How to use SSD as external drive and get the good performance?

Question

I have my desktop which has Windows 8.1 and I use it as my primary work station. I want to use Ubuntu 14.04 and I don't like to dual boot on my PC. I want to install Ubuntu on external SSD and use it as my primary OS and I want to keep my Windows 8.1 on my primary HDD in computer for gaming and other stuff. But My concern is I know SSD is faster but I think if I use it through USB port I might not be able to get the best out of my SSD. So what could be the other best option for that or is it OK to keep using the SSD from USB 3 port.

I know that we can use SATA ports as external port. I can use one of those connectors to use directly the SATA port but again, when I will boot it won't give me an option to boot from my external SATA SSD drive rather it will always boot from my primary HDD unless I enable dual boot which I really don't want.

Solution 1

I want to install ubuntu on external SSD and use it as my primary OS and I want to keep my windows 8.1 on my primary HDD in computer for gaming and other stuff.

Unplug your internal hard drive, plug the external ssd in, and install Ubuntu to it. In your UEFI change the boot order to boot from removable devices before hard drives. Now when the external ssd is connected your computer will boot Ubuntu, and when it isn't it will boot Windows.

if i use it through USB port I might not be able to get the best out of my SSD.

Whether your speeds are limited by the USB port will depend on 2 factors: what revision of USB the port is, and what the max read/write speeds of the SSD are. If you are using USB3.0 then you're looking at 5Gb/s (625 MB/s) for the USB interface, most common sata ssds are around 400-550 MB/s for read/write, so your performance wouldn't be cut-off.

Solution 2

It is possible to boot from a USB-device. It's quite normal and very handy for installing and trouble shooting, but I would NOT recommend that solution for a system drive. - External SATA is a much better solution. Even though USB seems just as fast (on paper), the buffering, "lack" of real-time and stability will slow it down.

External SATA acts exactly like internal SATA, - with an extra cable, - so my question would be: Why don't you just install it internally and make that dual boot? What's not to like? It works fine for me. You can chose OS on boot-up (press a key). You can set a default boot (if no key is pressed). And it is easy to restore, when you don't want to use it anymore.

Mount both drives internally. Existing Windows HDD as SATA_0 and the new SSD as SATA_1. - Ubuntu installation will guide you through the patitioning. Just read everything carefully.

Btw. SSD does wear! But it's a minor problem now, compared to the first SSD generations. You should avoid too many unnecessary write ops though, - like defragging (which doesn't optimize the SSD anyway). - SSD is a great choice for a Linux system drive. It really takes off ..

Solution 3

If your BIOS supports different boot-devices, connect your SSD via eSATA and install the Ubuntu OS.

Consult your manual how to select the boot-device at startup

Comments

[fixer1234]

a dedicated USB3 port can almost keep up with a regular hard disk; you would get no performance benefit going to SSD with USB.

[ganesh]

Are you sure that it does not give you an option when you boot with the drive connected to eSATA and press the boot selection key? Most eSATA equipped devices I have used (3 laptops, 1 desktop) offered that option.

[Daniel B]

Well, the part about SSD wear is FUD, sorry. Unless you’re deliberately trying to destroy your SSD, you will never reach its end of life. Today’s SSDs are also flash-based, by the way.

[Loren Pechtel]

I have heard of people patching Windows so it can boot from a USB device. It's just a matter of switching around a couple of steps but I don't know the details.

[Yousaf Syed]

Yeah i planned to use ssd just for linux. I dont like dual boot because right now i am really comfortable to mess up things and loose data. Thats why I just wanted to keep them seperate. I thought I can put E sata cable and choose on boot the device of e sata and use it for while like this. is that possible ?