What can I say? It has been fully paid off! My computer boots now in the same configuration in about 20 seconds, so in about a third of the time as the hybrid HDD, not to mention of the conventional HDD completely. The launch of software applications is also much faster. Overall, one has the impression, a new computer to have even compared with the hybrid HDD in front of him. Finally, the fast processor (Core i7 2.7GHz, though first Core i-Generation) no longer so strongly slowed down by the mass storage. However, this also has the "disadvantage" that the CPU often times gets into sweat and allow the fan annoys frequent. ;-)
The Samsung SSDs are especially for older Windows devices that usually only SATA II (net maximum 300 MB / s.) Or even SATA I (150MB / s) support, recommended, since Samsung currently offers a treat: Modern SSDs can fully exploit only with SATA III (600MB / s) their performance advantage actually. My Vaio has SATA-II, the Samsung accordingly came only once "only" for an output of around 270 MB / s (read and write, as measured by Samsung Magician). What is, in comparison with any hard drive, although already feels very fast, but we all know that the SSD actually can do much faster. You can now activate the Rapid mode on the Samsung Magician software. Here a small service process is established, which available main memory used as a read-write cache for the SSD. The benchmark then reports a read / write speed of over 600MB / s! Although a cache though can never fully compensate for the lack of hardware speed, can in this way, at least on Windows, but bring out a whole lot of additional power.
Extremely comfortable are the "OS Optimization" settings in Samsung Magician. With one mouse click (and followed by a reboot) to optimize the operating system for either maximum performance, maximum durability or a "balanced" mode and no longer needs to have any special settings for SSDs that you would possibly make in the registry or elsewhere , take care. That would be a fairly experienced computer enthusiasts also not a problem, but more convenient happens to be the Samsung solution.
The Samsung 840 EVO 1TB incidentally size of 931 GiB (ie 931x1024 GB).
Now a small tear, as I proceeded with my Vaio, maybe it's one or the other of help:
- Computers boot as usual.
- Connect the SSD via USB to SATA adapter. (Warning, which is at the 1 TB SSD not supplied, and there is to my knowledge no "Notebook" kit as the smaller SSD variants; I had a USB 3.0 adapter from a 250GB Samsung 840 EVO Kit, with which I had recently upgraded my desktop and when I ordered the notebook kit already foresight. Of course it does, any other adapters, which you may already have or can buy for little money, or an external SATA Housing.)
- After a short automatic Windows driver installation, you can now release the tool of their choice on the SSD. This can - be migration tool from Samsung, in my case, it was the Paragon Hard Disk Manager 14 Pro, with which I have just cloned my hard drive to the SSD and then adjusted as desired yet the partition sizes on the SSD - always included have. And I have around 150 GB, or about 15%, as over-provisioning space free, so unpartitioned left at the end of the hard disk. (This is optional, but generally is in SSDs 10-20% OP recommended so that the SSD controller always has enough space for improvements. If you need the space later time, you can of course by appropriate partition changes again grab some what of it.)
- When cloning, which depending on the scope of the data despite SSD and USB 3.0 of course may take some time, then time is through, shut down your computer, then disconnect the SSD.
- Now the hard drive swap to the SSD. When Vaio SA are simply the two screws holding the front the large cover on the bottom to loosen and remove the cover. Then you can already see the HDD. Remove the four screws, the SATA ribbon cable gently (!) Separate from the board, remove hard drive. SATA ribbon cable (again carefully, possibly pry smaller screwdriver rather than subtract) from the hard disk, rebuild disk frames, plug SATA cables and assemble everything in reverse order. Too gross motor should not be predisposed to, all others will master this step. Importantly halt, not to damage the ribbon cable and to stay away from the plug contacts.
- Start the computer. When you first start, it may happen that the computer says "OS not found". Do not be alarmed, probably remembers the Vaio only now that he has suddenly dealing with an SSD and then adjusts itself in CMOS memory to anything. Simple again press Ctrl-Alt-Del.
- Now the computer Windows should boot, with a breakneck speed. :-)
- Windows will install drivers again and again demanded after a reboot.
- Then install Samsung Magician, for max. Performance, durability or the balanced mode to decide (I personally have max. Durability adjusted), also enable rapid fashion. Over-provisioning so, eh optional and must / should no longer be touched, if you like me has already left a part of the SSD unpartitioned.
- Again boot and only rejoice yet. :-)
- Optional: Remove the Samsung Magician from the Start Menu Startup folder. This annoys namely at each start with an inquiry on the part of Windows, if this software could change the system. The only purpose of this car starts seems to be a regular on firmware updates to check (which can be good and do it manually from time to time). Even with Rapid mode activated no Samsung Magician is needed anyway for the operation of the SSD, so therefore out of the car start!
Small specialty the Vaio SA (and probably also in other notebooks): In the BIOS there is no AHCI mode turns on, there is no menu item for it simply the Vaio BIOS. Samsung Magician complains logically true that the AHCI mode is not switched on, but you can safely ignore. AHCI is for the operation of the SSD is not required but makes "only" a performance gain, but (especially with Rapid mode) is relatively modest, so that it does not matter.
