Noob question, but do I need 2 drives?

[swissloof]

This is my first build, by the way.

I plan to install a Samsung 960 Evo (1 TB) and was wondering if I needed 2 drives for the machine. I want to know if you can boot on the 1TB drive, have windows, and and storage on the same drive as well. How much would this take from the SSD performance-wise (plan on gaming), storage (in GB), and anything else that would be effected?

Would it be better to get like 64-256GB SSD with a 1TB HDD instead? What do you think?

Also just to restate, do I need a seperate boot and storage drive?

 

[raisonjohn]

It's a matter of preference on how you organize your filing system/drive system.

You don't need a separate boot and storage drive. One drive is all you need.

The reason why a ~256GB SSD is paired with a ~1TB HDD is price/performance. As you get more savings by getting a low-capacity/high-speed/more expensive SSD to be used for your OS and apps (which only needs a small portion of your drive's capacity) and getting a high-capacity/low-speed/less expensive HDD to be used for your other files/games (which needs a large storage capacity, depending on your use).

Getting a 1TB ~ 2TB SSD for the same amount of storage space as a 1TB ~2TB HDD is too expensive. Using just an HDD for boot-up, loading apps, extracting/copying files, is too slow. Hence, the SSD + HDD pairing.

If you have the budget to go for just a high-capacity SSD, then, by all means get that. The SSD has the advantage of using less power, no noise (no mechanical/moving parts), and takes up less space inside your chassis.

In terms of gaming performance, the SSD will only slightly speed up the loading times of games. During gameplay, however, their won't be noticeable difference using an SSD versus an HDD (except for noise and power consumption).

Take a look at these tests:

Windows Boot Up + Opening 11 Applications (SSD = 1 min. | HDD = Almost 5 mins.)
[video="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vbx7jQdWf4"][/video]
****************************
Boot + Open Folder (SSD = 32 secs. | HDD = 1 min. and 17 secs.)
Opening Adobe Photoshop (SSD = 7 secs. | HDD = 58 secs.)
Copying 2.24GB File (SSD = 17 secs. | HDD = 1 min. and 30 secs.)
Extracting 2.24GB File (SSD = 18 secs. | HDD = 1 min. and 54 secs.)
[video="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqpUJ_o2xeA"][/video]
****************************
GTA V Loading Time (SSD = 27 secs. | HDD = 54 secs.)
ROTR Loading Time (SSD = 4 secs. | HDD = 15 secs.)
Witcher III Loading Time (SSD = 24 secs. | HDD = 35 secs.)
Mass Effect Andromeda (SSD = 21 secs. | HDD = 35 secs.)
Fallout 4 Loading Time (SSD = 19 secs. | HDD = 46 secs.)
Project Cars Loading Time (SSD = 8 secs. | HDD = 11 secs.)
Far Cry Primal Loading Time (SSD = 6 secs. | HDD = 16 secs.)
[video="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dEsTiOeMQ4"][/video]

 

[velocityg4]

MERGED QUESTION
Question from swissloof : "Do I need 2 drives for build?"

This is my first build, by the way.

I plan to install a Samsung 960 Evo (1 TB) and was wondering if I needed 2 drives for the machine. I want to know if you can boot on the 1TB drive, have windows, and and storage on the same drive as well. How much would this take from the SSD performance-wise (plan on gaming), storage (in GB), and anything else that would be effected?

Would it be better to get like 64-256GB SSD with a 1TB HDD instead? What do you think?

Also just to restate, do I need a seperate boot and storage drive?

You can use the boot drive for storage.

You want to put the boot on the SSD instead of the hard drive for much faster boot times. SSDs not like hard drives, using an SSD for a boot drive won't affect the performance.

You don't need a separate hard drive if you don't want to, especially if you have a NAS or some other external storage. You can use the SSD(s) for storage. Some people use additional SSDs as storage volumes. However, keep in mind that SSDs degrade by writes so that's why people combo it with a HDD. Also, SSD storage is more expensive.

Of course you can just use one SSD. The reason most people don't is due to cost. Unless you plan to completely fill up the SSD. The performance impact should be minimal. I only have a hard drive for storing files because I have a lot of them and it is pointless storing a bunch of videos and music on an SSD.

256GB is way too small if you want all your games on it. I'd just stick with the 1TB plan if you are willing to pay the price. 512GB minimum if you want all your games on the SSD. 1TB would just allow you to store more games. I am happy with 512GB. I tend to play a game until I am done with it then remove it. I don't game often enough to switch back and forth. Nor does it interest me as I tend to be singularly focused. Games download fast enough off Steam.

 

[ko888]

You should be performing regular backups of the SSD for recovery purposes. An HDD is well suited for backup recovery purposes.