How to extremely upgrade your computer
[Updated on April 29]
Take a look at your laptop or PC. What drive does it contain for data storage? Is it an HDD (hard disk drive)?
That’s it. I know I sound like Captain Obvious for computer geeks. Every one of them would confidently say:
Common! Replace your HDD with a brand new SSD!
Two weeks ago I presented an SSD to my close friend for New Year. She was surprised by how much faster her laptop started to boot, run applications, open documents.
I again realized that there are many people around me do not know about this marvelous technology. In fact, it is the most effective way to upgrade computer nowadays. New CPU, motherboard, RAM memory or video card won’t give you such an effect. With a new SSD placed instead HDD, I guarantee you:
5-10x performance growth
Believe me there is no magic. Solid-state drives contain totally different technology under the hood compared to HDDs. SSDs have been developing for more than 25 years and arrived at the consumer market more than 10 years ago.
How to upgrade in minimum time
I’d like to share instructions to efficiently accelerate your computer. Let’s assume you have Windows laptop which is more difficult case than the others. It can also be desktop PC or Sony PlayStation 4, of course.
Follow the step-by-step guide below.
1. Check whether you have an HDD
- Click Start button
- Type in optimize
- Open Defragment and Optimize Drives app
2. Find your HDD size
- Open Create and format hard disk partitions app
- Disk 0 in the bottom panel shows the total size
3. Buy SSD of the same size or larger
Now you know the size and can purchase SSD. It’s better to go for larger capacity to receive more space together with a new performance.
As for SSD choice, I would recommend sticking to Samsung models. It is an SSD market leader that produces fast and reliable drives. We use them often in the office. Samsung 850 Evo — the best price-value relation for a typical consumer.
4. Buy USB-to-SATA adapter
We will need it for drive duplication in the next step.
Such adapters are sold everywhere in computer e-stores.
Good examples would be:
https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-SATA-Drive-Adapter-Cable/dp/B00HJZJI84
https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Tool-free-Enclosure-Optimized-EC-UASP/dp/B00OJ3UJ2S
5. Clone HDD to SSD
- Connect SSD to the USB-to-SATA adapter
- Plug USB-to-SATA adapter into a laptop’s USB port
Then use this free software to duplicate your drive: MultiDrive
The app is very simple to use, and there’s also a guide available to walk you through the cloning process.
6. Replace HDD on SSD
Most likely, your laptop has a removable panel. Then you can replace HDD on SSD yourself doing similar steps to those that explained in the guide: https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/ssd-upgrade-tutorial
Other than that, you would need an assistance of hardware engineer or PC repair shop worker.
Voila! You have a computer working 5–10 times faster. Congratulations! I envisage how wonderful your first impressions will be!
Sincerely,
Vitaliy Mokosiy
