Compatible SSD with Optiplex 380 SFF?

Question

Hi all.  I have an Optiplex 380 SFF  that I would like to swap out the hard drive with an SDD.   I actually tried this a couple months back with a Hynix Gold S31 but could not get it to work.  I could access the drive  through Windows 10 and even cloned the original drive to it but could not get it to boot from that drive.  Eventually I got so frustrated that I used it in a different pc but want to try again.  It’s obviously an older system but it works for its particular use.  The motherboard has bios Revision A07 and is not UEFI as far as I know.   Crucial’s website claims several models are compatible but after the Hynix I’m gun shy.  I’d actually prefer a Samsung EVO but don’t want to buy one if I’m not sure.    Any help would be appreciated! Thanks Scott

redxps630 · Accepted Answer

Re: The motherboard has bios Revision A07 and is not UEFI as far as I know.

380 and same class slightly higher tier model 780 have a rudimentary uefi bios with mouse control (traditional bios has only keyboard control). to make it simple, have legacy enabled in “Drives”_”Sata Operation” in bios, and then try do a fresh clean install of Windows 10 on the Hynix ssd. You should have no problem then. No need to be gun shy.

as far as pc and Windows 10 are concerned, sata hdd and ssd are equivalent. If you can install OS on sata hdd, no technical incompatibility to do the same on sata ssd. Your cloning of os from hdd to ssd may be the cause of no booting. It is not due to the ssd itself. many users had reported problem of not booting from ssd after cloning from hdd on other Dell pc. not getting into details what went wrong here as your question was “compatible ssd”.

SRGilbert1 · Accepted Answer

For those wondering, I was able to to a clean install to a Samsung EVO 860 with no real issues.  The only glitch I experienced was when it was finished doing the initial install from the Media Creation Tool USB I made, it did a automatic reboot and then hung up.  I figured out that I no longer need the USB stick but can’t recall if it warned me in advance.  After that no problem, it installed and activated just as it should.  So thanks everyone for the help!

speedstep · Answer

SATA SSD's require bios to have AHCI,

The 3XXX series machines 380 3010 3020 etc typically only have Legacy ATA mode with NO ahci. PCI-E M2 SSD is not compatible and won't be.

If your system supports SATA OPERATION set to AHCI then reinstalling windows 8.1 or 10 should work fine.

Windows 7 is end of life as is VISTA and XP.

https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-500GB-Internal-MZ-77E500B-AM/dp/B08QBMD6P4

Easiest way to mount is

Silverstone SDP09

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0049MPQDG/

SRGilbert1 · Answer

I certainly wouldn’t expect to be able to install an M2 drive, just SATA.  I don’t believe there’s an option to enable AHCI in my bios.  I am running Windows 10.

speedstep · Answer

@redxps630  'Opti 780 having a UEFI BIOS. ' No it does not.  It has Class 0 BIOS Class 1 UEFI bios started with the 390,790,990 UEFI classes* Class 0: Legacy BIOS. GX620,745,755, 360,760.960,380,780,980* Class 1.00: UEFI in CSM-only mode (i.e. no UEFI booting) 390,790,990* Class 2.3.1: UEFI with CSM 3010,7010,9010, 3020,7020,9020* Class 3.00: UEFI without CSM and NO legacy Booting and 64 bit only

speedstep · Answer

@redxps630  '380 and same class slightly higher tier model 780 have a rudimentary uefi bios ' No they do not. Its Class 0 NON UEFI bios. 790 has Class 1 bios with no GPT or secure boot @DELL-Chris M   Dell should have a list of machines bios that goes back to at least the Optiplex GX620 and forward that lists the OS and bios and windows capability. Not supported for windows 10 does not mean not working. UEFI came out in 2011 and UEFI systems with Secure Boot came out in 2012. The OptiPlex 360 (September 2008) and OptiPlex 760 (October 2008) have a Legacy only BIOS. The OptiPlex 380 (December 2009) and OptiPlex 780 (September 2009) have a Legacy only BIOS. The OptiPlex 390 (May 2011) and OptiPlex 790 (April 2011) have a UEFI BIOS but without Secure Boot. The OptiPlex 3010 (August 2012) and OptiPlex 7010 (June 2012) have a UEFI BIOS but the UEFI BIOS must be updated to the latest version for Secure Boot. The OptiPlex 3020, 7020,9020 have a UEFI class 2.3.1 BIOS BIOS must that supports WIN8 and WIN10 with the windows key in the bios and fully supports Secure Boot.  All Later models are UEFI Class 2 or Class3 Class 3 systems are WIN10 only 64 bit only https://uefi.org/sites/default/files/resources/UEFI_on_Dell%20BizClient_Platforms.pdf UEFI classes* Class 0: Legacy BIOS* Class 1.00: UEFI in CSM-only mode (i.e. no UEFI booting)* Class 2.3.1: UEFI with CSM* Class 3.00: UEFI without CSM and NO legacy Booting and 64 bit only https://uefi.org/sites/default/files/resources/Brian_Richardson_Intel_Final.pdf

