Ssd Advice

Hello Folks

So lately and much like no doubt many of you I've been stuck in the world of covid. Which has me using my computer a whole lot more an it got me thinking some stuff.. As the subject says I'm looking for some SSD advice.. On a brief side note I must have my own personal LOL on this because my autocorrect kicked in and had SSD change to ASS ...

Anyways so I haven't done much research about it, but I would look at buying a 1TB SSD .. My current drive is 4TB and I use less than 200GB ... which no doubt has a few of you saying "why did you buy a 4TB drive ?" .. honestly I was looking at a 1TB HD before I bought the 4TB one and the price between the two was I think maybe $20 difference so I thought to myself "well shit why not spend the extra $20" ...

Back to the SSD, I don't have a custom computer as my computer is stock and I know you'll no doubt want to know what make/model it is so: HP Pavilion Desktop 590-p0xxx
I thought about buying a PCIe SSD and keeping my 4TB HD in as well.. I know that would be massive overkill.. I do play games but most of it is text games like OOTP (Out Of The Park Baseball) and similar other text based sports games.. I do play other games but to be honest I have a XB1 and PS4 and that's why I bought them for dedicated gaming.

Do i have to worry about the PCIe SSD overheating ? or would it be a safer bet just to buy the regular SSD ? .... Also I figure it does connect similar to any normal HD this day an age with them all being SATA's (lol auto correct to SANTA) .. My only concern would be my music folder since TBH I have a large music folder which currently sits just shy of 80GB.. I tend to buy a lot of music as I don't do streaming since I live in the country and my internet isn't the greatest for streaming.

Right now I've debated between a WD Blue SSD and a Seagate Barricuda 120

Thoughts & Feedback would be greatly appreciated since that's why I'm here and I've always valued your opinions and TBH visit the site multiple times a day.

Thanks in advance
Ken

 

I can only find specs for the 590-p0057c and if your motherboard looks like the one shown on this page, then it would seem you only have 1 PCIe slot available. And if that is the case, I would save that slot for a graphics card.

So that leaves using a regular SATA SSD but that's okay. When it comes to SSDs compared to hard drives, it is important to note even the slowest SSD will run circles around the fastest hard drive. And while some SSDs are faster than other SSDs, it's like comparing a Ferrari and a Porsche (SSDs) with a Honda and Chevrolet (hard drives).

As seen here, SSDs for gaming offer a huge improvement over hard drives, but having the fastest SSD compared to slower SSDs does not.

So IMO, just go with good SATA SSD. I prefer Samsung, but WS and Seagate make decent ones too.

As for your tunes, it does not matter because music (and video) files are "static". That is, they don't change. They are not constantly being modified or updated. And because listening to tunes and listening to & viewing videos is a slow streaming process (in terms of accessing the drive to listen/view the file), you will not see any performance gains by moving those files to a SSD.

If I were building a new computer, I would go all SSD. But if I were in your shoes, I would keep the HD and use it as my secondary drive for my tunes, and as a backup location for my primary drive, the new SATA SSD. And I would put the OS, my programs, and all my user documents (Word files, emails, etc.) on the fast SSD.

I am going to assume by "regular", you mean SATA. No, it does not matter which type - users should ALWAYS be concerned with heat. But it should be noted SSDs consume less power and generate less heat than hard drives. So if you currently have a sufficient supply of cool air flowing through your case, and you keep the case interior clean of heat-trapping dust, adding a SSD should not place any significant demand on your case cooling. However, if "worried" add another case fan or replace a current one with a better case fan to ensure you have a good "front-to-back" flow of cool air through the case.

And monitor your temps. I use I use and recommend Core Temp to monitor CPU temps in real time. I also like Speccy (from the makers of CCleaner) which provides much more "System Information", including drive temps. It has a notification/system tray applet too.

HWiNFO64 is also very (if not too) informative. Because the vast amount of information can be overwhelming with this program, when using for the first time, I recommend you select “Sensors only” when prompted. Then scroll down to your motherboard and drive sections to see the temps.

 

That does look like my tower but I don't have the i5 installed I have the AMD A12-Radeon R7
But in any case yes I have had a look and I can do either the PCIe or the regular SSD (SATA)

I apologize if I'm all over the map on this one but I opened CrystalDiskInfo and right now my HD heat is: 29 C (sorry don't know how to do the degrees symbol)
So if your saying a SSD uses less power and makes less heat then I think I'm rather safe in that general idea since I didn't think 29C was that terribly warm for a HD but maybe I'm wrong ?

