Switching to SSD

[mjhtrf5ersddrfty]

I built my computer 6 months ago. I had a limited budget so settled with a cheap-ish build ( still a pretty good build, $1100 CAD ), but settled with a HDD as I play video games often and wanted to prioritize the graphics card, and also needed 16GB of ram for video editing. I could have gotten a SATA SSD, but I wanted to go all out. I move large files drive to drive often 1-30GB, so I figured I wanted al the performance I could get, even if it would only speed up my tasks by a few seconds, because it would add up. And along with loading plenty of different applications every day I figured a fast drive would be the best for me. And I wanted this drive to last me well into the future. Plus, the M.2 drive I picked was only $100 more than the SATA SSD I had in mind ( the 860 Evo ). So I decided on the Samsung 970 Evo Plus M.2 SSD. My current HDD has 1TB in storage, so I picked up the 1TB version of the 970 Evo Plus. Now before I buy it, I'm wondering if there is any way I can transfer my files from my 1TB HDD to my 1TB SSD (emphasizing the fact that they are both 1TB so people don't ask wELl dOeS tHe dRIvE HaVE eNoUGh CaPACitY tO hOLd aLl tHE fiLeS fROm tHe oTHEr dRIve).

I have seen videos of people only putting the OS and apps they frequently use on the SSD and having everything else on the HDD. I'm wondering if I should just do that or if I should move everything over. And how would I do this? Is there any software I need to use, or what? I plan on keeping the HDD after and still using it as well, just for less important stuff. I am not doing RAID though. Thanks!

 

[mjhtrf5ersddrfty]

BTW im 12 so don't give me hate if I sound stupid

[flibberdipper]

You could *ahem* obtain a bootable Acronis True Image... image and use that to clone the HDD to the SSD.

 

A free option I know that works is Clonezilla but it can be a bitch and a half to figure out.

[greenhorn]

As far as I know, Samsung SSDs come with a Samsung Migration Tool that can be used for this. At least is was the case back in the day with my 840 EVO.

[mjhtrf5ersddrfty]

Just now, greenhorn said:

As far as I know, Samsung SSDs come with a Samsung Migration Tool that can be used for this. At least is was the case back in the day with my 840 EVO.

Thanks! I'll check that out and see if that has solved my problem!

[Dedayog]

Just now, flibberdipper said:

You could *ahem* obtain a bootable Acronis True Image... image and use that to clone the HDD to the SSD.

 

A free option I know that works is Clonezilla but it can be a bitch and a half to figure out.

Macrium Reflect is free and very easy to figure out.  

 

Download Samsung's Data Migration software, it will see that one of the drives in the cloning process is a Samsung drive and then work.

 

I honestly wouldn't recommend a 12 year old blow cash on the 970 EVO Plus, but if you're truly moving 30GB files all the time... it may benefit.  Since you also seem to view $100 as chump change for the increase, should be fine.

 

But for most things, an Intel 660p would be more than enough if you want to save money or get more space for the same price.

[KarathKasun]

I would use the SSD for things you use regularly, games you play often and APPs in general.  Put the stuff you dont use much on the HDD, like finished video renders and games you only start up every other week.

[mjhtrf5ersddrfty]

1 minute ago, jstudrawa said:

Macrium Reflect is free and very easy to figure out.  

 

Download Samsung's Data Migration software, it will see that one of the drives in the cloning process is a Samsung drive and then work.

 

I honestly wouldn't recommend a 12 year old blow cash on the 970 EVO Plus, but if you're truly moving 30GB files all the time... it may benefit.  Since you also seem to view $100 as chump change for the increase, should be fine.

 

But for most things, an Intel 660p would be more than enough if you want to save money or get more space for the same price.

Trust me, I'm pretty sure a fast SSD can benefit. I move LOTS of videos every day from drive to drive, and I do HTML and Unity programming as I am in a programming course and am learning to program Video Games and Web Design, and we also make our own blender models for Unity, so along with opening and closing apps and video editing, I think I could use a fast drive. I also have another 1TB external drive where I store non-important stuff, so storage isn't currently a big problem for me.

