If buying an SSD for a deskside windows system, it is best to configure the new disk as the book disk since the SSD will then also provide the swap file location, and the location for most of the software binaries. How might one do this? Here are my notes.
Can I install the SSD inside my system case? This can be answered by reading the system documentation.
What is the i/o bus architecture? This is important because you need to plan how to attach the SSD to the computer, if doing it via a USB port, it’s much easier, but may be slower than directly connecting it to the main (PCI) bus and that isn’t really what’s wanted.
Crucial have published a blog that addresses this complexity. This was pointed out to me by Graham Fletcher. They unhelpfully conclude,
The most important aspect to consider is which form factor and interface is installed on your computer. It can be difficult to tell the difference between a PCIe and a SATA connection if you look at the slot on the motherboard. Check your computer specifications to see which interface and form factor your computer supports. You can also use the Crucial System Advisor™ or System Scanner to find a compatible part and interface.
So once again, read the manual.
To be frank, my knowledge and experience on this is dated; obviously some reading to do. How you plan to connect will/may determine what you buy.
Once you have a new disk, you must
- configure it as a boot device
- amend the bios to use the new boot device as the default boot device.
Making a boot device
Google is your friend, there’s lots of advice out there.
To tweak the bios, again, you’ll need the manual but you need to interrupt the boot sequence using a function key and then, again, read the manual, to set the device order that the system chooses. This might be a removable medium, followed by the SSD, followed by the old HDD.
Great set of notes here! I especially appreciate the point about checking the manual to distinguish between PCIe and SATA connections on the motherboard. It’s one of those things that looks almost identical at a glance but makes a world of difference in actual performance and compatibility.
I actually went through a similar process recently while repurposing an older workstation into a dedicated light home server. Since the machine only had a modest 300-Watt power supply https://serverorbit.com/power-supplies/server-power/300-watt, I had to be really careful about the total power draw when adding extra components. Swapping the old mechanical boot drive for an SSD was the best move—not just for the swap file speed you mentioned, but because it significantly lowered the idle power consumption. It’s surprising how much more stable these older builds feel when you aren’t pushing the limits of a lower-wattage PSU with multiple power-hungry mechanical disks.
Did you run into any issues with the BIOS recognizing the drive right away, or did you have to toggle any legacy boot settings to get the system to see the SSD as the primary device?