SSD Replacement/Upgrade Help

[AdelaisAer]

EDIT: SOLVED - Talked to an Intel representative and he helped me choose the one from NewEgg. I am buying the one with the desktop-mounting kit since I can't find any with the laptop-mounting kit. THANKS EVERYONE!

Hi, everyone.

I have the standard SSD that comes with the G74SX-DH72, but I want to replace it with a better SSD, specifically this one: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167086

Thing is, I also want to make sure I copy everything from my old SSD and transfer it all to the new one, as if nothing changed. You know? A complete migration. Anyone know how to do this?

I need all the steps required to do all of this. If anyone has a thread (with pictures, preferably), that'd be much appreciated.

Also, you think this SSD I want is good? I looked on the Intel site and it suggested that one for gamers, so...

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: There is another matter, which should I buy from?

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/search.asp?cat=5298&keywords=Intel 520&mnf=&lowprice=0&highprice=0
OR
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006693&IsNodeId=1&Description=Intel+520&name=Internal+SSD&Order=BESTMATCH

One has a black ring, the other one doesn't. Also, NewEgg offers a "kit" that includes screws, cables, etc.

THIS IS FOR MY G74SX, not a desktop.


Speaking of which...which one is the HDD and which one is the SSD? o_O;
8037

[tadhp]

Will this one help ?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html

For me, I like the clean install better when upgrade.

[AdelaisAer]

Will this one help ?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html

For me, I like the clean install better when upgrade.

I don't need a clean install; I'd rather just transfer everything from the old SSD to the new one.

Also, that guide seems a bit complicated for me. @__@ Can I like, take it to Best Buy, or ask Geek Squad or something to do it for me?

[BerettaMato]

Try Partedmagic I think it might help.

[Spartan-0804]

I don't need a clean install; I'd rather just transfer everything from the old SSD to the new one.

Also, that guide seems a bit complicated for me. @__@ Can I like, take it to Best Buy, or ask Geek Squad or something to do it for me?

Well then you should get an intel ssd, because they should come with a data transfer program that transfers your whole os too the new intel ssd.

[AdelaisAer]

Well then you should get an intel ssd, because they should come with a data transfer program that transfers your whole os too the new intel ssd.

Alright. Thanks.

[AdelaisAer]

Actually, another question:

I noticed differences, albeit slight, between:

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/search.asp?cat=5298&keywords=intel%20520&mnf=&lowprice=0&highprice=0
and
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006693&IsNodeId=1&Description=Intel%20520&name=Internal%20SSD&Order=BESTMATCH

The way they look, for one, look different; also, I think the ones on newegg have a slightly faster rate of 520 whereas the former indicate 500, but it might just be an error? Iunno. What do you guys think? :S Iunno if one of them is outdated or maybe it's just something else I don't understand. Thanks.

[fuzon1337]

Hmm... for me it looks like they have used one picture they did find and used that to show how it looks....

If you check out the picture in this review http://www.anandtech.com/show/5508/intel-ssd-520-review-cherryville-brings-reliability-to-sandforce you can see that most of them are with the black ring around it and one is blank. It seems like it shows how much GB it got (or how to explain it)

But Intel SSD 520 is not a bad choice :) I would purchased one myself but it's just to expensive to buy one with some space on it :P

[AdelaisAer]

Hmm... for me it looks like they have used one picture they did find and used that to show how it looks....

If you check out the picture in this review http://www.anandtech.com/show/5508/intel-ssd-520-review-cherryville-brings-reliability-to-sandforce you can see that most of them are with the black ring around it and one is blank. It seems like it shows how much GB it got (or how to explain it)

But Intel SSD 520 is not a bad choice :) I would purchased one myself but it's just to expensive to buy one with some space on it :P

So either of the two sources I listed are the same? o-o And if so, which one would you recommend buying from? Also, originally, I was gonna buy the 240GB one, but it's just too expensive, so I am upgrading to the 180GB one instead. It's a 60GB upgrade, roughly, from my 128GB one, but it's still good, so. That and the fact that the one that comes with this one might possibly be slower than the one I want.

EDIT: It's a 320 with 160GB (although only 128GB of it is actually usable. 520 is supposed to be way faster, so...

