Are these good storage drives for for me to purchase?

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CostaP

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-Currently I have a: Seagate Desktop 3.5 inch 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB 6GB/S Internal SATA Drive (black).

I am looking for another 'black' internal HDD as I play games and also use 3D softwares such as Maya, Unity etc and also Photoshop. Although the blue Western Digital is most popular on Amazon..I thought black was best for gaming and big software work?

Not only do I need to backup as I have only just decided to...but getting mixed responses and reviews from people and also softwares about current health status of my HD. Some say there is a small problem, others say its completely fine.

Can I use any internal HDD when switching? Looking at either Western Digital (good warranty period) or Seagate, as they seem most popular via Amazon.

Looking to purchase

-External Harddrive for backup: Seagate Expansion 1 TB USB 3.0 Portable 2.5 inch External Hard Drive for PC

-Internal Harddrive (to clone and also swap if current one breaks): WD Black 1TB Performance Desktop Hard Disk Drive - 7200 RPM SATA 6 Gb/s 64MB Cache 3.5 Inch

-SSD (possibly): Samsung 750 EVO 120 GB 2.5 inch Solid State Drive - Black

Are these good ones to purchase? I am happy with the external harddrive and the SSD but still confused about what internal HDD. Research has shown me that black is used a lot for heavy end PC and its fast. Blue is used for casual PC and moderate speed?

Need some clarification as looking to buy these a.s.a.p to backup and clone

Many Thanks
 
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USAFRet


Of COURSE the Seagate salesman said that. He's not selling you an SSD.

SSD + 1TB...yes, the 1TB will fill up eventually
2TB by itself...the 2TB will fill also up eventually

Data expands to fill the available space.
The nice things about drives, unlike most other parts...you can easily add capacity as time goes on.

My current system has 5 x SSD. Yes, 5.
500GB - OS and applications
250GB - photo work
250GB - video and CAD work...
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shrapnel_indie

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WD Blue are decent drives and will meet your needs well. (Just avoid the ones that the model numbers end with Z) In fact, they will meet your needs as well as a WD Black, but cost less. There's nothing wrong with going for either black or blue. (Just an FYI, Hitachi/HGST drives are WD in that WD owns them, and IMHO, just as good.) Others will crucify (rightly or wrongly, depending on where and how you stand on "evidence" of an old study and personal and anecdotal evidence) Seagate without a second though.

Since you haven't produced any evidence of the health of your current HDD (S.M.A.R.T. health info in particular), I know I will refrain from making any statements on it.

As a side note your chosen size of 120GB for your SSD (1/2 the size I'd recommend, personally... but I can understand budget restraints too) will hold pretty much the OS, and maybe a couple of key apps. (Maya would be a good choice if it fits)


Now... to your questions. Black is usually considered high performance while blue is pretty much your everyday driver variety. Again, either one will work well... Personally I'd go with the blue and move the extra money over to see if you can double that SSD storage space.
 
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So you advise I get the 250 GB Samsung SSD? Damn, £89.36. I mean what or how much can be installed on the 120GB?

I only started getting back into games when I finished University a few weeks ago. I only only play Overwatch or BF4 occasionally. Potentially adding more games in the future. I also use 3D softwares. So you advise getting a 250GB ssd instead?
 
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So you reccomend a blue one? And thanks for taking budget into consideration for me..I completely forgot to mention that. As a student this is especially important haha.

Like I mentioned in the reply to the other guy, I have started playing games recently. If I was to transfer a few games to SSD it would be Overwatch and maybe 1/2 more but it could increase (although maybe leave it on HDD). Its no hurt to have games on HDD is it?
Thats why I presumed I would need a black HDD as I game and use PC a lot.
I would put my OS on the SSD,. Also my editing programmes like Photoshop, Unity etc

Here are some results from different software's:

HD Tune:Benchmark http://imgur.com/a/KnMH3 and Health http://imgur.com/a/jQoc6

CrystalDisk Info including SMART and CrystalDiskMark: http://imgur.com/a/7lhtp (not sure what the DiskMark data means.

My Options:

Option_1: If budget was not so much an issue (and if it benefits my PC more as a gamer/designer): 250GB SSD and 1TB black WD HDD ? (

Option_2: If budget needs to be taken in consideration: 250GB SSD and 1TB blue WD HHD

Option_3: Restricting and having an awkward downloading to specific places: 120GB SSD and 1TB black/blue WD HDD?

Hopefully the SMART info I have provided helps you :) Sorry for not adding it earlier

And I think youre right with getting a bigger SSD 250GB just in case basically. Its just the HDD now :/


 
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shrapnel_indie

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From what I can tell with the images, Your HDD is fine, with nothing to worry about. (just keep backups for the hard to, or can't replace, stuff, as what you're normally supposed to do.) Also, if push comes to shove with the budget, you can get away without a SSD. They are just a really nice convenience in access speed for what's on them (and when the OS uses it for a boot drive make for fast boot times.)

The options you list are valid. I'd try to go for option_2 though. Option_3 is the least desirable, but doable if need be.

There is no harm in having games on a SSD, HDD, or some on each.
 
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From what I can tell with the images, Your HDD is fine, with nothing to worry about. (just keep backups for the hard to, or can't replace, stuff, as what you're normally supposed to do.)
Click to expand...
So you sure everything is fine? I mean even I thought that from these test results. Only worry was the 'Interface CRC error count attention'.
Also, for some reason, Seatools Windows said there was something wrong from the 'Short DST Test' which is why I was worried...only now I scanned my HDD and it had it as a pass...? Hmm, maybe I should not worry about the "Reboot and Select proper Boot device" happening randomly then? Could be some early warning signs or just a random but never again thing (hopefully)?

