Question Help me decide, which SSD/HDD for which files?!

[alexb75]

Hi all,

I am upgrading to a Ryzen 7900 Windows 11 desktop from my old i7-4790K machine... my NEW Setup will have the following SSD/HDD combo:

C: Optane 905P - 1TB [upgrade from 240GB SSD]
D: Solidigm P44 Pro - 2TB [upgrade from 512gb SSD]
E: WD Red Plus 3TB [OLD DRIVE - My Docs]
F: Hitachi 2TB [OLD Drive - Other files rarely accessed]

Right now, I basically ONLY have Windows on Drive C, ALL My Document/Files are on Drive E (WD Red), and Games are on Drive D SSD. Drive F is essentially for backup, and some files I don't access/use much (old work stuff, etc). ALL Backed up on Synology.

My Documents Size is 1.35TB:
- Docs: 25 GB
- Downloads: 5 GB
- Pics: 320 GB
- Music: 365 GB
- Videos: 650 GB

For the new PC, Optane would definitely be drive C: for programs/files, Games will be on the D:, Solidigm SSD, drive F, to stay the same...

WHAT TO DO with "My Documents"?!
- They don't all fit on C:, or D: if I added the games... what's the best option?
- C: would have lots of room after windows install, and it's insanely fast for random access. Should I put Docs/Pics on it? The rest on E: or what combo works?!

 

[USAFRet]

My one recommendation - DO NOT force relocate your 'My Documents' folder.

Sure, you can save those files elsewhere.
But leave that Library where it is on the C. And all the other default Libraries.
Moving it often makes a big mess later on.

 

[alexb75]

My one recommendation - DO NOT force relocate your 'My Documents' folder.

Sure, you can save those files elsewhere.
But leave that Library where it is on the C. And all the other default Libraries.
Moving it often makes a big mess later on.

Funny enough I've had My Documents folder on drive D: for years now, but I have encountered a few issues.

I guess one way would be, put it in C, but don't put all files on C. Link to some folders contained in other drives. Right?

 

[USAFRet]

Funny enough I've had My Documents folder on drive D: for years now, but I have encountered a few issues.

I guess one way would be, put it in C, but don't put all files on C. Link to some folders contained in other drives. Right?

Current applications, and Windows, have gotten really good at utilizing multiple drives.

Save some file on a different drive and subfolder, and generally that application will want to use that space as the suggested default next time.
No specific ;linking; needed.

For instance, my use of Snipping tool always wants to save to a subfolder on my G drive. Which is exactly where I want it.

And many applications can save the desired location in their preferences.
My Lightroom, Paintshop Pro, Rhino3D, among many others. I don't have to tell it every time.

 

[alexb75]

Current applications, and Windows, have gotten really good at utilizing multiple drives.

Save some file on a different drive and subfolder, and generally that application will want to use that space as the suggested default next time.
No specific ;linking; needed.

For instance, my use of Snipping tool always wants to save to a subfolder on my G drive. Which is exactly where I want it.

And many applications can save the desired location in their preferences.
My Lightroom, Paintshop Pro, Rhino3D, among many others. I don't have to tell it every time.

Well, I wanna make sure all my Pics a/music, etc... are under one folder, etc... but if they're all under C, they won't fit.

 

[USAFRet]

Well, I wanna make sure all my Pics a/music, etc... are under one folder, etc... but if they're all under C, they won't fit.

On whichever drive...

/MyStuff
under that...
/MyStuff/Docs
/MyStuff/Pics
/MyStuff/Videos
...and so on.

But, different types of files may need different access speeds.
Docs and pics, speed is valued more than large movies.
So maybe they ARE on different drives.