Ssd and hdd

[havingfun1]

I have a m4 and a 2tb seagate.i was wondering if I will be able to install games launcher onto the ssd but keep all the saves on the hdd? Will I be able to do that, and also will it affect the load speeds?

[Agent]

While games do gain from a SSD, most don't have a huge increase that's in line with Windows boot speed and other operations.

Most game save files are tiny as they only store the game state at that time, thus there is no point in doing what you're asking.

If you want the game to be faster, install it to the SSD. It's really that simple

[Dr Krepz]

Having games installed on the SSD will improve game load times etc... Save files are so small that it really won't make a difference where they are stored.

[Pob255]

While games do gain from a SSD, most don't have a huge increase that's in line with Windows boot speed and other operations.

Most game save files are tiny as they only store the game state at that time, thus there is no point in doing what you're asking.

If you want the game to be faster, install it to the SSD. It's really that simple

Sorry but that majorly depends on the game.
eg mincraft installs to your user appdata folder regardless of where you might want it.
the game X3 afaik suffers from the same issue as X2 in that the more exploration and station building the bigger the save files become, which could lead the save files going over 100mb

As to a game "going" faster again depends on the game, yes loading times will be shorter, however beyond that It depends on the game and how much data gets shunted about while you play.
Common things that will be effected are very high res textures that require to get shunted back and forward, autosaves, games that load map/world data on the fly.

[Sacred]

I dont think it would make a huge difference to most games. I've only known games like SWTOR and other data heavy onling MMOs to see major benefits from a SSD.

[GoNz0]

very simple.

install link shell extension http://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinks...kshellext.html

move the save folder to the hard drive, right click the moved folder and select pick link source, go back to the original location, right click the folder and press "drop link here"

job done.

i use this to move lesser used steam games to my 2tb drive.

[Agent]

Sorry but that majorly depends on the game.
eg mincraft installs to your user appdata folder regardless of where you might want it.

As I said, most games.
Not really sure what the install location has to do with my statement?

the game X3 afaik suffers from the same issue as X2 in that the more exploration and station building the bigger the save files become, which could lead the save files going over 100mb

Most games are generally well optimised to normal spindle HDDs due to large package based files, which can be read sequentially very fast. It's when you're reading lots of small files that the speeds really increase on a SSD with games. A 100MB file is pretty much nothing, even on a modern spindle HDD. What's that going to take? A few seconds at most? A Samsung F3 reads at about 120MB/s sequential.

I've lost count of how many games on my Steam list I've moved from my SSD to the Sammy F3 and only noticed a small increase in loading times.

It's games where you need to load a lot of small files quickly that you'll notice a large increase: Which isn't a great deal these days.

As to a game "going" faster again depends on the game, yes loading times will be shorter, however beyond that It depends on the game and how much data gets shunted about while you play.
Common things that will be effected are very high res textures that require to get shunted back and forward, autosaves, games that load map/world data on the fly.

Modern engines are well designed to cope with even slow transfers when it comes to loading textures / materials / maps in game. Streaming the materials in these days is common, and doesn't actually require shifting that much data about over a short period as long as the engine is set up to do so. As above - one of the main reasons that games use packages (think PAK files, UPK for Unreal based games) is not only that they can act as a directory for a content designer, but that the disk read head isn't bolting around all over the place trying to read in 100 meshes, then 100 different files for textures, then sound and so on. Package based files means they can be read in sequentially for the most part and then the relevant data used / stripped out once needed.

I'm not saying there isn't going to be an increase - of course there is, but when you compare it to booting Windows for example, the performance gain isn't as linear.

Have you come across any modern games that have had large increases by going to a SSD?

[Agent]

very simple.

install link shell extension http://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinks...kshellext.html

move the save folder to the hard drive, right click the moved folder and select pick link source, go back to the original location, right click the folder and press "drop link here"

job done.

i use this to move lesser used steam games to my 2tb drive.

Exactly what I do, and that app is a much better than messing about with command line stuff

You can even move the installerapps folder from within /Windows to another drive and free up some space, although I'm not brave enough to move winsxs :x

[havingfun1]

very simple.

install link shell extension http://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinks...kshellext.html

move the save folder to the hard drive, right click the moved folder and select pick link source, go back to the original location, right click the folder and press "drop link here"

job done.

i use this to move lesser used steam games to my 2tb drive.

Sorry I don't understand. Do I click pick link on the files then create hard link on my hdd?

[Pob255]

As I said, most games.
Not really sure what the install location has to do with my statement?

Sorry missed the word "Most" and the install location is in reference to the last bit where you said "If you want the game to be faster, install it to the SSD. It's really that simple" however some games just don't let you have any control over where they install, yes you can use a link shell extension but that's now getting away from "that simple"

Most games are generally well optimised to normal spindle HDDs due to large package based files, which can be read sequentially very fast. It's when you're reading lots of small files that the speeds really increase on a SSD with games. A 100MB file is pretty much nothing, even on a modern spindle HDD. What's that going to take? A few seconds at most? A Samsung F3 reads at about 120MB/s sequential.

I've lost count of how many games on my Steam list I've moved from my SSD to the Sammy F3 and only noticed a small increase in loading times.

It's games where you need to load a lot of small files quickly that you'll notice a large increase: Which isn't a great deal these days.

Modern engines are well designed to cope with even slow transfers when it comes to loading textures / materials / maps in game. Streaming the materials in these days is common, and doesn't actually require shifting that much data about over a short period as long as the engine is set up to do so. As above - one of the main reasons that games use packages (think PAK files, UPK for Unreal based games) is not only that they can act as a directory for a content designer, but that the disk read head isn't bolting around all over the place trying to read in 100 meshes, then 100 different files for textures, then sound and so on. Package based files means they can be read in sequentially for the most part and then the relevant data used / stripped out once needed.

I'm not saying there isn't going to be an increase - of course there is, but when you compare it to booting Windows for example, the performance gain isn't as linear.

Have you come across any modern games that have had large increases by going to a SSD?

I'm not disagreeing with you, most games don't get much benefit for an SSD, the biggest thing you'll notice is atl-tab'ing in and out of them becomes quicker but that's not really the performance of the game.

[wilson5393]

The idea of SSD is the computer read file much more faster, if you put file on HDD, the file will on the HDD so its slower.
Try built Intel smart response, maybe this is what u want to find

[1pnoe]

Which is your primary drive? (with OS)