Could be that the defrag moved an important file maybe or as people have suggested theSATA cable transfering files?..although that looked fine to me. This makes me scared to defrag again or even run a full McAfee scan in the future :/ Should I be worried about defragging?

Also, if push comes to shove with the budget, you can get away without a SSD. They are just a really nice convenience in access speed for what's on them (and when the OS uses it for a boot drive make for fast boot times.)

The options you list are valid. I'd try to go for option_2 though. Option_3 is the least desirable, but doable if need be.
Click to expand...

Ye you could be right. I have been fine with just a HDD all these years. Will probably just leave the SSD for now and just purchase a backup external HD.

-Would you still advise that I purchase the 1TB blue WD HHD and clone my current Seagate HDD onto it? The boot message might have been a warning to tell me to start backing up haha!

There is no harm in having games on a SSD, HDD, or some on each.
Click to expand...

Once I get the SSD I will do research and see what people do with them :)

 
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USAFRet

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250GB SSD.

Read this for how to manage space between the SSD and the HDD(s):
Win 7 & 8: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1834397/ssd-redirecting-static-files.html
Win 8.1 & 10: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2024314/windows-redirecting-folders-drives.html

For Steam games on other drives:
Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder
5RXQa0Y.jpg

 
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Thanks for that.

Also just been on the phone to Seagate, they advise that I go for 2TB hd with in SSD, instead of a 1TB and SSD .
They said if I get the SSD, put the OS and some games/software on there eventually the 1TB HD will become full.

Looks like I need to form out some more cash :(
 
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shrapnel_indie

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With those issues, yeah, I'd be seeking one too. Problem sounds a bit random right now, and it might have slipped past the testing by not acting up at that point.

If £60 doesn't break the bank with a separate SSD and 2TB HDD, may be a good way to go:

https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/products/internal-hard-drive/#X=0,6000&sort=-capacity&f=3,2,122042,122060,122080&S=120000,10000000&page=1 (HDDs and SSDs £60 or less, each)
 
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USAFRet

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Of COURSE the Seagate salesman said that. He's not selling you an SSD.

SSD + 1TB...yes, the 1TB will fill up eventually
2TB by itself...the 2TB will fill also up eventually

Data expands to fill the available space.
The nice things about drives, unlike most other parts...you can easily add capacity as time goes on.

My current system has 5 x SSD. Yes, 5.
500GB - OS and applications
250GB - photo work
250GB - video and CAD work
960GB - games and a bunch of other junk
120GB - scratch space for #2 & 3.

Of course it did not start out that way.
It started with the 120GB SSD, and a couple of spinning drives. Over time, new SSD's were added, and the spinning drives moved over to the HTPC/house server.
Now...ALL of the spinning drives live in or are attached to a NAS box. Even the HTPC is now just 2 x SSD, 120GB each.



Bottom line - Get an SSD for the OS and applications, 250GB or larger. And get whatever HDD fits in your budget. ADD another HDD later...next year.
Having an SSD now is a MUCH greater impact than the space difference between having a 1 or 2TB spinning drive.
 
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Wow you have 5 SSD!? :eek2: That's like...crazy speed. Your PC must boot up everything really fast! I am not sure if I read a HDD in that? Do you not use one?

Final final mention before I annoy everyone:

Going with a:

-£70 quid WD Black 1TB Performance Desktop Hard Disk Drive - 7200 RPM SATA 6 Gb/s 64MB Cache 3.5 Inch (to clone and also swap if current one breaks)

-£50 Seagate Expansion 1 TB USB 3.0 Portable 2.5 inch External Hard Drive for PC (To backup my whole PC to)

-Samsung 850 EVO 250 GB 2.5 inch Solid State Drive - Black (might buy it in a few months so it looks like I am only spending £90 on that day instead of around £210 on 3 storage devices in one shop haha ;)

PC maintenance is soo expensive :( I always seem up upgrade something every year and ive only had PC for 4 years. Will most likely get Windows remote assistance for Backup and maybe Cloning and SSD.

Cheers all, everyone advice has been great, shame there is only 'best answer' as everyone has contributed

I hope this all goes well for me! :)

Many Thanks

 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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All 3 of my main systems are SSD only.
Mine = 5 (~2TB total)
HTPC = 2 (~250GB total)
Wife system = 1 (250GB)

Spinning drives live in or attached to the NAS box.
4 x 3TB HDD in the NAS
1 x 2TB USB
1 x 3TB USB
1 x 8TB USB (those 3 in a 4 bay USB enclosure)
 
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USAFRet

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Individually, they run at regular SSD SATA III speed. There is no RAID or anything. Nor do I want that.
But having them all SSD means I'm not waiting on something because it happens to live on an HDD.

 
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shrapnel_indie

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Other options (using the link I provided earlier.)

SK hynix HFS250G32TND-N1A2A SL308 2.5" SSD 250GB £73.90 - > Ebuyer.com
Western Digital WD10EZEX Caviar Blue 3.5" 7200RPM 1TB 64MB £41.88 - > Aria PC

Crucial CT275MX300SSD1 MX300 2.5" SSD 275GB £83.15 - > Aria PC
Crucial CT275MX300SSD4 MX300 M.2-2280 SSD 275GB £85.49 - > CCL Computers
 
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