Installing an SSD in the S7 NP700Z5A-S03 - advice from those that have done this?

Hey people,

I just ordered this: Crucial M4 Micron C400 256GB 2.5IN SATA3 SSD Solid State Disk Flash Drive With Data Transfer Kit - DirectCanada TECHNOLOGY for my NP700Z5A and I'm looking for a bit of advice on the installation process.

Ideally, what I would like to do is replace the optical drive (which I almost never use) with the SSD, make that the primary Win7 and applications drive, and keep the existing 750GB 5400rpm HDD for storing media and games, etc. If anyone has done so, I'm hoping you can give me some advice as to the best approach for doing this successfully, with the least headaches.

I have also just ordered this caddy for the SDD to sit in the ODD bay: SATA 2nd HDD HD Hard Driver Caddy for 9.5mm Universal CD / DVD-ROM Optical Bay | eBay based on reports that it fits from existing SSD threads.

There is enough information in various other threads about the actual physical dissassembly and installation of the SSD for me to work with (thanks to everyone that contributed): http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...ies-7-chronos-np700z5a-disassembly-guide.html and https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EmGUlRk8CY4WvPfqGVAROkj45I2dREYLqXfyWo9JLZw/edit?pli=1

The part I am unsure about is how to transfer the OS to the SSD. The two options seem to be:
1. Use the included SATA to USB data-transfer kit and clone the existing OS partition of the 750GB HDD drive on to the SSD.
2. Do a clean install of Win 7 onto the SSD using the Samsung Recovery Disc, and then install all of the system drivers and Samsung software using the Samsung Recovery Solution backup I created.

I'm leaning towards the 2nd option because I've read that there are frequently complications with cloning standard HDDs to SDD.

Does anyone have any recommendations as to the preferred approach based on their experience?
I made a bootable Win 7 USB drive with the Samsung Recovery Disc, because I will no longer have access to the ODD after installing the SSD.
I read somewhere that I should disconnect the original HDD before installing Windows on the SDD. Is this necessary if I boot into the Win 7 USB stick I created?
Were there any problems with changing the boot order so that it boots from the (formerly ODD) bay, rather than the existing HDD?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

Bump! Has anyone succeeded in replacing the ODD with an SDD, transferred the OS to the SSD and successfully changed the boot order?

 

Fear not! Plenty have done it before you.

I've had no problems with cloning. I think that all cloning software from the past couple of years or more automatically fix any alignment issues that were once a cause of poor SSD performance. Windows 7 seems to be able to figure out that it's now on an SSD (but rerunning WEI may help).

John

 

Thanks for the feedback. After a fair bit more research online (the Crucial cloning software does prompt for 4k alignment prior to the clone), I am now leaning towards option 1, so I don't have to bother re-installing all of the drivers, applications, Samsung software, etc. The only thing that concerns me now is the boot order. On this thread, someone specifically mentions that they couldn't boot from the SSD once it was installed in the ODD bay: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...-7-chronos-np700z5a-disassembly-guide-10.html
I'm wondering if this was an isolated issue relating to the specific SSD the individual used, or whether other users have experienced the same problem. I guess I'll just go ahead and try it once my SSD and caddy are delivered. If it doesn't work, I'll just swap the drives into opposite bays.
Cheers,

 

I would put the SSD into the HDD bay. For one reason we are 100% sure that it is SATA 3 whereas the optical drive bay may be SATA 2 (still more than fast enough for HDDs and ODDs).

Also, after cloning, boot with only the SSD installed. This will help the system recognise and record which is the new bootable drive. Once that is done then put the HDD in.

John

 

This^ The optical bay is indeed Sata II on all NP700Z 5A/5B/5C/7C models. Samsung elected to put the iSSD (1.5Gbps) on the second Sata III controller and this can be confirmed via the Intel RST console, HWinfo, or any other system information utility.

