Help me upgrade my parents computer to a SSD

I just purchased my parents this all-in-one computer, and I'm looking to install a 128GB SSD in it for them. I'm assuming since it's an all-in-one, I'm going to have to take out the old hard drive, but that isn't a problem since 128GB alone will be more than enough for them even after Windows takes it's 40 or so GBs. My question is, what size (2'' or 3.5'') SSD do I have to get for it to fit and work in this computer? I couldn't find anywhere the specifications of the slot for the hard drive, and this is all I'm able to find. Can you guys tell by the video what size drive I'd need, and what type would fit and work? Thanks.

edit: It looks like you can buy 2.5" to 3.5" adapters. Would this be what I needed?

 

Depending on the SSD 'package' you bought - it may already include a 2.5 to 3.5" adaptor.

Most SSD's worth purchasing for this system are 2.5" (only).

Yeah; you're good to go.


But only a 128GB SSD? Come on, don't be like that to your parents (240/256GB at least...)


Good luck.

 

Ha they'd be good with an 80gb drive. But if I bought one of the drives that came with the 2.5" to 3.5" adapter, I'd just just take out the old one and put in the new one? I wouldn't need anything else for it to fit my specific computer? Sorry for the basic questions, never put in a new hard drive before.

 

I don't mean you're being cheap with the capacity (only) - with SSD's bigger is MUCH better... when it comes to sustained performance (over time), reliability (nand health) and having the lowest GC and TRIM induced WA (write amplification).

See:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/solid-state-drives-ssds-flash-storage/718208-asus-ux32vd-db71.html



Read the complete thread linked above to understand a little more why a small SSD is a cruel joke... controller channels that are not fully populated... nand that is not optimally interleaved... capacity that is not really sufficient for even 'light' usage (which again, as the capacity is used... the performance/reliability of the SSD suffers...).


I understand extreme light usage (ie. 'parent-mode') - but if they really are at that level; best not to buy an SSD in the first place (to eventually get worse performance than a $50 HDD...).


Good luck.

 

I know this, but they'll only have the drive about half full. Is there really not going to be an increase in performance over a 5400 RPM drive if I got a 128gb SSD?

 

Bigger is better, but if he partitions a 128GB SSD to 80GB and they really don't need the drive space, won't that pretty much cover their needs? Odds are incredibly against light computing like he's suggesting eating far enough into an SSD's NAND to slow it down much, aren't they?

 

Even though a 128GB SSD won't populate all the controller's channels and whatnot, it's still a vast improvement over a mechanical drive, even if it's "inferior" to larger, better-performing SSDs.

But, to answer OP's question, you could probably even tape the SSD to the metal plate if you don't receive (or don't buy later) a 2.5" to 3.5" bracket.

 

Alright, thanks that's what I wanted to hear. So if I was to purchase, this drive, and I bought this adapter, I'd be good to go and I'd have everything I'd need to install my new drive on my parent's computer?

 

Looks good. Though I wasn't able to get a good look at the drive mount in the video you linked to in your OP. Haven't found much info on the Gateway's internal dimensions either, though if it's packing a 3.5" HDD, it should work. I have one of those brackets in my desktop (similar shape/size) and it's no bigger than a 3.5" drive.

 

Yeah, I haven't been able to find any dimensions on it either, and I've been looking for them all day. The problem is I'm going back to college for summer classes Monday, and the computer probably won't get here until Friday so I'll have to order the mounting bracket, if I need one, before I get the computer.

Edit: I found this video that shows the hardrive from the same computer that I have but last year's model. What type of harddrive does this look like to you guys, and assuming mine has the same one, would I just need the 2.5" to 3.5" adapter I linked to?

Edit 2: Here is the drive from the video. It looks like a 3.5", so it looks like I'll need the 2" to 3.5" adapter, for this SSD that I just purchased (It just went on sale for 89.99)?

Edit 3: I've found this adapter. This looks like it'll work assuming my drive is actually a 3.5". What do you guys think?

 

Definitely don't get the M500 120GB SSD (wrong capacity, wrong package density (nand) and definitely not worth $110 to say you have an 'SSD' inside...


See:
AnandTech | The Crucial/Micron M500 Review (960GB, 480GB, 240GB, 120GB)

...

See (Performance in 'light' workload):
AnandTech | The Crucial/Micron M500 Review (960GB, 480GB, 240GB, 120GB)

 

If he's sticking to the 120-128GB range and a similar price range, what alternatives would you suggest?

