Attn PC geeks - failing HDD, SSD replacement compatibility?

[Miami]

OK, simple question I cant seem to find an answer to on google:

I have a HP DV6 laptop with a dead screen, works brilliantly as a HTPC. Started suffering big performance issues in the last week, and now getting HD failure errors on boot. Ran the usual diagnostics, confirmed HDD issues. Have managed to clone the drive and create a recovery disk, and am now looking to replace the HDD with an SSD for the speed benefits etc (space is not an issue, everything lives on network storage, it just needs to run win7 and a couple of games).

The current HDD is a Toshiba MK50565GSY (2.5" SATA, 500GB, 7200RPM - spec sheet here (http://storage.toshiba.eu/export/sites/toshiba-sdd/lib/library/mk5056gsy_datasheet.pdf)) - which SSD will be a compatible direct replacement for it? Any recommendations? Best place to source one?

[dmwill]

Pretty much any 2.5" SSD will work.

[Nand0s]

Any would be compatible.

I would go for the Sandisk Extreme SSD they are a good speed for a low price. I have the 120gb one and never had a problem. I think I paid around $110 on eBay.

120gb Sandisk extreme $114.50
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sandisk-Extreme-120GB-SSD-Solid-State-Drive-550MB-s-Fast-Boot-Up-Quiet-Drive-/271074152541?pt=AU_HardDrives&hash=item3f1d47505d&_uhb=1

[Miami]

Brilliant, thanks very much :)

[cplagz]

Buy Intel or Samsung.

[mod]

Intel is the most reliable go with them 128gig min

[s1mon]

Er, Intel use the Sandforce SSD controller. No its not the most reliable.

Samsung is currently king. Not that it matters, OP is limited to Sata II anyway.

Get a second hand unit from Gumtree, just ensure they run a SSD health check in front of you. I assume you want cheap?

[180SXTCY]

+1 I have an intel 520 ssd hasn't let me down ever.

[Dagon]

That "dead screen" issue is most likely a dead gfx chip, by the way. Common problem as that entire line (and the one that came after them) had shithouse cooling design.

If you're feeling especially adventurous, here's how to fix it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOFfhkYU2i8

[Miami]

Bah - I read this having pulled the trigger this afternoon on a Sandisk Extreme 120Gb for $100 - http://www.ple.com.au/ViewItem.aspx?InventoryItemID=611461&CategoryID=243

I was in need of a new HD either way, as the current one was clearly failing - considering it gets used daily for watching xbmc/running amplitube and games, 100 bucks seemed reasonable. S1mon is right, limited to SATA II, so don't need the latest & greatest - and from what I gather any SSD is going to be a significant improvement over a HDD anyways.

I'll pick it up Saturday morning, and hopefully the image backup/restore process ends up being as simple as it should be.

Not bothered by the screen - picked it up from work cheap when it died, was purely just to run as a HTPC - as long as HDMI out works, I'm happy.

[urban]

Remember to check your sata setting in the bios, I dont remember what the setting were but it helps improve speeds, try google.

[Miami]

Will do, cheers :)

[urban]

Also Ive heard NEVER defrag an ssd cause it fucks it.

[Evman]

It doesn't stuff it up it's just unnecessary because there is no tracking on an SSD which is what defragging tries to minimise by organising everything to be side-by-side rather than all over the disk.

[Phyber]

Remember to check your sata setting in the bios, I dont remember what the setting were but it helps improve speeds, try google.

If you are installing fresh use AHCI mode, not IDE which it might be right now. Careful in BIOS though, just take your time and cancel if unsure you changed something you shouldn't have. Or press restart button and try again hahaha.

If you are restoring a clone though it might not boot in AHCI if it was installed in IDE mode, from memory.