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Question

Recommended storage size for SSD

Aug 1, 2015 11:56AM PDT

I'm not ready to upgrade my desktop, so I'm considering adding an SSD to speed it up a little bit (or a lot). Storage size is the sticking point for me. Most recommendations are for a SSD for the OS and program files, and keep your hard drive for documents. Does this setup negate any speed benefits, i.e. documents are still being written from and to a HDD? The performance hogs on my pc are Lightroom and Photoshop. If only the OS and programs are necessary, then a 128gb drive will suffice, and the improvement should tide me over until I'm ready to buy a better pc.
Thanks for any input.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
For Windows? 240 or larger.
Aug 1, 2015 12:01PM PDT
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Really depends on your skill level & willingness to manage.
Aug 1, 2015 12:15PM PDT

I have a 128 GB SSD and it works well for me. However we see a lot of folks here who aren't so tech savvy who complain a lot when they run out of space. If you really really know what you're doing, you're in the minority who can get by OK. If you're in the not so tech savvy majority of folks we see in this forum, then spend the extra $50 and get the 240 GB one like Bob suggests.

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Agree....240/256GB is probably the smallest I'd consider
Aug 2, 2015 11:55AM PDT

for now especially given the cost of SSDs. Always better to have a good margin over the minimum requirement.

Besides....you can always use the SSD in another system.

VAPCMD

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Went with 256
Aug 4, 2015 5:23PM PDT

I purchased a 256gb drive, it was only $100 before tax. What I was getting at, though, is if there's an advantage to leaving files on the hard drive (in my case, probably 90% of them photos, videos & music). Or do people do that to find the middle ground between price and performance? From what I've read, there shouldn't be any concern about the number of reads and writes to newer model drives.

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Never keep your files on your HDD.
Aug 4, 2015 5:34PM PDT

Get an external drive and back up there, plus elsewhere. If things go bad, you're in a world of pain.
Dafydd.