Best storage setup for FS2020

[Cavemanhead 11]

Per subject...  What is the best way to set up drives for a new PC.  My assumption is that a very fast 2TB drive with the OS and FS2020 (and any other programs) I want to run is going to be faster than other "dedicated" drives.  Thoughts? 

[charliearon 3,024]

You are now in the appropriate forum for questions!

[RaptyrOne 1,408]

Depending on what other programs you run alongside the Windows OS, you might run out of space. Many on Avsim are running a 1TB dedicated just to MSFS.

There will be other opinions but what I would do is keep Windows and other Apps on a single drive , either 500GB or 1 TB and have a second 1TB drive reserved exclusively for MSFS.

This will not be any slower that a single drive as long as both are equally fast as the single drive.

Regardless the route you take, put MSFS in a custom location. Do not choose the default. Something simple like C:\MSFS2020

[bobcat999 8,477]

I never install anything else on my OS drive in case I need to reinstall it from a backup.  And MSFS will be massive anyway, much bigger than Windows.

I save the C drive purely for Windows, MS Office, and a few prime apps I use.  About 120GB.  I store my backups and place my downloads folder on a 1TB spinner.

Flightsim is on my F drive.

You could get a fast 2TB NVMe drive, and partition it to get the best of both words.

Say 200GB for Windows and your programs, and the rest for Flightsim.  I have done this before and it works well.

[wim123 761]

i always partition, one for the os stuff and rest for games, progs etc.

[ctdlg 106]

Hello,

Using one NVMe drive 2 TB will be faster than using 2 NVMe drives, 1 TB (same total capacity)

More info HERE for example, as you will find this info on other websites !

Edited November 24, 2022 by ctdlg

[Bert Pieke 7,585]

Not sure that MSFS needs to be on a "Superfast" NVMe drive... Windows yes.

I like to keep MSFS on its own drive, just to keep things nice and tidy.

That way, you can back up a drive if needed..

[bobcat999 8,477]

47 minutes ago, Bert Pieke said:

Not sure that MSFS needs to be on a "Superfast" NVMe drive... Windows yes.

I like to keep MSFS on its own drive, just to keep things nice and tidy.

That way, you can back up a drive if needed..

The fast drive helps with loading the sim Bert.  Especially on start-up when it scans the community and official folders for all of the addons. 

Also, some of the aircraft folders are 2 or 3 gig.  An NVME drive will be around 10 times quicker than an old spinner, and 5 times quicker than a standard SSD, and that is being conservative. 
My current Samsung 2TB can read at over 7000MB/s - basically 7GB per second.

You are bang on about Windows being on its own drive or partition.  Helps with backups (less to back up obviously), and a quicker reinstall if needed.

[Bert Pieke 7,585]

1 hour ago, bobcat999 said:

The fast drive helps with loading the sim Bert.  Especially on start-up when it scans the community and official folders for all of the addons. 

Fast is good, for sure.. "superfast" may not make a real difference.. eg 2 TB vs 2X1 TB. 😉

[orchestra_nl 927]

3 hours ago, wim123 said:

i always partition, one for the os stuff and rest for games, progs etc.

I never partition. You always end up with one partition being too small so you have to rearrange things. It also hardly helps if you need to reinstall the OS: a physically seperate drive is much better in that case.
If you must have a seperate drive letter to keep things organised it is much easier to assign a drive letter to a folder, say F: = C:\Games\MSFS\ using the subst command.

[ryanbatc 12,848]

5 hours ago, Cavemanhead said:

Per subject...  What is the best way to set up drives for a new PC.  My assumption is that a very fast 2TB drive with the OS and FS2020 (and any other programs) I want to run is going to be faster than other "dedicated" drives.  Thoughts? 

I've got a 2TB m.2 for MSFS.  The Samsung 980 pros were on sale not sure of their price now.

[Sunshine13 234]

I have a 1tb NVMe just for the simulator.  The OS has its own drive with other apps.

[pilotter 254]

I use two Nvme's. 1 500GB for OS, and 1 2TB for MSFS,AIG and other addons.

Edited November 25, 2022 by pilotter

[737_800 434]

How would you guys design the following setup? I have:

1 TB SSD nvme 3.400 MB/s

500 GB SSD (normal ssd speed)

2 TB SSD nvme 5.150 MB/s (ordered on black friday)

Should I put MSFS on the 2 TB or 1TB? I actually had intend to use the new SSD for video / photo editing and storage. But I wouldn't need the speed of the new 2 TB SSD but the space. For Windows/MSFS I think I could benefit of the speed but don't need that much space of 2TB. How to solve this best?

[Max Kraus 339]

Yep I use the Samsung 980 Pro for FS only.... the 2TB is ok (for now! ) 🙂