 

I just purchased this samsung 840 for 90 dollars with this adapter. And I'm not going to get them one with a higher capacity, I can't afford it. This is still going to be a huge upgrade over a 5400 RPM hard drive. As far as the package density from another forum I've read, "life span is really moot. We are doing some lifespan testing behind the scenes and the 840 seems to show something like 60GB a day for five years....which verifies that the typical user will never need to worry themselves with lifespan. source (third post down)

 

Lifespan for consumer SSD NAND is pretty much a pointless discussion these days. Unless you're running constant read/write cycles on the machine day in and day out, the SSD (and the system it's installed in) will be far outdated before NAND breakdown is even a distant possibility. There's other stuff that can go wrong with an SSD, but it's only endurance-test machines that really stand a chance of wearing out the NAND at any point within their expected operable lifespan.

I think the 840 for $90 is a good match for your needs - a solid but not flashy entry-level SSD that should be reliable and doesn't break the bank. I would recommend overprovisioning it when you install it - create a partition of ~80GB and leave the rest unpartitioned, since that will prevent it from being overfilled at a significant cost to speed. In short, the SSD will get slower (sometimes much slower) when it's holding too much data - ~2/3 is typically a good limit to set. Leaving part of the drive unpartitioned essentially guarantees your parents won't be able to fill it to a detrimental capacity, and you've already said they don't need more than 80GB in the first place, so overprovisioning is a perfect solution for this case.

 

Instead of spending on an adapter, why not just let us know the model of the AIO? Some of them just use laptop (2.5) drives anyway, so it would be a direct replacement, or don't even need brackets because you can attach the ones already inside to your new SSD.

 

I'm not able to find the model number of the AIO, so I'm buying the bracket just in case I need it. If I don't, I'll just return it, but If i do need it I'm sol since I'm leaving Monday and there probably isn't any store nearby that I could buy it from.

 

Yeah, I saw that you already bought it after I had posted. Try to use the brackets on the HDD now first, though.

 

I was going to suggest this for a little bit more cash: Amazon.com: Intel 520 Series Solid-State Drive 180 GB SATA 6 Gb/s 2.5-Inch - SSDSC2CW180A3K5 (Reseller Kit): Computers & Accessories (came with a bracket and a 5 years warranty), but since you already got the SSD, I'd go for a simple adapter like this one: Amazon.com: Thermaltake 3.5 Inch to 2.5 Inch SSD HDD Bay Drives Converter Kit AC0014 (Black): Electronics or this one: http://www.amazon.com/SILVERSTONE-S...sr=1-2&keywords=3.5+to+2.5+hard+drive+adapter.

 

Yeah, I was looking at those two adapters, but I read that someone else who had an all-in-one very similar to mine used the Icy Dock I linked to and it worked for them after not being able to use other 2.5'' to 3.5'' adapters. I'm not sure what the mounting situation in the all-in-one I'm getting looks like, so I'd thought I'd just be on the safe size and get an adapter that exactly replicates a 3.5'' drive so I wouldn't run into any problems. And thanks for the suggestions for the drive, but that intel drive would put me more over budget than I already am. I was hoping to keep this under $500, but with this SSD and adapters, it puts me at $510. I think I did pretty good though for $510, seeing how I couldn't build my own desktop since they insisted that they wanted an all-in-one. Here's what the all-in-one is going to look like for them:

Screen: 23'' touch screen 1920 x 1080
Processor: i3-2120
Standard Memory: 6 GB
Hard Drive: 120GB SSD
Optical Drive Type: DVD-Writer
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium
Accessories: Wireless keyboard and mouse; built in webcam and mic
Total: $510

 

Can't really argue with your choices especially as you're within 2% of your budget and you have a modern/current SSD.

If you can partition/OP it as suggested, convert the originally shipped HDD for use as a daily backup (or whatever schedule makes sense for your parents - should be linked to how quickly they 'create' new data...) and use it 'lightly' as was originally intended - they should be good with this system until they upgrade again in ~2020.


Great job on getting the most hardware and performance for the least amount of $$.

Take care.

 

good choice.
it may not be the best performer (although read speeds are good), nor the most reliable (although tlc endurance is moot),but the 840 series is the cheapest (especially during sales) and samsung's customer service has worlwide reach.
to most consumers, the last two are the most important. and in the scheme of things, i believe its the 840 and its counterparts that will make ssd's standard consumer upgrades more than any performance drive.

 

The sata/power connection on 2.5 drive is exactly same as 3.5 iirc. Imo, if the connection are intact, it should have no issue just leaving it hanging there. tape it down if you must ~~