Old, New Laptop noob - Need SSD primer, please

I just got back into learning about the latest laptop technology and just bought my second new laptop after using(typing right now) on my last new laptop, this Compaq N610c for the last 6 years or so.

That said, I am sooooo in the dark when it comes to SSD.

First, how can I find out if my new/used notebook will support it or better yet, if it will support a regular HD and an SSD drive? I think I saw where some DV7s come with 2 HDs in them already?

Next, do you load your apps on the SSD or just your Win 7 OS? I would guess you save your docs and music and videos to the big volume non-SSD HD... right, or not? Like I said, I am a long time geek who needs updating and upgrading.

I just bought a DV7-6178US and it comes with a slow 750Gb HD but wonder if I can just add an SSD?

I realize that it might not be so cost effective to add an SSD to this notebook, but in 6 months I'll be buying myself a new SOTArt Desktop Laptop and will want to move the SSd to the new notebook at that time.

 

First get up to speed on how SSDs work:

+ AnandTech - Intel X25-M SSD: Intel Delivers One of the World's Fastest Drives

+ AnandTech - The SSD Anthology: Understanding SSDs and New Drives from OCZ

+ Benefits Of A Solid State Drive - An SSD Primer - The SSD Review

+ SSD Components and Make Up - An SSD Primer - The SSD Review

are good starts.

Next, check to see if your laptop supports SATA II or SATA III. That will determine which drive to buy. Current recommendations on this forum are for Intel 510 or Samsung 830. Also, look at the Crucial M4, but due to a problem in the existing firmware - may want to hold off on this for another two weeks to know the problem is resolved.

Finally, once you have purchased, your best bet is to make a backup of your data, get all the drivers needed for your laptop, and reinstall everything from scratch:

+ http://forum.notebookreview.com/solid-state-drives-ssds-flash-storage/636535-best-way-install.html

+ http://forum.notebookreview.com/sol...636430-new-laptop-no-os-swapping-hdd-ssd.html

+ http://forum.notebookreview.com/sol...-do-i-do-now-ive-installed-ssd-my-m17xr3.html

+ http://forum.notebookreview.com/solid-state-drives-ssds-flash-storage/634633-new-possible-ssd.html

There may be other threads, as you peruse the rest of the posts on this forum.

Good Luck.

 

Absolutely. That is why it was there in my original post.

 

Haha, oops. That's just like me, confused the title of the section with the one of the article + was just waking up when i posted. I just deleted the post since it didn't really have a reason to be

 

tijo,

OT... how does one delete a post? There have been a couple of times that I wanted to delete my own post, but do not know how or do not have correct privileges.

 

You can't delete posts. Simply edit them saying it needs delete or it is no longer relevant. I usually clean those up when i see them in the sections i moderate. If it is something that absolutely needs and immediate delete, you can always report your own post.

 

Thanks jclausius!

My notebook is an HP DV7-6178US and according to HP tech support, it is a SATA II unit. I looked to see if I could find something veryifying the HP lady but can't find anything about what SATA version it uses.... so I guess I'll go with the HP lady.

Next question would be how big an SSD I need? Is 120Gb the sweet spot for most users?

Is the Intel SSD the way to go?

 

That is very subjective. Do you have an external drive to store stuff? Do you run a lot of programs? Are you planning on keeping this laptop for a long time? If yes, then the 320 is fine. If no, the 510 (or something else) may be better. EDIT: Check the one you plan on buying to see if it's SATA 2 or 3.

I chose the Intel 320, 120GB as I am limited to SATA II as well and I used my Dell Preferred card so I was also limited to my selection. I'm happy with it so far. I just got it last Wednesday. It shipped with the latest firmware. I like the Intel Toolbox too which you can download. I have a drive dock which accepts my original 500GB 2.5" hard drive as well as my 1TB 3.5" drive via eSATA.

It's not the fastest kid on the block but it seems solid. There were some issues with the 8MB bug that occurred over the summer but supposedly the latest firmware addressed it. You can read about it on Intel's forums. I read the posts and decided to go ahead with it.

Windows 7 is loaded normally. Just set your boot device to DVD or USB. I used USB as it was faster. Windows 7 treats it like any other drive and it supports TRIM. If you do a clean install, it's enabled. If your laptop does have another drive bay, use the SSD for your OS.

 

Thanks MoInSTL!

My notebook has a 750Gb HD and I'll be moving it to the 2nd Drive Bay and then install the SSD as my Primary HD.

The notebook came with Win7 and other software on it and so I'll need to move the OS over to the SSD drive.

I also have a 1TB USB External Drive which I use for backups, videos and photos as well as documents and older but important files.

I saw that the Intel SSDs come in a few varieties and based on the price difference, I'd guess that the 510 is faster than the 320 series?

 

govtdog, your notebook is probably SATA 3, we could tell it for sure if you would tell us the chipset it has (you van use the CPU-z application for it).

 

I found this on a memory website.
Chipset: Intel HM65 Chipset
HD Bus: SATA15025

Don't yet know what that info means yet until I go look it up....

 

You have SATA III as do all series 6 Intel chipsets.

 

Thanks tijo!

Guess I should have known if HP support tells me SATA II, then it must be SATA III.

What about size? What do I need to increase performance without spending alot of bucks? Will 120Gb do?

From some shopping I see that I can get some brands 250Gb for the same price as the Intel 510 120Gb.

Would I be better off getting the Intel 510 120Gb or say an M4 250Gb?

Or, an M4 or Samsung 830 120Gb and save some money for the next notebook purchase in a few months?

 

What I did was keep my 500GB drive for music, pictures, videos, and backups. I've got a 120GB drive in my laptop, and it does me fine. Granted, I'm not installing any HUGE programs. I think a 120GB or 128GB drive from a good manufacturer will do you just fine given that.