Question second drive question

[Skpstr]

Hi all, not sure if thus is the right place, but here goes!

I currently have a 512Gb SATA SSD, and want to add an NVME SSD. (hopefully I have my terminology right)

I'm probably missing something, but I see people say that they have OS on one drive, and games on another. Don't you need the OS on both drives? If not, how does that work?

TIA

 

[hedwar2011]

Think of it like this:
Drive #1 will be your OS.
Drive #2 will be everything else.

Most of the time, this is done for speed as the read/write is going to be faster on an SSD and if the OS isn't there to slow it down it will be that much faster. It essentially functions just like Windows is in it's own folder and everything else is in its own but they are physically separated.

The 2nd drive, once configured correctly, will show up in Windows like Drive C: normally would but you will also have an additional drive show up that will be the 2nd drive. It is actually just like if you were to plug in a thumb, or USB, flash drive except it's internally installed.

 

[SkyNetRising]

I see people say that they have OS on one drive, and games on another.
Don't you need the OS on both drives? If not, how does that work?

No. You don't need windows installed on every drive in system.

You can have

windows installed on disk 1,​

movies/music stored on disk 2,​

games stored in disk 3,​

downloads stored in disk 4​

e.t.c.​

 

[Skpstr]

No. You don't need windows installed on every drive in system.

You can have

windows installed on disk 1,​

movies/music stored on disk 2,​

games stored in disk 3,​

downloads stored in disk 4​

e.t.c.​

So I can just plug in the new SSD, format it, and it's good to go?

 

[SkyNetRising]

So I can just plug in the new SSD, format it, and it's good to go?

1. Connect new drive (system has to be in shut down state),
2. Start your pc,
3. It may be necessary to install NVME drivers,
4. Initialize the drive,
5. Partition the drive (create partition/partitions),
6. Format and assign drive letters.
Done. Profit.

 

[Skpstr]

1. Connect new drive (system has to be in shut down state),
2. Start your pc,
3. It may be necessary to install NVME drivers,
4. Initialize the drive,
5. Partition the drive (create partition/partitions),
6. Format and assign drive letters.
Done. Profit.

Thanks! That's so much quicker and easier than I was anticipating!

I assume I can just get drivers from the manufacturer's site?

 

[SkyNetRising]

I assume I can just get drivers from the manufacturer's site?

Samsung and Intel provide NVME drivers.
I don't think other manufacturers provide those.

So - this would depend on your NVME drive manufacturer/model.

 

[Skpstr]

Samsung and Intel provide NVME drivers.
I don't think other manufacturers provide those.

So - this would depend on your NVME drive manufacturer/model.

So would I just have to search the internet, or do you mean Windows should have them, for a different brand?

 

[SkyNetRising]

Windows update should be able to find appropriate necessary nvme driver.
But you can install drivers manually also.

If you have non Intel/Samsung drive, then you'll get a generic microsoft driver.
BTW - Intel/Samsung drives work with generic microsoft driver also.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Do you know manufacturer/model name of your next NVME drive?

BTW - what is model name of your motherboard?
Are you sure it has a compatible M.2 slot onboard?

 

[Skpstr]

Do you know manufacturer/model name of your next NVME drive?

BTW - what is model name of your motherboard?
Are you sure it has a compatible M.2 slot onboard?

Haven't picked one yet, price is a factor.

Mobo is Gigabyte Aorus X470 Ultra Gaming. Partpicker says I have 2 M.2 slots, and an NVME is compatible.

 

[punkncat]

Something to point out here is that the NVMe drive is likely to be WAY faster than the SATA drive your OS is currently on. It will make for a better desktop experience to have the fastest drive be your OS drive. Keep in mind that for transfers and other such activities the speed of that will be limited by the slower drive.