9 replies to this topic

[Lordred289]

I have ordered the 256gb SSD for my laptop. Part: http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820148449


(I have already checked the deminsions, my laptops drive bay has room for up to a 10mm drive, this unit is 9.5

Should I just use the transfer kit included? start with a fresh Image? or track down a windows intstall disk and start with a clean install from the ground up?

My laptop is already setup in AHCI mode, however like most laptops was not shipped with a install disk. The very first thing I did was create an image of the system when I bought it. Other then that, I have access to a windows disk.

So short question is as follows, for a laptop, which is not being used to eek out every bit of performance possible should I?

A: Use the transfer kit
B: Start with the Image as shipped
C: Go though the process of a full fresh install and downloading the drivers from lenovo.


Thanks,
~Red

Edited by Lordred289, 19 February 2012 - 06:27 PM.

[Challenger]

fresh install every time.

I recommend if it's your main rig you should be doing a reinstall every 6 months (12 months max). If it's just a rig with only games on then you may be able to last a bit longer but still loads of junk builds up.

[slamscaper]

When you bought the laptop, did it not prompt you to create recovery disc(s)? If so, you'll want to use the recovery disc(s) to restore the OS. You may have issues with activating if you install from a retail copy that's already been activated on another system, although calling MS will probably sort it out for you in that scenario.

[Lordred289]

slamscaper, on 19 February 2012 - 10:06 PM, said:

When you bought the laptop, did it not prompt you to create recovery disc(s)? If so, you'll want to use the recovery disc(s) to restore the OS. You may have issues with activating if you install from a retail copy that's already been activated on another system, although calling MS will probably sort it out for you in that scenario.

This is the first step I took with the laptop on initial boot up, (create recovery disk/system image) The device has a windows Serial on it as well.

[slixx]

Grats on the ssd let us know how you rate it,ive had my hdd mechanical one go on me again one of many tbh i really want an ssd just the price and size, ive been spoilt useing a 1tb hdd for a while but prices are high at the moment, doe's anyone rate them hybrid drives at all ?

[Challenger]

Hybrid drives are for people too lazy to cut down what they store on their computer

I find 120GB is ample for the primary HDD. In my macbook I'm currently using, I have a 120GB SSD and a 500GB HDD. The SSD still has 89GB free as it's only used for applications and the OS. The HDD stores all my documents.

Yes granted if you play games then you have to do a bit of reorganization so only the games your currently playing are on the SSD - but this doesn't take my time if you get into the habit of moving older games to the HDD and using symbolic links.

For non-game usage a SSD really makes a difference with apps so store all the documents on slower media.

[slamscaper]

Lordred289, on 19 February 2012 - 10:19 PM, said:

This is the first step I took with the laptop on initial boot up, (create recovery disk/system image) The device has a windows Serial on it as well.

I just thought of something. If you restore an image that was snapped from your old drive, it's likely that the partition will not be "aligned" properly for an SSD. This can cause severe performance degradation. Imaging programs like Acronis True image (latest versions) support this type of scenario, but I seriously doubt the software built into your laptop does.

A clean installation will ensure that the partition will be aligned correctly for optimal SSD performance. That said, it is possible to fix an SSD's misaligned partition after Windows is installed, provided you have a LiveCD with GPARTED on it.

[Lordred289]

Should be in a box waiting for me when I return home from work tomorrow night :D

[Lordred289]

So I did a fresh install with my SSD, I know that the AMD Fusion A60M chipset is Sata III (6Gb/s) but my performance seams rather lacking for a Sata III.

A: I am on the most current firmware
B: I inssured my bios was set to ACHI prior to install
C: I performaned a fresh install and was sure to install every driver correctly

Here are my results. I am wondering if I have a major problem with my drive, as my Random 4KB read is way, way low. (I ran the test a few times, the Random 4KB always is scoreing low.)

[Honey Badger]

Welcome to the SSD generation Dred. Glad you decided to join me & all the other crazy people paying over $1/GB for awesomeness. lol