Question Upgrading a personal computer - What hard drive should I install ?

[Thespian0757]

I would like to upgrade my desktop computer, which currently has a conventional mechanical Hard Drive of 1TB. I am considering installing an SSD hard drive.

• Would a 500GB SSD be sufficient, or should I opt for a 1TB SSD?
• What type of SSD hard drive should I choose? I have come across two options: one similar to this model (https://europe.kioxia.com/en-europe/personal/ssd/exceria-nvme-ssd.html), and another type like this one (https://www.crucial.com/ssd/mx500/ct500mx500ssd1). Which one would you recommend installing?

 

[hotaru.hino]

If you can afford more space, get more space. Better to have more space and not use it than need more space and not have it.

As far as which SSD to go, that depends on your motherboard. Though most boards since about 2016 should support the M.2 formfactor.

 

[kanewolf]

I would like to upgrade my desktop computer, which currently has a conventional mechanical Hard Drive of 1TB. I am considering installing an SSD hard drive.

• Would a 500GB SSD be sufficient, or should I opt for a 1TB SSD?
• What type of SSD hard drive should I choose? I have come across two options: one similar to this model (https://europe.kioxia.com/en-europe/personal/ssd/exceria-nvme-ssd.html), and another type like this one (https://www.crucial.com/ssd/mx500/ct500mx500ssd1). Which one would you recommend installing?

The main performance gain happens when you switch from mechanical to SSD. The differences between types of SSDs are more incremental.
I would get the MX500 for the widest compatibility and most similar installation to your current mechanical HDD.

 

[scout_03]

a 500 mb for os as suggested and the 1 tb you could use for game and others stuff if he is not to old .

 

[Thespian0757]

a 500 mb for os as suggested and the 1 tb you could use for game and others stuff if he is not to old .

I am not an expert in computers; I am just beginning to experiment with them. My question may sound silly, but how can I have two hard drives? I like the idea of using an SSD for the operating system and an HDD for other storage purposes.

Could you provide a reference on how to accomplish this?

 

[USAFRet]

I am not an expert in computers; I am just beginning to experiment with them. My question may sound silly, but how can I have two hard drives? I like the idea of using an SSD for the operating system and an HDD for other storage purposes.

Could you provide a reference on how to accomplish this?

Multiple drives is very very common.
My systems have had such for years and years.
My current system has 6x physical drives.


Your primary drive will be the C drive.
This is where your operating system and applications live.
Can be relatively small. Say 500GB.

A secondary drive will be seen as a D (or E or F) drive.
Can use that to save all your data to.


But if you're not sure, by far the easiest is one single drive, and don't worry about it.

A 1TB SATA III SSD would be ideal.
The above suggested Crucial MX500, or a Samsung 870 EVO would work well.

 

[Bob.B]

I would like to upgrade my desktop computer, which currently has a conventional mechanical Hard Drive of 1TB. I am considering installing an SSD hard drive.

• Would a 500GB SSD be sufficient, or should I opt for a 1TB SSD?
• What type of SSD hard drive should I choose? I have come across two options: one similar to this model (https://europe.kioxia.com/en-europe/personal/ssd/exceria-nvme-ssd.html), and another type like this one (https://www.crucial.com/ssd/mx500/ct500mx500ssd1). Which one would you recommend installing?

How full is the hdd?

 

[Lafong]

I am not an expert in computers; I am just beginning to experiment with them.

You ought to seriously consider devoting one hard drive to backups of the others.

The configuration could be:

One internal SSD for Windows, programs, and all personal files plus an external SSD or HDD for backup of everything on the internal.

Or:

One internal SSD for Windows and programs, plus another internal SSD or HDD for all personal files plus an external SSD or HDD for backup of everything on both internal drives.

Or some variation of the above that might include internal backups or off-site backups.

Your personal data is likely much more valuable to you than Windows or programs, so I'd certainly give it priority....perhaps 3 versions of all important personal data files, spread over more than 1 location.

You are the foremost authority on how large these drives need to be. Windows alone is still somewhere below 30 GB as far as I know.

 

[USAFRet]

Windows alone is still somewhere below 30 GB as far as I know.

After Day 1, no system is "Windows alone".
Once you start installing applications and updates, it goes up. Sometimes WAY up.

 

[scout_03]

tutorial to do ssd and hdd install in pc .

 

[Thespian0757]

You ought to seriously consider devoting one hard drive to backups of the others.

The configuration could be:

One internal SSD for Windows, programs, and all personal files plus an external SSD or HDD for backup of everything on the internal.

Or:

One internal SSD for Windows and programs, plus another internal SSD or HDD for all personal files plus an external SSD or HDD for backup of everything on both internal drives.

Or some variation of the above that might include internal backups or off-site backups.

Your personal data is likely much more valuable to you than Windows or programs, so I'd certainly give it priority....perhaps 3 versions of all important personal data files, spread over more than 1 location.

You are the foremost authority on how large these drives need to be. Windows alone is still somewhere below 30 GB as far as I know.

Thank you very much. I am currently in the process of learning how to work with computer hardware, and I find it quite advanced. My current challenge is to replace the Hard Drive Disc with an SSD, but I will attempt to follow your advice. Occasionally, I do feel a bit concerned about potentially damaging something, but I understand that it's part of the learning process. Thank you!

 

[Misgar]

You can "clone" an existing hard disk, complete with Windows (or similar) operating system plus all programs/data to a new SSD of similar or larger capacity.

If your hard disk does not contain an operating system, it might be better to simply copy appropriate files and folders to the new SSD.

I use Macrium Reflect Free to clone Windows disks. Go to the Macrium web site and read the tutorials on how to clone disk drives.

You can install multiple hard disks and SSDs until you fill all the SATA and/or M.2 ports on the motherboard. Most motherboards have at least two SATA ports and modern boards also have one or more M.2 ports. Take care. Some older M.2 ports only support SATA drives. Modern M.2 ports support NVMe drives (Gen3, 4 or 5).