How to install an SSD in a desktop PC

A Solid State Disk or SSD is a hard disk made of memory chips. While the capacity is generally smaller than that of a normal hard disk, they offer an impressive performance boost.

You can either install an SSD as a special cache drive to speed up Windows or use it as a hard disk. Either way the physical installation is the same.

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Install an SSD in a laptop
Fit an old hard disk in a caddy 

You will need a spare 3.5 inch hard disk bay in your computer with SATA power and data cables. As SSDs are generally made in the 2.5 inch form factor for notebooks, you will also need an adapter.

We've got an Akasa adapter here that can actually hold two 2.5" drives in a single 3.5 inch bay. Some SSDs are supplied with adapters so check before you buy both at the same time. The only tool that you will need is a Philips head screwdriver.

Shut down the computer and remove the power cable from the back.

First fit the SSD in the adapter. Remove both from their packaging. Position the SSD in the middle of the adapter so that the screw holes match and fix the SSD in place using all four screws. These should have been supplied with the adapter.

Now place the adapter in the spare 3.5 inch bay in the computer. Make sure that the sockets on the back of the SSD are pointing towards the back of the computer. Screw it into place with at least two screws. If you can remove the other side of the case and fix it into place from there it will be more secure.

Take the long SATA power cable that comes from the power supply and plug it into the socket on the SSD.

Next take a SATA data cable and plug one end into the motherboard. It doesn't really matter which socket but if you can plug it into the free socket with the lowest number it helps keep life simple. Plug the other end into the SSD.

Replace the side of the computer and it is now ready to use.