How to check system that can utilize SSD sata 3

Hi, I just bought a new MSI unbagded laptop (i7 Q2630 (ES), 16gb Ram with HDD 1 and 2 are setup in RAID 0 for performance (640gb)), I am thinking to upgrade to Solid-state HDD (Crucial M4 is my choice), however, I wonder if my laptop system could possibly fully utilize 6gb/s of Sata 3 ?

 

since your system is a sandy bridge, it should support SATA III through its chipset. the only possible question mark is due to the fact that it's ES (which i'm interpreting as engineering sample), but i'm guessing that most likely it should support SATA III.

 

Hey OP, to know for sure you'll need to know what 'Chipset' you're running.

Go to 'Device Manager' under the 'System devices' section look for your Chipset name. Then google that name for its sata speed. The first link should be Intels'; scroll down to the Sata talk section and read.

For example ---> Click

I've attached a print screen of my Chipset for your viewing pleasure. Yea it sucks to be me right now @ sata rev 2. Getting to 3 someday....

So yes, your system 'should' support sata 3 from what i'm seeing. Just need to hook the SSD up to one of those 6GB ports.

 

Thanks dude but your link given is not working, my chipset is Intel(R) HM67 Express Chipset Family LPC Interface Controller - 1C4B

 

it is compatible with "Serial ATA (SATA) 6 Gb/s and 3 Gb/s High-speed storage interface supporting up to 6 Gb/s transfer rate for improved data access. Provides up to six SATA ports with up to two ports supporting 6 Gb/s transfer rates." according to http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/chipsets/mainstream-chipsets/mobile-chipset-hm67.html

 

Fixed that.

Exactly! You should be good to go.

It just hit me that it's a laptop. You should see 6GB speeds from the sata port. Hopefully!

 

I have 2 HDD set up in RAID0, when install SSD drive, do I have to set up anything in BIOS ?

 

So you plan to buy two SSDs or just one? If just one I personally wouldn't configure a HDD and an SSD in RAID....

Nevertheless, for RAID in the BIOS it should be set to RAID mode.....

 

I plan to have 1 as OS and apps booting and keep others as storage so would it be easy to switch 1 HDD to SSD ?

 

Right, then you should use the SSD for the OS and apps and have the HDD for storage. Which I'm sure you plan to do!

In that case as far as I'm aware you wouldn't need to set them up in RAID. In the BIOS AHCI being enabled should be fine.

Edit: Now if you're wondering how to break the RAID 0 config. If assuming it's set up in 'software' RAID via the OS; I believe you'll have to break the link by putting the drives back to being a 'Basic Disk' or by deleting the setup all together. This can be done in Windows Disk Management. It's something I never did; neither with software or hardware RAID.

But for sure you would most definitely want to back up your 'Data' files onto an ext HDD and try to make an image of your OS partition as it is now. Try removing the RAID setup and see if you can do another OS image; install the SSD and try doing a restore. (Acronis True Image and/or Backup and Recovery are good apps for doing images) they can be downloaded as trial from acronis.com to be used for 15 days or so.

I'm just giving you general steps on how to proceed as I never done this before so i'm not certain, and my little research hasn't given me any definitive answers thus far.

 

Yes, your system should be good to go for SATA3 usage.

Before you put in the new SSD - MOVE your data to an external HDD - two external's highly recommended (how much do you trust that new external with your important data???) - COPY to the first - Move to the second - off your existing RAID0 setup. Now, we can proceed...

The M4 is a good choice - the Intel 510 250GB model would be my top recommendation.

The 'ultimate' install would be to move the Users folder to the HDD.

See:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...rades/608752-hdd-partitioning-help-500gb.html


I would also not use the full capacity of the SSD during the initial Windows install (I would use a 100GB partition for C: drive - or smaller depending on how many programs you need installed).

Note too that during your clean Win7x64 install, change your BIOS settings to AHCI instead of RAID and to format the HDD too.

The above outlines what I would do (and do) with my systems - makes the two drive setup transparent (all data automatically goes to the HDD, for example) and makes the SSD and the HDD perform as optimally as possible.

Especially if you use much less of the capacity of the SSD (by leaving some capacity 'unallocated') and if you also use the first 100GB of the HDD to move your Users folder to (and use the rest of the capacity as an 'archive' drive where you move projects, data and other files to that you're not currently working on).

Assuming no hardware failures: the above setup should last for the life of the system - with the performance as snappy in 5 yrs as it is will be now.

Good luck.

 

Ahhh, finally! Took you long enough tiller....

Now it's just for the OP to digest it all.

 

I was going to purchase Crucial M4 256gb, however, it is out of my budget so I got a cheaper deal with OCZ Agility 3 120gb (AUD $195 Free shipping). Is OCZ Agility any good ? I have searched over forum but not much information on it

 

Nope, get 128GB M4, it's better than OCZ, I wouldn't recommended anything from that company... It's famous to have died suddenly after a month or two.

 

I too would recommend to return the OCZ product at this time (while you can).

The M4 is much, much better - OCZ+SF based products are not too high on the reliability list right now. That may change with their latest firmware, but even Anand doesn't have high hopes of that given that the story is buried somewhere on his site (not featured on the main/front page). And, Anand was a vocal supporter of anything OCZ and/or SF for a couple of years...

See:
AnandTech - SandForce Identifies Firmware Bug Causing BSOD Issue, Fix Available Today


With the latest firmware you may get lucky and not have any issues with the drive - but, why take a chance when you're able to get a known quantity (M4) right now?

See:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/8001115-post10111.html


Good luck.