So I have a new PC, and it comes with the OS installed on an SSD with about 230gb on it. There is also a 1tb HDD for storage. Given that I’ve never used a computer like this before, how do I? My understanding of SSD is that if you put too much information on it, or write too often it will die quickly. Is that correct? I can’t really find anything concrete on it. This is a pretty pricey PC so I don’t want something that will die in a couple of years, or less.
I’m curious what the procedure is for running a setup like this. Especially when it comes to programs like UE4 which looks up projects in the document folder. How do I avoid writing to the SSD that houses the OS?
Also in terms of my existing content. I have projects in the documents folder of my windows 7, regular hdd pc and source files in desktop folders. Will bringing these files on the new pc’s hdd in different directories break the projects?
First of all, eww, storing files on the desktop. (personal pet peeve)
Secondly nothing too crazy about this, SSDs are typically meant to be way more stable and last longer than regular harddrives, but the readers that connect to them can go bad, I’ve had it happen. The typical idea is you only install the OS plus any programs you need to get the most performance from, on the SSD. So you wouldn’t want to store the projects there, but you would probably benefit putting things like VS and the engine itself on the SSD. (Example: I wouldn’t install a game to the SSD, but I would install Maya.)
UE4 only looks to the document folder by default. You can store your projects anywhere, and in fact can store multiple projects in different locations. You can even move them, the only catch being that initially the launcher won’t know where you moved them to. Just launch the project manually from it’s folder and the next time the launcher is opened it should know the new location.
If you want to exhaust an SSD you have to do some serious effort to get it to the point its not usable anymore. Dont worry about it, use it! By the time its exhausted you will have bought 5 new PC’s
Also, I added an extra SSD to my computer for UE4 projects. The prices of SSD’s are really low these days.
Dont try to avoid the SSD, thats a waste of a fine product with high performance.
Yes, for normal use cases they are at least as releable as a standard HDD. What to store on it depends on what software you use and how big it is, but you should not be afraid to (almost) fill it.
I wasn’t so much worried about filling it up, as I was it failing on me. But I seem to have figured it out. I created mockup hierarchy on my D drive and installed software there. I also directed as much of them there as I could in terms of save data or additional downloads.
My work tends to get heavy when it comes to space, so I couldn’t really do it on the SSD. But if SSDs are just as safe if not more than a regular HDD, I may look at investing in a larger one. =)
Year and half ago i bought first SSD. And after you go SSD there is no going back. Then around summer last year I decided to get 2 more disks, one for unreal and one for games like itcher.
So now I have 3 discks that are 1 to 1.5 year old. This summer I plan to buy some 500gb M2 drive for system or unreal. So one of those “old” ssds will go to another less used desktop PC.
Those disks are quite new just 1 year old, and I am already planning to replace them, just because they are getting cheaper and bigger so fast. So my point is you should not worry about them wearing down from read\write, they are meant to last at least 5 years (probably quite longer). You will probably replace them anyway before they get to point of breaking.
