Advice on SSD upgrade

Hi All,

I wonder if you can give me some advice. I have a 64gb mSATA drive and a 500gb HD. The operating system (Windows 7) is on the mSATA and the HD will be for data.

Now, I am thinking that I would like to upgrade one aspect of this setup. I could do one of the following:

a. I can get a 256gb SSD to replace the 500gb drive and keep the mSATA for the OS.

b. I can get a larger 128gb mSATA drive for the OS and keep the 500gb HD for data.

Which option do you think would make more sense?

I am going to use my machine for gaming, web, and Microsoft Office stuff for my teaching.

I’ve never had an SSD before and I’m really looking forward to the experience. I just think that the 64gb mSATA is going to be too small for my needs.

Any advice?

 

I'll be doing the latter of those. If you put the OS on the msata, you'll get the benefits of an ssds speed but retain the storage space. So long as the laptop isn't constantly pulling off of the hdd, the drive shouldn't hit battery life too much either. Now, off to find the right 120GB msata3 drive.

Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2

 

As per below signature, I already chose option "b" when I purchased new. Windows was optimised and all software was installed on boot except user files. By October I will just go straight to an internal 512GB SATA III SSD as replacement for both, with an external spindle HDD and Acronis for backups/re-image. My mSATA occupies the WWAN bay and is mSATA II, not mSATA III speed. I believe small mSATAs are just a cheap fix to get us hooked, while we wait for larger SSD storage becomes cheaper. Option "b" for you is just an intermediate upgrade to an already intermediate upgrade that does not not make sense. If your boot drive is mSATA III (not II like mine), then option "a" is best of your given choices.

Without knowing the details of your machine, that's my best advice.

 

Thanks for the advice so far. Here's the details on my machine:

Alienware m14x| i7 3720 | 8gb RAM | 2 GB DDR5 NVIDIA GeForceGT 650M | 64gb mSATA boot drive + 500gb HD.

Yes, as far as I know the boot drive is mSATA III

 

Since this is primarily for gamming, my previous answer stands. Actually this machine as built is pretty good for its market. However, a single SSD is still the single best improvement you can make. The 3 most important things "I" have learned over the years with computers is update, backup and KISS(keep it simple stupid). You will be fine whatever you do. Best wishes.

 

So many decisions. I've been looking at the Mushkin 120 GB mSATA drive. It's sold out at newegg now, but I'll keep checking and considering what to do.

Thanks!

 

I'm fanatical about backing up my data. I've lost lots before

The more I read about the Samsung 830 the more I am pushing myself in that direction.

Thanks for the advice. "You will be fine whatever you do." Sounds good!

 

I know our Precision is getting the 830.

 

Nice! I believe the Alienware mSATA is Samsung also. My m14x just arrived today, but I'll have to wait a few days till I get back home to check it out. Can't wait.

 

Our mSATA is the OEM Samsung 810, but it is mSATA "II".