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    How do SSD + HDD combinations work?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Conc3pt, Jul 23, 2010.

  1. Conc3pt

    Conc3pt Newbie

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    So I'm relatively new to computing.

    I was looking around for notebooks (something relatively nice) and I saw one customizable option that had 410gb of space which was split up into a 160gb SSD and a 250gb HDD. Now how does that work exactly? Does it fill up the SSD first and then move on to the HDD if theres not enough space left?
     
    Conc3pt, Jul 23, 2010
    #1
  2. jasperjones

    jasperjones Notebook Evangelist

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    Well, in Windows, you're gonna see at least two drives which will often be called C: and D:. You could then choose to write some data to the HDD drive. Due to the availability of "libraries" in Windows 7, this is much less complicated that it may sound. For example, with a few clicks, you can tell Windows to put, for example, your Videos on D: (assuming D is the letter of the HDD).
     
    jasperjones, Jul 23, 2010
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  3. Commander Wolf

    Commander Wolf can i haz broadwell?

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    As mentioned, the user chooses how to fill up the drives. Typically people install the OS and applications on the faster, smaller SSD, and store files on the slower, larger HDD.

    The point being that you don't want to waste more expensive SSD on larger, sequentially accessed files like videos or music.
     
    Commander Wolf, Jul 23, 2010
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  4. Conc3pt

    Conc3pt Newbie

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    Thanks a lot! Do manufacturers typically install the OS on the SSD for you?
     
    Conc3pt, Jul 23, 2010
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  5. Commander Wolf

    Commander Wolf can i haz broadwell?

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    I'd sure hope so... it'd be quite odd if they didn't.
     
    Commander Wolf, Jul 23, 2010
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  6. zimbros12

    zimbros12 Notebook Deity

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    In my case I would like to replace my HDD(used only for storage) and go for an SSD = intel.How would a go about it since my OS boots from my PATA SSD .
     
    zimbros12, Jul 23, 2010
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