Should I buy an external SSD or an External HDD for recording my games?

[benjaminisaacs95]

I have two internal storage devices in my Laptop one is a 248GB SSD and the other is a 1TB HDD, if I try to record games with the directory path being the HDD it will make games that usually run at 100+ FPS go down to 25-30 FPS with huge lag spikes, but if I use the SSD with the directory path it records fine and I get the same amount of FPS I get when I’m not recording, I’m curious to if this is the case because all my games are installed on my HDD so it puts it’s under pressure recording whilst loading a game or if it’s becayse a HDD simply isn’t good enough to record and maintain a decent amount of FPS whilst recording. I’ve seen a 1TB external SSD for £320 on Amazon but I’ve also seen a 3TB external HDD for £89.99. If I could save myself some money and get more storage that will be great.

 

[captaincharisma]

depends on how much storage space you need and what kind of USB ports your have on the laptop. if you only have USB 2.0 ports on it then there will be no benefit getting an external SSD drive over a HDD one

 

[Myrmidonas]

Always record on SSD. and edit there. You may transfer the final clip on HDD later.

Use steammover to transfer installed game you want to play and load fast on the SSD without the need to reinstall it. The steamover creates also the needed symbolic links (aka NTFS junction points) for the game's folders. I use it many years without a problem. More info here.

https://lifehacker.com/windows-app-of-the-week-steam-mover-1824285685

Do not, by any means, try to record on external drive. It is the slowest method.Not to mention that problems might occur with random disk ejects/disconnections caused for example due low power through the USB cable.

In general a RAM upgrade will also help. But I do not advise it strongly with the current prices.

Try to record uncompressed in order to stress less your CPU or GPU that does the compression, depending on the encoder you have selected. If storage is an issue then try an encoder with lossy compression at least.

 

[USAFRet]

Always record on SSD. and edit there. You may transfer the final clip on HDD later.

Use steammover to transfer installed game you want to play and load fast on the SSD without the need to reinstall it. The steamover creates also the needed symbolic links (aka NTFS junction points) for the game's folders. I use it many years without a problem. More info here.

https://lifehacker.com/windows-app-of-the-week-steam-mover-1824285685

"SteamMover" (and junction points) is no longer needed as an actual standalone app.
The functionality for moving Steam games is built into the Steam client, and has been for years.

Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder

To move an already installed game
Games library
Right click the game
Properties
Local Files
Move Install Folder

 

[Myrmidonas]

Always record on SSD. and edit there. You may transfer the final clip on HDD later.

Use steammover to transfer installed game you want to play and load fast on the SSD without the need to reinstall it. The steamover creates also the needed symbolic links (aka NTFS junction points) for the game's folders. I use it many years without a problem. More info here.

https://lifehacker.com/windows-app-of-the-week-steam-mover-1824285685

"SteamMover" (and junction points) is no longer needed as an actual standalone app.
The functionality for moving Steam games is built into the Steam client, and has been for years.

Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder

To move an already installed game
Games library
Right click the game
Properties
Local Files
Move Install Folder

I was referring to the application for general use since it can move any installed software and not only steam games. Not all games are steam games after all. One might have GOG Uplay or Battle.net I have all four of them and find steam mover very handy.