Getting an extra SSD. what to do? really noob with this

d1versify · Feb 22, 2014

Hello i have an ssdnow v300 120gb and a HDD 500gb.
I use the ssd for windows and games and the hdd for storage.
I want to get an extra one because 120gb not enough for me.
I know nothing about this SSD Raid thing so i dont know what to do.
Someone told me you can merge 2 ssds and they will appear in the PC as one and work as one.
Is that true?
If yes, they must be the exact same SSDs?

So, i would like to buy a 250gb one, but if i have the windows on the 250gb SSD, and i install a game on the 120gb one ( that will no more have Windows in it ) , will the game be able to run properly?
Or should i get another 120gb and if that raid thing is possible, they will appear as one drive of 240gb and ill be ok ?

JohnnyLucky · Feb 22, 2014

I do not recommend using modern 3rd generation SATA 6Gb/s solid state drives in a RAID array. There is no reason for it unless you are doing some sort of professional work that could make good use of a RAID array.

RAID arrays normally require identical ssd's. I noticed you have a Kingston SSDNow V300 ssd. Temporarily I do not recommend purchasing a V300. A problem has developed with some of the ones sold during the past 90 days. Here is a link to a forum post about the problem that you should read:

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2033901/question-kingston-v300-ssd.html

13thmonkey · Feb 22, 2014

agree with Johnny, if you get a 250GB and put it in a raid array with your 120GB, you'll see just 240GB in total and lose the remainder. It'll be faster but less fault tolerant.

The best way to do this is use it as a simple storage drive, and install/move games onto it. Steam can host separate libraries, i.e. multi player games where load time is important can be on the new ssd, single player games where it is not so, put them on the HDD.

Making them look like 1 drive is complex, and full of risks that you need to be aware of, and have backup plans to mitigate.

d1versify · Feb 22, 2014

OK thanks !
So i can just buy a Samsung 840 EVO 120gb, install windows on it, uninstall windows from the other.
And i can install the games on both SSDs, no matter if they have windows installed or not?

13thmonkey · Feb 22, 2014

yep, they are just like your 500GB HDD.

I wouldn't both moving windows though. it might be 2-5s faster to boot, that's all, for a lot of hassle.

d1versify · Feb 22, 2014

13thmonkey :

what do you mean hassle? you are talking about the format , backups etc? I won't care for this! So the games can play perfectly from a hard drive with no windows right?

13thmonkey · Feb 23, 2014

you need windows on 1 drive only, this is your boot drive, all other drives do not need anything extra on them other than the games you want to use. These will then appear as your d:\ e:\ f:\ etc.

d1versify · Feb 23, 2014

Oh ok thanks a lot for help! Which one would you choose? Samsung 840 evo or samsung 840 pro?

13thmonkey · Feb 23, 2014

USAFRet · Feb 23, 2014

Agree with the above comments. Don't RAID those things. Just add another drive.

840 EVO, in whatever size your budget allows.

d1versify · Feb 23, 2014

Thanks for everything guys! I was just too confused with all this raid thing. So i'll just get 1 more ssd...

Oh and one last question .. Can i have 3 drives on my PC? I mean what are the requirements? Bigger psu? Maybe the motherboard cant support 3 ? Or something else?
Its the last question i promise! sorry

USAFRet · Feb 23, 2014

d1versify :

You can have as many drives as you have SATA ports. You won't need a larger PSU.
Currently, I have 4 in my main box. 2 x SSD and 2 x HDD.
5.25TB total.

d1versify · Feb 23, 2014

wow nice ! but they do use power right..? im just asking because i recently got a gpu which needs much power, so maybe 3 disks and the gpu are too much for the PSU.

USAFRet · Feb 23, 2014

d1versify :

Yes, they obviously use power, but not a lot.
What PSU is it?

d1versify · Feb 23, 2014

its corsair cx 600! i also have an asus r9 280x directCU ii top, and an fx 8350

USAFRet · Feb 23, 2014

d1versify :

You're fine.

d1versify · Feb 23, 2014

thanks a lot !! cheers

13thmonkey · Feb 23, 2014

^+1 more than fine, providing you've got somewhere to put them and plug them into you'll be fine. Think of disks in terms of 5-10W each no more than that.

d1versify · Feb 23, 2014

13thmonkey :

i have a gigabyte GA-970A-UD3 and a coolermaster RC 333 midi . i hope everything is fine

Getting an extra SSD. what to do? really noob with this

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