SSD to replace old HDD OR ....

[Vespid]

Alright, haven't posted on here for a long time...

 

So last year i build a budget pc for myself (Amd Athlon x4 860k, gtx750, 8GB ram -> i don't play high end games so no need for higher specs)

BUT to save some cash i used an old external hdd and switched to an internal (I removed the usb switch), boot time is ultra slow (5 to 10 mins until usable).

Being tight on money to spend on tech right now I'm limiting myself to one of these things for now (i will prob get both after a while) :

NOTE : Yes they are unrelated items, and I don't absolutely NEED either.

 

1) Buy 128gig ssd (50€) Or 240gig ssd (80€) haven't decided yet

 

2) Buy a Chromebook (+- 130/140€) -> For school, only to read PDFs and write essays + the occasional youtube vids (I have managed fine without a laptop my first year and a half at uni, it's not mandatory but would be nice inbetween classes)

 

I know the choice is ultimately mine but i need some arguments.

[Energycore]

Welcome back

 

120 Gig SSD is perfectly fine for people on a budget. On mine I have

 

- Windows

- My whole benchmark suite including Firestrike, Heaven and Valley along with stuff like Speedfan and HWMonitor

- Starcraft II Legacy of the Void, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Kerbal Space Program, and Skyrim with mods

 

With around 20GB free.

[SCHISCHKA]

5-10min is unbelievable, havnt had a boot time like that since win 98. get a new hard drive

[Vespid]

1 minute ago, SCHISCHKA said:

5-10min is unbelievable, havnt had a boot time like that since win 98. get a new hard drive

It used to be an old external HDD, pretty sure the RPM is extremely low ^^

 

8 minutes ago, Energycore said:

Welcome back

 

120 Gig SSD is perfectly fine for people on a budget. On mine I have

 

- Windows

- My whole benchmark suite including Firestrike, Heaven and Valley along with stuff like Speedfan and HWMonitor

- Starcraft II Legacy of the Void, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Kerbal Space Program, and Skyrim with mods

 

With around 20GB free.

Thanks for the reply!

Yeah I think 120 Gig will be perfect to put Windows and a game or two on!

[joshfrog]

on your hard drive you have installed now how much space is it and how much do you have free because you can work out how much space u need based on that. for example if you have a 500gb drive and have alot of programs installed then you might want to look at a 250gb ssd but if you have just a few programs along with your operating system then a 120gb should do because you can use the hdd you have as a 2nd disk and store all your files, games whatnot on that.

for your chromebook if the one your looking at has any external storage options then you can use that to store most stuff on like a large sd or micro sd card i have friends who do that because there locked in to there disk size.

[EmoChipmonk]

I would buy 240gb ssd. (i find crucials quite good and cheap (i got a 525 one) My friend got a 120gb ssd and really regret it because he needed to look for things to delete fairly often.

[Energycore]

1 minute ago, Vespid said:

It used to be an old external HDD, pretty sure the RPM is extremely low ^^

Can't be slower than 5400RPM if it's from 2009 or later

[Energycore]

1 minute ago, EmoChipmonk said:

I would buy 240gb ssd. (i find crucials quite good and cheap (i got a 525 one) My friend got a 120gb ssd and really regret it because he needed to look for things to delete fairly often.

Don't delete them, move them to the big drive.

[grimreeper132]

10 minutes ago, Energycore said:

120 Gig SSD is perfectly fine for people on a budget. On mine I have

yea a 120GB should be fine, 240GB would be nicer to have, but it wouldn't be necessary, if you are thinking about getting into gaming with larger games or CAD (CAD programmes aren't small programmes and when you install more than 3 then the easily use most, if not all the space in 120GB SSD) but otherwise a 120GB SSD should be fine, keep your hard drive in it though for the larger smaller files that you don't use often/need to run fast.

 

 

3 minutes ago, SCHISCHKA said:

5-10min is unbelievable, havnt had a boot time like that since win 98. get a new hard drive

yea that is long boot, but if your just using the hard drive as a long term storage for stuff that you don't use often or need to run fast, eg. photos, then it should be fine. and yea 510 min is a long boot, especially compared to my computer which can go from rest to the log on page in 7 seconds, then desktop in a few more, depending on how fast I type in my password

[EmoChipmonk]

1 minute ago, Energycore said:

Don't delete them, move them to the big drive.

