best setup and partitions for my ssd/hd equipped laptop

[agayoso]

Hi
Just got used asus q524 laptop. i7 7th gen, Nvidia 2gb 940mx.

it came with a 2tb regular hard drive, but added 1tb m2 ssd.

I relocated Windows 10 to the M2 SSD drive.

My question here is: What can I do to make this setup run more efficiently?

Partition the hard drive?
Partition the M2 SSD?
Where to place each type of software?

I understand classic hard drives performance can be enhanced by "short-stroking ".

My understanding is the following:

As for the m2 ssd drive, leave it for Windows only and perhaps a few performance demanding programs.
Leave around 25% free in SSD.
Data and some programs will go in the hard drive.



But would be there any benefits of partitioning the SSD too?

Any tips, suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

 

[jr9]

Generally Windows and your programs should be on the M.2 drive and everything else on the HDD.

A drive must be partitioned and formatted drive before you can even use it. This probably was already done by Samsung. There is no point in partitioning the drive into smaller pieces as you are simply dividing up something you already have.

 

[USAFRet]

Partition nothing.
Leave both drives as they are.

1TB SSD for OS, applications, and whatever else fits.
HDD for everything else, that does not need the speed of the SSD.

You gain nothing by partitioning them.

What you need to look at is a comprehensive backup plan.
Possibly a 2 TB external drive, to hold rolling images of both drives.

When (not if) something bad happens...you'll be glad you have a current back you can recover from.

 

[agayoso]

thanks a million guys.
any recommendations for back up software? free, preferably.

 

[jr9]

Easeus Todo Backup Free is pretty decent.

 

[USAFRet]

thanks a million guys.
any recommendations for back up software? free, preferably.

I use Macrium Reflect exclusively.
Read here: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3383768/backup-situation-home.html