Update SSD or add second SSD?

[pilotpierre]

I am in a similar situation to Nutcases recent post.

 

The only game on the PC is the full suite of Sturmovik. My SSD (see sig for complete rig) has only 10Gb remaining. I think the next update will probably start blowing it out of the water.

 

Ergo questions:

 

1.    Being not too savvy on the innards and workings of computers is it better to just replace the SSD with a bigger capacity SSD or add a second           one (if possible)?

 

2.   From what I gather, if I just replace it, the complete existing SSD content can be copied to the new SSD without buggering and settings, USB connections etc. Is this correct?

 

3.   I also gather I have to be careful of what brand/type of SSD will be compatible to the existing hardware?

 

Thanks in advance for any advice forthcoming

 

 

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

1 hour ago, pilotpierre said:

1.    Being not too savvy on the innards and workings of computers is it better to just replace the SSD with a bigger capacity SSD or add a second           one (if possible)?

 

Adding a second SSD is very easy. Each drive just needs one of the six SATA connectors on your motherboard. You can continue to use both drives with your old drive as the boot drive and the new drive as additional storage. Alternatively, you can create a new boot drive with the new SSD and either keep or remove the old.

 

1 hour ago, pilotpierre said:

2.   From what I gather, if I just replace it, the complete existing SSD content can be copied to the new SSD without buggering and settings, USB connections etc. Is this correct?

 

Yes, there are ways to migrate Windows to a new drive. It will work normally after the procedure is done. However, some people may prefer to create a new Windows installation. It really depends how much you value keeping all your files and settings in the same place vs a clean start with the option to migrate only what you need.

 

1 hour ago, pilotpierre said:

3.   I also gather I have to be careful of what brand/type of SSD will be compatible to the existing hardware?

 

Make sure to get a SATA SSD (the most common type). SSD performance in gaming scenarios does not vary much, so don't feel pressured to buy an expensive drive. Just search for a few reviews to make sure that what you're getting has a reasonable value.

 

When you install your SATA SSD, you'll need to have a data and power cable. Check whether data cables are provided with your motherboard or SSD. Power cables should be on your power supply. The connectors that you should use will be SATA3_0 or SATA3_1 on your motherboard.

Edited August 26, 2019 by Mitthrawnuruodo

[pilotpierre]

Thanks for your response Mitthrawnuruodo.

 

I guess now would also be the time to upgrade to Windows 10 as 7 will not be be obsolete at the end of the year as I have just found out.

 

Ergo I am probably going to have to manually install everything again.

 

[J37_Spyboy]

I believe you can install Win 10 without having to reinstall your gaming software. You can, as I do, run an external SSD which can be plugged into USB. Works very well

[No.332.Animal_NO]

If your motherboard supports M2 SSD, I'd seriously consider that option and get that as an additional SSD. They've come down in price, I got mine for around 100 USD (256GB version). Just make sure you have the mounting screw and spacer in your motherboard box! I'd lost mine and had to go on ebay for a replacement. If it doesn't, get another SATA 2,5" SSD drive, they are even cheaper pr gigabyte, I think they are around 120USD for a whopping terrabyte, and even cheaper for 500Gb.

 

I dont recommend running a game through an external drive, the USB is a bottleneck for speed there.

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Older platforms like the one OP is using lack support for M.2, so it’s not an option here.

 

I agree that external drives should be avoided unless internal drives are not possible. The added latency and limited bandwidth of USB 2.0/3.0 will decrease effective speeds somewhat. Not to mention the aesthetic nightmare of external drives hanging from a tower.

Edited August 26, 2019 by Mitthrawnuruodo

[Alonzo]

I usually reinstall Windows clean once every couple of years. Basically it tends to build up a bunch of cruft and doing a fresh install (even if time consuming) generally improves performance. If you buy a new drive it'll also likely be faster than the old one, just because hardware tends to get faster for the same money. If you have the time, consider adding the new drive as your new system drive, installing Windows 10 on it, and then slowly migrating old files off the old drive (or not migrating, just use IL2 in-place on the old SSD).

[pilotpierre]

Thanks for the responses gents.

 

I have decided to go the route of taking it to a computer repair guy who will take the content from the old SSD, install a SATA 500GB SSD, load windows 10 then migrate the old SSD contents to the new SSD. He will do this all this for $A395 plus a complimentary service on the rest of the PC. 

 

This fares favourably from another shop to do the same for $A400 without the complimentary service.

 

All advice much appreciated.