Install/Performance Experience with 256GB Samsung 830 SSD's $155

I just popped for two of these to replace the 320GB HD's in two or our R3's:

Amazon.com: SAMSUNG 830 Series 2.5-Inch 256GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) MZ-7PC256B/WW: Computers & Accessories


Any recent experience with install and performance of these Samsung 830's?

 

O.O

That's kinda insane. Uh... ever seen what a PC is like when it boots in 10 seconds? :3

 

i have heard many good reports about the 830 and i am going to buy one myself but as long as you install it in the middle hard drive bay also have heard performance is amazing.

 

GOD DAMN IT. I bought my 128gb for that price

Also, so far my SSD is performing like a dream!

 

I think they literally just dropped to that price today. I was looking at that model yesterday and it was $189.99 (I remember wondering why the bare drive was $10 more than the desktop kit).

 

I'd like to hear more about the install experience like using the middle hard drive bay... I have used Paragon Migration software in the past with perfection but wonder if there is a free alternative?

The 840's are coming out in a few weeks so they are pushing out the 830's for crazy low prices...

 

The 830 is the standard Dell SSD. I have had one for almost a year now and it works great. Gets the full speed in the middle port using bios A08 or the modified A10 or A12 with A08 sata behavior, no real configuration required. Be sure you google SSD tweaks and turn off things like virtual memory and hibernation. Nothing much to say, a great price on a great drive. I am honestly thinking about grabbing a second one but I am not sure I need it. I just did a reformat and install to Windows 8 and have like 180 gigs free even with all my software and the current games I am playing installed.

As for migration why not just use the built in Windows 7 system image? I use that and it works great for me. I guess it might have issues if your current drive is a lot different size from the SSD, I am not sure about that, I use it to backup and restore between the same size drives.

 

i think the drive comes with a copy of Norton ghost but i wouldn't recommend that as i have read some bad reports and issues using that software i would in my personal opinion do a fresh install of everything but that's just me but like "todagonemad" said u can use windows 7 system image

 

Happened upon this:

Windows 7 is fully SSD aware. Fully. That means that awareness extends to the Windows 7 backup and restore utility and its built in disk image function. You can try and verify for yourself, but I promise that this is a true thing. What this means is that if you are migrating an existing Windows 7 installation from a standard hard disk to an SSD, you do NOT need Clonezilla or EaseUS Partition Manager, and you do NOT need to use diskpart to align the partitions. Really.


A Windows 7 system image generated by the Windows 7 backup and restore utility from a Windows 7 installation on a standard hard disk is properly aligned automatically when that image is used to migrate/restore the Windows 7 OS to a solid state disc. How did I verify this? Well, I checked the Dell Latitude E6500 that sits on my desk which was set up in exactly this way. Partitions are aligned properly. Then I called a friend for whom I had just a few weeks ago migrated an existing Windows 7 installation from a Western Digital Scorpio Black 320 gig drive to a Samsung 470 SSD just a few weeks ago and had him check the partition offset. It was perfect. (1048576.) And then I checked half a dozen assorted other laptops and desktops I had migrated from spinning hard disks to SSDs using Win 7′s own backup and restore generated system image and in each and every case the SSD was aligned properly.

If you have Win 7, you don’t need Clonezilla or EaseUS or Acronis or Ghost. All you need is Win 7. Boot with the Wi n 7 OS DVD or a recovery disc and restore the system image to the new drive. That’s it. Check for yourself.

The advice on things like defrag? Good advice, but you don’t need Defraggler or any third party software for that either. Win 7′s defrag consolidates free space. You can verify this by running Win 7′s defrag from as an admin from the command prompt. (CMD–>run as administrator) Run defrag /c /u /v

Yes, clear all the temp files. Disable hibernation. Reduce the swap file (but don’t turn it off completely.) Run Win 7′s defrag from the command prompt. Shrink the partition (if needed to make it fit on the new SSD.) Generate a system image on an external USB or eSATA (if your system supports booting with eSATA) drive. Install your SSD and restore the system image. That’s it.

 

When you get the SSD, you should install a fresh W7 to avoid clusters and dump file. There are more than one way to clone your HDD and put it into the SSD but in the long term, you would want to install a fresh W7.

 

I've heard nothing but good comments on those drives. You should be more than good to go with that.

 

go for it dude i will keep this in mind when i come to installing my ssd but i feel that fresh install in my personal opinion is needed GOOD LUCK KEEP ME POSTED

 

My two son's each have an M17x R3 and I just don't have the painful hours of reinstalling Windows 7, all the drivers and their games. I am going to use Paragon OS Migrate 2.0 for $16 and be sure to reset the ahci in the bios. Will let you know.

I have used paragon migrate in the past for my desktop and it was flawless.

Anyone with any last bit of advise before I dive in tomorrow?

 

will have to look into that software and i know all about spending hours reinstalling everything a big pain in the LOL its the games that take so goddam long with the exception being steam games again good luck.

 

I find a reinstall is helpful because I go from no free space to tons when I don't bother reinstalling all the games I never play anyway.

 

thats why you buy a device off newegg that supports making a complete bit for bit copy. They run about 60 bucks

 

If you're going to buy software to clone, i would actually recommend Acronis True Image. Otherwise, there are ways that you can do it with free software, it's a bit more complicated, but can be done.

 

Mission Complete!

Took about an hour to do both R3s.
Pop out the battery, then two screws, then slide the bottom off, then three screws holding the middle bay drive holder out, then four screws to remove the bracket inside the bay holder, then the plastic socket into the SDD and pop the SDD into the bay, then screw down the bay holder with the three screws (bracket inside the bay not necessary), then slice back the cover, then reinstall the two screws then pop back the battery. Google youtube for video's of the exact procedure if still necessary.

Install Paragon OS Migrate for $16 downloaded from bit dujour 20percent off or right from paragon for 20 bucks. Entirely idiot proof three clicks and the HDD is onto your SDD as a clone. The software does all the alignment stuff.

Reboot into the Bios and change the boot drive to SDD and remember to go from RAID to AHCI to enable TRIM. I also recommend a Alien Respawn and/or Back up beforehand.

Added a year or so of life to the old girls....