Don’t Buy a New Laptop Yet: The SSD Trick
How to make your 5-year-old computer 10x faster yourself.
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Is your 5-year-old laptop running slow? Does it take 5 minutes just to turn on? Before you spend $1,500 on a new one at JB Hi-Fi, read this.
The Bottleneck: Mechanical Hard Drives
Most laptops bought before 2018 utilize a mechanical Hard Disk Drive (HDD). These drives have spinning platters inside (like a record player). Over time, they get fragmented and slow down significantly.
Your processor (CPU) and RAM are probably fine. The hard drive is the anchor dragging your system down.
The Solution: Solid State Drive (SSD)
An SSD has no moving parts. It is a microchip that stores data instantly. Upgrading an old HDD to a new SSD makes your computer roughly 10x faster.
Boot times drop from minutes to seconds. Programs open instantly. It feels like a brand new machine.
DIY: How to Upgrade to an SSD Yourself
If you are handy with a screwdriver, you can do this upgrade at home for under $100.
What You Need:
- A new 2.5-inch SATA SSD (500GB or 1TB). Brands like Samsung or Crucial are reliable.
- A SATA-to-USB cable (around $15 online).
- A small Phillips head screwdriver.
- Cloning software.
The Steps:
- Clone Your Drive: Plug the new SSD into your laptop using the USB cable. Run the cloning software to copy everything (Windows, files, settings) from your old internal drive to the new SSD.
- Open the Laptop: Turn off the laptop and flip it over. Unscrew the back panel. (Check YouTube for a teardown video of your specific model).
- Swap the Drives: Locate the old hard drive. Remove the few screws holding it in place, unplug it, and plug in your new SSD.
- Boot Up: Screw the back panel on and turn it on. It should boot up exactly as you left it—just much, much faster.
The Math: Why It Makes Sense
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New Laptop: $1,200 – $2,000 + Hours setting it up + Buying new software.
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DIY SSD Upgrade: ~$80 – $120 for parts.
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Professional Upgrade (Tech Fixer): ~$350 – $450 (Parts & Labour included, risk-free).
Better for the Planet
E-waste is a huge problem in the ACT. By upgrading your current machine, you keep toxic batteries and plastics out of landfill for another 3-5 years. It’s the smarter, greener choice.
Not confident opening your laptop?
We can perform this upgrade onsite or via our pickup/return service. We clone your exact system so you lose nothing.
We Upgrade Computers Across Canberra
Gungahlin
Gungahlin, Mitchell, Harrison, Franklin, Palmerston, Crace, Nicholls, Casey, Ngunnawal, Taylor, Moncrieff, Throsby, Ford, Bonner, Amaroo
Belconnen
Belconnen, Bruce, Aranda, Cook, Hawker, Page, Scullin, Weetangera, Macquarie, Florey, Latham, Melba, Spence, Evatt, McKellar, Giralang, Kaleen
Central & South
North: City, Braddon, Dickson, Lyneham, O’Connor, Reid, Campbell.
South: Barton, Kingston, Griffith, Fyshwick, Narrabundah, Red Hill.
Woden & Queanbeyan
Phillip, Mawson, Pearce, Weston Creek, Molonglo Valley.
NSW: Queanbeyan, Jerrabomberra, Karabar, Googong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my data if I change hard drives?
Not if you clone it properly. Cloning creates an exact copy of your Windows, programs, photos, and files on the new drive. When you turn it on, everything looks the same, just faster.
How much faster is an SSD?
An SSD is typically 10 to 15 times faster than a traditional mechanical hard drive. You will notice the biggest difference in boot times (starting up) and opening applications like Chrome or Word.
Does this work on MacBooks?
Yes, for older MacBooks (pre-2016 usually). Newer MacBooks have soldered drives that cannot be upgraded. We can check your serial number to see if your Mac is compatible.