I want to buy a SSD to install.. Help me

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › I want to buy a SSD to install.. Help me

Finch

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#180825 23-Sep-2015 08:59

Hey guys.

Picking up my new Laptop later today and it comes with a 2TB HDD. Based on the feedback here, I have learnt that a SSD is faster + better for all round performance.

I have a couple of questions...

1: If I pull out the HDD + Install the SDD that voids the warranty doesn't it?

2: What is a good price to pay, as in $:GB ?

3: Is there good/bad brands? Looking on MightyApe and there is a Samsung 512GB for $550, but a 500GB Crucial MX200 for $350. What makes a Samsung worth the extra $200, besides the extra 12GB?

4: Any other general Tips?

Thanks folks!

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#1392455 23-Sep-2015 09:05

Have you checked local suppliers? PB Tech list a 500GB Samsung for $299.00.

rb99

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#1392485 23-Sep-2015 09:27

PBTech = $299 + GST.

Another possibility, depending on desire / adventurousness is to replace the DVD drive (assuming its got one of course) with an SSD, and keep the HDD.

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wasabi2k

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#1392499 23-Sep-2015 09:42

Crucial, Samsung and Intel are great.

There are "PRO" level SSDs which normally post higher Read/Write, but unless you are willing to pay a premium they aren't worth the gains.

Your laptop may have an mSATA port which allows you to use that in addition to the existing hdd without a caddy - mSATA SSDs are a different form factor.

macuser

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#1392504 23-Sep-2015 09:46

I would also recommend replacing the DVD drive and putting the 2TB drive in there,

Juse this product http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=ENCOEM0001&name=Universal-9.5mm-SATA-2nd-HDDSSD-Hard-Drive-Caddy-F

You'll take the current DVD drive plate off the laptop and stick it on this.

chiefie

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#1392507 23-Sep-2015 09:49

Back to warranty part, yes you would void it if you open it up.

So depending on how confident you are with computers and would you risk voiding the manufacturer's warranty.

What model is your laptop? Some laptops may have mSATA or m2 slot, and you can add SSD that way - like mine, it has mSATA which I used for SSD boot up, and 2 HDD slot, and with ODD (BD) - but it's a 17" Acer laptop. And I have had it for nearly 2 years - after manufacturer's warranty period, to replace the 1TB with all the SSDs. Yes, I endured HDD for 2 years lol.

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Rikkitic

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#1392522 23-Sep-2015 10:02

A question about replacing the DVD drive: Isn't one of the big plus points of SSD the much faster boot-up time?

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

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wasabi2k

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#1392534 23-Sep-2015 10:04

Rikkitic: A question about replacing the DVD drive: Isn't one of the big plus points of SSD the much faster boot-up time?

Yes - so you have a caddy that replaced the DVD drive to hold your spinning disk, the install the SSD internally and boot off it.

1101

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#1392612 23-Sep-2015 11:42

Finch:

1: If I pull out the HDD + Install the SDD that voids the warranty doesn't it?

Keep the old drive. Put the old drive back in when making a warranty claim.
Some brands are flexible with HD's & the units warranty , they dont seem to care .
At least one brand has used it as an excuse to void warranty, and the SSD was installed by an approved reseller.

chiefie

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#1392615 23-Sep-2015 11:48

1101:
Finch:

1: If I pull out the HDD + Install the SDD that voids the warranty doesn't it?

Keep the old drive. Put the old drive back in when making a warranty claim.
Some brands are flexible with HD's & the units warranty , they dont seem to care .
At least one brand has used it as an excuse to void warranty, and the SSD was installed by an approved reseller.

Careful if they have sealed sticker covering one of the hole. But usually and most have a separately user-replaceable cover for changing HDD.

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Finch

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#1392626 23-Sep-2015 12:01

Thanks for all the replies folks.

If I put the SSD into the Laptop before I turn it on for the very first time, will everything work fine?

This is the Laptop...

https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/computers/computers/laptops/pc-notebook-computers/hp-15-ab108tx-15-6-pavilion-white-full-hd-notebook/prod139254.html

And this is the SSD I was looking at..

Or this (Would encourage me to back up data more often also)

https://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/500GB-Crucial-MX200-555MBs-read-500MBs-Write/23019854

Batman

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#1392647 23-Sep-2015 12:28

2 words. Samsung EVO. that's all. don't bother about anything else.

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Finch

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#1392652 23-Sep-2015 12:36

joker97: 2 words. Samsung EVO. that's all. don't bother about anything else.

Would the Samsung SSD work with the Laptop...? Just a simple swap before I boot for the first time?

Hope to get same day delivery from MightyApe, so need to order before 1PM....

macuser

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#1392655 23-Sep-2015 12:47

Finch:
joker97: 2 words. Samsung EVO. that's all. don't bother about anything else.

Would the Samsung SSD work with the Laptop...? Just a simple swap before I boot for the first time?

Hope to get same day delivery from MightyApe, so need to order before 1PM....

You will need recovery media and boot into that, and then install the OS from there. Alternatively use Windows 8 recovery media creator (or whatever OS comes with the laptop) and an 8GB usb stick. From there you will boot to the USB stick and install the OS on the SSD. It should activate fine. Make sure the BIOS is set to AHCI for its disks, just in case it isn't (it should be).

jonb

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#1392656 23-Sep-2015 12:50

You would need to clone the existing hdd with Windows install on it, to the Ssd. It should come with a program to do that, but needs the laptop to be running to do that. So run first with existing hdd that comes with it.

Also Create recovery media on a separate 8GB usb stick, so you can recover the system if anything goes wrong and need to re-install Windows.

Finch

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#1392657 23-Sep-2015 12:52

How tricky is all this? Because it sounds awfully hard haha.

Any good video guides out there? I don't work well with written instructions, have to actually see somebody doing something

Think I will just order the 250Gb Samsung Evo SSD, have it delivered tonight and then go from there...

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