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    Samsung Series 5 - 550P7C

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by dante2010, Nov 2, 2012.

  1. dante2010

    dante2010 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi,

    I just bought a Samsung Series 5 - 550P7C laptop and want to install a SSD as the primary drive. Some questions I need answers for first are:

    1) There are two hard drive bays in the unit. Do I install the SSD in the empty one and change boot priority to the second drive? Or do I switch the current drive into the second slot?

    2) The manual says only SATA II notebook drives are supported. Would I be able to use a SATA III SSD? I ask because the only SATA II SSD's I can find are more expensive then the SATA II versions.

    3) The laptop came with Windows 8, but no discs of any kind. How do I go about installing the copy of Windows 8 that came on the laptop onto the SSD? For that matter, how would I go about re installing Windows 8 on the regular drive if I needed to?

    Thanks for any help you can offer.
     
    dante2010, Nov 2, 2012
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  2. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    3) Your new system should have a utility that will make backup DVD's or a bootable USB stick for you. Don't use it yet.

    I would first do a 'test' re-install on your system as it shipped to make sure this works - I have seen this fail and better to know now while you can return/exchange the system. Note: this may take an hour or more.

    Know that when you do create the backup 'Restore' disk - it won't allow you to do it again - keep the DVD's or the USB key in a very safe place.


    2) SATA3 devices are compatible with SATA2 - you may see a drop in performance compared to a SATA3 to SATA3 setup, but otherwise it will work and give ~85-90% of the real world performance of the 'optimum' setup.


    1) Here, I would be more careful - I completely remove all drives (except for the boot drive, of course) when installing the O/S. If you have both drives connected, you may be tied to BOTH those drives for the system to boot up (a very bad way of having your system setup).

    What I would also be concerned with is did the system ship with both drive bays properly wired (SATA and power cables) and with all the required drive caddies, screws and SATA to proprietary connector adaptors for your specific system?

    I would be guessing 'no' if the system didn't ship with all drive bays populated. But I hope I'm wrong.

    Hope this helps.

    Good luck.
     
    tilleroftheearth, Nov 3, 2012
    #2