A family member has asked for help speeding up their old PC, which is used mainly for browsing and basic office applications. Usually, I would install a Samsung 870 EVO and set them up with Linux Mint, but it seems to be sold out everywhere. The only SATA SSDs available are the Kingston A400 and WD SA510, both of which have mixed reviews on reliability. I also found out about 2.5" SATA enclosures for M.2 drives, but I'm concerned about potential thermal issues, even though the PC usage will be light. My top priority is reliability; should I go with one of the budget SATA SSDs left or try the M.2 solution? Also, they don't need a new PC since the existing hardware is functional.
6 Answers
If they didn't specifically ask for Linux, I wouldn't recommend Mint. Cloning the existing 2.5" HDD to any reliable SATA SSD should do the trick. That said, the WD SA510 would be a solid choice; it's reliable enough for their needs.
For basic browsing and office tasks, the Silicon Power Performance SSD is a great budget option. It will provide a noticeable speedup! Here's a link: [Silicon Power Performance SSD](https://www.amazon.com/Silicon-Power-Performance-Internal-SP004TBSS3A55S25/dp/B0CQCH4RSD?xpid=DO6rP2GBX5UMk)
What motherboard does the old PC have? That could affect your SSD options!
I’m not sure about your motherboard and boot setup, but I recently installed an NVMe drive over PCIe x1 on an older PC, and it’s incredibly fast, even if the bandwidth is less than SATA. Just something to think about!
For your needs, consider the 1TB Crucial MX500 or any of the 850, 860, or 870 EVO models. These are reliable and will definitely give a performance boost!
Any budget SATA SSD from a reputable brand should work fine. Just check for professional reviews to catch any major red flags. Upgrading from an HDD will definitely speed things up for them!
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