How many gbs for boot/os SSD with Windows 10?

[SyferOnline]

Was wondering how many gbs I would need for a boot/os drive with Windows 10? I was thinking a 240gb NVMe SSD but I don't think that would be enough.

 

[photonboy]

Huh?
Any modern SSD is going to give similar results. There is other overhead at times such as POST, CPU so the SSD performance improves over HDD's but it doesn't scale. At some point 5x faster might be 10% boot time improvement.

 

[raisonjohn]

240GB is more than enough for just a boot/os drive. In fact even a 120GB will suffice. The extra storage space will just depend on how many other applications, programs, and/or games you will be installing in the same drive as your OS.

On a ~120GB, you can install the OS, several basic and specialized programs (such as office, web browser, adobe, cadd, etc.), utilities (anti-virus, diagnostic tools, etc.), while still have enough room to install a couple of AAA games.

On a ~240GB, you'd have more space for additional file storage and more room to fit in more games.

Pair that SSD with a high-capacity HDD (even just a 1TB), and you'll be covered.

 

[photonboy]

Ah, I had a brain freeze and was thinking "Gigabits per second"

My personal advice is 250GB SSD, plus a 2TB HDD (UPDATE: 525GB + 3TB). That's plenty for most people.

GAMES benefit mainly from faster load times. Sometimes it's significant, but usually not. Even if it takes an extra 20 seconds on an HDD that's usually just the initial LOAD of the game with occasional level loads taking less time.

SKYRIM and other games that load a lot (like buildings, dungeons) work best on SSD because even one second is significant if it's constant and helps with immersion.

You can always add a 2.5" SSD if you need more space. I'd also NOT PAY anything extra for a faster NVMe drive for gaming and other tasks. It's money thrown right into the garbage because you need a video edit workload that constantly stresses the SSD to separate SATA3/6Gbps SSD's from faster NVMe drives.

I can't make a case for 120GB SSD's because 250GB's are not that much higher in price.

2.5" Samsung 250GB ($90USD): http://pcpartpicker.com/product/Ck98TW/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz750250bw

2.5" SanDisk 480GB ($130): http://pcpartpicker.com/product/x28H99/sandisk-ssd-plus-480gb-25-solid-state-drive-sdssda-480g-g26

Crucial M.2-2280 525GB ($150):http://pcpartpicker.com/product/34Nypg/crucial-mx300-525gb-m2-2280-solid-state-drive-ct525mx300ssd4
Crucial M.2-2280 MX300 ($90): http://pcpartpicker.com/product/KXkwrH/crucial-mx300-275gb-m2-2280-solid-state-drive-ct275mx300ssd4

3TB HDD: $90: http://pcpartpicker.com/product/j28H99/seagate-barracuda-3tb-35-7200rpm-internal-hard-drive-st3000dm008

Summary:
Prices are now LOW enough that the 525GB SSD plus 3TBHDD is only $240 plus tax/shipping. That's incredible!!

So I'd do that, and
a) install Steam to default, C-drive
b) add Steam folder to HDD (in Steam library settings. Make it something like "E:\Steam")
c) put most games on HDD, and games like SKYRIM that benefit most from load times on the C-drive (you can choose the folder when you start the DOWNLOAD process)
d) you can MOVE games between folders as well. (and I'd backup games to the HDD backup folder that you MOD so you can reinstall the game without redownloading)

 

[photonboy]

*I'm assuming you meant M.2 as the connection type though you may not. I would not even consider a PCIe device as there's no point unless as I said you have specific video editing or similar needs.

If you get M.2-2280 make sure your motherboard supports it. It's similar price to a 2.5" SSD so it saves on not needing two wires (SATA data and power) but it's otherwise not a big deal.

UPDATE: look carefully at customer feedback (avoid Amazon as it's all messed up and mixes different items). NEWEGG is very good, but make sure to compare items at Newegg and not Newegg for one product vs NCIX for a different one.

At NEWEGG you can look at the average out of 5, as well as the 1/5, 2/5 scores. For example, I looked at (DO NOT BUY) this one: https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226596&nm_mc=AFC-C8JunctionCA&cm_mmc=AFC-C8JunctionCA-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10592396&PID=3938566&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=afc-%zn

I tried to link to 1/5, but if not select the SCORE at the type, note the high LOW scores (i.e. 1/5) then click on 1/5 stars to see WHY they rated it low (in this case it's an unreliable drive).

CONVERSELY, here's a random SAMSUNG SSD: https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA9U14SV6598

That SAMSUNG SSD had over 700 reviews with 88% of them giving a 4/5 or 5/5. That's the best way to look for reliability, and you want a high number of users or else it's probably a new product which makes it hard to determine reliability.

 

[USAFRet]

240/250GB minimum.

A 120GB will run out of space REAL fast.
OS + applications + a single large game like GTA (60+GB) will max out that drive space.

 

[SyferOnline]

No games. Strictly boot/os drive.

 

[USAFRet]

No games. Strictly boot/os drive.

Then you are throwing half the functionality of having the SSD.
You want your applications on it. Games if they fit.

I've seen many people say "only the OS".
It never, ever ends up that way.

 

[SyferOnline]

Hmm, I was planning on getting a 280gb NVMe SSD for boot/os, 500gb SSD for games and a 1tb hdd for music, pics and vids.

 

[USAFRet]

Hmm, I was planning on getting a 280gb NVMe SSD for boot/os, 500gb SSD for games and a 1tb hdd for music, pics and vids.

Then no problem. 240Gb or larger.

But "just the OS" never ends up like that.
Browser, AV, utilities..all end up on the C drive.