kind of off topic...intalling SSD drive in desktop

FoskeyMedia wrote on 5/16/2015, 12:00 PM
I know I could go elsewhere for this..but I figure I'd go to the experts :-)
Got a new Samsun SSD. 120 gb . Figured I'd instal it over my 1 TB HHD, Put the OS on there (win 7 Pro 64). Any pointers before I take this on ? My HHD is ful to capacity (like 8 GB free), so I'm thining taking the OS off will help that (yes I do have an external for stroage and back up...I need to clean my intrenal and move some things over there).

A few direct questions:
Should I put my programs on the SSD also ?
I'm assuming I'll keep data on the HHD. Once the SSD is installed how do I remove the OS from the HHD and free up space ?
Most importantly....Will this speed up my rendering (which is taking sometimes 8-10 hours for a one hour file.)?

Thanks

Comments

riredale wrote on 5/16/2015, 12:47 PM
Others here will add their own observations; I'd suggest putting just your OS and applications on the SSD. The PC will boot much faster, programs will open much faster. Leave your video files on the hard drive.

To get rid of the OS on the hard drive, why not just find the "Windows" folder and delete it? Or I guess you could simply reformat the disk if there's nothing of value on there now.

Render speed I recall is mostly a function of CPU and, more recently, graphics card horsepower. I'm back on V9 so it's just CPU. Pretty much any drive can keep up with rendering demands.
john_dennis wrote on 5/16/2015, 12:48 PM
The best approach would be to install the SSD into the computer by itself and do a clean installation of OS and all applications. (At the end of this stage, save a system image using the Windows image save option, Acronis or other system imaging software.)

Full disclosure: I've done it both ways.

I have not used the cloning software that might have come with SSDs, but there is one gotcha if you plan to re-install the old HD with a clone of the old boot system. You could end up with two drives in the same machine with the same Unique Disk ID. Unless the cloning software or you change the ID of one of the drives one of them won't mount. Look at the Diskpart command.

"[I]Should I put my programs on the SSD also?"[/I]

Yes

"[I]I'm assuming I'll keep data on the HHD. Once the SSD is installed how do I remove the OS from the HHD and free up space?[/i]"

When I've done it via a clone of the old system, I boot from a GHOST CD, and surgically delete the folders associated with the old Windows installation. I also run the Diskpart command at that time and give the old HD a new Unique Disk ID. Some of the newer applications for automating the system transfer may handle the process, but to me it's been more work to learn a different method than to do it the hard way.

"[I]Most importantly....Will this speed up my rendering (which is taking sometimes 8-10 hours for a one hour file.)?"[/I]

Unless you use multiple streams of uncompressed source, probably not. It will speed up application launch and overall responsiveness of the system.

FoskeyMedia wrote on 5/16/2015, 12:58 PM
OK one more question...
I would prefer to install the apps on the new drive before uninstalling them on the old. When I go to the Windwos Uninstall tool.. will it be easy to identify when version ? I'll have 2 versions of Vegas...I'll want to keep the one on the (new SSD) C drive.
john_dennis wrote on 5/16/2015, 1:38 PM
If you do a clean installation on the SSD without the old HD in the machine, then mount it later the old versions should not be registered. You should be able to delete the associated folders on the old HD with impunity.

Caveat: Windows keeps getting smarter [I]and I keep getting dumber[/I] all the time. That's why I delete the files with a standalone system that I boot from CD.

Frankly, I'd use this as an excuse to buy a 4TB HD, mount it in the old system long enough to transfer the video data to the new 4TB HD. Build the new system on the SSD and add the new 4 TB HD to it. I'd let the old HD simmer for a few months until things burn-in then use it for back-up.

Not only would I do it this way, I have done it many times.
DGates wrote on 5/16/2015, 2:35 PM
As for what I've seen, aside from the computer booting up faster and programs opening quicker, there didn't seem to much advantage beyond that. Once the computer's on and the programs running, there doesn't seem to be any measurable difference.