Often, when working with a PC, we encounter problems that we did not expect. For example, we don't know how to connect an SSD drive to a computer. It would seem that the matter is not at all difficult, but it requires care and correct actions. Therefore, if you decide to carry components yourself or assemble a PC, then you will need to know everything about such minor difficulties.

For what?

Upgrading your computer is always a responsible matter. Not all users are ready to do this. Firstly, you need to have a good understanding of components and understand compatibility different devices, understand new products. Secondly, in addition to this, significant financial investments are needed, since the better the product, the more expensive it is accordingly.

In this case, everyone will need to learn how to connect an SSD drive to a computer. This is also necessary for those who decided to assemble a PC themselves, or for those whose hard drive “passed away.” There are a lot of instructions on this issue on the Internet, so let’s get started.

Peculiarities

Before we begin to understand this issue, we need to tell those who do not know anything about SSDs.

It is a solid state drive, which is a non-mechanical storage device. It is based on a memory chip. The device arrived at HDD replacement. Although it is impossible to say so unequivocally, since many experienced users prefer to install both an HDD and a solid-state drive in their PC.

As a result, sometimes this device becomes the main one, replacing the place of the hard drive, sometimes auxiliary. In the second case, the system is loaded onto it, and personal information is stored on the hard drive.

Advantages

Now learn about how to connect an SSD drive to SATA computer, not everyone needs it, since most users still use this device in compact devices: tablets, etc.

However, it can also be installed on desktop computers, since it brings additional benefits. Most importantly, it improves system performance. Compared to traditional hard drives, it is smaller in size and weight and has increased performance. Moreover, the speed turned out to be 6-7 times greater. Hence this high price for SSD.

In addition, solid-state drives began to be integrated in pairs with HDDs to form hybrid hard drives. In this case, the flash memory became occupied by a buffer. Although, as mentioned earlier, sometimes it is used as a separate free space.

In addition, noiselessness has been added to the main advantages, since the device is non-mechanical and has no moving elements. Hence the high mechanical resistance. Files are read stably, without interruptions or jumps. Reading speed is close to bandwidth interfaces.

Connection

So, how to connect an SSD to a computer? Installed using approximately the same method. Therefore, if you have ever encountered the work of a hard drive, then there will be no problems with a solid-state drive. The only difference is the dimensions. You will need to fit the smaller device into the correct slot.

Start

To start the procedure, of course, you need to turn off your PC. To be on the safe side, it is better to do it completely unplugged. Don't forget to turn off the power supply as well. Usually the button to turn it off is located on the back, on the case.

Now you need to do the following operation: press and hold the PC power button for several seconds. This is necessary so that all the current that remains on the board and in general in the entire case disappears. This way you will de-energize all circuits and ensure your safety.

Depending on your goals, the next steps may vary. But in general, the connection principle is always the same.

Let's act

To understand where to connect the SSD drive to the computer, you need to get to the case. First you need to open it. Usually it all depends on its design. But there are always small screws to remove left panel and get to the “insides” of the PC. There are cases that may have access to the ports from the other side, so here you need to act according to the situation.

If you are new to computer chassis design, you may have problems. But if you at least know what a hard drive looks like and can find it in a metal box, then half the battle is done.

Usually the hard drive is placed in a special compartment. There may be several of them in the case. Made specifically for 3.5 inch HDD size. This is where you need to place the SSD.

Because the dimensions are a little different, being 2.5 inches, you'll have to bolt it down pretty well. They usually come with the device. Recently, slots in cases for SSDs have become increasingly common. Therefore, perhaps the task will be simplified.

When the drive is secured and well fixed, you will need to figure out how to connect the SSD drive to the computer, to the motherboard. Here the matter is somewhat more complicated, since you will have to google it or figure out the interfaces.

Compound

Next you need to take the cable that came with the drive. You will find an L-shaped port on it. This is SATA. In addition to this, you must have a power cable. It usually looks like a bunch of wires.

First you need to connect the power cable to the connector from the power supply. Then we take the SATA cable and look for the right place on the motherboard. Usually there are few options. If the board has SATA III, then it is better to use this port. If this option is not available, connect to SATA II.

Now these two wires will need to be connected directly to the SSD. A power cable is placed in the wider connector, and a SATA cable is placed in the narrow connector.

Other options

Not everyone knows, but they have been releasing SSDs of the M.2 form factor for a couple of years now. Now these models are not uncommon. Many people prefer them. In addition, newfangled motherboard models began to be equipped with a special connector specifically for this form factor.

