Never looked into SSD before, are they...fairly...universal?

Roadkillv1 · 1 Nov 2016 at 19:38

When picking RAM and cards and what not I always have to look into compatibility with my system and motherboard etc. I assume an SSD must have some sort of...requirements, right? What do I need to be looking into? I've a few years old windows 7 desktop that's hard bits and bobs upgraded in it over the years, I just want to put an SSD in it to run some games off to say goodbye to load screens. But SSD is one of the things I've never had any interaction with.

Rroff · 1 Nov 2016 at 19:39

SATA SSDs are pretty much universal - stuff like M.2, etc. can be a bit more complex with motherboard support, etc.

Roadkillv1 · 1 Nov 2016 at 22:11

Awesome so...as long as i have a free sata and bay to slot it into, it's pretty much just...plug it in and let windows 7 set it up? Seems too easy! Something will go wrong!

joeyjojo · 2 Nov 2016 at 09:26

Nah all SATA drives are plug n play.

chroniclard · 2 Nov 2016 at 09:37

Get one big enough for OS and games or get two.

They really transform a computer.

Orcvader · 2 Nov 2016 at 11:33

Just make sure the SATA mode is set to AHCI and you're good to go. It should be the default mode anyway, unless it's an old system.

bledd · 3 Nov 2016 at 10:13

chroniclard said:
Get one big enough for OS and games or get two.

They really transform a computer.

This. Putting Windows on the SSD is more important than the games.

Do a fresh install with Windows on the SSD, and install your games on it too.

Samsung 750 Evo or 850 Evo are great SSDs to look at

Jobe · 3 Nov 2016 at 10:55

Roadkillv1 said:
Awesome so...as long as i have a free sata and bay to slot it into, it's pretty much just...plug it in and let windows 7 set it up? Seems too easy! Something will go wrong!

once installed you will have to set the partition and format it.

easy one to forget when it doesn't show up in 'my computer'.

also you don't really need a bay for them either. they can sit at the bottom of your case if needs be.

JB

linktoinsanity · 4 Nov 2016 at 17:08

bledd said:
This. Putting Windows on the SSD is more important than the games.

Do a fresh install with Windows on the SSD, and install your games on it too.

Samsung 750 Evo or 850 Evo are great SSDs to look at

+1 to this.

Having an SSD, but not installing Windows is a waste. Get an SSD big enough to hold Windows and your games.

Danny75 · 5 Nov 2016 at 01:55

If you are keeping HDDs along with your new SSD, make sure to unplug the HDDs (or set them Offline) prior to installing Windows. So that it doesn't install some bits on other drives.