I recently acquired a couple of new SSD drives, a Samsung 840 EVO 500GB [Windows and applications] and a Sandisk Ultra Plus 250GB drive [for FSX exclusively - at least for now].

 

For the first time ever, I am putting FSX on a different drive although I have not really had issues with putting it in the default location - usually by running everything as Administrator and turning UAC off. Doing it more because it is what is often advised on forums and by FSX software add on developers themselves.

 

Must say, never been totally convinced about this as regardless of where FSX is installed, it will still install several files to the drive where Windows is installed. For example the AppData folders hidden in the User account, registry etc. So effectively, this is splitting FSX across two drives.

 

Hence my question: by doing this, i.e. placing FSX on a dedicated drive, are there any issues or particular things I should be aware of? Is there a down side to going this route?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

 

 

 

Not that I know of. I run FSX by itself on a SATA II 120GB SSD.

 

Other than filling up the drive FSX runs fine. I too am skeptical about the anti program files install because I've done it with zero issues.

 

I think where people get stuck is with program files install AND not disabling UAC.... Can't stand UAC so annoying.

There is nothing to be aware off, as long as your do a clean install so your registry points to the new location. 

 

It will obviously run better in comparison because it now has a dedicated drive to load its files off, while the OS remains on it's own drive. 

 

You are right that some files still go to the OS drive, but these are only some small configuration and shader files. 

 

You should see an increase in performance or at least in consistency. 

 

Hence my question: by doing this, i.e. placing FSX on a dedicated drive, are there any issues or particular things I should be aware of? Is there a down side to going this route?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

None at all, what you are doing is actually the optimal solution.

 

Run the OS and minor programs on a 120GB SSD (that's what I do with a Samsung EVO 840).

 

Run all FS-related in its own separate drive. Even better if it's an SSD as well. I couldn't afford a 1TB SSD (I need the space cause I'm using FS9+FSX+XPlane9+XPlane10.

 

Also, install FS X right on the root folder, something like this: "G:\FS X".

 

Even doing this, disable UAC. I'd say *always* disable UAC no matter what you do. It's the very first thing I do after installing Windows for the first time on a new PC (even if that PC isn't intended for flightsim or games or whatever, I always disable it). That and Windows Defender as well.

 

 

You should see an increase in performance or at least in consistency. 

 

Hell see an improvement in loading times. If he's running photoreal scenery and has that installed on an SSD, it will load faster on FSX once he's flying around. Also, FS-X will take less time to start. But other than that he won't see a spectacular increase in FPS, that's achieved via CPU+GPU.  That's why if money is an issue, I'd only buy a 120GB SSD for the OS and save money for the CPU and/or GPU.