Connecting a SSD

Hey guys I am in the middle of building my first custom computer here and I have a question. When buying my items for my computer I wanted to be able to boot windows off of a SSD because I've read that its ultimately faster and such. Therefore I bought one those and then I bought a case that has a external 2.5' docking bay for SSDs.

Basically I'm wondering if I put my SSD in the docking bay will I be able to boot to windows off that while having a 1TB hard drive for storage and stuff?

No where online tells me if by doing that I would be sacrificing speed or if its even possible.

Thanks a ton in advance!

P.S. - Here is the case with the docking station http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811208057

 

I'm assuming you are also getting a new MOBO, and it will have SATA111 ports.

That's where you want it to be - Port 1 Sata.

That's where your speed will be optimum.

When I first got my SSD, I inadvertently connected it to the 3 GB port and the speeds were terrible.

You should also connect your 1 TB to the board, unless you don't have room.

 

So what your saying is that even if I leave the SSD in the docking bay on top of the computer I will be able to boot windows off that? I was wondering how because there doesn't seem to be a SATA cable coming from the case that would plug into the motherboard.

 

Why are you not installing the SSD inside the computer, then connect it directly to a motherboard SATA connector? That's how I build all my SSD based computers. An external drive is more for a temporary use, or supplemental storage - not for a computer's OS.

 

I would install the drive inside the computer but I would have to buy a mounting bracket. That wouldn't be much of a problem I suppose, I'm just worried that I won't have enough SATA ports on my motherboard.

This is my motherboard.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

 

Enough for what? That board has 6 SATA ports. You only mentioned 1 SSD and 1 HD.

Do you already have the SSD? The ones I have purchased recently came with a mounting bracket adapter in the box.

 

You don't need a mounting bracket.
I just put some double-sided tape underneath it.

 

Yeah, you can do that too - though I would use as little tape as possible to ensure circulating air can get under it. But a bracket would still be better because the weight from the attached cables working with the heat in case interior would not be constantly pulling on the tape. The brackets are really inexpensive.

 

I've been using tape for 3 years - never a problem.
Case runs extremely cool and hdds (5) between 23 and 29 celcius.

 

Well, that's you, your case, your case cooling, your ambient temps. That does not mean that method will work for everyone. An adapter bracket, however, is designed to work in just about any PC case.

Some double stick tape is very sticky and only gets harder to remove over time. I personally would not want to exert considerable force prying off a SSD should I decide to swap cases, or rearrange my case interior in 3 years.

I am sure you can use tie wraps to secure a SSD to a case interior too, but that does not make it proper. SSDs are designed to mounted and secured with mounting screws to a bracket in a drive bay or enclosure. They come with screw holes, not double-sided sticky tape.

 

Thanks for all of the fast responses guys. I think I will just order a mounting bracket and until it arrives, keep working along with the SSD taped inside.

Also on a side note you said that my motherboard has 6 ports? I only see 2 and then 2 larger ones which confuses me how they SATA cords plug into those...

Excuse my ignorance this is my first build and its hard to find any guides that answer all your questions. Thank you for your patience and help!

 

You need to be reading your owners manual - especially since this is your first build. It has all the information you need, including an illustration of your motherboard on page 1-6 showing the locations of the 6 SATA ports.

It also talks about properly motherboard mounting, CPU mounting, PSU connections, RAM installation and critical ESD precautions.