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August 22nd, 2025 19:22
XPS 8930, install a solid state drive?
Can I install a solid state drive on this computer?
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August 22nd, 2025 19:22
Can I install a solid state drive on this computer?
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ispalten
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August 22nd, 2025 19:39
And the COMPUTER is????
In most cases, you can add an M.2 SSD to the motherboard depending on model. Otherwise, as a SATA SSD if you have a cage and cradle and extra Power and Data cables already, otherwise there could be other ways with new cable and splitters and if the motherboard has extra 'pin-outs' for it.
GiovanniPhotography
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August 22nd, 2025 19:45
Sorry, when I posted this I was under the impression that it gave my computer model. It is a Dell XPS8930. I am having issues and I thought upgrading to Windows 11 would resolve it but I realize I should do a clean install. Therefore I am going in install another hard drive and install Windows 11 and see if the issues are fixed. Since SSD are so cheap now I was considering getting one for this purpose. In the meantime I already ordered a regular hard drive, 4 TB WD Blue for $90. Thanks for your response ispalten.
ispalten
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August 22nd, 2025 20:15
@GiovanniPhotography
Ok, the 8930 doesn't appear to have another motherboard M.2 slot, but it does have 4 SATA connectors.
I'm not a fan of SDD's due to limited life (depending on usage) vs. a mechanical drive. Although, it disk access speed is important, then they are a better choice. By that I mean if you have a program that needs continual read/writes, that does effect the operation of the application in terms of speed. Heavy duty database access for instance. To me, a better trade-off is a large mechanical drive.
Yes, you can load and access data faster off an SSD, but if are using MS Word for instance, it will load very fast, faster than off a mechanical drive for sure, but the total time to read and write the drive compared the time you actually use the program is minuscule, you'd save maybe 10 seconds of time using an SSD.
SSD's cheap, but not in comparison to the sizes vs. a Mechanical drive. A 4TB SATA SSD costs around $250 or so, while the SATA 4TB mechanical drive runs around $150 or so. Depends on where you buy it.
GiovanniPhotography
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August 22nd, 2025 21:37
Hmm, I did not know that about SSDs, that they have a limited life. I thought they were better in that regard and also have a lower failure rate. Well, anyway the 4TB Western Digital is arriving Monday and I'll use it. I will then be buying a new 4 bay Raid 5 enclosure and will continue to use mechanical drives for that. Thanks ispalten
ispalten
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August 23rd, 2025 00:36
@GiovanniPhotography
All drives have a 'life expectancy', Mechanical drives, generally x years depending on type and uses as well as 'how' used, Server, boot drive, data drive, or only back up storage.
SSD's, different, see this web page, https://www.easeus.com/knowledge-center/how-long-do-ssds-last.html as there are many factors that determine life span.
bradthetechnut
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August 23rd, 2025 03:08
I've seen SSD's list life expectancy in the specs. They still last a very long time. I found Windows Updates and restarts with Win10 to be painfully slow on an HDD as compared to SSD.
Too bad WD doesn't still make their Velociraptor HDD. At 10,000 RPM, it's almost as fast as an SSD.