Choosing a Hard Drive

sukuhdi · Aug 28, 2014

I'm trying to re-build old computer, only a basic gamer but I want a fast computer. Have a G3258 CPU, GA-H81M-DS2V mobo, GTX 550TI video card, 550w power supply and I plan to get Windows7.

I found a White Label Hard drive on newegg. Guess its a OEM Hard drive w/o the fancy box. Does this look ok? its the cheapest 64MB cache, 7,200 RPM hard drive I could find. I don't really need the 1TB of storage.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA5AD1S72218

Is there a better choose for a casual gamer on a budget? or is $50 decent?

USAFRet · Aug 28, 2014

sukuhdi :

Well...that one appears to be out of stock.
But this one: $55 - http://www.newegg.com/global/uk/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840
or this one: $60 - http://www.newegg.com/global/uk/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236339

inerax · Aug 28, 2014

The WD HDD is a good one. I would go for that one.

If you really want to speed up your machine get a SSD. It will be a smaller size and a bit more $$ but will be the biggest upgrade to your computer.

http://www.newegg.com/global/uk/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236339

sukuhdi · Aug 28, 2014

Would a SSD really make that much of a difference? compared to one of the 64MB 7,200 RPM HDD?

I mostly just care about searching the web quickly and not having any lag in games. (no fps or big mmo's)

found a $50 SSD mSATA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167143

will that fit my Mobo? or is it a SATAIII?

USAFRet · Aug 28, 2014

sukuhdi :

Do not buy that SSD!! 30GB is far too small.

Start off with just a regular HDD - 1TB or so. You're overthinking this situation.
A $50-$60 1TB WD Blue or Seagate Barracuda will work just fine.

USAFRet · Aug 28, 2014

sukuhdi :

An SSD is great, if used properly. Makes the whole system feel snappier.
But it does NOT help with fps in games. And you really need to start with a 120GB or larger, along with a 1TB HDD.

RCguitarist · Aug 28, 2014

The WD Blue will be fine for your uses. A SSD will not make games run faster and they have so little room that you won't be able to put many games on one anyway. So you would need the WD Blue for the games anyway. But if you do get an SSD, you absolutely have to go with one that is 120GB minimum. Then you probably only want to use about 90GB of the 120 so you don't see performance degradation from the drive being too full.

An SSD IS faster than a 7200RPM HDD, but in my opinion, the difference isn't mindblowing. It's the difference between the web browser taking .5 seconds to open or 1.5 seconds to open. Yes, 3x faster, but only 1 second. I have an SSD and while I do like the extra speed, I was just as happy with my WD Black's speed...and I am the type of person who's ADHD makes me hate waiting for electronics to process my commands. I bash my iphone on tabletops when it takes a second or two too long to load an app, haha.

sukuhdi · Aug 28, 2014

USAFRet :

sukuhdi :

An SSD is great, if used properly. Makes the whole system feel snappier.
But it does NOT help with fps in games. And you really need to start with a 120GB or larger, along with a 1TB HDD.

1TB WD Hard Drive is

Thank you!!!

inerax · Aug 28, 2014

A small SSD will be pointless. You want it big enough to hold your OS, programs and games. Then have a 1TB (or more) harddrive for all of your storage.

I would not get anything less than a 256GB SSD..... I ran a 256GB for many years and honestly would NEVER go back to HDD only.

And you asked will it really be noticeable over a regular HHD? YES!!! It wont make FPS better, but, it will make starting the computer and opening any programs noticeably faster. Example video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIrjwx6umdg

WinnRig · Aug 28, 2014

Arguably, SSD is the single most impactful upgrade you can do for your system aside from adding more ram.

Window when maxed out uses virtual memory, which is cached in the hard drive. So if your hard drive is 10x Faster it will
speed up the whole system.

I agree though that minimum is 100 gb for a boot drive and then a regular drive. You can find 128gb drives on ebay for around $50.00
just look up " 128gb ssd 2.5 " Since the 500gb SSD have hit the $250.00 mark a lot of gamers are upgrading and selling the old boot drive for cheap. My 100gb Drive that cost me over $300.00 4 years ago went for around $40.00. Ouch...

You can always start with the 128gb SSD and then buy a WD Blue Later.

sukuhdi · Aug 28, 2014

inerax :

That is a pretty amazing, was a lot of video's showing the difference loading WoW too, crazy how much of a difference it is.

pretty good upgrade seeing as how a SSD is the same price as a HHD. ($40-$60)

sukuhdi · Aug 28, 2014

WinnRig :

So would this work by itself with out a HDD?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820171740&cm_re=128GB_SSD-_-20-171-740-_-Product

inerax · Aug 28, 2014

sukuhdi :

When people ask me what to upgrade to speed up their computer.... SSD... almost everytime.... Now you still need storage... So getting a 1TB HHD (I will use nothing but westerdigital drives) and having your next upgrade being a SSD would be a great option.

