what matters most?
what matters most?
Upgrading with a bigger SSD would essentially be a standard upgrade—just swap it in like any other drive. It would be a compact option (up to 256GB based on available space) ideal for Windows and everyday programs due to its speed. Pairing it with a larger HDD could handle less-used files, backups, and big data more efficiently. If you already use a 1TB SSD as your main storage, either choice works. The real benefit comes from using the SSD directly for system operations rather than relying on it as a cache. Running Windows straight from an SSD delivers noticeable speed gains compared to a cache solution. It might seem unusual, but modern systems can read boot information quickly. Verify BIOS settings—ensure Secure Boot is enabled, legacy support turned off, Fastboot activated, and the drive is mounted as a GPT partition after a clean install. Try installing Windows 10 without a key first; it should activate automatically. The process could be smooth, especially since Windows tends to handle activation well.
I'm really sorry about the error, it was a one terabyte HDD with a 16 GB cache. I fixed it right away. Buying an SSD large enough for Windows and some programs seems like an option, but I don’t have enough funds for it, so I think a 64 or 128 GB SSD would be more affordable.
It would be ideal to choose a 64 or 128GB SSD, which offers significantly better performance compared to an HDD—even with the cache enabled. You should comfortably store Windows and several frequently used applications on it, leaving the larger 1TB drive for other needs. If you want to save money now, you can stick with the 1TB drive temporarily and upgrade to a bigger SSD later (reinstalling Windows afterward). The benefit of having two drives gives you flexibility!
I highly recommend purchasing a minimum of 128Gb SSD. Windows10 consumes a lot of storage due to frequent updates, though its speed isn’t significantly better than HDDs and the upgrade still makes sense. For instance, with an updated Windows10 system running MS Office plus drivers and only a few programs installed, my setup already uses about 30GB. Since 80% of my applications are portable and don’t require installation, I’ve optimized my system to use as little space as possible.
Are you suggesting it's not a good investment in an SSD? The potential gain would likely be around this amount.
Regarding the 128 GB option, it should cover your regular needs like Windows, antivirus, browser, and office software. The 1TB HDD you mentioned offers more storage for photos and other files.
128GB should cover everything, particularly with your 1TB storage for other needs. The linked device could be a different form factor. If the replacement cache unit has a screw at its center, it’s likely a M.2 drive—so you’ll need the same size. It’s probably smaller than the one referenced. I’m not sure Lenovo’s standard, but on HP systems, cache drives are typically the compact M.2 type. M.2 options come in various lengths; your board may have several screw holes for different sizes. Ensure you measure carefully to choose a compatible length. Avoid drives that are too long. Also, read reviews before purchasing to confirm reliability and performance.