Should I get a 120GB SSD or a 500GB HDD?

[Legolas8181]

I want the SSD for the speed but I like the HDD because of the space it gives me, not sure which to go for and I can only have one. I should note I am a gamer and with the SSD I would install my fave games on ther with the rest going on anexternal HDD but with a 500GB HDD they would all go on there.

 

[aevm]

Get the SSD. You can easily add the HDD later.

If you buy the HDD first and then add the SSD, you will need to reinstall Windows or live with Windows on the HDD.

 

[Legolas8181]

Oh right, forgot to mention that it's gonna be for a laptop so adding a drive in at a later date cannot be done.

 

[aevm]

Do you usually play a game for a few weeks, then uninstall it and install another one? If that's your style you can still have the SSD. If not, you have to get the HDD. 120GB can only hold Windows and a few games...

 

[Legolas8181]

Do you usually play a game for a few weeks, then uninstall it and install another one? If that's your style you can still have the SSD. If not, you have to get the HDD. 120GB can only hold Windows and a few games...

If I were to get the SSD then it would hold Windows, my 3 favourite games and then the rest would go on my external HDD.

 

[XxSCARHx]

I would get the SSD for your OS an a few games and get an external usb HDD for everything else.

 

[aevm]

I'm voting for the SSD.

BTW, you can add an internal hdd later, usually. It's more complicated than for a desktop but it's doable.

 

[Legolas8181]

I'm voting for the SSD.

BTW, you can add an internal hdd later, usually. It's more complicated than for a desktop but it's doable.

Once I get the laptop I am not going inside of it and changing parts out.

 

[jaguarskx]

I'm voting for the SSD.

BTW, you can add an internal hdd later, usually. It's more complicated than for a desktop but it's doable.

That is totally dependent on the laptop design.

For example, my Lenovo Y470 only has one HHD bay so only one 2.5" HDD / SSD can be installed. However, it has a mSATA port so I can install a mSATA SSD.

On the other hand the Dell Latitude 3540 only has one 2.5" bay for a HDD or SSD drive. There is no mSATA port or M.2 port for a SSD drive using those format. Therefore, the Latitude 3540 is absolutely limited to either a HDD or a SSD.

 

[aevm]

Oops, sorry about that. I just assumed, should have checked. I'm spoilt with my laptop, with 3 drives in it...

 

[Legolas8181]

Oops, sorry about that. I just assumed, should have checked. I'm spoilt with my laptop, with 3 drives in it...

My laptop is coming from PC Specialist so I can have more drives in it but I am not taking it apart.

 

[aevm]

Go for the SSD and external HDD. I'm assuming (again, LOL) that you will have USB 3.0 ports. If true, a USB 3.0 external drive will be fast enough to play games from it. I get 70 MB/s that way, similar to internal 1TB WD Green drives for example.

 

[Legolas8181]

Go for the SSD and external HDD. I'm assuming (again, LOL) that you will have USB 3.0 ports. If true, a USB 3.0 external drive will be fast enough to play games from it. I get 70 MB/s that way, similar to internal 1TB WD Green drives for example.

Due to a code I found to knock money off I can afford a 750GB HDD and am gonna go wth that because a guy I know who is doing a PhD said some games perform poorly from an external HDD and at least a 750GB 7200RPM drive will be faster than what I have now, 5400RPM and SATA II

 

[aevm]

Cool. That should be enough for what, 100 games, not bad...