As a result, the situation led to the fact that we need to know how to connect an SSD M2 drive to a computer. It must be said right away that this model has many variations. Therefore, the connection may be slightly different. But the main point is that, unlike the previous option, we connect the solid-state drive to the motherboard not with wires, but with the device itself.

When you see the M.2 SSD in the photo, you will understand what the point is. It is not presented in a case, like the model described above. It is made of a small board containing memory chips. This board has special slots for installing them on the motherboard.

It is impossible to describe the connection for all cases, since there are really many options. But when you buy an M.2 SSD drive, you will have instructions that will tell you how to do it correctly.

Settings

Once you have assembled and connected everything, you can turn on the PC. While loading it, you need to call up the BIOS. Here you should look for the AHCI mode, which is responsible for the operation of the solid-state drive.

For example, you are going to load onto an SSD operating system. But in addition to the new drive, you already have hard drives connected. Then you will need to prioritize the devices. To do this, we put the solid-state drive first in the list. We install the ability to boot the OS from a disk or flash drive.

If you need an SSD like additional tool, then it will be enough to check that the existing railway is first in line. Otherwise, the system may simply not boot. You might want to move your OS to an SSD. In this case, after you have learned how to connect an SSD drive to a computer, you will need to perform a very extensive operation. This is a topic for another article.

Laptops

When you try all the above operations using your own example, you will realize that you even know how to connect 2 SSD drives to a computer. The main thing is that there is enough space on your motherboard.

But speaking about PCs, we need to remember that initially solid-state drives began to be widely used in laptops because they are compact. Therefore, you can additionally learn how to connect an SSD to a laptop.

Of course, it is better to consider this issue with each device model, since the cases are different, and, accordingly, the placement of the disk slot is also different.

However, the main thing is to decide where the hard drive is located in your laptop. Usually, to do this you have to turn off the device and open the bottom cover. Sometimes it is completely removable, sometimes you can unscrew the compartment panels. The railway station is usually located in one of them. If you can't find it, check your laptop's manual.

It must be said right away that HDDs in laptops are the same size as SSDs - 2.5 inches. In order to remove the hard drive, you need to not just pull it out, but first pull it to the side. It is thus attached to the power and SATA connector.

Then it's a small matter - just install the solid-state drive. Don't forget to secure it with screws. Since laptops usually have one place for a hard drive, you will have to think in advance about how you will transfer the operating system: by cloning or a new installation.

conclusions

You need to find out how to connect an SSD drive to a computer in advance, and not when you have unscrewed, unscrewed and disconnected everything. Sometimes you have to do additional settings, think in advance about the location of the OS.

The easiest way to do this is when you need a solid-state drive only as an auxiliary tool. Then you just need to connect it to another compartment and connector. If you want to make it your main one, then you need to read the instructions for cloning HDDs and SSDs, configure and think through everything in advance.

If you are building a PC from scratch and decide to simply install a fast “colleague” instead of a hard drive, do not forget to configure the connection in the BIOS. It is important to set the special mode and priority of the drives.

Users have a completely predictable question about how to install an SSD drive. SSD installation disk in a desktop computer is no different from . Therefore, if you have already installed, then you should not have any difficulties installing the SSD.

But, you can install an SSD drive even if you have no experience. This is a very simple procedure and anyone can do it. In this material we will look at the entire installation process step by step.

Let's start installing the SSD drive

Step No. 1. Turn off the power from the system unit.

Before you do anything with the system unit, you must disconnect it from power. Especially if you have little experience in computer maintenance.

Step No. 2. Open the side cover of the system unit.

After the power is turned off, you can begin working with the system unit. To make it more convenient to work, put system unit"on the side". Then you can remove the side cover. In some cases, to install an SSD drive, you may need to open both side covers of the system unit.

Step #3. Install an SSD drive

It hardly heats up, has no moving parts and does not create vibrations, so it can be installed in any convenient place inside the system unit. However, it must be securely fastened so that it does not dangle inside. Otherwise, the next time the system unit is serviced, it may hit the video card or motherboard and cause damage.

The ideal option would be to install an SSD drive in a 3.5-inch hard drive bay (standard hard drive bay). But since SSD drives come in a 2.5-inch form factor, you will need special carriers to install a 2.5-inch drive into a 3.5-inch bay (see picture above).

In order to avoid unnecessary steps, first install the SSD drive into the slide and then install the slide with the SSD drive into the 3.5-inch bay. In the picture above you can see what an SSD drive looks like in a sled. When installing an SSD drive, it is important not to mix up the side, since the slides are not symmetrical.