[fuzon1337]

About recommendation from which online store to buy from I don't want to say since I've never bought any items from them. :P

[AdelaisAer]

About recommendation from which online store to buy from I don't want to say since I've never bought any items from them. :P

But they are both pretty much the same, right? o-o; Like, their appearance doesn't matter?

[fuzon1337]

I can not tell any difference on specification/details on the Intel SSD 180GB from these resellers.
They have the same information on both sites so go for the one that is most cheap :) :P

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1938366&CatId=5300

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167113

I can be wrong ofcourse, so the best thing is to wait until others who can see the difference between these SSDs can give an explanation if there is any ;)

[AdelaisAer]

I can not tell any difference on specification/details on the Intel SSD 180GB from these resellers.
They have the same information on both sites so go for the one that is most cheap :) :P

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1938366&CatId=5300

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167113

I can be wrong ofcourse, so the best thing is to wait until others who can see the difference between these SSDs can give an explanation if there is any ;)

Hmm, alright. Worse come to worst, if by Monday, I get no further help, I'll go with the one from Tiger Direct. It doesn't have the black ring (which I think I don't need, since, if I am not mistaken, it's needed only if you put it in a 3.5mm case for desktops, and I need it for laptop, therefore 2.5mm without the black ring), nor do it come with all those extra wires and screws, but really, I don't need them since I'll just be swapping the drives. Then again, I don't know how to move all the data, including OS, files, etc. from my old SSD to the new one, so I might have to connect it somehow. :S Ugh.

EDIT: Then again, I also have two more HDDs, or maybe it's one that's divided into two partitions. Either way, if I need to save data, I can just put that stuff on my HDDs, and then transport it to my SSD once I swap it? Or does it not work that way...

[Spartan-0804]

well i have 2 intel ssd's and they are fast, grab a 520 stead' of a 320, 520s much faster.

[AdelaisAer]

well i have 2 intel ssd's and they are fast, grab a 520 stead' of a 320, 520s much faster.

That's what I want to do. But I don't know where to buy it from (the two sources I listed, that is). TigerDirect has OEMs only that come without the black ring, while NewEgg has both OEMs with the black rings and the retail packages which include extra wires and screws, etc.

[AdelaisAer]

Still need help with this. :S Also, sorry for doublepost.

[fuzon1337]

Okey, I looked more into the Intel SSD 520 and I did find out is that there is two different Sequential Read/Write (up to)2.
Intel Solid State Drive 520 (http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/solid-state-drives/solid-state-drives-520-series.html)
"SATA 6Gb/s 550 MB/s / 520 MB/s"

"SATA 3Gb/s 280 MB/s / 260 MB/s"

I haven't looked at the ones on you have linked to, but will see if that is the difference :)

EDIT: So I looked at the links and they both got 6GB write speed.

As you're mentioning "NewEgg has both OEMs with the black rings and the retail packages which include extra wires and screws" that is the only difference I can see between these SSDs.

If you're still not sure on which online store you want to buy off, google it and see what others think about them ? :)

EDIT 2: http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Series-2-5-Inch-Solid-State-Drive/dp/B006VCP8L2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1335224993&sr=8-3

[AdelaisAer]

Okey, I looked more into the Intel SSD 520 and I did find out is that there is two different Sequential Read/Write (up to)2.
Intel Solid State Drive 520 (http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/solid-state-drives/solid-state-drives-520-series.html)
"SATA 6Gb/s 550 MB/s / 520 MB/s"

"SATA 3Gb/s 280 MB/s / 260 MB/s"

I haven't looked at the ones on you have linked to, but will see if that is the difference :)

EDIT: So I looked at the links and they both got 6GB write speed.

As you're mentioning "NewEgg has both OEMs with the black rings and the retail packages which include extra wires and screws" that is the only difference I can see between these SSDs.

