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    What do you have installed to your SSD?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by Mudig, Aug 9, 2011.

  1. Mudig

    Mudig Notebook Consultant

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    I'm trying to buy one, but obviously it costs a lot...I was wondering, what are the essentials to have in your SSD?
     
    Mudig, Aug 9, 2011
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  2. azn4lif3s

    azn4lif3s Notebook Consultant

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    System files, Games, Programs

    Things like music and documents should go on a external because they take up alot of space. Only your core files and programs should be on the SSD
     
    azn4lif3s, Aug 9, 2011
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  3. nbellowe

    nbellowe Notebook Enthusiast

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    And games can really hog up space, so be aware of space restrictions
     
    nbellowe, Aug 9, 2011
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  4. Croatoan

    Croatoan Notebook Consultant

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    If your opting just to have an SSD, lets say 120gb. I would have all my apps and OS on SSD plus a few good games. Plus documents.

    Music / Video and remaining games ( backup) or steam directory or iso's on external hard drive.

    If however you are for instance buying a smaller SSD lets say 60Gb but reusing the 500gb HD in an optical bay. The only thing I would keep on the SSD is apps and OS.

    Everything else on the other drive.

    I have similar at home, a 120gb HD and virtually all my games on a 1tb samsung F3. SSD's are great and make loading apps and general usage really snappy.

    I have the odd game on the SSD but to be honest once its loaded, the only time you will notice any difference is at specific loading times during the game. Which is not usually that often.

    For me if I was going to buy an SSD as a sole drive, I probably opt for a 240/256gb or lose the optical drive and get a 120gb.
     
    Croatoan, Aug 10, 2011
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  5. r0c

    r0c Notebook Consultant

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    anyone know the avg size a clean install of windows 7 with drivers takes up on a hd ?
     
    r0c, Aug 10, 2011
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  6. fred2028

    fred2028 Sexy member

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    I have everything on there. Games, windows, work, movies, music, etc. ...
     
    fred2028, Aug 10, 2011
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  7. sti4thewin

    sti4thewin Notebook Guru

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    sti4thewin, Aug 10, 2011
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  8. Croatoan

    Croatoan Notebook Consultant

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    Not hard to install as long as you take your time and be careful. Well worth cloning the drive. 120gb is quite tight though. I would suggest you look on the forums to see which drives others recommend. I did read somewhere that although the chipset supports sata3 it only runs at sata2 speeds on the m14x.

    So well worth doing a quick search and seeing what other owners / problems have arisen. Pretty sure someone also has posted a guidewith pictures how to install a SSD into the optical drive bay. Most of the steps are identical.
     
    Croatoan, Aug 11, 2011
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  9. flybass

    flybass Notebook Consultant

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    i wouldn't recommend cloning it.
     
    flybass, Aug 11, 2011
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  10. ted264

    ted264 Notebook Consultant

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    clean install clone is a bad idea.... and its very easy to install.....
     
    ted264, Aug 11, 2011
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  11. Croatoan

    Croatoan Notebook Consultant

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    Glad I looked about for some more info on the cloning idea, does seem it can cause performance and alignment issues.

    Best to listen to the guys who have one installed, I have an SSD in my desktop but I did a fresh install. I just presumed that cloning would keep it simple.

    How are you getting on with the agility 3 ted254 as that is probably my ssd of choice atm should I buy one. Good sata performance and detection at boot etc?
     
    Croatoan, Aug 12, 2011
    #11