I'm pretty sure this has been discussed before but can't locate the postings.  I'm about to get a new computer that has both a SSD and HDD.  My question is on which should I put P3d and MSFS?  I'm assuming that Win 10 will come loaded on the SSD.   Does it even matter or is there any advantage to one way or other where the sims go?  Thanks for any advice.

Jim

if  your  getting  a  new  pc   you  can have  your  windows  stuff  on the hdd (which  means  your  hdd  drive  will be  your  c  drive  and  your  ssd   will  be  what  ever  you  name  it  being  e  or  f  and  all  your  flight  sim  stuff  on the  ssd),  dont  know  why  would   you not  get  2  ssd  drives

Edited September 19, 20205 yr by pete_auau

The simulators will take a little longer to load on an HDD but thereafter, should not run any better or worse. Even if you had a choice, by far the best option is to have the operating system on the SSD, that will speed up everything that Windows does and be the best use of it. I expect, as you do, that the PC will be supplied that way in any case.

I am going to assume your HDD has a larger capacity than your SSD so if you are planning 2 sims, then SSD for your Windows system and the larger HDD for your sims would make best sense.

In general the SSD for windows will make everything run  smoothly . As stated above loading the sim from a HDD will typically take longer unless you have a hybrid HDD.

 

 

These days, considering cost, durability, speed, power consumption, and heat generation, I would only consider an external HDD for file storage only.  Inside the computer case, you are far better served with SSD's.  If, for some reason, you are set on having a SSD and a HDD in your computer, then put the OS on the SSD.

If you can afford to upgrade your HDD to another SSD, go for it. Or even better, just add: i.e., the smallest SSD (>240 GB) for Windows and support apps/programs, the bigger one for sims (P3D/MSFS2020) and the HDD for all storage (Documents, Music, Pictures, screenshots, installers, backups, etc).

The computer is already on its way so can't change anything now.  It is equipped with a 1 TB SSD and a 1 TB HDD.  Thanks for all the advice though.

Jim

And yet another thought. Remove the HDD and use it for off system backup. Get a second SSD for in the case and be that far ahead of things. It may seem easy to think of things like documents and photos and music as less important. That is until a drive failure looses them.

Actually, dont do anything yet, until you have used it & got used to it. Opening the PC will probably invalidate any guarentees.  

With 1TB you can do anything really. I would use the SSD for the main things that I would be using. Maybe put one of the sims there & the other on the HHD. There ever you want the quickest access of your data. 

I always put windows on the fastest drive any program that runs on your PC will communicate through windows, 1TB sound a lot but two sims will take up some space and if you add more to the sim it will soon fill. 

Definitely put Windows on the SSD. No question. As for the sims, I have dumped P3D a while back so can’t comment on that but if you want a decent experiencewith MSFS20 , make sure it is on a SSD too. Get another SSD if you have to and let the HDD just be used for storage. It makes such a difference to you computing experience.

SSD 1 - Windows, all programs, including Steam etc. 500GB is usually sufficient unless you have a ton of programs

SSD2 - MSFS, P3D and related add ons. 500GB or 1TB 

HDD - data - downloaded files, work files, images, email data files, backups etc etc.

And get NVMe SSD’s. About the same price, 5 times faster and no cables and wires to make your system look untidy.. Neat and easy!

SSD's are definiately worth the money. I have been using five and one mechanical.