Second SSD install question

Collider · 6 May 2012 at 12:55

This is probably a really stupid question so forgive me if that's the case but are there any settings / things to bear in mind / connections to use in preference to install a second SSD? Running a Gigabyte Z68AP-D3 board.

Have a 60GB SSD (and the usual 500GB SATA as D) and am thinking of adding a 128GB one now the prices are attractive (and I recently had a pay rise).

Are there any particular settings, slots or anything to bear in mind or is it just like whacking in a second SATA drive? I had a few issues installing windows on my first SSD so would like to be prepared this time.

Thanks.

Collider · 7 May 2012 at 21:09

Guess this was a stupid question.

Reading the threads unless I want to run windows on it (which seems daft if I have another one already running it) in which case I'd need to unplug all the others etc, I should just need to plug it into a SATA3 port and use it like any other drive.

Unless anyone wants to point out something dumb I have overlooked..

BeanBandit · 8 May 2012 at 18:08

I'll give this a bump as i'm about to do the same thing as you. Currently running a Vertex 2E 120Gb and going to add a 128Gb M4. I'll be plugging into the 2nd Intel SATA 3 port. Now my stupid question is about formatting the new drive. Do i just go into Disk Management, select the drive and do a normal format. Or with this being an SSD will i need to check alignment? Or will W7 seeing another SSD just do what needs to be done?

Anyone care to help with these stupid questions

wazza300 · 8 May 2012 at 18:10

why would you format it? it should be ready to go when you plug it into the second sata3 port

as for alignment it will be already done and win7 does it for you

rexehuk · 8 May 2012 at 18:10

BeanBandit said:
I'll give this a bump as i'm about to do the same thing as you. Currently running a Vertex 2E 120Gb and going to add a 128Gb M4. I'll be plugging into the 2nd Intel SATA 3 port. Now my stupid question is about formatting the new drive. Do i just go into Disk Management, select the drive and do a normal format. Or with this being an SSD will i need to check alignment? Or will W7 seeing another SSD just do what needs to be done?

Anyone care to help with these stupid questions

Do it from windows.

Fact of the matter is part mis-alignment won't really affect a non-OS drive. Inefficient yes, catastrophic no.

If you're paranoid then run diskpart to check alignment after.

BeanBandit · 8 May 2012 at 18:26

wazza300 said:
why would you format it? it should be ready to go when you plug it into the second sata3 port

as for alignment it will be already done and win7 does it for you

Thanks for that. I seem to be just second guessing myself. I knew W7 did alignment when it was installed onto the 1st SSD, just wasn't sure what it did with the second SSD.

rexehuk said:
Do it from windows.

Fact of the matter is part mis-alignment won't really affect a non-OS drive. Inefficient yes, catastrophic no.

If you're paranoid then run diskpart to check alignment after.

Not so much paranoid, more a case of wanting it done right, as i can be a bit of a perfectionist. But the new drive is only for games, so shouldn't really be an issue then.

Thanks to you both for the quick repies