and then to make a backup, format the hard drive, and start all over. Yes, its time consuming. But you get the "new system" speed back. And you know that all of your drivers are up to date when you are done. And there is never a better time to do this than when you are changing the boot drive to an SSD.
But it is your choice. It is your system. We've informed you of the options. Now comes the fun part. We sit back and wait to see which way you go.
And it is nice every now and then to make a backup, format the hard drive, and start all over. Yes, its time consuming. But you get the "new system" speed back. And you know that all of your drivers are up to date when you are done. And there is never a better time to do this than when you are changing the boot drive to an SSD.
But it is your choice. It is your system. We've informed you of the options. Now comes the fun part. We sit back and wait to see which way you go.
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