SSD With or Without HDD?

[ComputerMoron23]

I recently purchased a prebuilt PC with a 512gb SSD and a 2T HDD. I’m familiar with the complications of HDDs, and I intend to keep it as a backup to save files I fear losing, but not keep it installed in my PC. I’m not sure if this is a great idea though, and am curious if it would be wiser to keep the HDD installed. 512gb is plenty of storage for my purposes and I generally prefer SSDs, but I’m by no means a genius about tech, and I’m looking for opinions if you have one. If you can give me a suggestion, I’d appreciate it immensely.

Edited November 15, 2023 by ComputerMoron23
poor title

[Eigenvektor]

There's no technical reason to keep the HDD. It only depends on whether you need the additional storage (apparently you don't) and whether the slower access speed it tolerable.

 

Keeping backups is definitely a good thing, but backups in the same machine are somewhat questionable. Ideally you also want backups somewhere else.

[Poinkachu]

1 hour ago, ComputerMoron23 said:

I recently purchased a prebuilt PC with a 512gb SSD and a 2T HDD. I’m familiar with the complications of HDDs, and I intend to keep it as a backup to save files I fear losing, but not keep it installed in my PC. I’m not sure if this is a great idea though, and am curious if it would be wiser to keep the HDD installed. 512gb is plenty of storage for my purposes and I generally prefer SSDs, but I’m by no means a genius about tech, and I’m looking for opinions if you have one. If you can give me a suggestion, I’d appreciate it immensely.

Well, you can use SATA to USB adapter, or an HDD dock if you want an easy to use system.

At the very least it makes you not having to open up your PC and plug/deplug SATA power & data cable each time you want to backup data.

That's what I did with my spare HDDs.

 

You will want SATA to USB adapter that has 12v additional power btw. Because 3.5" HDD needs that extra juice.

Example :

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Cable-Adapter-Converter-Support/dp/B00MYU0EAU/ref=sr_1_13?crid=3CPNCFRSTAS28&keywords=sata+to+usb&qid=1700030092&sprefix=sata+to+%2Caps%2C674&sr=8-13

 

There is a SATA to USB-C adapter, which seems to not needing an extra 12v power adapter.

But I can't say for sure, since I never used them.

IMO, the SATA to USB3 with additional power is more versatile.

[kokosnh]

I use power HUB HDD, but that’s 5.25”, you have to have 5.25” bay for it
there are PCIe cover slot ones, but the access to them is afoul.

 

powering it only for backups to HDD.