Step #4. SSD connection disk.

An SSD drive, like any modern hard drive, is connected using a cable. Connecting drives using SATA is very simple. To do this, just connect the SATA port on the motherboard and the SATA port on the disk using a cable.

In addition, you need to connect the cable from the power supply. If your power supply is not equipped with a modern connector for connecting to SATA drives, then you will need an adapter.

The process of connecting and installing an SSD drive into a 3.5-inch bay can be seen in the picture below.

Step No. 5. Close the lid and turn on the computer.

After the installation of the SSD drive is completed, you can close the cover of the system unit and turn on the computer.

Hello. SSD drives are becoming more and more popular in the component market every day. Very soon, I think, they will become a necessity rather than a luxury (at least some users consider them a luxury).

Installing an SSD in a laptop provides a number of advantages: faster loading of the Windows OS (boot time is reduced by 4-5 times), longer battery life of the laptop, the SSD drive is more resistant to shocks and shocks, the grinding noise (which sometimes happens on some models) disappears HDD drives). In this article, I want to analyze step-by-step installation SSD drive in a laptop (especially since there are quite a lot of questions about SSD drives).

What is needed to get started

Despite the fact that installing an SSD drive is a fairly simple operation that almost any user can handle, I want to warn you that everything you do is done at your own risk. Also, in some cases, installing another disk may result in denial of warranty service!

1. Laptop and SSD drive (naturally).

Rice. 1. SPCC Solid State Disk (120 GB)

2. Phillips and straight screwdrivers (most likely the first, depending on how your laptop covers are secured).

Rice. 2. Phillips screwdriver

3. Plastic card (any one will do; it can be used to conveniently pry off the cover that protects the disk and RAM laptop).

4. Flash drive or external hard drive (if you just replace the HDD drive with an SSD, then you probably have files and documents that need to be copied from the old hard drive. Later you will transfer them from the flash drive to new SSD disk).

SSD drive installation options

A lot of questions come in regarding options for installing an SSD drive in a laptop. Well, for example:

- “How to install an SSD drive so that both the old hard drive and the new one work?”;

- “Is it possible to install an SSD disk instead of a CD-ROM?”;

- “If I just replace the old HDD with a new SSD drive, how will I transfer my files to it?” etc.

I would like to immediately highlight several ways to install an SSD in a laptop:

1) Simply remove the old HDD and put a new SSD in its place (the laptop has a special cover that covers the disk and RAM). To use your data with old HDD- you need to copy all data to other media in advance, before replacing the disk.

2) Install an SSD disk instead of a disk drive for optical disks. To do this you need a special adapter. The point is general view like this: take out the CD-ROM and insert this adapter (into which you insert the SSD drive in advance). In the English version, it is called as follows: HDD Caddy for Laptop Notebook.

Important! If you buy such an adapter, pay attention to the thickness. The fact is that there are 2 types of such adapters: 12.7 mm and 9.5 mm. To know exactly which one you need, you can do the following: run the AIDA program (for example), find out the exact model of your optical drive and then find its characteristics on the Internet. In addition, you can simply remove the drive and measure it with a ruler or caliper.

3) This is the reverse option from the second: install the SSD instead of the old HDD, and install the HDD instead of the drive using the same adapter as in Fig. 3. This option is preferable (in our opinion).

4) Last option: install an SSD instead of the old HDD, but buy a special box for the HDD to connect it to USB port(see Fig. 4). This way you can also use both SSD and HDD disk. The only negative is the extra wire and the box on the table (for laptops that are often carried, this is a bad option).

How to install an SSD drive instead of an old HDD

I will consider the most standard and frequently encountered option.

1) First, turn off the laptop and disconnect all wires from it (power, headphones, mice, external hard drives, etc.). Next, turn it over - on the bottom wall of the laptop there should be a panel covering the laptop’s hard drive and accumulator battery(see Fig. 5). Remove the battery by moving the latches in different directions*.

* Mounting may vary slightly on different laptop models.

Rice. 5. Attaching the battery and the cover covering the laptop disk. Dell laptop Inspiron 15 3000 series

2) After the battery is removed, unscrew the screws that secure the cover that covers the hard drive (see Fig. 6).

3) The hard drive in laptops is usually secured with several screws. To remove it, just unscrew them and then remove the hard drive from the SATA connector. After that, insert a new one in its place. SSD drive and secure it with screws. This is done quite simply (see Fig. 7 - the disk mount (green arrows) and the SATA connector (red arrow) are shown).

