Install an SSD drive to replace "C" Drive (HDD): I realize this is not particularly a photography question but am considering replacing my 1TB HDD "C" drive with a 500GB SSD. Ive also...

dynaquest1 Loc: Austin, Texas

I realize this is not particularly a photography question but am considering replacing my 1TB HDD "C" drive with a 500GB SSD. Ive also got a 2TB "E" drive for storage. Just wondering if any of you hogs out there have done this and if the speed increase was worth the effort? Also...did you notice any speed-ups other than boot up and program launch? Thanks!

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

A friend of mine did something similar. He added the SDD and cloned his operating system and important programs to it and used the 1T original HD for data outputs. Or something like that. The SSD gives much faster program starts but you can't defrag one, so scattered data files like photos could become a problem if you're copying, deleting, and moving lots of files around.

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

If you're replacing your 1TB "C" drive just to switch to an SSD, I wouldn't. They are faster but, you pay a bit of a premium. A 500gig SSD from newegg.com is $149.99 on sale. Your 1TB drive sells for $50.00. You'll also need an adapter kit for the SSD to fit the drive bay on your desktop. I saw 1 on newegg for $55.00 but, I'm sure you can find them a lot cheaper.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

The easiest way I know is:
1. Software to clone or make a recoverable backup file of your current OS drive. I use Acronis and have done this operation numerous times.
2. Purchase a Sata to USB cable. One end plugs into a USB port and the other into the new drive. You may have to enter Disk Management to have the new drive recognized.
3. Format the new drive - may not be necessary if the software auto formats the new drive during recovery or cloning.
4. Recover the backup file to the new drive.
5. Shut off the computer, take out the old drive and install the new one.
6. Turn on the computer - voila - it should be right back to where you were on the old drive.
It's really easy. Most new drive purchases usually have built in software to accomplish the operation. Call or chat with the new drive manufacturer or the outlet selling the drive. You will need a techie, not just a salesman.

Feel free to PM me with additional questions.
Mark

dynaquest1 wrote:

I realize this is not particularly a photography question but am considering replacing my 1TB HDD "C" drive with a 500GB SSD. Ive also got a 2TB "E" drive for storage. Just wondering if any of you hogs out there have done this and if the speed increase was worth the effort? Also...did you notice any speed-ups other than boot up and program launch? Thanks!

dynaquest1 Loc: Austin, Texas

markngolf wrote:

The easiest way I know is: br 1. Software to clone... (show quote)

Thanks, Mark!! Actually I think I'm going to do a clean install of Win 10. Right now I have the 8.1 upgrade on top of 8 and 10 on top of 8.1 and the Creator's Update on top of 10. Plus, in preparation of switching to an SSD, I moved my Win 10 "Libraries" folders to my storage drive "E" and that transfer was not flawless.

So my plan is to backup all my data files to an external drive and do a fresh install of Win 10 along with formatting the (fairly new) 2TB "E" HDD which will be used for data storage. I'm hoping this time when I move the library folders to the "E" drive, I don't screw it up.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

I just performed similar. (Clean install) It is easy to recover your installed programs for the new Windows installation, providing you backup all the setup files to an external. They are probably in your "Downloads" folder, unless you specifically directed them to another location. Make sure you copy that folder to the external before doing the clean install. I keep my downloads folder on one of my other two internal drives, along with all data. I backup all my drives to externals using Acronis. After doing the clean install, find the desired setup files of programs in the Downloads folder. Double click the setup file - it will immediately install the program. You may need serials, ... for some.

Good luck with the operation. You will think you have a brand new PC after completing. It should be very fast!!
Mark

dynaquest1 wrote:

Thanks, Mark!! Actually I think I'm going to do a... (show quote)

Pegasus Loc: Texas Gulf Coast

gvarner wrote:

A friend of mine did something similar. He added the SDD and cloned his operating system and important programs to it and used the 1T original HD for data outputs. Or something like that. The SSD gives much faster program starts but you can't defrag one, so scattered data files like photos could become a problem if you're copying, deleting, and moving lots of files around.

Yeah, just ignore the above post; it's wrong on so many levels.

An SSD will buy you a lot of performance from startup to shutdown. If your current C drive is a 5400 RPM drive the difference will be astounding.