SRGilbert1 · Answer

So there’s no way to clone my existing Windows 10 to an SSD and have it work? Assuming no, does that mean any SATA SSD will work as long as it’s a fresh install?

redxps630 · Answer

the early days of Dell uefi: 'The DDR3 memory and the UEFI Bios did come around close to the same time. Also, you are correct in your assumptions about the Opti 780 having a UEFI BIOS. and the ones with the Legacy bios too.' DELL-Jesse L Community Manager

speedstep · Answer

@redxps630  'Win10 won't load on MBR partition.'  this is false. Win10 boots and runs MBR on my Optiplex GX620 just fine. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/windows-setup-installing-using-the-mbr-or-gpt-partition-style WIN10 works fine on MBR partitions when legacy class 0 or 1 bios is involved. Optiplex GX620, 745, 755, 360, 760, 960 etc. This does not resolve SSD needing AHCI mode to work However. Models up to and including 390,790,990 have class 0 or Class 1 BIOS with no support for secure boot or GPT partitions. Not supported does not mean not working. https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000125414/ Newer Systems Unable to  Boot Device in Legacy Boot Mode

redxps630 · Answer

Re: The 380 is by far the oldest though, and was the first non-Samsung drive I tried so I wasn’t sure which variable is the issue.

I suggest not to scratch one’s head trying to figure out why a cloning software that worked on other Dell does not work on 380. It has nothing to do with Samsung vs non Samsung ssd. Your past success has given you much confidence in the third party cloning software, but as we know there is no such tool that works flawlessly in each situation.

speedstep · Answer

AHCI is not optional for SSD and the drive you are trying to clone may be set for ATA

Cloning is not supported by Dell or Microsoft. That policy goes back to Windows NT from 1995.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-server/backup-and-storage/windows-installations-disk-duplication#

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-hardware-winpc/how-to-enable-ahci-for-ssd-in-windows-10/18ee0b43-47a9-4344-b0c8-1e8546be2c82

Samsung Disk Magician will tell you " AHCI is disabled for one or more connected SSDs. System must boot in AHCI mode".

Windows doesnt like changing this aka if its RAID or ATA and you change to AHCI it will crash with Inaccessable boot device.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/client-management/troubleshoot-inaccessible-boot-device

speedstep · Answer

The 3XXX series is not the same as 7XXX or 9XXX series.

The 755 has ahci

320 330 360 380 may not have SATA Operation in Bios for AHCI which is an issue.

I absolutely know that the 3010 3020 etc models DO NOT have AHCI in bios.

@DELL-Chris M might have more information.

bradthetechnut · Answer

Simply stated, SSD should work in 380. They work in other older models with Legacy BIOS, like the 755, which I know first hand. Use the 380 to load fresh as redxps630 said.

If you reformat your Hynix SSD, it'll be fresh again. It's not said what size your SSD is. I don't remember if anything was said about formatting in this thread, so pardon any duplication. Format to NTFS and use GPT partition scheme. Win10 won't load on MBR partition.

speedstep · Answer

Cloning is not supported by Dell or Microsoft.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-server/backup-and-storage/windows-installations-disk-duplication#

Sysprep images are not cloned images.

If you use 3rd party software to clone support for that comes from the 3rd party(Acronis, Macrium Reflect Free, AOEMI) not Dell Nor Microsoft.

Furthermore cloning an HDD to SSD means its not optimized and will try to Defrag the drive which will write the SSD to death in as little as a few days or even hours.

SSD's have a limited number of writes which is why Trim and AHCI are required.

bradthetechnut · Answer

I'm happy to stand corrected if Win10 installs on MBR partition in a 380. Not meant to complicate things, but if you Google NTFS vs. FAT32, you'll see why NTFS is better.

Optiplex Desktops

Silverstone SDP09

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