Upgrading a PC(2)

fenwick458

Thinking about upgrading my PC, but I'm not sure about it, any help would be great
so my 6 year old PC, Lenovo H30 (scan details here) has 500GB HDD and 4GB RAM. I use it for the internet, and accounting, spreadsheets, CCTV system. Problem is it's a bit slow, sometimes I have to close programs or do stuff one at a time or it slows right down.
would upgrading with this sort it out?

Crucial MX500 500GB 2.5" SATA III SSD

CCL Code: SSD0712

£59.99

Crucial 8GB (1x 8GB) 1600MHz DDR3 RAM

CCL Code: RAM1479

£33.33

I have taken my PC apart and found I have a 3.5" HDD, so also assuming I need to buy a 2.5" to 3.5" converter?
And in my draw of cables I have found a SATA to (2x) USB cables but it's quite old, I remember I bought it around 5 years ago to get some data off an old laptop hard drive.  will this be ok for transferring the data onto the new 500GB SSD?

DCFC79

Do you have room to keep the HDD plus the SSD both inside the PC ?
If you do why not put the OS on the SSD and keep the rest on the other drive.
More knowledgeable posters may well give beter advice.

fenwick458

when I took it apart, It didn't look like I had space for 2 hard drives. I'm sure theres enough physical space in the case to fit another hard drive, but there wasn't a spare SATA connector.

[Deleted User]

Just writing a reply as the above came in - the Lenovo H30 looks like it has enough room in the box for 2x HD to be mounted so I'd suggest you do that, once you have migrated to the new SSD then you can use the old HD as a backup if you want.

MX500 SSD is good, I have same model as a second SSD in one of my machines, had it 3 years and hammered it and it still performs well.

You can buy a 3.5 to 2.5 convertor but you don't really need to worry about mounting as SSD in the box, either leave it sitting in the bottom or rest it in the bottom of a HD tray or just zip tie / velcro tape it in place, up to you.

What is the current config of the 4GB - is it 2x2GB or 1x4GB are are you going to leave any of those in when you add 8GB stick? Quite important for performance this point - 2x equal spec / size chips perform better because they can use dual channel mode. So if I wanted a total of 8GB of RAM in my PC I'd buy 2x4GB chips. If you are adding 1x8GB to 1x4GB then you might not get optimal dual channel mode to function depending on the spec of the chips.

As an aside - what processor has it got?

getmore4less

Nearly replied on the other thread.

this looks like a manual that might be yours.
https://cdn.cnetcontent.com/cf/b8/cfb8ae5d-159e-4ff6-a237-e008ba474bce.pdf

I have installed my bare SSD with velcro pads to a suitable space rather than use up a drive bay.

do you have a free SATA (says 2 on the data sheet above) but might have an optical drive on the other one.
500GB SSD (MX 500 or similar) 

Some might clone
I would disconnect the HDD drive
add SSD
clean install on SSD.
Keep the current disc on second SATA or or move your data over and reconnect the optical if you need that.


CEX for memory, click and collect if a local store has more than one you can pick.
https://uk.webuy.com/search?stext=DDR3 1600
8gb £20 ,   looks like 1 slot so you can go for the cheaper option 2x4GB £12.
probably something on ebay as well.

fenwick458

Ok so If I can just add the SSD in as an additional drive, where do I plug it in to?
The Processor is a Intel pentium J2900 2.41Ghz.
I've attached a pic of the RAM. What@s the best way to upgrade that?

[Deleted User]

fenwick458 said:

when I took it apart, It didn't look like I had space for 2 hard drives. I'm sure theres enough physical space in the case to fit another hard drive, but there wasn't a spare SATA connector.

