SSD performance gains and other benefits??

Hello guys,

I have Sleekbook Envy 6 with A6 4455m.

I know that this is not exactly a high performance model. (the bottleneck being CPU very likely).

I have already upgraded RAM from 4GB single stick to 8GB (4x2GB) and I can see the significant performance boost.


I want to UPGRADE my HDD to SSD.


Recently I have noticed a slight increase in fan noise (possibly some HDD also) and heat (the laptop is new, gpu driver updated and I checked the inside for dust - clean.)

I have few questions:
1.Will upgrading to SSD lead to less noise from HDD and Fan? (decrease throttling)

2. Will SSD upgrade lower the laptop temp??

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY

3.Increase performance when runing some demanding apps? (will it ease the load on CPU when I run those programs??) :hi2:

For example some times while running a demanding prog the laptop can freeze for 1-2 sec.
(or rarely sound stutter during some large Video file playback (almost barely noticeable for 1/16 of sec) -on KM and WMP player) --------> RAM is ok (its been happening with my "stock" HP RAM too).
Suspecting some HDD or CPU limitation.

Can some one answer me these questions (in a number marking order if possible)

Thanks,

 

1.

They will reduce noise, I have a SSD and HDD in my laptop and when the HDD goes to sleep (OS is on SSD) then its virtually silent. They also run at around 30-40°C vs a hard drive which is around 10°C more. It also depends how close the hard drive sits to the fans/cpu.

2.

Possibly, but not by anything too amazing. THe CPU/GPU will still be the hottest components.

3

It should, CPU load will be similar but files will load faster so theoretically the file playback will be limited most likely by CPU then.
Day to day computing should be faster though only CPU bound apps such as decoding and encoding will be unaffected.

 

1. Will upgrading to SSD lead to less noise from HDD and Fan? (decrease throttling)

Most SSD's are silent - if you are replacing the HDD with the SSD it will decrease the noise of the HDD by 100%

If you are adding the SSD to the system it won't/can't decrease the noise from the HDD... when it is being actively accessed.


As for the Fan noise; if the fan speed is being increased because of the increased heat from the HDD (and you are replacing the HDD completely...), then it should be slower/quieter.

If however, the Fan is running faster/noisier because the cpu is pushed to anything over ~50% constant load... then the SSD will not affect this issue at all.




2. Will SSD upgrade lower the laptop temp??

An SSD might lower the system's temp vs. a HDD - but it depends on the SSD you buy (not all SSD's are equivalent).

It also depends if the HDD is the root cause of the higher temps - see #1 above...



AND MOST IMPORTANTLY

3. Increase performance when runing some demanding apps? (will it ease the load on CPU when I run those programs??)


The one thing an SSD (or any storage subsystem for that matter...) cannot do is increase actual performance of your platform.

As you have seen already - the RAM upgrade did increase the system's performance.

That is because 'work'=cpu+ram - to increase the 'work' the processor can do you can increase the capacity of the RAM (and/or the quality/performance of the RAM too - higher MHz, less latency, etc.) or you can replace and/or overclock the cpu with a faster model to achieve higher performance.


What an SSD does is increase the responsiveness ('snappiness') of the system - it can't affect 'true' performance unless the CPU is being starved for data from the current storage subsystem (and that is not the case here; your cpu's work performance is very, very low...). Sure, it will speed up bootup, shutdown, opening programs and general O/S navigation... but that is not 'work' to the cpu (it is in fact waiting for the storage subsystem at these points which is why we see a speed/'snappiness' difference).

When we put a real and sustained load on the cpu - it will be just as limited with an SSD as it was with a HDD. This aspect won't change and an SSD upgrade to increase performance (or in your words; 'ease the load on the cpu'...) will simply not materialize.


To increase your true performance try some low latency, high MHz Sodimms, for example:

See:
Corsair Vengeance 8GB DDR3 1866MHz SODIMM Kit (2 x 4GB) at Memory Express


But in the end what is limiting your 'performance' and the amount of work your system can do is the cpu it has.


Instead of buying an SSD I would suggest upgrading your system/platform to at least a low voltage 'u' i3 3217u processor which will give you double the true performance of your current system.


Your current cpu PM 'score' 1292:
PassMark - AMD A6-4455M APU - Price performance comparison

Suggested minimum i3 3217u PM 'score' 2285:
PassMark - Intel Core i3-3217U @ 1.80GHz - Price performance comparison


Recommended minimum i5 dual core w/hyperthreading PM 'score' 3821:
PassMark - Intel Core i5-3210M @ 2.50GHz - Price performance comparison



A storage subsystem 'upgrade' will not increase your cpu's performance (except in some very specific tasks...), it will give you a snappier feeling system (and that may be enough for now...) - but it is ultimately a 'side-grade'.