4) After replacing the disk, secure the cover with a screw and install the battery. Connect all the wires (previously disconnected) to the laptop and turn it on. When booting, go directly to the BIOS (article about login keys:

Rice. 8. Have you decided? new disk SSD (in the photo the disk is recognized, which means you can continue working with it).

If the disk is detected, check what mode it is operating in (it should work in AHCI). In the BIOS, this tab is most often Advanced (see Fig. 9). If you have a different operating mode in your settings, switch it to ACHI, then save the BIOS settings.

After the settings have been made, you can begin installing Windows and optimizing it for SSD. By the way, after installing the SSD, it is recommended to install Windows again. The point is that when Windows installations- it automatically configures services for optimal performance with SSD disk.

By the way, very often I get asked questions about what to update to speed up the PC (video card, processor, etc.). But rarely does anyone talk about the possible transition to an SSD to speed up work. Although on some systems, switching to an SSD will help speed up the work significantly!

That's all for me today. Everyone fast work Windows!

Installing solid-state drives by default on laptops and computers has only recently begun, and a device purchased just 1-2 years ago is most likely equipped with a regular SATA HDD.

This option is also not bad - especially if the SATA III interface is used, but conventional hard drives are not capable of providing maximum performance.

What you will need to install an SSD drive

A user who wants to speed up access to information will need:

• • purchase an SSD with a suitable capacity and price (a 60–128 GB device is sufficient for working with documents and basic programs; for more resource-intensive tasks, you should consider purchasing a 500–1000 GB device);

• enable AHCI mode to work with high-speed drives (if this has not been done before);

Read more about how to do this in the article “”

• disassemble the computer and install a solid state drive. For a laptop, you may need to remove the old HDD (for further installation using an adapter and a CD drive). Desktop PCs usually have enough space for an SSD.

As a result, the user receives:

1. Increasing the speed of working with data;
2. Reduced energy consumption and weight (important for laptops);
3. No need to defragment the disk.

Tip: If the computer is old enough (single-core processor, less than 4 GB of memory and the motherboard was released 5-6 years ago), there is no point in installing an SSD. In this case, even updating the hardware will not help speed up the system. And you will have to change the entire device.

Installing an SSD on a computer

The standard size of a solid state drive is 2.5 inches.

3.5-inch versions were also produced, but due to the fact that they were most often installed on laptops, only the smallest drives remained (including 1.8-inch and M2 formats).

This means that for installation on a PC, an SSD requires the use of so-called sleds, or racks - devices for securing the disk inside bays designed for standard HDDs and disk drives.

And, although, thanks to the light weight of the solid-state drive, it weighs little and can only be mounted on one side of the system unit case, you should not do this - it is safer to purchase a small adapter from 3.5 to 2.5 inches.

Installing the disk is carried out in several stages:

1. The computer turns off;
2. The power supply is turned off using a button on the back of the system unit;
3. The power button is pressed and held for several seconds. In this case, a de-energized computer, naturally, will not start, but with motherboard and other parts, static electricity will be removed;
4. The PC case is disassembled (usually only one panel is removed for this, most often the left one, but sometimes you have to disassemble the system unit almost completely;
5. The SSD is installed in place (for a PC, it is not necessary to remove the HHD already there) using a sled adapter and secured with screws. Fasteners are included with the device;
6. The installed disk is connected to motherboard via a SATA cable and the corresponding slot on the motherboard;

1. The disk and computer power supply are connected;
2. Assemble the system unit and configure the SSD.

As a rule, maximum performance of the drive will be ensured only when it is connected to a SATA 3.0 connector or higher at speeds of up to 6 GB/s.

On the board it is usually distinguished from others by its black color and markings. If there are no designations for SATA 3.0, you should read the documentation for the motherboard.

It is worth noting that SSD drives do not tolerate heating to high temperatures.

Therefore, when adding a new drive, it is worth taking care of improving the cooling system.

To do this, you can provide, for example, an additional cooler measuring 80x80 or 120x120 in the side of the system unit.

Such a fan will perfectly cool not only a solid-state drive, but also a regular drive.

Setting up work

After installing the disk, you first need to configure the media for optimal performance and increased service life:

1. Go to BIOS (or UEFI) using one of the methods available in your operating system. The easiest way to do this is for Windows 7 by clicking on reboot function key(y different manufacturers motherboard or laptop uses different letters);

More details about the setup boot disk read our material: .