If you're still not sure on which online store you want to buy off, google it and see what others think about them ? :)

Yeah. I think I might have to go with NewEgg because of the extra stuff they include, because I honestly have no idea how to do this sort of thing. Also, I have uploaded a picture of my laptop with the backcover open (see first post), and I really have no idea which one is the SSD and which one is the HDD. :S

But yeah, I'll look for reviews online and hopefully see which one is better, unless I get more feedback in this thread. :P

[fuzon1337]

I did find these steps from notebookreview (http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus-gaming-notebook-forum/628869-brand-new-g74-new-ssd-os-install.html):

1) Obtain Windows 7 64-bit installation/ISO onto a bootable DVD or flash drive. You can do this with the laptop. Google either of these for more information, you can get the ISO legally and freely online.

1a) Obtain all drivers for the laptop that are important. Google this - there is a very nice page on ASUS ROG with lots of current drivers. Alternatively, go to the ASUS website. Transfer these drivers onto a SEPARATE flash drive (the bootable flash drive needs to be separate for safest practice).

2) Shut down laptop. Remove battery.

3) Remove rear cover screw (the very big one that uses a slot screwdriver). Pull it out gently - there are about 8 push tabs holding it in place, so you will hear about 8 snaps.

4) Remove screws of the spare HDD bracket (with the front end of the laptop facing towards you, it is the right one).

4) Use the black tape to lift up the HDD bracket.

5) The laptop box has a pink/clear bag with 4 screws, a ribbon cable, and a SATA connector. Take these out.

6) Use the 4 screws to screw the SSD into the bracket. The bracket clearly tells you which end the connection end of the SSD should be facing.

7) Now using the provided ribbon cable, connect it first to the SATA connector that is connected to the SSD. There is a flap that rotates out and serves as a clamp to hold down the ribbon cable. The ribbon cable has blue tape on each end to designate which end goes to the SSD, and which end goes to the MOBO. Don't remove the tape. Make sure the metal connector side of the ribbon cable faces the pins of the connectors.

8) Screw the bracket with the SSD back into its original slot.

9) Now the ribbon cable needs to be connect to the motherboard. There is a empty latch conspicuously close to the two harddrives, just about where the ribbon cable will be able to reach. They even bend the cable so that it goes to the right spot. The MOBO SATA connector is tricky. It does not rotate like a flap. Instead, you pull the black plastic part upwards, away from the MOBO. You don't actually remove it - it simply gets loosened to the point where you can then directly insert the ribbon cable into the connector slot (again, make sure the metal pins are touching the metal contacts of the ribbon). I can't remember which way it is, but you can see using a flashlight. Once the ribbon is in, push back down the black plastic part, and it will clamp the ribbon into the connector tight.

10) Now put the rear cover back on - it should snap at about 8 different places, including 2 around in center of the rear cover. Put the battery back into the laptop, and put the power cord back in.

11) Start up the laptop but press F2 as soon as possible to enter the BIOS.

12) In the boot up options page, set Boot Option #1 to DVD (if you are using DVD install) and Boot Option #2 as the SSD. If you are using a bootable flash drive instead, then go to the other option near the bottom where you designate disk bootup priority (once you are on this page, you should be able to see your USB flash drive as an option, e.g. USB DRIVER 0.0.0 or something like that). Make USB #1, SSD #2, original HDD #3. Save BIOS, exit.

13) It should then start Windows 7 installation. Amazingly, using a bootable flash drive and installing onto the SSD, this only takes MINUTES. Wow.

14) Once computer is up and running, you have to immediately obtain and install various drivers for the laptop, including ATK, video card, wireless card, touchpad, USB 3.0, etc. etc. If you have these already on a flash drive as I mentioned in 1a, just stick it in and install them from there. There will be lots of rebooting.

15) Finally, go to Windows Update and install their updates. There will be lots.

16) Download Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) drivers. Google this.

16a) Optional, but also download Intel's SSD Toolbox (great for letting you know SSD life and some other tuneups/fixes).

17) You are done.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About which is the SSD and HDD in your notebook, if I'm not wrong I think that the slot you want to swap the new SSD with is on the left side.
Perhaps you can pm @Brodyboy or @MarshallR and ask them if they don't give any suggestions here.

[AdelaisAer]

I did find these steps from notebookreview (http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus-gaming-notebook-forum/628869-brand-new-g74-new-ssd-os-install.html):

1) Obtain Windows 7 64-bit installation/ISO onto a bootable DVD or flash drive. You can do this with the laptop. Google either of these for more information, you can get the ISO legally and freely online.