If you want a true performance upgrade though; replace the platform you have with as current as platform (SNB, IB or Haswell) and as many cores and ram as you can easily afford.


What you will accomplish with an SSD in your current system is show just how unbalanced the platform you currently have really is.

The cpu is grossly underpowered for modern workloads. Even 'light' ones such as playing back a video file...


To make the HDD you have as efficient as possible:

'Shrink' the C:\ partition to as small as you can (create a second partition to move your data to...), but not smaller than ~100GB.
Download a trial of PerfectDisk 12.5 Professional and do a full offline ('boot time') defrag and online defrag (at least twice) after you have 'shrunk' your O/S partition.
To help shrink the partition: use PD 12.5 to 'prepare for shrink' if Windows won't allow you to shrink the partition further...


With the above two 'tweaks' - you will have minimized the storage subsystem's effect on your workflow and will be able to see better the maximum performance your cpu+ram combo can offer. An SSD will give you almost no improvement after this in 'true' work/performance increase...


See:
Defrag & Fragmentation Prevention - PerfectDisk 12.5 Pro


Hope some of the above helps in your decision and also helps clarify what the cpu, ram and storage subsystems offer to the computing experience.


Good luck.

 

Yes, the answer is more than sufficient for me.
Answered all my questions and concerns. I was mainly looking for performance gain on programs and playback on videos. So I dont have that much intensive right now to change to SSD.

And I know that CPU is slow.

This is my 2nd laptop (my primary one is Dell 17R SE). I just needed something in Ultrabook/ sub-ultrabook light category (easier to pick up, transport, better battery...-try picking up my 3kg Dell and taking it to Uni library or class)

I use this laptop for University work (word, excel, powerpoint...), YouTube watching and watching Videos and movies (mostly HD as downloaded files). I figure that CPU is sufficient enough to deal with those kind of tasks.

I never heard of someone changing CPU on their LAPTOP. Nor that its affordable or good idea. (I have 3 year warranty on this thing)

 

While most systems allow for CPU upgrades, you can only upgrade within the same socket type. So you could probably upgrade to an A10 processor (as someone posted doing just that), but you would never be able to switch to an Intel processor, such as the ones tiller linked. However, he is correct that an SSD will not speed up demanding applications or get rid of CPU lag. SSDs only speed up your storage system, so they improve startup and shutdown, folder and file navigation, and program loading.

While SSDs are silent and can run cooler than hard drives, they have no affect on the notebook's cooling system, which determines the overall fan noise and heat dissipation of the computer.

 

The heat is probably from a crappy paste job. I hate to say it but probably 95% of laptops that leave the factory have a substandard paste application which leads to high temps from the beginning. Something to consider if you feel adventurous. I swear I should open up a mini shop right inside Best Buy and only do repaste jobs. Charge $10 and people would be happy as a clam and I would be rich.

 

I did not know that bout the CPU change.

I thought that for that you need a complete motherboard change... (since the CPU is embedded in to the motherboard)

BUT even if that is possible I am not doing that.
Because I bought this laptop as a secondary one (for web YouTube email, and office) so no need for any upgrade.
+ I have a 1 year warranty with HP and 3 YEAR warranty with the Retail store where I bought it. (not sure how they both stand on CPU aftermarket upgrade)

Besides:
1.that will cost probably a lot of money
2.God knows what complications can arise in future
3. Warranty is definitely voided.
4. I don't know how to do that, (and I know that HP does not do any upgrading for you)

Never the less I thank EVERYONE on the abundance of information. Now I know my choices.

 

also HTWingNut,

I heard of such problem with thermal paste.

And HP is known for overheating laptops. (Fortunately mine is total opposite) even under heavy load it remains relatively cool.
I was just wondering if the portion of the heat generated by HDD will disappear with SSD install

 

SSDs generate heat differently than hard drives. Hard drives spin, so there is friction-generated heat from the mechanical process, in addition to heat generated by passing current through the control chips. SSDs only generate heat from passing current through the memory and control chips. Since there are more electronic components on an SSD, these areas generate more heat than the electronics on a hard drive. However, there is no friction-generated heat with an SSD, so the total amount of heat produced is either similar or lower overall.