Replacing Hard Drives

[AOD_afluffybunni]

I need to replace a harddrive. I currently use two and im thinking about moving to just one. What are the benies of using two or can i just use one with more memory? Also how do i transfer my windows key?

Ps. Im trying to save money so no ssd unfortunately. But i would love some suggestions on a good 2tb for a standard asus rig

[ZED]

Why do you need to replace hard drive? Why not get an SSD and keep your hard drives and use them as DATA storage. I use 4 drives: two SSDs and two HDDs.

If you still want to go route with an HDD then you could get a Hybrid HDD that comes with a built in SSD for caching files. Although, getting an SSD for your OS and perhaps for a couple games will increase the performance of your PC big time (not the FPS tho, but will make your system run faster and smoother).

Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5IB20Q/?tag=pcpapi-20 should be good enough to install OS + two to three games.

[AOD_afluffybunni]

One of my hds is failing hard and the other, my os hd, may have a rootkit that i cant find

[Lilith]

I need to replace a harddrive. I currently use two and im thinking about moving to just one. What are the benies of using two or can i just use one with more memory? Also how do i transfer my windows key?

Ps. Im trying to save money so no ssd unfortunately. But i would love some suggestions on a good 2tb for a standard asus rig

This depends on what you are using your PC fore generally I say the standard for casual people is like 3 Drives.

1 SSD, use this for OS, and related software only.

2 HDD, Use one for your "User directory AKA Files, Music, Photos ETC.

Use the other one for your games only.

Having a setup like this is helpful because if you get a virus for any reason you usually just wipe your primary drive all personal data stays on the other drive and same with games.

Now a more advanced setup is like mine most people will never use it, but this depends I use like 7 Hard Drives in my PC 1x of those is a SSD.

Now about the setup I use is basically setup like This.

C:\ SSD / Primary OS / APPS like Photoshop
E:\ Users Directory which contains Documents, Videos, Pictures, Music etc.
F:\ Steam Games
G:\ Stea Games
H:\ MMORPG Games
I:\ Back Up Drive
J:\ Back Up Drive

This is my setup the reason for so many is lets say I want to run "Warframe" "Elder Scrolls Online" and 4 copies of EVE online I can do this because I split the data over 4 different drives as the head has to move less, and less drive usage so it doesn't bottle-neck and slow load games and stuff.

A lot of people would just say use a raid array but I prefer not to just to help avoid possible data loss issues and I clone the drives seperately.

Works great.

[AOD_afluffybunni]

Im slowly building up my rig so in the futur i will have something like that but for now i just need to get things back up and running

[DDevastatedTV]

I use 2 HD myself, One for windows - apps and the other for games, I use 2 1tb fircuda's sshd

[ZED]

This depends on what you are using your PC fore generally I say the standard for casual people is like 3 Drives.

1 SSD, use this for OS, and related software only.

2 HDD, Use one for your "User directory AKA Files, Music, Photos ETC.

Use the other one for your games only.

Having a setup like this is helpful because if you get a virus for any reason you usually just wipe your primary drive all personal data stays on the other drive and same with games.

Now a more advanced setup is like mine most people will never use it, but this depends I use like 7 Hard Drives in my PC 1x of those is a SSD.

Now about the setup I use is basically setup like This.

C:\ SSD / Primary OS / APPS like Photoshop
E:\ Users Directory which contains Documents, Videos, Pictures, Music etc.
F:\ Steam Games
G:\ Stea Games
H:\ MMORPG Games
I:\ Back Up Drive
J:\ Back Up Drive

This is my setup the reason for so many is lets say I want to run "Warframe" "Elder Scrolls Online" and 4 copies of EVE online I can do this because I split the data over 4 different drives as the head has to move less, and less drive usage so it doesn't bottle-neck and slow load games and stuff.

A lot of people would just say use a raid array but I prefer not to just to help avoid possible data loss issues and I clone the drives seperately.

Works great.

My setup:

1) SSD - used for Windows and primary games (fastest SSD - Samsung 850 Pro)
2) SSD - used for some games and VirtualMachines (lab environment + browsing internet under VPN, which is the best way to keep your computer clean and safe from viruses because if you catch a virus on a VM then just use snapshot to restore it and keep going + it's a Linux machine so, to catch a virus is so much less chance than on Windows OS)
3) HDD - used for recording video's + large file storage
4) HDD - used for storing video's and music
5) External HDD - backup for large files
6) External HDD Encrypted - backup for documents

[Lilith]

My setup:

1) SSD - used for Windows and primary games (fastest SSD - Samsung 850 Pro)
2) SSD - used for some games and VirtualMachines (lab environment + browsing internet under VPN, which is the best way to keep your computer clean and safe from viruses because if you catch a virus on a VM then just use snapshot to restore it and keep going + it's a Linux machine so, to catch a virus is so much less chance than on Windows OS)
3) HDD - used for recording video's + large file storage
4) HDD - used for storing video's and music
5) External HDD - backup for large files
6) External HDD Encrypted - backup for documents

Awesome good there are more than just me who do similar setup lol.

[DERNE]

Awesome good there are more than just me who do similar setup lol.

If you can afford it I would recommend going with a 1 x 1TB SSD, I'm not a fan of having the OS on one and software on the other, defeats the object slightly.

I also have a 2nd 3TB HD for crap, files, downloads etc.

Having the OS and all the games on the SSD is an absolute dream, believe me, there are never any speed issues.

[AOD_Anvil]

If you can afford it I would recommend going with a 1 x 1TB SSD, I'm not a fan of having the OS on one and software on the other, defeats the object slightly.

I also have a 2nd 3TB HD for crap, files, downloads etc.

Having the OS and all the games on the SSD is an absolute dream, believe me, there are never any speed issues.

This has my vote too. I recently changed my setup. Data on a 2TB HDD and OS, Games, everything else on a 1TB SSD. Very worth it!

[ZED]

This has my vote too. I recently changed my setup. Data on a 2TB HDD and OS, Games, everything else on a 1TB SSD. Very worth it!

I use two SSD's for many reasons. Second SSD is more like a Lab Environment filled with VirtualMachines.

[AOD_Anvil]

I use two SSD's for many reasons. Second SSD is more like a Lab Environment filled with VirtualMachines.

Yeah, you're more of a super user so it makes sense :)

[AOD_afluffybunni]

This is about my price range. I would like 2t or better is this a good drive for my money?


https://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Deskt...nal+hard+drive

[WMD]

Toshiba is a good brand. Buy Samsung SSDs or Intel SSDs. Check out the Hybrid drives. A Few GB SSD on a 7.2k HDD. Storage and Speed. The SSD is loaded by most frequently accessed files. So games generally end up on it, or an OS. If your familiar with server technology, adaptive read-ahead would be its closest concept.

Multi-SSD and utilizing folder redirection and Hard-Links via commandprompt, as well as installing programs with intent of which disk to belong to, will allow you to save money and buy less expensive 256gb evo 850 Samsung ssds. Beware sandisk, ocz, kingston, and any other brand you don't see in the enterprise world. Intel and Samsung hold that market.

If anyone wants to ask me any questions - on any subject, i would be happy to indulge information seekers.

[AOD_afluffybunni]

Ty i already do some of these controls like custom path control, once you get to prompt lvl im lost. But soon i will be going to school for the it fields and im sure i will be very disappointed with now bunny lol. My hd is fried so i need a new one to do anything. In the future when i can afford it i will be expanding from my average gamer rig to a quantum space motorcycle. But until that day thank you for the heads up on my pick, and thankyou everyone else for the knowledge you have put into this thread.