As for you saying doing both SSD and keeping HD as well I was thinking of just doing full SSD if I was going to change since as I specified I barely use any HD space as it is and I do have a back up HD an external one at that which is also 4TB and I barely use any of that.. I think the idea of me changing would be just an overall performance boost. I knew before posting that playing music or watching videos would have no impact on the speed of things. .. I guess I should have mentioned about having a 4TB external as well as that may have made you change your answer with saying that you'd run both SSD and HD and just use HD for my tunes... In fact my external HD is running at 40C ... it's a WD My Book maybe they always do run a little bit warmer I don't know but that's the two temp differences between my internal and external HD's... So maybe it's just me but I think that truly does show that my computer is rather good at cooling things when making that comparison

I very well may just do the one SSD as I mentioned. Unless you think it's a bad idea ? now that you know I have an external drive for my backup

Thanks for your input I appreciate it and any other input you give. I also like your avatar, grew up watching the show myself. Sadly I wish it was still on.

 

It's not the tower (case) that concerns me, but the motherboard inside. If you only have 1 PCIe slot available and don't currently have a separate graphics card installed, I would save that lone PCIe slot for a card - even if not planning now to add a card. You might change your mind in the future.

29°C is a nice cool temp. And 40°C is barely warm.

As far as replacing your current HD with the SSD, that will work too. It really does not matter. But then what will you do with current internal 4TB drive? Put it on a shelf? That's fine too. Since you are not currently using 200GB and are planning on getting a 1TB SSD, there is no wrong answer here. If you were getting a 250GB or smaller SSD, then I would say to definitely keep the 4TB HD in there.

BTW, to get special characters like the degree symbol, with Numlock on, hold down the Alt key and on the number pad, enter the ASCII number for the character. In this case, press 248, then lift off the Alt key.

 

Yeah I understand your reasoning about me keeping the PCIe slot open. I know that's one thing that I've debated is what if in the future I want to add a better graphics card ? Right now I don't see it but who knows what tomorrow is going to bring..

The internal 4TB would just be placed in a drawer. Safe keeping and the "if it dies" option for the SSD at least if I'm low on coin I don't have to stress about having to replace the SSD I would just go back to the HD for the time being.

° <- That's a #248 ... I've heard of the ASCII numbers before but use them so rarely I tend to just forget about them, but thanks I appreciate the mind refresh.

 

There have been cases where integrated graphics failed but otherwise, everything else worked. So in that instance, buying an inexpensive card kept the computer productive until the budget could be built for a new computer. I have also seen other cases where the user decided to add an additional monitor and that was easily accomplished by adding a card. Or perhaps, the integrated did not have DisplayPort (as an example) but the monitor did. So adding a card made that easier.

My point is, leaving the slot open is not just in case you decide to upgrade in the future. Of course, this would all be moot if your motherboard has more than one PCIe slot.

You can certainly put the drive in a drawer. Or you could leave it mounted in the computer and unplug the cables.

 

It'll be fine in a drawer, it's where I keep my extra PC stuff in this drawer. But I completely understand why you would suggest keeping the PCIe slot open. It's a better safe than sorry situation.

Yesterday I did order the SSD the one I ordered was: WD Blue 3D NAND 1TB Internal SSD - SATA III 6Gb/s 2.5"/7mm Solid State Drive
From NewEgg

Thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it

 

If you have not experienced using a SSD based PC, you are in for a treat. I switched to all SSD about 5 years ago and will never go back to hard drives. I still use a couple old hard drives in my back-up server, but with the prices of large capacity SSDs continuing to drop, when those hard drives need replacing, they will be replaced with SSDs too.

 

I think the big reason for me seriously making this change is about a week or two ago I bought myself a used Microsoft Surface 2. Got a great deal on it, just the tablet then bought the keyboard from another place and also got a great deal for that.. But anyways it's got a 64gb SSD in it and even though 64gb isn't much I did buy a microSD card to put into it so that it'll give me more storage but the processor power of my Surface is only an i3 1.75ghz but it seems to be much snappier than my PC as everything is almost instant if not instant when it comes to opening and running. Where as when using the Surface for extended periods I do notice a difference and at times I find my PC to lag which the only reason why I could figure out was because of the SSD. So I'm very much looking forward to getting it. I already have everything backed up and I got windows on thumb drive all ready for when it shows up, should be tomorrow.

