For several years now, there have been computers equipped with a so-called SSD hard drive. The solid state disk has many advantages, although most users are primarily interested in the significantly higher data rate. The solid state drive does not have any mechanical components and is therefore very quiet, energy efficient and immune to vibrations. SSDs have become increasingly cheaper, so that more and more computers are being sold with faster hard drives. But even those who have a slightly older system and enjoy tinkering can upgrade their computer in just a few steps.
Step 1: Choose the right accessories for your computer
For a classic tower PC, an SSD with classic hard drive connections is a good option. There is usually enough space to mount these under or above the “normal” SATA disk. Using SSDs in notebooks, however, is not quite as practical, as the old drive has to be replaced with the SSD, which usually means that storage capacity is lost. Some providers also have solutions in their range where the optical CD/DVD drive can be replaced with an SSD and the large notebook memory is retained. If you want to get the maximum hard drive performance, SSD cards are a good option, as they achieve higher transfer rates via PCI Express than via SATA.
Step 2: Safe installation
Installing an SSD card is almost identical to installing a graphics or network card. First, shut down the computer and unplug it from the power supply, then carefully insert the SSD card into a free slot on the motherboard. The final attachment is made using a screw on the PC case.
Step 3: The most efficient use of the SSD
Installing a fast SSD like the one you can find in the Arlt online shop makes little sense if you only want to use it for your film and music collection. To achieve a significant increase in speed, you should reinstall the operating system on the SSD. At the same time, larger software packages and 3D games can also be stored here. This means the system can boot much faster and access the software files.
If a few points are taken into account, almost any computer can be equipped with a fast SSD hard drive:
- Decide on an assembly location
- Order SSD with desired volume
- Insert the SSD card into the mainboard with the power supply disconnected and secure it with a screw
- Install operating system and major software on the SSD