Sent from my Samsung Epic 4G Touch using Tapatalk

 

My version of the NP700Z5A doesn't have the 8GB iSSD, just the 5400RPM HDD, so that shouldn't apply even if true in other models. Where in HWinfo can I verify this? I checked the ODD drive info, and it just says SATA controller at 1.5GBs p/s, which is SATA1 speeds. I think this applies to the drive interface rather than the controller. Also, I'm pretty sure I read on other threads that people have confirmed that the ODD controller is also SATA 3. I will find it and link back here shortly.

 

Well if you don't have an iSSD, then there may be a chance. Just install Intel RST and open up the console. I'll post photos in a few. Also, the iSSD is running at 3Gbps, not 1.5Gbps like I mentioned above.

Edit: Ports 0,1,2 in RST = Port 1,2,3 in the bios and it's common knowledge that the first two ports are always the two that carry Sata III (6Gbps). Could it possibly be mapped wrong or could my caddy only support Sata II throughput? I really doubt it because Intel RST correctly identifies the Sata ports on my Asrock Z77E-ITX the exact same way (0 & 1 are Sata III 6Gbps). I have seen caddies advertised as Sata III, but I can't see the connector making a difference. Contrary to popular belief, there is no difference between Sata II and Sata III cables for desktops, meaning Sata II data cables can transfer at Sata III speeds, so I'm not sure why the caddy throughput would be any different.

I was a little bummed out when I concluded all of this, but my Plextor is still getting 23/41MB/s 4k read/writes, which is ridiculously high for Sata II on a laptop. I usually see much lower scores with similar SSDs on laptops even when they're utilizing Sata III.

If you can prove any of this to be wrong, please try, because I'd be VERY happy if you did lol.

 

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I would swap the SSD with the HDD, and put the HDD in the ODD bay, but I read elsewhere that the Samsung HDD tapers from 9.5mm down to 9.3mm so a 9.5mm SSD doesn't fit perfectly in that bay and causes a bulge that either raises the keyboard, or prevents the case from closing fully. I will check and see if it fits. If not, I may just have to go with the ODD bay and live with Sata II speeds (assuming the ODD bay is not Sata III). It's still going to be light years faster than the hideously slow 5400rpm drive it shipped with.

Thanks for the tips about cloning and booting. Does it matter if I leave my existing HDD in it's current state after I clone it to the SSD? I'm thinking I might leave it that way in case I ever need to send it back to Samsung for a service before the warranty expires.

 

Thanks for the info - I will try to prove you wrong! My SSD was delivered today. As soon as my caddy arrives, I will do the installation and report back here. Did you end up keeping yours in the ODD bay, or did you swap it with the HDD?

 

As you can see in the photos, I have a Samsung 830 256GB in the main bay and a Plextor M3 256GB in the caddy. I do quite a bit of programming in a quiet environment, and can't handle mechanical drive noise even if they're spun down most of the time. I also have zero HDDs in my desktop and I don't think I will ever use one again outside of externals lol

 

After trying to replace the HDD with the SSD yesterday and confirming a 9.5mm SSD doesn't fit, I decided to bite the bullet, swallow the 15% restocking fee, and RMA the 9.5mm drive. I just ordered the 7mm version instead, so I will be able to replace the HDD and definitely get SATA III speeds. Just got my caddy today too, so worst case scenario, if my RMA is rejected for any reason, I'll just have to replace the ODD/HDD with the 9.5mm one and be stuck with 512GB of SSD Storage

 

Any luck yet? Again this may not apply to any Series 7 without an iSSD, but even the Gamer model only has one Sata III according to what Samsung told this person - http://forum.notebookreview.com/samsung/674112-np700g7c-sata-6gb-s.html#post8665122

I'll edit this post with anything else I run into

 

I'll only be able to confirm my speeds in the ODD bay if they reject my RMA for the 9.5mm drive (hopefully not). Assuming they don't, I'm going to put the 7mm drive in the HDD bay, and put the HDD in the ODD.

 

Hi,

As I want to install SDD in HDD bay is there any caddy needed to the put original HDD into ODD?

Cheers,
f.

 

See this thread.

John