Yes I see what you mean in regards to the prices and sizes for SSD's compared to HD's and why if it's for major storage such as a server right now the HD is the cheaper option

 

It will still be years before SSD prices catch up (down? ) to hard drive prices. But it was not too long ago when 1TB hard drives cost $400. You can get a 2TB SSD today for $200. Plus, SSDs are faster, smaller, lighter, quicker, consume less power, offer higher performance, generate less heat, are speedier, make no noise, provide less wait time for increased productivity, and have no moving parts thus no vibrations either. Did I mention they are faster?

So it is not just about cost per GB. Plus, if you factor in those costs (including energy savings plus increased productivity) over the life of the drive, not to mention just the satisfaction/enjoyment value you get out of your "faster" computer, going all SSD is a no brainer for me.

Of course I do understand budget restraints. For many years, family and other commitments forced me to live payday to payday, often with "Too much month at the end of the money". But I'm older now, the kids are grown and out of the house. So I am fortunate that I can splurge a little bit every so often on something I want, and not just the cheaper option.

 

I'm sure SSD's even last much longer than a HD since they don't have the moving parts. Possibly to the ratio of 5:1 (5HD to 1SSD) but I'm just guessing it could be much higher than that

I think anyone who sits down and uses a device with an SSD it would be a no brainer to upgrade since the performance difference is out of this world. But I do understand the budget restraints as we all have them at given times, for one reason or another.

Yeah I know how that is too much month at the end of the money. I know the last six months prior to covid that was something that I was still trying to figure out as well.

But now on Covid leave I'm able to splurge because certain things I was spending money on, I don't have to spend money on.. I almost went for a 2TB not that I needed it since you know how little of the HD I'm using, however two things stopped me one my credit card basically said "STOP, We're not allowing that" for more reasons than one as I have a very low limit on my card... The second thing that stopped me is I believe it's no doubt around the high $300 to low $400 for a 2TB drive for me. Since if I were to guess I would say your no doubt living in the USA... I'm your neighbour to the North

 

I don't know about 5:1 but "in theory", as you noted with no moving parts, they should last longer.

I know Canadian prices tend to be higher. But I just did a quick search and found this 2TB Crucial SSD for $200 US at Newegg. Your prices may be higher, but then they are probably similarly higher for HDs as well.

 

Well the 5:1 I knew was wrong however I was simply emphasizing the point that they should easily last much longer than a regular HD

That same drive listed on Newegg.ca (here) so as you can see it's a bit more expensive plus got the $20 for shipping on top of it too.. Yes I believe they will be higher for everything since our dollar sucks compared to yours right now.

 

Well I feel like an idiot

The drive I bought is 2.5inch which I didn't realize that's what most SSD's are so now I have to buy an 2.5 to 3.5 adapter before I can install the drive

Going to buy this one:
https://www.newegg.ca/icy-dock-mb29..._re=2.5_to_3.5_adapter-_-17-994-162-_-Product

 

That's a lot of money. You don't need anything that fancy. See this.

 

It was ordered shortly after I posted the message, should be here today or tomorrow...

I figured with the way my tower is designed me buying the one I did was the easier solution as the hard drive bay isn't like normal ones that I've had where this one has the hard drive slide in sideways.

 

When SSDs first started coming on the market, many included adapter brackets in the box. But today, just about all cases support 2.5" drives too, so they no longer include the adapter brackets. Oh well.

 

I was annoyed yesterday cause I wanted to get my SSD up and running ASAP. But I guess with me having to buy the adapter I'm just future proofing myself..

It happens I'm sure it does, I'm sure I'm not the only one who had this same stuff happened. We all gotta learn that's where we get our knowledge from.

 

Well, it is likely any case you buy in the future will support 2.5" drives so not sure about the future proofing. But you'll be ready anyway.

 

Well I think I had to do what any geek would panic about... The adapter didn't line up properly with the slot for the two plugins for the SSD.. So I just plugged in the SSD without the adapter. I then tilted the computer both right and left and the SSD barely moved so I figured that's fine and it'll serve it's purpose.

 

Sorry the adapter did not work. What I have seen other users do when installing SSDs in cases that did not support mounting them was use Velcro to attach it to the case instead of just letting it hang where it might come into contact with an electrical contact or fan.

 

No worries about the adapter I'm just learning as I go. If mine becomes unattached it'll land on a metal tray but it would no doubt slide off and onto the fan so I very well will do a Velcro strap or a small piece of Velcro.
Thanks for the suggestion.