If the spec is correct from your link (Lenovo H30-00) then there should be 2 Sata connectors available in the middle of the motherboard. As I said in the previous post, and SSD doesn't really need to be mounted in a proper tray, I'm sure you will be able to find some space for it .

getmore4less

from the scan

Other information about your computer system:

Processor:  Intel(R) Pentium(R) CPU J2900 @ 2.41GHz

Chipset: Intel N & J

What's currently on your primary physical drive:

Manufacturer:Western Digital

Part no.:WD5000AAKX

Drive type:500GB 7200RPM Hard Drive

Drive form factor:3.5"

Current usage:150.26 GB (34.2%)

Free space:289.25 GB

Total:439.5 GB

Your computer's memory capability:

Maximum memory:

8GB

Slots:

1 (1 bank of 1)

Standard memory:

4GB removable

[Deleted User]

fenwick458 said:

Ok so If I can just add the SSD in as an additional drive, where do I plug it in to?
The Processor is a Intel pentium J2900 2.41Ghz.
I've attached a pic of the RAM. What@s the best way to upgrade that? 

I'm hoping that there is two SATA connectors as per the diagram in a previous post, however the other one might be occupied by an optical drive if you have one. If not, then the USB/SATA cable route in your original post sounds like the best way if you still use the optical drive. If you don't use the optical you can disconnect the optical and use the SATA cable from it instead.

RAM - A single 8GB chip - sorry I assumed 2 slots in my earlier post as most have them but clearly just one slot so a 1x8GB will do the trick - this is the maximum you can put in that PC.

Processor - thanks, I asked because you said it was slow. The SSD / RAM / fresh install will breathe new life into it but the Pentium chip is nearly 8 years old now and really the next bottleneck in the system. See how it goes with the SSD/RAM upgrade, it will perform better but you will have reached the limited and the next step is a new PC if you want more out of it.

Depending on budget, think about whether your £93 spent on this one is worth putting towards a new one instead, if budget doesn't allow then stick with this one for now.

fenwick458

getmore4less said:

Some might clone
I would disconnect the HDD drive
add SSD
clean install on SSD.
Keep the current disc on second SATA or or move your data over and reconnect the optical if you need that.



8gb £20 ,   looks like 1 slot so you can go for the cheaper option 2x4GB £12.

can you clarify what you mean here please, I'm real not sure I follow it. 
seems I have a choice of running the SSD with the OS on it, and the 500GB HDD to use for storage, this would make the computer run faster as I wouldn't be cluttering up the SSD with stuff? but the downside is I wouldn't have the optical drive.
I really can't remember the last time I used it anyway, but I dare say it'll come in handy a some point so I don't want to lose it.
of the 150GB I have on my PC, 50GB has just been removed to an external HDD so would having 100GB of stuff on the SSD  have much of a performance impact?
And about the RAM, I'm confused, you say I have 1 slot, but then say I can go for the cheaper option of 2x4GB??

fenwick458

Deleted_User said:

I'm hoping that there is two SATA connectors as per the diagram in a previous post, however the other one might be occupied by an optical drive if you have one. If not, then the USB/SATA cable route in your original post sounds like the best way if you still use the optical drive. If you don't use the optical you can disconnect the optical and use the SATA cable from it instead.

RAM - A single 8GB chip - sorry I assumed 2 slots in my earlier post as most have them but clearly just one slot so a 1x8GB will do the trick - this is the maximum you can put in that PC.

Processor - thanks, I asked because you said it was slow. The SSD / RAM / fresh install will breathe new life into it but the Pentium chip is nearly 8 years old now and really the next bottleneck in the system. See how it goes with the SSD/RAM upgrade, it will perform better but you will have reached the limited and the next step is a new PC if you want more out of it.

Depending on budget, think about whether your £93 spent on this one is worth putting towards a new one instead, if budget doesn't allow then stick with this one for now.

yeah thats right 2 SATA's but one is for the optical drive. 
Ok I understand about the RAM now thanks.
and the £93 upgrade Vs a new PC argument, I did think about just buying a new one initially but they are a bit more expensive than I thought, and I wasn't sure If I really need a new PC?
this PC was £200 in 2015, and looking on PC world website at "what looks to be a decent one" I found this for £545