Can i install an SSD in place of boot HDD?

I see there are SSHD, large hybrid HDDs with SSD technology.
Instead of a partition, can i install an SSD in place of booting HDD?
On my 3 year old PC, see spec in sig, can it be installed and allow windows to run and boot?
Would it handle programs, or install them elsewhere?

 

Yes. Windows boots from SSDs just like HDDs only much faster. I installed programs on my SSD but moved my data folders (music, documents, video and pictures) to a different drive. I recommend at least a 240 GB SSD. Of course, if you go for a higher capacity hybrid drive, there wouldn't be any real need to move the data folders.

 

OK, yes i would do same with programs and data folders.
Does it really need to be 240, i though it needed about 50 or 60 , so I was goig to go upto 120 to be safe?
And does it just connect to SATA cable as per 3.5" SATA HDD it is replacing?

 

You may find this 2 min video helpful towards answering your questions. There are different related ways of actually mounting the SSD in the PC but this video shows one.

 

I have a 120 gb SSD and I find it a chore to keep it from filling up. 240 would solve that, but bigger would be even better.

 

Thanks guys.
cabbiinc, what is the chore, does win7 and then programs get close to 240gb?
I intend to have my files elsewhere.

 

I would leave the programs on the SSD. The faster access times will benefit them too. If you go with a hybrid drive, I wouldn't bother moving any folders as space won't be a major issue. I have a 240 GB SSD with 144 GB used and I have all my data folders on other HDDs. 120 GB may seem fine but not for long. I could probably make do with 120 GB but I would be housekeeping constantly like cabbiinc.

It hooks up with the same cables as your old HDD. Most SSDs are 2.5" drives and will need an adapter plate to fit a 3.5" bay, which may not be included. Check the contents to be sure. If you go hybrid, you can get a 3.5" drive which will mount like a standard HDD.

 

I have a 250gb Samsung Evo as my boot drive, and my old 500GB Seagate Barracuda as a secondary drive. In addition to my documents, pictures, video, music, and download folders, I also moved any browser temp files to the secondary drive.

I left most program folders on the SSD, except for some utility programs like CCleaner, Malwarebytes, etc. . . . i.e. pretty much any program where the lightning speed of an SSD is not a concern. I left the current game I'm playing with my sons on the SSD, but some of my older titles I moved to the platter drive . . . like Dark Reign II, Celtic Kings: Rage of War . . . oldies but goodies. I am currently only using 48GB of the available space. I'm running Windows 7 Pro 64bit.

 

The reason of trying to sus which SSD to use/buy is that I don't want to spend excessive money on my ~3 year old pc, and would use the smallest SSD that would last me for ~2 more years, although I don't want constant housekeeping.
I won't get a hybrid, unless someone gives me a magic reason.
I'm getting mixed info here....ppl telling me that they have the large SSD, keep some programs elsehwere, do housekeeping....but have large amounts on there SSD available....CONFUSED!

 

I would say 128GB SSD is enough if you just tend to install OS and a few applications on it. But, if you do much more with your PC like gaming and video editing then you probably need more than that.

 

Fine, no gaming or video editing here, so 120SSD ordered.
Might need to learn how to move Chromes temp internet files.

 

Doesn't Chrome's "Sync" function take care of that?

 

Thanks all, 120Gb SSD bought and installed with win7 and most of my usual programs, working successfully. :-D