[mjhtrf5ersddrfty]

Just now, KarathKasun said:

I would use the SSD for things you use regularly.  Put the stuff you dont use much on the HDD.

That is what I was thinking too, and I have another 1TB external drive for random files that I don't need very much as well. But I'm wondering if it is possible to do what you just said: only move certain files over. I don't know if it is possible to only move certain apps and files and the OS over, or if you can't do that and I would have to move over everything. That is what my question was about, and if there was any software I needed to use. But thank you for your opinion, and I think I'm going to do that ( move only important stuff over ) if it is possible.

[Sai]

Purchases of a Samsung SSD are eligible for a license to use their data migration tool, you can download it online with a quick google search once you put the drive in your system and it'll just work.

Also, don't worry about sounding stupid or anything, we're all learning all the time.

[KarathKasun]

3 minutes ago, YouTube UniteReaper said:

That is what I was thinking too, and I have another 1TB external drive for random files that I don't need very much as well. But I'm wondering if it is possible to do what you just said: only move certain files over. I don't know if it is possible to only move certain apps and files and the OS over, or if you can't do that and I would have to move over everything. That is what my question was about, and if there was any software I needed to use. But thank you for your opinion, and I think I'm going to do that ( move only important stuff over ) if it is possible.

I would just start fresh TBH.  Install Windows from scratch on the SSD, install APPs fresh on whatever drive you want them on, same for games.

 

Thats just me though, Ive got starting fresh to fully set up OS down to a few hours at this point.

[Dedayog]

2 minutes ago, YouTube UniteReaper said:

That is what I was thinking too, and I have another 1TB external drive for random files that I don't need very much as well. But I'm wondering if it is possible to do what you just said: only move certain files over. I don't know if it is possible to only move certain apps and files and the OS over, or if you can't do that and I would have to move over everything. That is what my question was about, and if there was any software I needed to use. But thank you for your opinion, and I think I'm going to do that ( move only important stuff over ) if it is possible.

No, you can't move just parts of a drive over like that.  Everything I've used clones the partitions in full.  Samsung, Macrium, Acronis, etc.

 

Looks like you've thought all this out thoroughly, enjoy the 970.

[mjhtrf5ersddrfty]

Just now, Sai said:

Purchases of a Samsung SSD are eligible for a license to use their data migration tool, you can download it online with a quick google search once you put the drive in your system and it'll just work.

Also, don't worry about sounding stupid or anything, we're all learning all the time.

Thank you, it looks like the data migration tool works  One last question though does it matter where I buy the SSD from? Do I have to buy it from Samsungs website or can I buy it from anywhere?

[mjhtrf5ersddrfty]

1 minute ago, jstudrawa said:

No, you can't move just parts of a drive over like that.  Everything I've used clones the partitions in full.  Samsung, Macrium, Acronis, etc.

 

Looks like you've thought all this out thoroughly, enjoy the 970.

Thanks!

[Dedayog]

Just now, YouTube UniteReaper said:

Thank you, it looks like the data migration tool works  One last question though does it matter where I buy the SSD from? Do I have to buy it from Samsungs website or can I buy it from anywhere?

Anywhere.  And you don't need to even buy it.

 

The software sees a Samsung drive and then works.  No keys, no codes.

[mjhtrf5ersddrfty]

1 minute ago, KarathKasun said:

I would just start fresh TBH.  Install Windows from scratch on the SSD, install APPs fresh on whatever drive you want them on, same for games.

 

Thats just me though, Ive got starting fresh to fully set up OS down to a few hours at this point.

It would be a big mess for me as I have SO MANY important files I would have to back up ( coding, video editing, videos, other files etc ).

[mjhtrf5ersddrfty]

Just now, jstudrawa said:

Anywhere.  And you don't need to even buy it.

 

The software sees a Samsung drive and then works.  No keys, no codes.

Thanks!

[KarathKasun]

Just now, YouTube UniteReaper said:

It would be a big mess for me as I have SO MANY important files I would have to back up ( coding, video editing, videos, other files etc ).

You already have a backup.  Just dont format the HDD and install the OS on the SSD.

[LukeNukem9]

Hirens Boot CD 15.2