Latest Recommendations for SSD replacement to old 60gb HD

[al1969]

Hi all,

First of all, apologies if this subject has been covered loads already. I did a quick search but didn't come up with much.

I have a T60 with a 60gb HDD, running windows XP, it is approaching its limit I have a few hundred MB before the HDD is full and I only have about 15GB of my stuff on it! I am looking to replace the HDD with a SSD of about 120gb which I hope will see me through a couple of years. I do not have XP disks.

About a month ago, a partition on my HDD simply disappeared, this partition was called secure partition and I believe contained the reboot function. So I believe I am sans disks and sans windows XP on my current HDD. I do not want to spend more cash on upgrading the OS.


I have three questions:

1.) Is it worth doing or should I scrap the T60 and buy something else, like a Samsung NC10 that has windows 7, and a big 250gb / 320gb HDD, and much better battery life!

2.) What are your recommendations for a good SSD?

and

3.) How do I proceed to change from one to the other. Can anyone direct me to a step by step guide to the total processes of changing. Including all the tecky bits like pressing buttons on the computer, transferring data, partitions, etc


Thanks very much to everyone who replies.

AL.

[jayton4]

1. Yes, it is worth doing on EVERY computer. The performance difference is really amazing.

2. Good SSD list:
Corsair Force GS
Corsair Force GT
Corsair Force 3
Intel 520 series
Intel 330 series
Sandisk Extreme
Kingston HyperX
Samsung 830 Series

3. I would not bother with trying to transfer the partition over from the old drive. It always works best with a fresh OS install. It is easiest if you have your original Restore discs. If you still have the recovery partition on your hard drive, you should be able to record them to blank DVD if you haven't done so already.

[Johan]

Welcome to the forum, Al!

As to keeping and upgrading your T60 to a SSD, I can certainly (strongly!) recommend it, provided it fill your needs (size, weight, overall performance, battery time, LCD and keyboard quality, sturdiness etc) - and especially recommended keeping and upgrading compared to getting a small, crappy netbook! A SSD will really, really breathe new life into a T60! If you prefer to stay with XP, then beware that the Microsoft Extended Life Support on XP w/SP3 will end in April 2014... so you may consider upgrading to Windows 7 (which will also support TRIM on a SSD, which XP won't).

Consider simply placing a "WTB" (Want To Buy) advertisement in the Marketplace section of this forum for a copy in Windows 7, or if you prefer to stay with XP, for a recovery-set of the T60 media (one DVD only). You may also ask if someone has a SSD for sale - alternately check out prices and user-feedback at e.g. Newegg.com and/or Amazon.com (or http://www.Amazon.co.uk). You may of course also hang around on eBay.

My personal preferred choice when it comes to SSD's is Intel, and nowadays you can get a 120 GB Intel 330 for below USD 100,- If you hang around a bit better deals may pop up - see e.g. expired! LABOR DAY SALE at Newegg: unbelievable SSD prices The Intel 330 Series 120GB 2.5" SATA SSD cost GBP 78,- (w/free shipping) in the UK... comes with a three-year warranty. Note that the T60 does only suppoty SATA-I speeds, but if getting a new, faster SATA-II or SATA-III SSD, this may be re-used in a future laptop.

A few threads which may probably be of use for you, while considering the options, are: SSD Upgrade for T60p How-to? Need suggestions and SSD choice advice for T60 upgrade and SSD runs slow on my T60 and T60 SSD installation with secondary HDD and T60 upgrade question and Windows 7, 32-bit ATI X1400 driver and Can't install Windows 7. Driver missing for GSA-4083N-(PM).

Johan

[miro_gt]

...
2. Good SSD list:
Corsair Force GS
Corsair Force GT
Corsair Force 3
Intel 520 series
Intel 330 series
Sandisk Extreme
Kingston HyperX
Samsung 830 Series
...

out of this list there's only one that is worth getting, and that's the Samsung 830 series. Go for 128GB or 256GB model (if you can afford) as it's faster than the 64 GB one.

this particular SSD beats all others by tons of margin, even the famous Intel SLC x25-e.

[al1969]

Thanks very much to Johan, Miro-GT, and Jayton 4

Lots of questions and lots of questions answered. Thanks very much guys!

AL.

[ZaZ]

this particular SSD beats all others by tons of margin, even the famous Intel SLC x25-e.

I doubt you could tell a difference in real world usage. The real benefit to an SSD is the seek times, which are very fast on all SSDs. Personally, I'd buy on price.