You will notice the speed upgrade to the SSD. I put my 256 in my wifes computer and i run a 512 samsung EVO. Its an amazing piece of equipment.

You do not have to have a HDD to use with a SSD. Most people run a SSD and HDD because the size of SSD's are so small.

I would honestly say get a western digital HDD 1TB drive. Use this for your main drive for now. Then shoot for a 128-256GB SSD for your next upgrade

sukuhdi · Aug 28, 2014

well if im going to need a HDD to use with the SSD, then I will probably have to wait to add one to my system. I gota spend about $400 already getting the rest of the parts just to get it running.

Thank you guys so much! cant tell ya how much you have helped me out.

inerax · Aug 28, 2014

sukuhdi :

Yes... if you are looking to save money get this....Mushkin is a mid range brand. I have used their memory for years with no problems. My 250GB SSD is Mushkin. Its 2 years old. 0 problems.

http://www.newegg.com/global/uk/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226237

WinnRig · Aug 28, 2014

inerax :

sukuhdi :

When people ask me what to upgrade to speed up their computer.... SSD... almost everytime.... Now you still need storage... So getting a 1TB HHD (I will use nothing but westerdigital drives) and having your next upgrade being a SSD would be a great option.

You will notice the speed upgrade to the SSD. I put my 256 in my wifes computer and i run a 512 samsung EVO. Its an amazing piece of equipment.

You do not have to have a HDD to use with a SSD. Most people run a SSD and HDD because the size of SSD's are so small.

I would honestly say get a western digital HDD 1TB drive. Use this for your main drive for now. Then shoot for a 128-256GB SSD for your next upgrade

I beg to differ, reloading an operating system and all of the programs, is a major PITA. Better to start with the SSD and put your best games on it and upgrade later.

inerax · Aug 28, 2014

sukuhdi :

You CAN run a SSD standalone. Many laptops have a single SSD and thats it. If you can live with only 250GB of space the SSD is going to be the best router for you.

inerax · Aug 28, 2014

WinnRig :

inerax :

I beg to differ, reloading an operating system and all of the programs, is a major PITA. Better to start with the SSD and put your best games on it and upgrade later.

+1.... but if he cannot afford a SSD now... starting with 1TB HDD then the upgrade is the only route... if you can start with the SSD do it 100%

sukuhdi · Aug 28, 2014

inerax :

Actually ya, I only have 1-3 games on my computer and no music/videos. So I prolly could

WinnRig · Aug 28, 2014

sukuhdi :

This would be a great choice.
You don't need a hard drive until it gets too full. Depending on the size of your games that could be as little as 3 games and as many as 100.

Here's what to do. Take the games that you want to play and look up how many gb of drive space they use.
Corrected Based on my 128gb Drive and Windows official recommendation for Windows 7

Windows 7 64Bit uses 20gb [Win 7 32bit //16gb] and your 128gb will format down to around 119gb . Let's add another 10gb for miscellaneous and another 10gb for Virtual Memory etc. because. I've found that when I get below 10g left it can get glitchy or slow. So you have [119 - 40] or around 80gb to use for games.

inerax · Aug 28, 2014

sukuhdi :

I changed my link. The first one did not mention TRIM... you want TRIM... it helps to keep your SSD running fast. This product is the same but this one mentions TRIM

..... and its $5 cheaper

I would go with this option.

http://www.newegg.com/global/uk/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226371

sukuhdi · Aug 28, 2014

That works, most games i play like Diablo3 say they only require 12GB-25GB, so I should have plenty of room with 100.

Thanks for breaking it down like that

inerax · Aug 28, 2014

sukuhdi :

No problem... Just dont be scared of an SSD.... most people are for some reason. It works the same as a regular old HDD, just faster.

Once you get the product if you need any help let us know

Im off for the night... have a good one! PM me if you need anything!

WinnRig · Aug 28, 2014

sukuhdi :

You are welcome.

Oh and another thought, while it may be a PITA. You can always uninstall your games after you tire of them and then re-install when you need them. For example play Diablo and Two other Games for a few weeks. Then buy a game and deinstall one of them.

So you aren't limited in how many games you can play. Just how many you can have on the system at a time.
Then in the future you can upgrade.

inerax · Aug 28, 2014

For some reason my link was for the UK newegg.... US link below.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226371

Choosing a Hard Drive

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