For every question, there's an answer -- and you'll find it here!


Printer-friendly copy
Top The PC Q&A Forum The Computer Forum topic #565924
View in linear mode

Subject: "Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive" Previous topic | Next topic
spencercatThu Mar-21-19 08:26 PM
Member since Dec 24th 2001
425 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
"Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive"
Thu Mar-21-19 08:28 PM by spencercat

  

          

First, I'm so sorry to hear about Shelly. Over the years, he was a big help to me.

I’m thinking about replacing the hard drive in my slow-booting Dell Inspiron 3668 with my first SSD drive, and I would like some advice.

My Dell desktop has a 1 TB hard drive, but I’m using only 112 GB, so I’m looking at the ‘SanDisk Ultra 3D NAND 250GB Internal SSD - SATA III 6 Gb/s, 2.5”/7mm - SDSSDH3-250G-G25’, which Amazon is selling for $49.99.

Several questions:
1. Should I replace the hard drive with the SSD, and put all my files on it, both system and user data?
2. Would you recommend that I leave my user data files (mostly photos) on the hard drive and use the SSD only for the system files?
3. Should I consider putting the SSD into an external enclosure, instead of inside the desktop, and use USB 3 (I suppose) to connect the two?
4. How difficult would it be to clone the hard drive files to the SSD? I use Macrium Reflect as my daily backup program, and apparently it can clone drives.
5. Other issues to be considered?

Thank you for your help.

Richard

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | | Top

Replies to this topic
Subject Author Message Date ID
RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive
Mar 21st 2019
1
RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive
Mar 21st 2019
2
RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive
Mar 22nd 2019
3
      RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive
Mar 22nd 2019
4
           RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive
Mar 22nd 2019
5
                RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive
Mar 22nd 2019
6
                     RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive
Mar 22nd 2019
7
RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive
Mar 22nd 2019
8
RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive
Mar 22nd 2019
9
RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive
Mar 22nd 2019
10
      RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive
Mar 23rd 2019
11
           RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive
Mar 23rd 2019
12
                RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive
Mar 23rd 2019
13
                RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive
Mar 24th 2019
14

PcqandamanThu Mar-21-19 11:01 PM
Member since Nov 18th 2002
2184 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#1. "RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive"
In response to spencercat (Reply # 0)


          

1. Should I replace the hard drive with the SSD, and put all my files on it, both system and user data?
That's what I did, why change the setup if you are happy as it was.

2. Would you recommend that I leave my user data files (mostly photos) on the hard drive and use the SSD only for the system files?
No, it seems you have plenty of space so why complicate things. Easier to backup as well.

3. Should I consider putting the SSD into an external enclosure, instead of inside the desktop, and use USB 3 (I suppose) to connect the two?
No. Your new SSD looks like the same type as mine. I simply replaced the HD with the new SSD. Using the same cables.

4. How difficult would it be to clone the hard drive files to the SSD? I use Macrium Reflect as my daily backup program, and apparently it can clone drives.
I also use Macrium Reflect but the SSD came with cloning software so I just followed the instructions(video) and used that.
It was just a matter of cloning the HD to the SSD, and swapping.

My PC certainly boots faster now and is quieter. The only noise is the fans!

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | | Top

    
PcqandamanThu Mar-21-19 11:17 PM
Member since Nov 18th 2002
2184 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#2. "RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive"
In response to Pcqandaman (Reply # 1)


          

One thing that has just occurred to me:
I’m not sure if you can clone an HD to an SSD which is smaller in size.
I replaced my 500gb HD with a 500gb SSD with no problem.
I have a feeling it might object cloning 1TB HD to a 256gb SSD.
But I may be wrong there, just check it first.

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | | Top

        
spencercatFri Mar-22-19 12:21 AM
Member since Dec 24th 2001
425 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#3. "RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive"
In response to Pcqandaman (Reply # 2)


  

          

Quote:
One thing that has just occurred to me:
I’m not sure if you can clone an HD to an SSD which is smaller in size.
I replaced my 500gb HD with a 500gb SSD with no problem.
I have a feeling it might object cloning 1TB HD to a 256gb SSD.
But I may be wrong there, just check it first.



First, Pcqandaman, I want to thank you so much for responding and providing so much information. You're a great help.

Now, regarding the size differences, I researched the issue, and this is what I found, so apparently cloning to a smaller drive will work:
Macrium Reflect:
“If you’re moving to a smaller or larger drive, follow these instructions to resize partitions before proceeding with steps seven to ten.”
“It’s also good practice to clean up any files on your system, especially if you’re moving to a smaller drive — you can’t have more data than the new drive can hold.”

EaseUS:
“To clone bigger HDD to a smaller SSD disk, or migrate OS to SSD, you need to confirm that the actual data usage space on the HDD is equal to or smaller to the SSD capacity. Then EaseUS Partition Master will clone all data to the new disk."

Another Site:
“It is possible to clone 1TB HDD to 500GB SSD ... as long as the used space on the source HDD is not larger than the capacity of destination SSD.”

Thanks, again.

Richard

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | | Top

            
PcqandamanFri Mar-22-19 08:41 AM
Member since Nov 18th 2002
2184 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#4. "RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive"
In response to spencercat (Reply # 3)
Fri Mar-22-19 08:43 AM by Pcqandaman

          

Ah, I'm surprised at the EaseUS and Another Site's statement although I haven't researched well because I didn't need to.
I thought cloning was a sector to sector identical copy including unused sectors so the Macrium Reflect statement makes sense.
I have never resized a partition to a smaller size so I don't know the procedure.
Presumably you would somehow do a "defrag" sort of thing to move all the data to the 'front' part of the disc and then split it into two partitions, one with your data and the other 'spare'.
Good luck.