There is something called a pagefile that usually resides on the C: drive. This is your virtual memory file and it is used all the time, especially if you have relatively small memory like 8GB or less and you like to have multiple windows open simultaneously. (I usually have about 20-30 windows and tabs open all the time. Some people have less.) When playing with big files like photos or videos, you gain a lot of performance with the SSDs.

You can most certainly defrag an SSD, but there is no reason to do so since there is no lag accessing files that may be scattered and fragmented; there are no moving parts in an SSD.

A clean install is always best.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

I’m sure you had good reasons for buying it, now why not just install it and see for yourself.

dynaquest1 Loc: Austin, Texas

rjaywallace wrote:

I’m sure you had good reasons for buying it, now why not just install it and see for yourself.

That's the plan!

Just wanted confirmation from actual users that the speed was worth the effort. The "effort" I'm talking about is having to deactivate all my Adobe CS6 apps (and losing my settings in each) and then reinstalling all of them. Plus Microsoft Office and everything else. What a pain this will be...but I'm hoping when done it will have been worth it. Since I'd have to do the same with a new PC, I guess I shouldn't complain.

dynaquest1 Loc: Austin, Texas

markngolf wrote:

I just performed similar. (Clean install) It is ea... (show quote)

Most of my Adobe CS6 apps I have on the original disc, Mark. A few other Adobe apps (Dreamweaver, Acrobat Pro & Fireworks) plus a ton other misc apps ARE in my downloads folder and I back that one up (with all the other library folders) regularly. Though I dread a clean install, I wasn't looking forward to the "migration" process and pitfalls I might encounter doing that. I agree.....a clean install in a no brainer considering the benefits (and, in additon, cleaning up my self-inflicted wounds).

Pegasus Loc: Texas Gulf Coast

I think you will like the improved performance. It's really cheap for the benefits you will get. If you haven't bought the drive yet, consider getting a 1TB drive instead of just 500GB. If you're going to go through the process of reinstalling everything, make it worth you while. Also, SSDs run cooler than HDDs.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

gvarner wrote:

A friend of mine did something similar. He added the SDD and cloned his operating system and important programs to it and used the 1T original HD for data outputs. Or something like that. The SSD gives much faster program starts but you can't defrag one, so scattered data files like photos could become a problem if you're copying, deleting, and moving lots of files around.

Since SSDs are by nature a random access device (no physical heads to move), it doesn’t matter if they're Fragmented or not - same access time to read fragmented blocks as sequential ones. Therefore no need to defragment, and it is recommended not to do so - make sense?

Regarding the OP’s question, yes, it will speed up most operations dramatically as many/most computer operations require disk I/O, not just at boot up. Short of increasing RAM, and then mainly when you’re doing excessive paging to disk, there’s nothing else you can do that will give you as much performance increase per $ as upgrading to SSD.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

One thing to add.
I have an SSD for my 'C' - it has OS and programs only - data is on a 7200 rpm 'D' drive, except photos/videos which are on a 7200 rpm 'P' drive and then there is an external 'G' drive that is only for Acronis back ups of the whole computer. (daily-1 full then 6 incremental so weekly, I save one back and delete older ones)

Yes, this setup is faster. In fact fast enough that the only upgrade I am thinking of doing is more RAM (I have 16GB and the motherboard can take 32GB.) This is a Nov 2011 built gaming computer (don't game-got it for photo editing) with 6 core 3.2 ghz-i7 CPU-16GB RAM and 2GB video card.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

This is not an expensive proposition. You will want to put your operating system and important start-up programs on the SSD and put photos, documents and other data on the HDD. It is not hard to do, but it also is not too expensive to have your local geek store do it.

Is it worth it - YES! I did this in my laptop, and it is super fast now. It opens up in about 3 seconds - the slowest thing is me entering my password. It is very fast processing photos - I am the slowest component of the process (deciding what I like as I process the photos, etc.). It was well worth doing - like getting a new computer but at 1/10th the cost!

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

gvarner wrote:

A friend of mine did something similar. He added the SDD and cloned his operating system and important programs to it and used the 1T original HD for data outputs. Or something like that. The SSD gives much faster program starts but you can't defrag one, so scattered data files like photos could become a problem if you're copying, deleting, and moving lots of files around.

added 16gig ram and 1 TB SSD drive to my older MacBook Pro and to my wife’s older HP PC notebook both boot up in 23 seconds We are both happy and extended the life of our computers for a few more years both are faster and boot up in 23 seconds