1a) Obtain all drivers for the laptop that are important. Google this - there is a very nice page on ASUS ROG with lots of current drivers. Alternatively, go to the ASUS website. Transfer these drivers onto a SEPARATE flash drive (the bootable flash drive needs to be separate for safest practice).

2) Shut down laptop. Remove battery.

3) Remove rear cover screw (the very big one that uses a slot screwdriver). Pull it out gently - there are about 8 push tabs holding it in place, so you will hear about 8 snaps.

4) Remove screws of the spare HDD bracket (with the front end of the laptop facing towards you, it is the right one).

4) Use the black tape to lift up the HDD bracket.

5) The laptop box has a pink/clear bag with 4 screws, a ribbon cable, and a SATA connector. Take these out.

6) Use the 4 screws to screw the SSD into the bracket. The bracket clearly tells you which end the connection end of the SSD should be facing.

7) Now using the provided ribbon cable, connect it first to the SATA connector that is connected to the SSD. There is a flap that rotates out and serves as a clamp to hold down the ribbon cable. The ribbon cable has blue tape on each end to designate which end goes to the SSD, and which end goes to the MOBO. Don't remove the tape. Make sure the metal connector side of the ribbon cable faces the pins of the connectors.

8) Screw the bracket with the SSD back into its original slot.

9) Now the ribbon cable needs to be connect to the motherboard. There is a empty latch conspicuously close to the two harddrives, just about where the ribbon cable will be able to reach. They even bend the cable so that it goes to the right spot. The MOBO SATA connector is tricky. It does not rotate like a flap. Instead, you pull the black plastic part upwards, away from the MOBO. You don't actually remove it - it simply gets loosened to the point where you can then directly insert the ribbon cable into the connector slot (again, make sure the metal pins are touching the metal contacts of the ribbon). I can't remember which way it is, but you can see using a flashlight. Once the ribbon is in, push back down the black plastic part, and it will clamp the ribbon into the connector tight.

10) Now put the rear cover back on - it should snap at about 8 different places, including 2 around in center of the rear cover. Put the battery back into the laptop, and put the power cord back in.

11) Start up the laptop but press F2 as soon as possible to enter the BIOS.

12) In the boot up options page, set Boot Option #1 to DVD (if you are using DVD install) and Boot Option #2 as the SSD. If you are using a bootable flash drive instead, then go to the other option near the bottom where you designate disk bootup priority (once you are on this page, you should be able to see your USB flash drive as an option, e.g. USB DRIVER 0.0.0 or something like that). Make USB #1, SSD #2, original HDD #3. Save BIOS, exit.

13) It should then start Windows 7 installation. Amazingly, using a bootable flash drive and installing onto the SSD, this only takes MINUTES. Wow.

14) Once computer is up and running, you have to immediately obtain and install various drivers for the laptop, including ATK, video card, wireless card, touchpad, USB 3.0, etc. etc. If you have these already on a flash drive as I mentioned in 1a, just stick it in and install them from there. There will be lots of rebooting.

15) Finally, go to Windows Update and install their updates. There will be lots.

16) Download Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) drivers. Google this.

16a) Optional, but also download Intel's SSD Toolbox (great for letting you know SSD life and some other tuneups/fixes).

17) You are done.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About which is the SSD and HDD in your notebook, if I'm not wrong I think that the slot you want to swap the new SSD with is on the left side.
Perhaps you can pm @Brodyboy or @MarshallR and ask them if they don't give any suggestions here.

Whoa. Thanks for the guide! :D

And yeah, if I don't get any more help in this thread, I'll message either of them. :D

[fuzon1337]

No problem! I hope that you gain that power you're seeking with upgrading your notebook, and don't stumble on any issues on the road ^^

[AdelaisAer]

No problem! I hope that you gain that power you're seeking with upgrading your notebook, and don't stumble on any issues on the road ^^

Yeah, I hope so too. I really want to buy the 520 already; it's just an issue of whether or not I buy it plain or with the black ring and/or the kit, because i have no idea what I need. I have never done this before. :S