about to get a Samsung 840 EVO: questions about compatibility and installation

Murloc

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2008
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Hi, I'm thinking about buying this tomorrow since there's a sale.
I have read extensively about SSDs and decided that most tricks are probably not worth it, I'll just set the torrent folders to the storage HDD and move my documents folders there, without changing the location of the user folder, and I'll not mess around with the paging file, indexer, superfetch etc. since the instructions are complicated and it appears it's only for the anal retentive.

Questions

1. I have an asus p5p77d (sata 2), BIOS was never flashed. I can't seem to find if it supports AHCI.
More in general: does it support TRIM?

2. I have a CM690, can I just leave the SSD hanging in a drive bay or is it dangerous and I need the bracket, or will paper scotch tape hold?
Here's the system:
Cooler_Master_CM_690_Case_Left_Interior_HDD.jpg


3. I have windows 7 installed on a 500 GB HDD which will become the secondary drive.
I've read about horrible things happening, such as the boot file being on the secondary drive, or people not being able to delete the windows folder after, or invisible OS partitions remaining.

Which road should I take?
a. remove HDD, insert SSD, install OS, reinsert HDD and delete windows folders
b. same as above but leave the HDD in all along
c. backup the files and format both drives

I want the secondary drive to be exclusively about data and big not-often-used installed software, I want to be able to remove it without causing changes in system behaviour.

4. Do I have to enable AHCI before doing any installation? I think it's deactivated right now.

5. is it important in which sata port the hdd and ssd are installed? I know to avoid the marvell ones but apart for that I've not noticed any ordering, but I've read it may be important.

Thanks for your help.
 
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Dahak

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2000
3,752
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91
1) trim support is usually a drive related support. As long as the machine is in ACHI mode you should be good. To confirm look in the bios under(to be filed in, asus site is wonky at the moment)

2) it could hang, the only thing i would be concerned about is the force on the sata and power connectors. but you can tape it up/zip tie it to the drive cage

3) that is generally when installing windows. Usually it is best to disconnect any drives other than the one that windows 7 is being installed to.
I would do it as

a: install ssd only, install windows. Then hook up 2nd drive, format the 2nd drive and done

4) yes, it is best to have it on before installing windows

5) Not really, But make sure it is on the intel/chipset port and not a 3rd part controller one. Other than that, in the bios you can say which drive to boot from in the boot order
But i usually like to have the os drive on port 0/1
 

MoInSTL

Senior member
Jan 2, 2012
392
0
76
I have two SSDs in my desktop. I mounted one in a removable drive tray after cutting the prongs off. Mounted the other one on top with a bracket I had. Then applied some Velcro to the case floor and the back of the drive tray. I have a Fractal R4 and removed both drive cages.

I also have an Evo and an 840 Pro. You can install Samsung Magician as it has tools (like enabling Rapid Mode) and a lot of info about your settings (if AHCI is activated,etc.). The drive comes with a CD with it, but download the latest version.
 

Murloc

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2008
5,382
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okay I'll go the safe route and disconnect the other HDD, then format it to delete everything for sure.

I don't have velcro handy. I'll try and see if I find a safe way to attach it or I'll sit on it and order a bracket on ebay.

I hope it comes with the latest firmware (dec '13) already but I doubt it.
Is it a good idea to update the firmware? It says TurboWrite is optimized but doesn't elaborate on that. I don't care about the new encryption features.

I don't have a UPS so I'm wary about flashing stuff.
 

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
17,484
33
86
1. I have an asus p5p77d (sata 2), BIOS was never flashed. I can't seem to find if it supports AHCI.
It should be a SATA port mode option.
More in general: does it support TRIM?
Yes, with the MS driver. I think with Intel's driver, but am not 100% sure. TRIM is not dependent on AHCI, but rather, on the disk being seen as ATA by Windows. The issue with TRIM and some controllers, or RAID, is that TRIM is an ATA command. So if Windows is presented a SCSI disk, that driver needs to support UNMAP, its SCSI equivalent, then translate that into TRIM for the drive.

2. I have a CM690, can I just leave the SSD hanging in a drive bay or is it dangerous and I need the bracket, or will paper scotch tape hold?
Here's the system:
Cooler_Master_CM_690_Case_Left_Interior_HDD.jpg
You could use velcro, and stick it to a surface, like the bottom of the case.

3. I have windows 7 installed on a 500 GB HDD which will become the secondary drive.
I've read about horrible things happening, such as the boot file being on the secondary drive, or people not being able to delete the windows folder after, or invisible OS partitions remaining.
A. Have only the SSD and OS media drive connected during the install. Connect the old drive after the install, and verify your mobo's boot order has the SSD first.
Windows may want to use the bootloader already on your other drive, if connected.
2. Use different user names on the new install.
Same user names can make browsing the other drive's user folder weird. You'll see files listed there that are on the other drive (a union of both drive's user folder contents), sometimes, or see only the files on the main OS drive, despite the old files actually being in the path you're trying to browse. It doesn't always happen, but browsing with a user name not common to both installs seems to 'fix' it.

4. Do I have to enable AHCI before doing any installation? I think it's deactivated right now.
Technically, no, but it's easier that way, and gets you NCQ right away.

5. is it important in which sata port the hdd and ssd are installed? I know to avoid the marvell ones but apart for that I've not noticed any ordering, but I've read it may be important.
No, but putting the SSD on a lower numbered one will increase the chances of the boot order being automatically set the way you want it.
 

MoInSTL

Senior member
Jan 2, 2012
392
0
76
okay I'll go the safe route and disconnect the other HDD, then format it to delete everything for sure.

I don't have velcro handy. I'll try and see if I find a safe way to attach it or I'll sit on it and order a bracket on ebay.

I hope it comes with the latest firmware (dec '13) already but I doubt it.
Is it a good idea to update the firmware? It says TurboWrite is optimized but doesn't elaborate on that. I don't care about the new encryption features.

I don't have a UPS so I'm wary about flashing stuff.

12/13 is the newest firmware update. I got mine in November so I flashed it. Samsung Magician makes it painless to update it. It auto checks and tells you if it needs to be upgraded and then does it. Yes, it 's almost always a good idea to run the latest firmware. This is not complicated given that you have a pretty good toolbox already. Unless you are experiencing really bad storms and there are power outages in your area, you should be fine. It only takes a few seconds to do.

Before I thought of using a modified drive tray, I just put it on the bottom of the case on a small, padded envelope. I wouldn't suggest that for long term, but it worked fine for a few days.
 
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Murloc

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2008
5,382
65
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thanks for the tips.

The driver to be able to install it using AHCI mode is included in the windows 7 DVD or is there some weird stuff I have to download?
 

Topweasel

Diamond Member
Oct 19, 2000
5,437
1,659
136
thanks for the tips.

The driver to be able to install it using AHCI mode is included in the windows 7 DVD or is there some weird stuff I have to download?

Only if the Windows 7 installer doesn't recognize your chipset correctly (and most AMD and Intel controllers can now install with basic driver support). But it wouldn't matter if it was ACHI or ATA.