Building a new PC SSD first or HDD?

[AinokeatoProductions]

Hi, I'm building a new PC, I've pretty much gathered all of the parts necessary, I'm about a month away from affording the CPU, Storage and RAM. Here is my Setup, I've got everything except the CPU/Cooler/RAM/Storage.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/mX4QjX
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/mX4QjX/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($239.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H110i GT 113.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170XP-SLI ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($118.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 760 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card
Case: Corsair Air 540 ATX Mid Tower Case ($124.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($85.49 @ OutletPC)
Keyboard: Corsair STRAFE Wired Gaming Keyboard ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $841.42
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-11 03:41 EDT-0400

As you can probably tell, I'm kind of cash strapped at the moment I'm building this, a few of the parts I'm already using like the GPU and the PSU. I'm planning on gaming with this rig and will be using an SSD for my main games and OS. However, because I'm strapped for cash at the moment and being a good adult and paying my bills I'm going to have to make sacrifices. I built this on PCPP with the thought that I'm 'only' going to be using an SSD for everything I do. However, I want to build this thing as soon as possible and I thought it might be a good idea to have an extra tb or two worth of storage (that isn't 400 bucks) so I figured I'd add in an HDD.

Well, bills came due and I realized I only really have enough to get one or the other though at varying storage sizes. I wanted to get an SSD at around 500gb's, particularly the Samsung Evo 850. Though that's kinda tipping my budget and is probably going to extend the build start date a good 'nother paycheck or two, which would suck. But I also want to add an HDD anyway, so I guess my question is, should I go for the HDD first? Is it difficult to move stuff like the OS for example, over to the SSD once I buy it?

 

[Boogieman_WD]

Hey there.

Basically, having in mind you want to launch that build as soon as possible, perhaps getting an HDD first would be the better choice. It would also spare your pockets having in mind the monthly budget, bills, etc. You'll lack the system performance boost, but at least you'd be able to use your newly built computer. Plus the only visible performance boost in terms of gaming an SSD will provide, is faster loading when you start the game and faster in-game loading screens (which could be really beneficial for games such as Skyrim). However there will be no actual gameplay difference if you start with an HDD. This way you could get the SSD later and used the offered cloning software to migrate your OS to the SSD and make it your first booting device, and keep using the HDD for secondary storage. Note that I'd recommend not to write a lot of stuff on that HDD before you get the SSD, as after a migration process from an HDD to an SSD, it is best that you format the HDD so that you have no residual partitions or files from the previous OS.

Hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Boogieman_WD

 

[guanyu210379]

Yup! SSD is only about optimizing your PC. It is optional but highly recommended.
If you are short of cash, just drop the SSD for now and get it later.

 

[AinokeatoProductions]

You jest. 250 gig ssd's cost what and pc's are piling up in the ground.
Get solid state drive now and buy hdd later.

That's what I was going to do, the 250gb is a bit more than half the price of the 500 but well within the initial price range, my issue is that while the 250 would be fine, my minimum would need to be the 500 and it would feel like a waste of money if I buy a smaller SSD now, rather than the minimum I'd be comfortable with later.

Edit: Actually, would I be able to add on a 500gb SSD later and run programs and games through that? Since I now realize most of what I read through about installing the OS and main programs/games to the SSD were talking about using both an SSD and a large storage HDD and getting the performance boost by installing that to the SSD rather than the HDD.

 

[RCFProd]

You could add another SSD or HDD later on, it doesn't matter. Perhaps you can get a cheap 480GB SSD right now and you won't have to be worrying about another storage drive as soon. There are ones going for a good price.

If you're adding more storage soon enough, SSD first anyday.

 

[AinokeatoProductions]

If you cant manage with 250 gig you have a problem.
Dong it the other way round requires the drive burning software. Installing straight to ssd does not.

I can manage with 250gb's, this is my first build hah, so there are a lot of concepts and technicalities I'm still trying to understand so that I can make good and educated part decisions. I thought I'd end up just having to replace the 250 when I got the larger 500 in a month or so, there's a lot of information to process as I start to finish up the part buying so really obvious answers like this and up getting lost despite being right in front of me. Mainly because I had the idea to just stick to one drive but if I can use the 500gb ssd exactly as well as the 250 I will absolutely spring for the 250 first and get the 500 later. I don't use much more than half a terabyte on my current PC anyway.

Edit: o7 Thank you Teaurchin, I really appreciate the response and solution. I'm going to grab the 250 and then the 500 later on.

 

[RCFProd]

I would say a 2TB HDD next to a 250-500GB SSD is much better value. Can always come in handy for storing games, or other media. Not all games make signficant use of SSD read speeds. I would prefer a large HDD next to an SSD always.

 

[AinokeatoProductions]

I would say a 2TB HDD next to a 250-500GB SSD is much better value. Can always come in handy for storing games, or other media. Not all games make signficant use of SSD read speeds. I would prefer a large HDD next to an SSD always.

That was my thinking when I decided I'd add a large HDD, and maybe I still will. But at the moment, I'm more into long-term investment games like MMO's and the such, so I don't play too many different games enough to keep all of them installed and stored. On the Gaming PC I'm replacing I barely went over half a TB =/

 

[madmatt30]

Strapped for cash ??

Dump the h110i & get a decent air cooler for less than half the price, go with a 240gb 850 evo & a 1tb WD blue - dumping that corsair aio will easily give you the budget to do that.

I'm with tea urchin 100% , not installing an ssd in that build from the get go would be absolutely sacrilegious IMO.
I wouldn't entertain the bx though when the 850 evo is like $15-20 more