I recently built a PC with a 512 GB NVMe SSD and a 512 GB HDD. Windows 11 and my work software—Revit, Navisworks, AutoCAD, Office, and other engineering tools—are installed on the SSD. I mainly use the computer for BIM and engineering work, but I also want to play games such as Red Dead Redemption 2, God of War, and other modern AAA titles. Is it reasonable to install at least some of these games on the HDD, or would the slower drive noticeably affect gameplay? Also, how much free space should I keep on the SSD so Windows and my professional software continue running smoothly?
3 Answers
For modern AAA games, an SSD is the better choice, but you do not necessarily need an NVMe model. A reasonably priced SATA SSD would still be a major improvement over the HDD and could be used as a dedicated game drive. Keep the HDD for media, backups, installers, and games where loading speed is not important.
Try to keep roughly 10–20% of the SSD free. With a 512 GB drive, that means leaving around 50–100 GB available, especially since Windows, applications, updates, and temporary project files all need room. Because your work software is already on that drive, installing several large games there may fill it quickly. Keeping the games on the HDD is acceptable if you can tolerate longer loads, while the SSD should be reserved for work and the games you play most often.
Games will generally run from the HDD, but expect substantially longer loading screens. The HDD should not normally reduce your average FPS, although newer games that stream a lot of world data can have texture pop-in, stutters, or occasional pauses. Older, smaller, or less demanding games are usually fine there. You can move a game to the SSD later if it performs poorly, and most game launchers support libraries on multiple drives.
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