BTW, I tried to edit my post (to change 256gb to 250gb) but after clicking EDIT it just gave a blank form!!

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | | Top

                
spencercatFri Mar-22-19 04:09 PM
Member since Dec 24th 2001
425 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#5. "RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive"
In response to Pcqandaman (Reply # 4)


  

          

Quote:
QUOTE:
BTW, I tried to edit my post (to change 256gb to 250gb) but after clicking EDIT it just gave a blank form!!


Yeah, I had the same experience yesterday. Back in the day when I was a mainframe programmer, we would refer to those 'errors' as 'unannounced features'.

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | | Top

                    
PcqandamanFri Mar-22-19 04:49 PM
Member since Nov 18th 2002
2184 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#6. "RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive"
In response to spencercat (Reply # 5)
Fri Mar-22-19 04:50 PM by Pcqandaman

          

Quote:
...
Yeah, I had the same experience yesterday. Back in the day when I was a mainframe programmer, we would refer to those 'errors' as 'unannounced features'.
Ah yes, COBOL, Fortran, Algol and all that?

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | | Top

                        
spencercatFri Mar-22-19 05:58 PM
Member since Dec 24th 2001
425 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#7. "RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive"
In response to Pcqandaman (Reply # 6)


  

          

Quote:

Ah yes, COBOL, Fortran, Algol and all that?


From October 1968 to January 28, 1998, I programmed in COBOL for 15 years and then 4th generation languages FOCUS and NOMAD for 15 years.

Although I have built 2 PCs (with help and advice from people on this site), I really know only enough about PCs to be dangerous, but I live in a 55+ retirement community, and, as they say, 'In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king', so I try to help out friends with their PC problems.

Thanks again for your help.

BTW, I've decided to buy the Samsung 860 EVO 500GB 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-76E500B/AM) for $77.99 from Amazon because it's bigger than the SanDisk and has slightly higher ratings.

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | | Top

    
lenjackFri Mar-22-19 06:12 PM
Member since Nov 13th 2001
1582 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#8. "RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive"
In response to Pcqandaman (Reply # 1)


          

Quote:
QUOTE:
1. Should I replace the hard drive with the SSD, and put all my files on it, both system and user data?
That's what I did, why change the setup if you are happy as it was.

2. Would you recommend that I leave my user data files (mostly photos) on the hard drive and use the SSD only for the system files?
No, it seems you have plenty of space so why complicate things. Easier to backup as well.

3. Should I consider putting the SSD into an external enclosure, instead of inside the desktop, and use USB 3 (I suppose) to connect the two?
No. Your new SSD looks like the same type as mine. I simply replaced the HD with the new SSD. Using the same cables.

4. How difficult would it be to clone the hard drive files to the SSD? I use Macrium Reflect as my daily backup program, and apparently it can clone drives.
I also use Macrium Reflect but the SSD came with cloning software so I just followed the instructions(video) and used that.
It was just a matter of cloning the HD to the SSD, and swapping.

My PC certainly boots faster now and is quieter. The only noise is the fans!


Go for it. No real downside.

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | | Top

Red SquirrelFri Mar-22-19 10:25 PM
Member since May 16th 2008
346 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#9. "RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive"
In response to spencercat (Reply # 0)
Fri Mar-22-19 10:30 PM by Red Squirrel

          

Personally my setups typically go something like this:

-SSD for OS

-HDDs in raid for mass storage (TB+) (mostly because it's cheaper per TB)

In your case I would do a single 512GB or 1TB SSD with OS + data given you will have plenty of space.

You should be able to use any imaging program like Acronis to clone the drive over to the SSD.

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | | Top

    
spencercatFri Mar-22-19 11:04 PM
Member since Dec 24th 2001
425 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#10. "RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive"
In response to Red Squirrel (Reply # 9)


  

          

Quote:
QUOTE:
In your case I would do a single 512GB or 1TB SSD with OS + data given you will have plenty of space.


My Samsung 860 EVO 500GB Internal SSD is supposed to arrive tomorrow (3/23), so wish me luck . And I'm going to put everything onto the one SSD. Looking forward to the faster startup time.

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | | Top

        
lenjackSat Mar-23-19 05:01 PM
Member since Nov 13th 2001
1582 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#11. "RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive"
In response to spencercat (Reply # 10)


          

You will have the option of aligning the ssd for optimal performance. Be sure to do that.

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | | Top

            
spencercatSat Mar-23-19 05:35 PM
Member since Dec 24th 2001
425 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#12. "RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive"
In response to lenjack (Reply # 11)


  

          

Quote:
QUOTE:
You will have the option of aligning the ssd for optimal performance. Be sure to do that.


Thanks for the advice ... now how do I do that?

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | | Top

                
GreyFalconSat Mar-23-19 11:32 PM
Charter member
2834 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#13. "RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive"
In response to spencercat (Reply # 12)


          

My Samsung SSD came with software that made it a snap to clone the drive. I could have used my Paragon software but went with what was provided. It was very easy.

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | | Top

                
lenjackSun Mar-24-19 02:54 PM
Member since Nov 13th 2001
1582 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#14. "RE: Need Help Deciding on Whether to Use an SSD Drive"
In response to spencercat (Reply # 12)


          

Quote:
QUOTE:
QUOTE:
You will have the option of aligning the ssd for optimal performance. Be sure to do that.


Thanks for the advice ... now how do I do that?


It will ask you if you want to do that.

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | | Top

Top The PC Q&A Forum The Computer Forum topic #565924 Previous topic | Next topic
Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.27
Copyright 1997-2003 DCScripts.com
Home
Links
About PCQandA
Link To Us
Support PCQandA
Privacy Policy
In Memoriam
Acceptable Use Policy

Have a question or problem regarding this forum? Check here for the answer.