cf31 from hd to ssd. Anything I should know?

Hello all,
Just purchased a used 31(mk 4 i5) w/ Windows 10pro, 64 bit, 8gb. 500gb hard drive. Want to migrate everything to a Samsung 500gb ssd when the unit arrives.

I've done it before--two years ago-- on two cf30s via an Apricorn drivewire and Samsung software with no problem. Anything I need to know before the machine arrives? It doesn't come with recovery discs, so I'll be cloning. I hope that doesn't set off alarms at Microsoft when I run update.

Any reason to try something other than the Samsung EVO (SATA III)? That's what I've used before and have been very satisfied. Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

Consider running a complete backup before doing anything.
I believe Windows has a way to do this.
Not familiar with methods you used before with the 30’s but know Acronis works great and has backups and clone features.


Sent from my CF-M34

 

If you have a USB big enough you could. At least on Win7 it says “use this as a backup” and select that. Also it may not work because I don’t know any USB that’s that large...

 

I've got an outboard drive I can use--thanks for the tip.

 

Samsung have their own cloning software so you should be fine with that. Things will get a whole lot faster once it's done which is good, but the best thing for me anyway is there is less heat coming from the drive.

 

Yes, that software worked well for my 30s, and the ssd reduced the heat significantly.
BTW, I notice you have a 31 64 bit windows 10 as well. Anything you or anyone else would recommend over this? I'm not a gamer or anything.
Samsung 860 EVO 500GB 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-76E500B/AM)

 

Depends on what you want to pay, in my desk top I have a 128gb 830 Pro for my OS and photo-shop. In the CF-31 I have a 256gb 860 EVO. Both are good, but for some reason I like the Pro better, not sure why it just seems smoother, it's been in daily use for many years. I am going to upgrade the Pro to a 860 Pro 500gb as soon as I can afford to and fit the old one into my wife's laptop. Be good for those Recipes!

 

As time goes by, everything gets more affordable, and more reliable. A few years ago, I paid > $300 for 32 GB SLC SSD. (Before that, it was + $2000 for SSD when they were fairly new).) I had bad experience with 2 Samsung SSDs (beautiful silver/orange 64 GB SSD died just before warranty was up, and they sent replacement, which also died a quick death) so I typically avoid Samsung, and favor Intel, or Crucial drives, which have never, ever died on me. I feel now that this was a fluke, since Samsung drives consistently get rave reviews from buyers and users here on notebookreviews.com.

I have a CF-31 MK4 with a 1 TB Crucial CT1000MX500SSD1, with 16 GB RAM, running Ubuntu 18.04 64 bit. I also have a 240 GB Intel with Windows 10 most current version 1909 in separate caddy. I have to say that Windows runs hotter than Linux. Fan runs as soon as it starts, and doesn't stop for quite a while. (Virus scans, and startup stuff?) Temperature monitors also show higher temps (30degrees in Linux vs 100+ degrees in Windows).

In either operating system, SSD is significantly faster, no matter which brand.

 

That Crucial drive is at $119 on Amazon for 1TB. Remarkably cheap. I don't need 1TB, though I've come close to filling my 250 fb ssds in my 30s. But with a price like that, it's tempting. Any advantage to having 1 TB if you're not planning to break 400gb?

I'll be interested in seeing--or hearing--what my fan does. I'm not used to Toughbooks with fans.

 

Like I said depends on what you want to pay. I think the silver/orange samsung was what they called the 830 series, went up to a 512gb as I remember. The pro's are nearly twice the price of the EVO's, for a reason. I have a Blue WD in my new CF-19, hasn't done much more than an hour yet, going to fit it in my jeep sometime soon I hope, but it will not be heavily used. The Pro in my desktop is on sometimes 8 hours a day, and has been for many years. Photoshop does tend to give it a work out, not sure about gaming, only games I play are Hearts and Solitaire.

 

I meant to add to my last reply that I think the heat is from the ram and not the ssd. I have no way of knowing in the CF-31, but in my desktop I have a side panel off and can measure the heat coming off the ram and it is a lot in fact I have a few fans aimed at the ram. It would seem that the more ram you have the more heat. The ssd I have velcro-ed to a bit of frame work and it runs cool/warm to the touch.

 

The more you access the ssd the warmer it will get.

 

Yes, but like theoaks2 says the fan is coming on nearly straight away in Windows. The heat has got to warm up the ssd, the packing and air gap and then the caddie before the heat will kick in the fan, while the ram is on the mother board where I would think the sensor to switch on the fan is. Think I will pull the caddie and check how hot it is.

 

Well that didn't tell me much.
I switched on a cold CF-31 with power adapter on and charging the battery.
I just let the computer run not touching it, my desktop switches high res photos every 60 seconds.
After 30 minutes I switched off, the fan had not kicked in.
The caddie was cold and the plate covering the ram was cold.

I need to find something that tests the ram and the ssd. I have a thermal tester some where, I will remove the screws from the plate over the ram, find some software to test the ram and ssd and try again.

 

i EXPERIENCED HIGH FAN USAGE ON cf 31 MK2'S

sorry caps lock.

Flashed to a different BIOS and fan usage was normal.

 

Switched on cold CF-31, put it under load, fan came on, hot air from exhaust over battery bay, shut down, removed caddie, Caddie was cold.

 

The make heat sinks for desktop ram.

 

Good question, these babies do run hot, they have their own heat sinks (and they cost). The mother board is a server board (Tyan Tempest).

Samsung M395T5750EZ4-CE66 the one in the photo is a 2gb one.

 

500 gb 860 EVO arrived today, had it cloned and installed within about 30 minutes. Samsung Migration and Magician software is very user friendly.

BTW, I thought about leaving the heater jacket off, but put it on anyway despite it's being an ssd. Any of you guys just leave it off?

 

I've done it both ways. If you don't put it on then you have to put it someplace where you can't find it later unless your looking for something else.

 

Glad I'm not alone in that!

 

Ha , That why I have about 6 hammers.

Yes I leave them off.