I've been looking into setting up my new PC with two SSDs: one for the operating system and another for all my games and other files. I've come across mixed opinions on this topic. Some say there's no real benefit in splitting the drives, while others advocate for it strongly. I'm hoping to get some insights to help me make my decision. Originally, I was planning to go for a 2TB NVMe SSD, but I'm considering adding a smaller 256GB or 512GB SSD just for Windows. What do you all think?
4 Answers
For general usage, having a separate SSD isn't necessary unless you really need extra storage for things like pictures or videos. Just getting a solid fast SSD for your OS is usually enough unless you have specific storage needs.
Honestly, I don't see much point in having a dedicated drive just for Windows anymore. Back in the day when SSDs were pricier, it made sense, but now just put your OS on the fastest drive you have and let it be. You probably won't notice a performance improvement from separating them.
I agree with that, especially since drives are more affordable now.
When I built my rig, I had the same setup—OS on an SSD and the rest on an HDD. Nowadays, with how cheap SSDs are, there's less reason to split them like that unless you want redundancy. I have three SSDs in my current setup for data safety and backups. It's up to you how you want to manage storage, though!
The term 'boot drive' just refers to the drive where your OS is installed. If you can, opt for a DRAM-enabled PCIe/NVMe SSD for the best performance. DRAMless drives can be slower, especially under heavy loads, so think about what you need in terms of speed.
Thanks for the insight! That makes it a lot clearer for me.