OS dedicated SSD size?

[Jon Bartlett]

So I'm try to shave down on my current build cost ($200 over budget) and I figured I'd change my current Samsung 840 EVO 250GB to 120GB. I was looking at the Kingston 240, but it looks like trash. I have a WD black 2TB for main storage, but I've always wanted to have a drive for OS/OS stuff. Any thoughts on how big it really needs to be?

 

[Z1NONLY]

OS+RAM (Page file) and a little wiggle room.

 

[Z1NONLY]

Double post.....

 

[Jon Bartlett]

OS+RAM (Page file) and a little wiggle room.

ummmm what?

 

[Dtignor]

How many programs do you actually use on a normal basis that you couldn't live without?

 

[k1114]

120gb is fine and is what most people get. It's still plenty of room to install a couple games on it. My 120gb ssd is only 70gb used right now with 2 games, a couple adobe and autodesk software, and some other small stuff like chrome. Everything else is installed on my hdd.

 

[photonboy]

120gb is fine and is what most people get. It's still plenty of room to install a couple games on it. My 120gb ssd is only 70gb used right now with 2 games, a couple adobe and autodesk software, and some other small stuff like chrome. Everything else is installed on my hdd.

I agree.
After you OVERPROVISION the drive you'll have about 90GB left but you can use close to 100% of that.

I have more than the average person would have on my Windows drive likely, and all the updates etc and I've maxed out at 85GB but I could reduce that by eliminating the HIBERNATION FILE if I wanted.

I did buy a 250GB Samsung EVO, but then maxed out at 85GB as I said, so it turns out a 120GB would have worked.

I recommend the Samsung 840 EVO, and install programs to it, but Steam and other games to the HARD DRIVE (as well as downloads, your C-drive backup Image etc).

*Use Samsung Magician to update the firmware and Overprovision, and optimize the configuration (speed, reliability..). Then REMOVE Samsung Magician as it pops up on boot. Why Samsung? You were doing so great..

 

[k1114]

I haven't done any space saving or any tweaks at all. Well except changing location of pics, docs, and downloads folders as those are the only user folders I use. The os optimization in samsung magician aren't necessary and are the same tweaks people did before there was software to do it.

 

[Jon Bartlett]

I recommend the Samsung 840 EVO, and install programs to it, but Steam and other games to the HARD DRIVE (as well as downloads, your C-drive backup Image etc).

Well whats the quality difference in retrieving data off a wd black vs a samsung evo for games? Ive always thought wd black to be a really fast hdd.

 

[k1114]

Having the game on a ssd or hdd will just affect load times. If the game already has short load times then having it on the ssd is useless. It doesn't matter even if it were a 15k rpm hdd, it'll still be much slower than a ssd. A wd black isn't really fast, any 7200rpm are all pretty much the same speed.

 

[Z1NONLY]

OS+RAM (Page file) and a little wiggle room.

ummmm what?

Add the space the Operating System takes up to your total Random Access Memory capacity and you have the amount of space you need on the SSD if you are going to install only the operating system.

The operating system tries to create a page file on the SSD that matches the RAM capacity so that ends up being spaced used in addition to the operating system. It would also be good to leave a little extra space on top of that becase SSD's don't work so well when they are completly full.


OS+RAM (Page file) and a little wiggle room.

 

[photonboy]

Update:
Don't forget to set your BIOS to AHCI (for SATA).

Windows 8 + UEFI motherboard:
If it's a newer, UEFI BIOS, then make sure it is not in Legacy mode if installing Windows 8. Windows 8 + UEFI mode (non-Legacy) adds security features to prevent boot-time malware infections.