1. Install disk SSD first in the list of devices (if it is not the only drive);

1. Save changes and restart your computer.

Now you can either transfer the system to a solid-state drive so as not to install it again.

Or leave the old OS if the SSD will not be used as a system drive.

When choosing the first option, you should use either the built-in Windows tools(they are available in systems starting from version 7 and higher), or applications like Acronis True Image.

In the second case, when the system remains on the HDD, the same HDD should be left first in the boot list in the BIOS.

Installation on a laptop

Installing SSDs on a laptop is slightly different.

First of all, due to the fact that there is less space inside the laptop computer case and, most likely, to connect a second drive the user will have to remove the first one.

But after installation, the laptop will work faster, and the battery life will practically not decrease, even if you reconnect the old HDD.

To install, the user will need a standard SSD and a drive adapter. The main installation steps include:

1. Turning off the power to the laptop (by removing the battery);
2. Opening back cover and carefully remove the HDD. In this case, the cable and power cord are disconnected;

1. Installation in place hard drive SSD drive with cable connection;
2. Installing HDD using an adapter;
3. Returning the laptop lid to its place;
4. Turning on the laptop and setting up the system.

HDD installation

It is advisable to install the hard drive back in cases where the system remains on it.

Or, if the SSD is not big enough to accommodate all the necessary information, and the solid state drive itself is used for storing only system files and operating system.

At the same time, data transfer rates optical drive quite enough to keep the HDD running.

But it will no longer be possible to ensure the effective use of SSDs in this way.

Therefore, a standard laptop hard drive is inserted into the adapter, and the drive is removed - especially since today it is practically not used.

The adapter for connecting the HDD is selected according to the thickness of the drive, which can be equal to 12.7 or 9.5 mm. Next, the following actions are performed in turn:

1. The drive is installed inside the adapter;
2. The optical drive is removed from the laptop (in most models it is held on by one screw). To do this, you need to open the drive (usually it is enough to press a button with a thin needle inside a special hole on the panel in front of the button;

1. The panel is removed from the drive tray and installed on the adapter so that replacement does not affect appearance devices;
2. The hard drive in the adapter is placed in place of the drive;
3. The screw that now secures the HDD is tightened.

System Setup

After replacing the hard drive and installing the solid state, the system should automatically detect the type of new device and install all the software necessary for it.

Another utility like Migrate OS to SSD may be needed if you need to move the operating system from an old disk to a new one.

Now you can move on to the main steps to optimize the system. These include:

• enabling the TRIM function;
• disable automatic disk defragmentation;
• prohibiting indexing of files and allowing their caching.

The TRIM function, necessary in order to promptly detect the space remaining after deleting files, has been included in Windows since version 7.

If it is disabled, disk performance will degrade over time.

To check the functionality of the function, open command line as administrator and enter the command fsutil behavior query disabledeletenotify.

If the result is 1, then TRIM is not working. You can enable it by calling the line again and entering fsutil behavior query|set DisableDeleteNotify = 0.

Disabling defragmentation

Defragmentation is a completely unnecessary feature for SSD drives. Moreover, in some cases, frequent execution of the process can even reduce the life of the drive.

To prevent this from happening, defragmentation is disabled using the Run menu (Win + R) and the dfrgui command. In the window that opens, schedule optimization is disabled.

Disabling indexing

To disable indexing:

1. Open the “My Computer” window;
2. Right-click on the disk name and select “Properties”;
3. Remove the checkbox that allows indexing of file contents.

Caching

You can enable caching, which allows the disk to process files faster, by entering the devmgmt.msc command in the Run menu.

This will open Device Manager, where you can open the properties of the desired drive and enable file caching in the policies tab.

Disk operation prevention

After installing a new disk, improvements in system parameters can be seen immediately after booting.

Especially if the SSD is selected as the primary drive and the system boots from it.

First of all, the loading time is reduced, and secondly, the disk performance index increases almost to the maximum value.

However, in order for the disc to last as long as possible, you should adhere to certain rules its uses:

• to increase the resource on the SSD, you should leave at least 10–15% of free space;
• During use, you should make sure that the latest drivers for the drive are installed in the system. They are usually found on the manufacturer's website. Most often, with each new firmware, the number of drive capabilities is updated and its service life increases;
• Do not exceed the recommended amount of information rewritten in one cycle. U different models SSD this volume reaches from 10 to 33% of the total;
• To check the disk resource, you should periodically run programs to detect errors and the number of hours already worked - such as SSD Life.

Read our other articles about SSD drives:

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