They were things that would auto save to the SSD that were from programs or games. Like purly just as an example Ark generated 6gb every time it was running which it later removed.

[joshfrog]

yeah i would say a 240gb aswell gives you room to grow in to. i use samsung ssds and never had a problem but 1 of my friends has a crucial and he hasnt had a problem with it. just dont go to cheap some of the low end ssds have bad speeds or wont last as long 

[Vespid]

3 minutes ago, EmoChipmonk said:

I would buy 240gb ssd. (i find crucials quite good and cheap (i got a 525 one) My friend got a 120gb ssd and really regret it because he needed to look for things to delete fairly often.

I have an external 1TB Hard drive (WD My Passeport) For video/Music/Photos and other files I don't regulary use

[grimreeper132]

5 minutes ago, EmoChipmonk said:

I would buy 240gb ssd. (i find crucials quite good and cheap (i got a 525 one) My friend got a 120gb ssd and really regret it because he needed to look for things to delete fairly often.

I do that with my 240GB to the point I needed to buy another one, it just depends on your workload as depending on who you are depends on how much you need

[EmoChipmonk]

3 minutes ago, Vespid said:

I have an external 1TB Hard drive (WD My Passeport) For video/Music/Photos and other files I don't regulary use

Use it long enough and just random files from programs that you have or had can fill it up. Thats why i would never go for somthing less then 240. 

[joshfrog]

have u tryed reinstalling your operating system sometimes it can be slowed down if there is alot of junk slowing the operating system from booting faster.

[dizmo]

I'd go with a 240GB SSD simply for the added speed and reliability.

What you should really look at is the MX300. The extra space it provides easily counters the Windows install, so you'll end up with a lot more usable space. Remember, you shouldn't have more than 80% of the drive full at any given time.

 

I'd buy a used laptop before I'd go for a Chromebook. See if you can pick up a refurbished one or something.

Google Apps are great, but having them be the only thing you have is awfully limiting.

[MoonSpot]

Well, I tend to disagree with the thought that 120GB is enough.  It really isn't.  Once that drive gets, say 75% full, performance is likely to drop off a cliff.  240GB is the min IMO.

 

:edit:

[EmoChipmonk]

2 minutes ago, dizmo said:

I'd go with a 240GB SSD simply for the added speed and reliability.

What you should really look at is the MX300. The extra space it provides easily counters the Windows install, so you'll end up with a lot more usable space. Remember, you shouldn't have more than 80% of the drive full at any given time.

 

I'd buy a used laptop before I'd go for a Chromebook. See if you can pick up a refurbished one or something.

Google Apps are great, but having them be the only thing you have is awfully limiting.

agreed

[Vespid]

4 minutes ago, dizmo said:

 

I'd buy a used laptop before I'd go for a Chromebook. See if you can pick up a refurbished one or something.

Google Apps are great, but having them be the only thing you have is awfully limiting.

Well, for me a laptop's only use will only be media consumption and text editing, so I simply have no need for Windows on a laptop. A chromebook offers ultra fast boot times, exellent battery life for the price and fills all my needs. 

[dizmo]

1 minute ago, Vespid said:

Well, for me a laptop's only use will only be media consumption and text editing, so I simply have no need for Windows on a laptop. A chromebook offers ultra fast boot times, exellent battery life for the price and fills all my needs. 

I find it odd that you don't need PowerPoint. It was quite necessary for many of my university classes.

I'd just rather buy something knowing if I need, I can install said programs instead of being completely screwed.

[Vespid]

6 minutes ago, dizmo said:

I find it odd that you don't need PowerPoint. It was quite necessary for many of my university classes.

I'd just rather buy something knowing if I need, I can install said programs instead of being completely screwed.

Well...https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/powerpoint-online/mdafamggmaaaginooondinjgkgcbpnhp Every office application can be done in Chrome ^^ (+ Let's not forget I have a PC at home, which is a 25 minute bike ride from campus)

[joshfrog]

it might not be needed and at times it annoys the hell out of me but if you have a chromebook and needed something from your computer you could always use something like teamviewer and remote into your desktop at home i use it all the time for work

[Vespid]

1 hour ago, joshfrog said:

it might not be needed and at times it annoys the hell out of me but if you have a chromebook and needed something from your computer you could always use something like teamviewer and remote into your desktop at home i use it all the time for work

Chrome Remote Desktop seems great for that!

[joshfrog]

yeah chrome ive herd good things but personal havnt used it