SanDisk Ultra 3D SATA

My wife's HDD on her 16 month old Dell 8930 Desktop had been playing up. I already had to re-install windows 10 around a month ago. It was ok for a while, but started getting crashes again over the last few days. I decided to replace the single HDD with a Sandisk SSD Plus 240GB, to be used as the boot disk, and a separate 2TB HDD for Data. The current C-drive was only using around 60GB for Windows 10 and other installed program, so 240GB was more than enough, and its really good price.The Sandisk product comes with an unreadable 2-point 10 x 3cm booklet, don't know what’s in it, I can't read it. However, the Sandisk website is fairly useful.Note 1, the Dell has removable drive bay cradles which can accommodate either a HDD or SDD drive, but many Desktops won’t have that so you may need to also buy a "2.5 to 3.5 inch SDD cradle", some screws to secure the SDD and cradle, a SATA Data cable (most Desktops will come with extra power cables, but check first). I think you can get kits which include all that for about £5.Note 2, when you receive your SDD drive, make a note of the serial number, it’s on the back of the drive you need it to register the product on the Sandisk Website fro 3 year guarantee. If you don’t take a note of it before you install the SDD, you’ll have to uninstall and re-install it all over again.Installation is easy, just install a cradle, screw the SDD to it, connect your SATA Data Cable and power cable.My SDD was to be used as a bootable drive, to hold windows and all installed programs. The easiest way to do that is to use Acronis True Image Software, and clone your existing drive (which is free if using a Sandisk or WD drive, link to Acronis from the Sandisk website). My existing drive was 1TB, but with only around 450GB used. 320GB of that was photos, the SDD is 240GB. So I backed up all the data on the existing C Drive to an external portable 2TB HDD, then removed all the photos from the existing C drive, reducing its size down to about 130GB, which meant it would easily fit on the 240GB SDD.In Windows 10 use the Disk Management program (best to access that via Computer Management App, (run as administrator eg Left click)) to first initialise you SDD, so that the computer will recognise it. Just set it up as a “ Simple” partition, use full size, doesn’t matter what Drive number you assign, but don’t use A, B, or G (Windows will automatically reassign the Boot Disk(SDD) as the C: drive when you restart the PC.) When the SDD is recognised you will see the empty SDD in File Explorer.Run Acronis, select the clone tool, choose automatic mode which will clone all partitions. The amount of data on the source disk must be less than the available space on the destination SDD. I have 5 partitions on my old HDD C: drive, 3 recovery and 1 x EFI. These are replicated exactly by Acronis, the remaining C: partition holding the Boot, and OS and Data is automatically shrunk down into the remaining space on the SDD, about 207GB, so no problem creating 240GB SDD from a 1TB HDD. Follow the instructions, restart the computer, and Acronis will take over and clone.When cloning is complete, PC will shut down. What I did then is unplug the Data cable from the old HDD, and swapped it over to connect to the SDD, that way you don’t have to amend the Boot order in the BIOS, if you don’t do that you have to amend the BIOS.The SDD worked a treat, much faster startup, shutdown and program load and has fixed my crash issues. I could then bin the old HDD and replace it with a new 2TB HDD D:Data drive, and onto that, re-import the photo data from my external backup drive.

The SanDisk SSD PLUS 480 GB SATA III 2.5-Inch Internal Solid State Drive (SDSSDA-480G-G26) is a high-performance storage device that offers durability, exceptional speed, and a hassle-free setup. With its robust design and impressive specifications, this SSD is an excellent choice for users seeking to boost their system's performance and secure their data.The SanDisk SSD PLUS 480 GB is built with a durable solid design that can withstand vibrations and shocks, ensuring the safety of your data over time. This makes it an ideal choice for users who prioritize the long-term reliability of their storage devices. The sleek black design adds a touch of elegance, making it a visually appealing addition to any system.With sequential read speeds of up to 535MB/s, the SanDisk SSD PLUS delivers a significant performance boost compared to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). It performs up to 20 times faster than an HDD, resulting in improved overall system responsiveness and reduced loading times for applications, files, and operating systems. This enhanced speed translates to a smoother and more enjoyable computing experience, especially when multitasking or running resource-intensive applications.The SanDisk SSD PLUS is designed to handle typical PC workloads with ease. It incorporates SLC caching, which enhances burst write performance, making it perfect for tasks such as web browsing, email management, and audio/video entertainment. This drive ensures that everyday computing tasks are executed quickly and efficiently.Setting up the SanDisk SSD PLUS is a breeze, thanks to the included step-by-step instructions that guide you through the installation process. Whether you're a novice or an experienced user, the clear instructions ensure a smooth setup experience. Furthermore, the drive comes with cloning software, allowing you to transfer your existing data seamlessly, saving you time and effort during the migration process.SanDisk is one of the leading manufacturers in the flash memory industry, boasting over 30 years of experience in developing cutting-edge technologies. As a well-established and trusted brand, SanDisk has earned a reputation for producing reliable, high-quality storage products. With their extensive expertise, you can have confidence in the longevity and performance of the SanDisk SSD PLUS 480 GB.The SanDisk SSD PLUS 480 GB SATA III 2.5-Inch Internal Solid State Drive (SDSSDA-480G-G26) is a standout storage solution that offers a winning combination of durability, speed, and ease of use. Its solid design ensures the safety of your data, while its impressive read speeds significantly enhance system performance. Whether you're a casual user or a professional seeking to optimize your computing experience, the SanDisk SSD PLUS delivers on its promises. With SanDisk's trusted reputation and comprehensive package, this SSD is an excellent investment for anyone looking to upgrade their system's storage capabilities.

Nice and cheap.

Easy little upgrade into laptop recognized storage was 931gb after formatting but works a treat way faster than using the external one I was for gaming so its a win win.

I had a great deal of trouble cloning to this new disk. First thing to notice is that you will need to purchase a usb to sata connector if you wish to clone the disk in situ. I purchased one from Amazon which worked very well though I had to wait another day as I didn't realise i needed one.The description claims it comes with software. There is a tiny leaflet with it with a link for software if you use a magnifying glass to see it - and then you find the link is broken. I used a free download called AOMEI BACKUP . This cloned the original disk ok - it was showing as a new disk with all the folders.However when I then changed to the new disk in my laptop, my laptop didnt boot up. It took me ages of working out why (and I'm quite IT literate) to discover that it was a problem with the master boot record- it was still pointing to my old disk.Solution was to put in a windows set up disk in order to get to a command prompt and then use a simple command- bootrec.exe /fixmbrThat did the trick for me - google it a bit more for more detailed help.Once it was up the laptop loaded faster and programs opened a lot quicker. Word used to take ages - now it open in less than 5 seconds. So I'm very pleased with performanceA final tip - buy a disk same or larger than the one you have currently otherwise you will have to do a lot of tidying up to get it down to the size of the new disk. Some cloning software will only work if you have at least a same size disk. That was another mistake i made and why I used the software that I did.So good product when you get it all up and working.