Any specific components I should have to be able to install an SSD and use it as my main OS disk drive? My computer is like 3 years old now but it's still fine, the only bad thing about it is the 5400RPM HDD inside that I hate. It could be much faster.
Desktop HD bays (empty places to install a hard drive) used to be mostly 3.5 inch. That's most probably the size of your 5400 rpm HD.
SSD drives are usually 2.5 inch, which is the size used for laptops.
Now I think in newer cases, they would have some bays for 2.5 inch drives since it's so common, but if not you will have to buy a tray adapter if you want the drive to be properly secured.
Thanks rolf, I'll check my tower later to see if a 2.5" would fit. Anyway I won't be doing the installation myself, I will send it to pcandparts. I have a Core i7-3770, an Intel DH61 mobo, and 16gigs of DDR3. I only use this for watching series, streaming stuff, the occasional word/excel processing for work, etc. I don't need to update it, right? I think the SSD will make a big difference alone.
These specs sound good. Yes, I think an SSD will make a big difference, not really in graphics and processing (compression, 3D rendering, etc.), but all the rest! You can keep your old drive to save your big files (movies, etc.) and archive your old data.
You can probably install the drive yourself, it's a matter of unscrewing and re-screwing like 8 screws, and connecting 2 cables. The annoying part is installing the system and software again and copying your files (or cloning your old system if you want to do it the advanced way).
Thanks man! Do you mind looking over the list http://pcandparts.com/price.htm here and recommending a 512GB or 1TB SSD for me? I saw the Sandisk X400 and googled around a bit, apparently its not recommended because it uses TLC flash. Most of what I've seen (Kingston SSDNow, Kingston HyperX 3K) are also getting neutral to negative reviews.
rolf wrote You can probably install the drive yourself, it's a matter of unscrewing and re-screwing like 8 screws, and connecting 2 cables. The annoying part is installing the system and software again and copying your files (or cloning your old system if you want to do it the advanced way).
I'd love to be able to clone my old system. Any links so I can read up on it?


edit: quick inspection of my tower shows it only has 3.5" ports. I'll see if Pcandparts have the adapter to mount it correctly.
no need for a tray or anything like that, these SSDs are so small and light just tape them down and it will be secure
Get the Samsung Evo or Pro (depending on how much money you can spend).

Clone the drives using Acronis True Image
The Samsung Pro 1TB will cost around 500$, do you think it's worth it? I don't really have a problem spending it but it seems like a lot considering I could go for virtually the same thing for 200$ less in another brand.
MrClass wroteGet the Samsung Evo or Pro (depending on how much money you can spend).

Clone the drives using Acronis True Image
I second that advice, Samsung have good performance. I researched the topic months ago and went for a Samsung.
Cloning, I usually do it the "hard way" using Linux. Acronis seems to be a user-friendly alternative (thanks for the tip).
Cloning is a little more complicated and more prone to fail than just reinstalling but go ahead and try if you want to.

I recommend buying a 128 or 256 GB SSD and install only your software and any files you open frequently (just keep then on a desktop), then you can have a D: drive for your bigger and older stuff. Since you don't play any games, I don't think you'll need more then that.

Putting everything on the SSD, such as all your photos, which you will look at maybe 3 or 4 times a year is in my opinion not worth the money because SSD storage is much more expensive than magnetic, as you probably noticed!
In the end, it is a personal preference, it's also nice and simpler to have a big drive with everything.
Salloum wroteThe Samsung Pro 1TB will cost around 500$, do you think it's worth it? I don't really have a problem spending it but it seems like a lot considering I could go for virtually the same thing for 200$ less in another brand.
Yes because you're going for the speed, is that not the whole point? But as I just said above you don't need the biggest one. I got the 128GB on my PC and it costs like $150 (maybe less now) and is worth the money, then I got a 1TB spinning disk for all my photos, etc, and that one is even cheaper.

Your decision.

Whatever you decide, I hope you will be happy with it.
Thanks for the input rolf. So judging by what you said it makes more sense to go for a high-end brand with lower capacity than a bigger so-so drive. I think this makes a lot of sense actually since I have a 4TB disk on here already. Thanks for the tip!
Salloum wroteThanks for the input rolf. So judging by what you said it makes more sense to go for a high-end brand with lower capacity than a bigger so-so drive. I think this makes a lot of sense actually since I have a 4TB disk on here already. Thanks for the tip!
In you case since you seem to have a good system so it should be taking full advantage of the speed of a faster SSD model if you install one.

It depends on how you use your computer and your personal preference but personally this is what I would have done.

PS: you're welcome
rolf wrote
It depends on how you use your computer and your personal preference but personally this is what I would have done.
Well who doesn't want a 6 TB SSD? Of course it would be more convenient to have as much storage in your SSD as possible. But it makes little sense to me to drop 500$ on a 3-year old machine I paid 1200$ for back then. I'll just upgrade to a small SSD now and use this for another couple of years and then get something new.
Anyone know some place that has the Samsung Pro 256 or 512GB in stock? Tried Pcandparts & Microcity, both don't
Try to call compuworld maybe, they sell Samsung:

http://diamond-lb.com

Although if you can't find it, it's likely that there is no stock at the "wakil".
Salloum wroteWell who doesn't want a 6 TB SSD?.
Agreed. At work, they gave me a new macbook with a huge and very fast SSD. It's really nice, but it was not me who paid for it.
I had to give it back. Of course that the best but for me it's expensive.

With a two-disk system it's simple, if you want something to open really fast you put it on your SSD. So your operating system, the software that you normally use and the files that you currently working on go on C:. The rest goes on D:, which would be your 4TB disk, where you have as much space as you want.

A bigger SSD is nice just keep in mind not all SSDs are equal there is a performance difference. I don't know about the particular model that you had in mind so it's hard to tell how much that difference is but it can be pretty big.
rolf wrote I had to give it back. Of course that the best but for me it's expensive.
You what mate???

The new retina macbooks have Samsung Pro SSD (the msata ones). Get it back please, they perform beautifully; you're missing on the awesomeness.
The switch is done! Installed it myself, it was a breeze, but I had to disconnect my DVD-RW drive because my graphics card is blocking one of my motherboard ports and I already had two spinning disks in there. But I'm very satisfied. I installed a clean Windows 10 instead of cloning, I felt like a refresh would benefit performance and it did. Everything is blazing fast now. Thanks for all the advice people!
That's nice to hear.