I'm considering whether to partition a single NVMe SSD into separate boot and game partitions instead of buying two separate drives. I've been eyeing a smaller 500GB m.2 SSD for booting and daily applications, plus a larger 2TB drive for games. However, due to current prices, I'm wondering if partitioning a higher quality drive would be a better option. I'm also hesitant about getting cheaper drives that are often QLC, DRAM-less, or from questionable brands. Am I overthinking the need for a dedicated boot drive? Would it make sense to go for one large drive and create partitions instead?
2 Answers
If you opt for the 2TB drive, having a separate partition for Windows can be a smart move. While it won't give you a performance boost, it makes reinstalling Windows easier without messing with settings or permissions. Just a heads up, if you gamble on a cheaper QLC drive, I'd suggest a 1TB version. It'll give you enough SLC cache for big writes, like Windows updates, and help prevent slowdowns when it's close to full. Also, consider keeping 20% of the drive unpartitioned for health—it really helps. And remember, even a solid SATA SSD can do the job for Windows if it's a decent TLC model, like the WD Blue series.
Getting one big SSD and making a few partitions is definitely a viable option! There's really no reason not to do it if it fits your needs.
Why do you say that? Is it to manage game sizes or something?