Best value SSD?

[Matt100HP]

21TonyK said:

Thanks for that. Looks like it will be a Crucial or Samsung, guess whatever is on Prime and cheapest at the time.

Last Q. Bearing in mind there is no CD/DVD on the machine I'm guessing I need a USB cable for the drive and some cloning software. Any recommendations on SW, just use a freebie off the web? I suspect I'll have to create a bootable memory stick with the SW on?

Cheers all

I've always used the free version of Macrium Reflect to clone drives, but there are other free options out there and no doubt everyone has their favourite.

You don't need to create a bootable USB stick, you can clone a drive whilst it's running Windows. Just attach the SSD to the laptop, open your software of choice and clone the current OS HDD to the SSD.

To attach the SSD to the laptop for the cloning procedure, you'll need something like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-com-SATA-Drive-A...

[21TonyK]

Matt100HP said:

You don't need to create a bootable USB stick, you can clone a drive whilst it's running Windows. Just attach the SSD to the laptop, open your software of choice and clone the current OS HDD to the SSD.

Even simpler then. Last time I cloned drives I was replacing 150+ desktops back in 1999/2000!

[2Btoo]

Monty Python said:

How old is the laptop? If it's using the old ATA-150 interface then you won't see much benefit over a SSHD.

Can you explain this a little to me please? I'm thinking of putting an SSD into an old Dell Inspiron lappie I have kicking around (works fine, too good to chuck, just a little slow).

What's the ATA-150 interface and how do I tell if I have one?

Thanks.

[Monty Python]

2Btoo said:

Can you explain this a little to me please? I'm thinking of putting an SSD into an old Dell Inspiron lappie I have kicking around (works fine, too good to chuck, just a little slow).

What's the ATA-150 interface and how do I tell if I have one?

Thanks.

You'll have to find the tech specs, but the SATA-150 interface is a lot slower that SATA3, so you won't be able to take full advantage of the speed of an SSD. In this case then the cheaper SSHD will give an improvement at less than half the price.

[bighop]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-New-Crucial-MX300-...

Bargain SSD on eBay. Got one of these myself and they are top notch.

[21TonyK]

Thanks all, just ordered a Crucial MX300 525 with cable for £120 as shes home tonight and I can sort it out in the morning if it arrives on time.

Was thinking about AOMEI Partition Assistant, any issues anyone knows of?

Also, I assume I can pick up a cheap external case for a 2.5" drive and put the old one in it to backup the SSD by cloning every couple of weeks. She already keeps backups of work on my Amazon drive.

[Bikerjon]

I haven't used AOMEI Partition Assistant but your crucial drive should come with a download link for Acronis to clone the drive.

Yes, you can buy a 2.5 caddy for the old drive.

[Matt100HP]

Bikerjon said:

I haven't used AOMEI Partition Assistant but your crucial drive should come with a download link for Acronis to clone the drive.

Yes, you can buy a 2.5 caddy for the old drive.

Until I read that and looked in the boxes for the MX300s I bought the other week I had no idea they came with a key for Acronis!

That's what I get for not RTFM (or box)...

[anonymous-user]

21TonyK said:

Thanks all, just ordered a Crucial MX300 525 with cable for £120 as shes home tonight and I can sort it out in the morning if it arrives on time.

Was thinking about AOMEI Partition Assistant, any issues anyone knows of?

Also, I assume I can pick up a cheap external case for a 2.5" drive and put the old one in it to backup the SSD by cloning every couple of weeks. She already keeps backups of work on my Amazon drive.

Hi
I got one of these and can say I was genuinely nicely surprised with it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ORICO-USB-3-0-2-5-Inch-S...

Cheap but doesn't particularly look or feel TOO cheap I bought some others from China and they were blatant copies of WD passport caddies and they were a sort of bendable opening slide in thing that were difficult to close up. the one above just sort of slides and locks together. I also bought a sort of neoprene thing from Home Bargains for a couple of quid that fits it quite well though was I think designed for a camera

[21TonyK]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Upgraded to the Crucial and its made a significant difference as expected. Not sure if it will be enough for what she wants but if not it will make a very good laptop for sons O and A levels.

The Acronis SW did the job but went into an infinite boot/reboot on the original drive until I took it out and just tried the cloned SSD which as fine. Old drive now awaiting an external enclosure ^^^^^ as a backup.

[papercup]

If you buy a Samsung SSD you can use their free software.

http://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/minisite/ssd/...

'Data Migration'.

Runs within Windows; you need a USB lead though. The Samsungs come in two flavours; the one a few pounds more has the lead in the box.