SSD Questions for First Build

[MattTheMayor]

Hello. As stated, I have a few questions about my SSD on my first ever build. I have(getting) a Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" SSD

 

1) My friend said that I should get a seperate SSD just for Windows 7 and another SSD for programs, games, and such. I don't know if I should do that or not.

2) May someone explain me the RAIDs and tell me the advantages and disadvantages for each one?

3) If I would have to get 2 SSD's should I get 60 for Windows and 120gb for games and some programs?

 

 

Thanks!

[JustTooDank]

I would get an SSD for Windows, your most used programs and and certain games that have long load times such as BF4, and a standard higher capacity mechanical HDD for everything else. 

[Askew]

^ The above answer is a good one. SSD's don't help gameplay they just make loading times faster, however they drastically increase the responsiveness of the operating system and using one for Windows is a good idea, if you have the 256GB drive you will have more than enough space for the OS and that will leave space for some games that you'd like to load faster than others like BF4 for example where having a fast loading time lets you spawn faster and get vehicles before other players etc.

 

The various RAID levels are explained here, but with your purposes in mind you would most likely not be using a RAID, just having more than one drive in your PC isn't a RAID.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAID

 

I would avoid 60GB drives, the performance and longevity of an SSD is lower at that size because of the nature of the technology.

[LogicalDrm]

Getting separed SSDs for windows and other software isn't needed. 240/500Gb SSD for both if you want to go full on SSD. Or another option is to get 120Gb SSD for windows and some other software and 1Tb+ HDD to files and rest of software. Windows take around 40Gb, my Steam folder with only 20 or so games takes just under 200gb and Origin 100gb with 10 games (on 2 drives).

[Dimwitted]

I personally like having the O/S by itself. I just built a new computer and that's is the route I took, 2 MX100's and a 2TB Seagate. It works fantastic! I don't trust RAID from a m/bd and it's fast enough without adding to the complexity. 256gb is a decent size, I have 185GB free. Remember, just because YOU don't want stuff on C: a lot of programmers disagree and it's a bastard trying to keep them out.

 

I certainly don't have a problem with having 2 SSD's.

[MattTheMayor]

Thanks everyone!

[kingdorian]

Don't get two ssd's. One higher capacity ssd is faster then two seperate ssds. Just get a 256Gb and a hdd or even a 512Gb drive and a hdd or no hdd at a all like me. Remember you can always have two or more partitions so you have your os on one and games/programs on the other partition.

 

I only use my ssd for my os, games and most important data (photo's and stuff). All my media and school/uni projects etc is on my (zfs mirrored) NAS. So I have easy acces from both my pc and laptop to them...

[WarlockTheWise]

Don't get two ssd's. One higher capacity ssd is faster then two seperate ssds. Just get a 256Gb and a hdd or even a 512Gb drive and a hdd or no hdd at a all like me. Remember you can always have two or more partitions so you have your os on one and games/programs on the other partition.

 

I only use my ssd for my os, games and most important data (photo's and stuff). All my media and school/uni projects etc is on my (zfs mirrored) NAS. So I have easy acces from both my pc and laptop to them...

Yep 1 big ssd is almost always better than 2 smaller ones.

[GloriousPain]

I suggest just a cheap kingston 128 or 256GB SSD for Windows and bigger commonly used programs, and a fast 2TB HDD (like Seagate barracuda or WD velicoraptor) for everything else

[Opcode]

Get a Samsung 850 Pro SSD for Windows and all your games. Putting them on another SSD will not make any difference at all, except not having to reinstall them each time you decide to reinstall Windows. Raid wont benefit you in any way other than providing higher speed I/O in which case I doubt you are looking for. Spend the money on a larger single drive rather than a couple of smaller ones. If the 850 Pro breaks the bank for you, go for the 840 EVO. Samsung is one of the king pins in the SSD market currently.