How to Install an SSD (Solid State Drive)

Step 3: Install Software

Windows

1. Boot from the Windows installation media (DVD/Bootable USB Drive).
   Note: Refer to your system’s user manual on how to access the BIOS and boot from the selected media. Pressing keys such as Del, Esc, F1, F2, F10 or F12 will allow you to access the BIOS setup (BIOS access keys will vary by system).
2. Follow the on-screen instructions > Click “Install Now”.
3. Select the “Custom (advanced)” installation option.
4. Select your SSD with the unallocated space > Click “Next”
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete OS installation.
6. Restart your system > Access the BIOS > Set the SSD to the top of the boot priority list > Save changes and exit the BIOS.
7. Your system should now boot from your SSD when you power on your system.

Cloning your HDD to SSD with Acronis® True Image HD Software

Note: Current Acronis® software version only compatible with Windows 7, Vista and XP.

1. Download and install the Acronis® True Image HD Software
2. Launch the Acronis® software > enter the activation key when prompted
   Note: Acronis® True Image HD software activation key is only bundled with select OCZ SSDs and products.
3. Select the “Tools and utilities” tab > click “Clone disk” > choose “Automatic (recommended)” for the clone mode
4. Select the source disk (HDD) > click “Next” > select destination disk (SSD) > click “Next”
   Note: If your destination disk is not free of data, you will be prompted with a pop-up window stating “The destination hard disk drive you have chosen contains some partitions that could contain useful data”.
5. To confirm deletion of data, click “OK”.
6. Click “Proceed” in the cloning summary window to start the disk cloning process.
   Note: Cloning a disk that contains an active operating system will require a system reboot after cloning is completed.

http://ocz.com/consumer/ssd-guide/how-to-install-ssd

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Why do i need AHCI with a SSD Drive (Guide Here!) Crucial AHCI vs IDE

Just a little read on why and what we need ACHI enabled (either in the bios or a driver download)

(This is not my work but thought i’d share it in case like me any one ends up here looking for the info like i did)

What is AHCI ?

AHCI stand for Advance Host Controller Interface. AHCI is a hardware mechanism that allows software to communicate with Serial ATA (SATA) devices (such as host bus adapters) that are designed to offer features not offered by Parallel ATA (PATA) controllers, such as hot-plugging and native command queuing (NCQ). The specification details a system memory structure for computer hardware vendors in order to transfer data between system memory and the device.

Many SATA controllers can enable AHCI either separately or in conjunction with RAID support. Intel recommends choosing RAID mode on their motherboards (which also enables AHCI) rather than the plain AHCI/SATA mode for maximum flexibility, due to the issues caused when the mode is switched once an operating system has already been installed.

AHCI is fully supported out of the box for Microsoft Windows Vista and the Linux operating system from kernel 2.6.19. NetBSD also supports drivers in AHCI mode out of the box in certain versions. Older operating systems require drivers written by the host bus adapter vendor in order to support AHCI.

Advantage of AHCI

1. Hot-Plugging (will not cover here as it will not affect computer performance)
2. Native Command Queuing (might improve computer/system/hard disk responsiveness, espcially in multi-tasking environment

Will it slow down my computer

Several websites claim, NCQ (one of AHCI component) will cause performance degradation in single threaded benchmark, but other author claim otherwise. Let put our think hat here.

Their claims might correct at certain extent, but it is hard to prove that those single threaded benchmark will reflect real world application. Nowadays, hard disk is the slowest component in any modern PC (except we are using SSD). Antivirus, firewall, anti-spyware, windows update, background defragmentation, indexing (search), user applications (firefox, word, media player) ; all contribute to super multi-tasking, which I believe NCQ (AHCI) will show it advantage. So, in order to have better understanding on how NCQ (AHCI) could improve system responsiveness, let see what is NCQ actually is.

So, what is NCQ?

In principle, Native Command Queuing is relatively simple. It allows the drive to execute write /read commands that are transmitted randomly in order to optimise the movement of the reading head.

Speed is increased but there is also an impact on power consumption and noise level which is reduced. Of course, applications don’t have to work simultaneously and don’t have to wait for the previous result to send the next command. This of course isn’t always possible. Another possibility in using NCQ is multitasking in the case where you run two very heavy applications simultaneously from the drive point of view.

To better explain this situation, imagine an elevator, in which two people enter simultaneously on the ground floor. The first pushes the 12th floor button and the second the 2nd floor. It would be counterproductive to go to the 12th floor and then to the 2nd floor. The principle of NCQ was already in the ATA norm since 1997 with TCQ (Tagged Command Queuing). This heavier protocol could sometimes lead to significant performance losses in the case of low loads (no or very little command reorganisation to do) and has been integrated in a limited number of controllers. Hitachi supports it on 7K250 drives, like Western and the Raptor WD740GD, while on the chipset side, we can count on NVIDIA but not Intel.

SATA 3.0 Gbits /s defines a new speed of data transmission for the Serial ATA interface. Initially, SATA reached up to 1.5 Gbits /s, which really corresponds to 150 mega-octets per second as 20% of information is dedicated to error correction. The transfer rate is now increased to 300 MB/s but we have to keep in mind that this is the interface speed. It has nothing to do with disc speed alone. At most, cache speed would be affected.

For NCQ to be enabled, it must be supported and turned on in the SATA host bus adapter and in the hard drive itself. The appropriate driver must be loaded into the operating system to enable NCQ on the host bus adapter. Many newer chipsets support the Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI), which should allow a generic driver supplied by the operating system to control them and enable NCQ. In fact, newer mainstream Linux kernels support AHCI natively. Unfortunately, Windows XP requires the installation of a vendor-specific driver even if AHCI is present on the host bus adapter. Windows Vista corrects this situation by including a generic AHCI driver.

This is how i have my bios set up with AHCI and “As Sata Type” ifyou want blistering lightning speeds then set up your SSD (if you can do it in the bios rather than a driver in windows) then do it! you won’t look back.

Haven’t had a chance to play with the “AS IDE” all though i hear that it will increase the drives performance.

Here’s is the read speeds that i was getting from NOT having it set up as AHCI.

And then the same test after setting up AHCI.

Well i hope you all get the top end performance that these drives from Crucial make, once configured correctly, there an awesome piece of kit. !!

 http://forum.crucial.com/t5/Solid-State-Drives-SSD/Why-do-i-need-AHCI-with-a-SSD-Drive-Guide-Here-Crucial-AHCI-vs/td-p/57078