questions about switching to SSD

Have a Sager 8130

1. If I get an SSD, do I need a mounting kit?

2. How do i clone the existing HDD to the SSD or isn't that a good idea?

3. What brands/models currently offer good mix of price, speed and reliablility? thinking of either 256 or 512

 

if thats the 15" then just replace the existing hard drive with a new ssd. if you want to add another har drive bay using the optical dvd drive then you will need a caddy.

the samsung are the best for read/write speeds but will show in the price. my crucial m4 512gb takes 12 seconds to boot and im on the forum so coming from a normal spindle drive you will notice oodles of difference whichever you chose.

 

Try adata sx900 very fast and reliable

Sent from my Z10 using Tapatalk 2

 

You dont want to clone from a HDD to a SSD, doing a fresh install is best.

 

I agree, but if you have to you need a program with the proper support for it so the SSD is properly aligned.

 

ah, thanks everyone. I will heed the advice and reload windows all (gasp) my apps. Flight Simulator X is the real killer, along with my photo apps, but that's life.

This will seem like a dumb question, but there aren't ANY apps that will become flaky if on an SSD, are there? One of the main reasons I got this laptop is for running FSX (it runs really well as it stands now). My 8130 has the Nvidia GTX560M which does a credible job running FSX at decent FR's.

 

No, everything is just faster. As far as any apps are concerned it makes no difference. You just might not get long to read hints on loading screens

 

Yep, the consensus is to a full install on the SSD, but cloning is really not that daunting - just make sure you align it if you want to try that route.

You're fine without the mounting kit, and as far as brands go, Intel is probably the most reliable. Samsung drives tend to win favor for their speed and reliability to cost ratio. I've heard good things about the Corsair Force drives, too.

 

The crucial M500 also supports hardware encryption acceleration so if you use that then thats the drive to go for.

 

No, I don't encrypt, but thanks for the info. I've been reading about Intel, Crucial, OCX, Samsung, et al. Gets very confusing! I would want a drive with very competitive write times, along with decent reliability.

 

840 pro will see you well or a sandisk extreme II has very reliable performance right up to being filled.

 

the 840 pro is for reliability and the 840 non-pro is faster? is that the gist of the difference between them?

 

I'd throw my Corsair Neutron in ring of options as well, it's so far performed flawlessly and according to all the review sites is sitting pretty close to to flagship SSD's and well above any of the mid-range SSD's.

 

Same reliability, the Pro is faster.

 

Actually the Pro uses higher endurance nand.

The pro is faster and will last longer.

 

if i order the 840 pro from amazon do I need to get a cable also?

 

Not for replacing a drive no. If you wanted to put it instead of the optical drive you would need a caddy.

 

From least reliable and slowest to most reliable and fastest: 840 < 830 < 840 Pro. The 840 uses TLC NAND, and if I recall correctly - although the 840 series hasn't been out long enough for there to be a verdict on its reliability - triple level cell NAND degrades quicker and slower, but is cheaper to produce.

 

1000 cycles vs 3000 cycles I believe.