[SOLVED] What can I do with a spare 120GB SSD?

[NovaTronMC]

Hello!
So I updated my Corsair LX128 SSD where I had my OS to a XPG Spectrix 512GB M.2 drive for speed and space purposes, however, I won't be able to sell the 120GB SSD since let's be fair, no one really wants any of those, so I prefer to find an alternate use for this SSD than try to sell it.
I've heard about installing specific games in there (might do), software (i'll just use my new SSD for all required software), install Linux (not really into that), use for game clips/backups (also may do) and last but not least, use it as some sort of HDD optimization, which really convinces me but don't know how to do and if it is really worth it.
Would really appreciate some help!
Thanks in advance.

 

[kanewolf]

Use it with a Raspberry PI 4. Branch out from just Windows.

 

[testsubject2575]

Hello!
So I updated my Corsair LX128 SSD where I had my OS to a XPG Spectrix 512GB M.2 drive for speed and space purposes, however, I won't be able to sell the 120GB SSD since let's be fair, no one really wants any of those, so I prefer to find an alternate use for this SSD than try to sell it.
I've heard about installing specific games in there (might do), software (i'll just use my new SSD for all required software), install Linux (not really into that), use for game clips/backups (also may do) and last but not least, use it as some sort of HDD optimization, which really convinces me but don't know how to do and if it is really worth it.
Would really appreciate some help!
Thanks in advance.

Use it as an external drive or as a utility drive with lots of applications and an operating system. Other thing you can do is use it as a network drive for your router/modem.

 

[NovaTronMC]

Use it with a Raspberry PI 4. Branch out from just Windows.

What could I use it for? Cryptomining? Not familiarized with Raspberry Pi at all sorry.

 

[NovaTronMC]

Use it as an external drive or as a utility drive with lots of applications and an operating system. Other thing you can do is use it as a network drive for your router/modem.

My OS will be installed in my M.2. So, would you recommend me getting one of those SATA to USB adapters to keep it as an external drive or leave it inside my PC and use it to store backup data? Also, which are the benefits of using it as a network drive?

 

[testsubject2575]

My OS will be installed in my M.2. So, would you recommend me getting one of those SATA to USB adapters to keep it as an external drive or leave it inside my PC and use it to store backup data? Also, which are the benefits of using it as a network drive?

I can't recommend any SATA to USB adapters, I just rely on those cheap no brand adapters.

Network drives are great for wireless access to drives that are usually inaccessible to mobile devices (most of them support Flash Drives using OTG, but not SSDs, and some smartphones doesn't support OTG at all). You can store lots of music and movies that can be accessed by every device that is connected to the network or use it as a file transfer medium from mobile to PC and vice versa without the need of cables/connectors.

 

[kanewolf]

What could I use it for? Cryptomining? Not familiarized with Raspberry Pi at all sorry.

Look at some of the articles -- https://www.tomshardware.com/topics/raspberry-pi

Main thing is it is a cheap way to have some experience with Linux.

 

[NovaTronMC]

I can't recommend any SATA to USB adapters, I just rely on those cheap no brand adapters.

Network drives are great for wireless access to drives that are usually inaccessible to mobile devices (most of them support Flash Drives using OTG, but not SSDs, and some smartphones doesn't support OTG at all). You can store lots of music and movies that can be accessed by every device that is connected to the network or use it as a file transfer medium from mobile to PC and vice versa without the need of cables/connectors.

Then maybe I should just install the SSD into the PC and use it for ocasional backups. Since I don’t really see me using those networking features to be honest.

 

[USAFRet]

Hello!
So I updated my Corsair LX128 SSD where I had my OS to a XPG Spectrix 512GB M.2 drive for speed and space purposes, however, I won't be able to sell the 120GB SSD since let's be fair, no one really wants any of those, so I prefer to find an alternate use for this SSD than try to sell it.
I've heard about installing specific games in there (might do), software (i'll just use my new SSD for all required software), install Linux (not really into that), use for game clips/backups (also may do) and last but not least, use it as some sort of HDD optimization, which really convinces me but don't know how to do and if it is really worth it.
Would really appreciate some help!
Thanks in advance.

What do you use your system for?
Put a game or two on it.

I use my eldest and smallest SSD as cache space for Lightroom, CAD, video applications.


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

 

[NovaTronMC]

Look at some of the articles -- https://www.tomshardware.com/topics/raspberry-pi

Main thing is it is a cheap way to have some experience with Linux.

What do you use your system for?
Put a game or two on it.

I use my eldest and smallest SSD as cache space for Lightroom, CAD, video applications.


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

What do you use your system for?
Put a game or two on it.

I use my eldest and smallest SSD as cache space for Lightroom, CAD, video applications.


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

I use my system for some gaming, but mainly for Architectural CAD using 3D modelling, sketching and rendering software, as well as photoshop and some other programs. I could potentially use it for cache space as you did, but also to backup some files over there?

 

[USAFRet]

I use my system for some gaming, but mainly for Architectural CAD using 3D modelling, sketching and rendering software, as well as photoshop and some other programs. I could potentially use it for cache space as you did, but also to backup some files over there?

That drive is the perfect location for cache of those applications.
And sure...an extra copy of some files there.
Photoshop actions and presets as well.

 

[NovaTronMC]

That drive is the perfect location for cache of those applications.
And sure...an extra copy of some files there.
Photoshop actions and presets as well.

Got it, and would you mind telling me how can I set this SSD to do these caches? Like settings or configurations? Is there a tutorial or something similar?

 

[USAFRet]

Got it, and would you mind telling me how can I set this SSD to do these caches? Like settings or configurations? Is there a tutorial or something similar?

Each application is different.
For instance, Lightroom:
Edit
Preferences
File Handling

Or in my other image editor, Paintshop Pro:

Other applications have similar settings.