SSD for windows and HDD for programs?

rcflyers · 18 Nov 2012

I currently have an 80Gb HDD with Windows 7 installed and a 160Gb HDD with the various program files and applications on it.
I did this originally as I assumed that the pc can read/write data simultaneously to both drives which should speed up performance when loading programs..
Other data such as videos, pictures etc are stored on a 1Tb HDD.
I am thinking of getting a Samsung 64Gb SSD drive.
The question is, will it work faster for the Windows and all the program files to be on the SSD drive or just let the operating system run from the SSD and keep the program files on the 160Gb HDD?
Thanks for any replies.

TVeblen · 18 Nov 2012

Hello rcflyers. Welcome to the forum.

It depends.

There are some high end programs and games that can greatly benefit in functionality from being installed and run from the faster SSD. But a lot of the run-of-the-mill will barely change other that loading faster (office programs, browsers, etc.). So for the most part I would keep them on the spinner.

For initial setup of the SSD you could clone the OS from the old spinner to the SSD. If the OS is currently looking for program folders on the 160GB then the switch could be very fast and easy, I wouldn't change a thing.

After all is set up and tested fine then you might consider which programs to uninstall from the 160 and reinstall onto the SSD.