Replace NVMe SSD or install SATA SSD and boot from NVMe?

[PotaraWarrior]

Hello, Im new to pc gaming, modding, and computer components. I bought an Hp OMEN dc1020nr laptop about a year ago and was super excited because it would be my first gaming laptop. I bought the version with the best graphics card and processor within my budget at the time ( Intel Core i7 9750H, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti). However it only came with a 256GB SSD NVMe drive and 2 4GB DDR4 2666 SDRAM. I realized that I would eventually have to upgrade the memory components. Recently I started following Sinitar's guide for modding Skyrim SE and have almost finished the graphics section. The game looks BEAUTIFUL! However, I have only about 56GB of space left in my Drive and the fps is low in some spots so I decided this is the time to upgrade the memory. I will be buying two 8GB DDR4 SDRAM sticks to help with the fps hopefully but I have a question regarding the SD drive. See aside from the NVMe SD drive slot, I can add a SATA SSD drive if I buy the cable for it. So my question is, should I simply upgrade the NVMe SSD drive to a 1TB drive, or install a 1 TB SATA SSD drive and move my games there while only booting from and storing only extremely important files in the 256GB NVMe SSD? I apologize if I used the wrong terms, Im still really new to all this.

[HeyYou]

I would go for installing an additional drive, leave the O/S on the NVME, install games and such to the other SSD.

 

Also, make sure your Laptop can actually support the amount of Ram you want to install. So will only use up to 8gb, regardless of O/S. (though, the newer ones tend to support more.... imagine that. :) )

[PotaraWarrior]

@HeyYou I was leaning towards that haha! Thank you for your response.

[HeyYou]

Happy to push you over. :D

[EyMiMayhem]

Hello, Im new to pc gaming, modding, and computer components. I bought an Hp OMEN dc1020nr laptop about a year ago and was super excited because it would be my first gaming laptop. I bought the version with the best graphics card and processor within my budget at the time ( Intel Core i7 9750H, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti). However it only came with a 256GB SSD NVMe drive and 2 4GB DDR4 2666 SDRAM. I realized that I would eventually have to upgrade the memory components. Recently I started following Sinitar's guide for modding Skyrim SE and have almost finished the graphics section. The game looks BEAUTIFUL! However, I have only about 56GB of space left in my Drive and the fps is low in some spots so I decided this is the time to upgrade the memory. I will be buying two 8GB DDR4 SDRAM sticks to help with the fps hopefully but I have a question regarding the SD drive. See aside from the NVMe SD drive slot, I can add a SATA SSD drive if I buy the cable for it. So my question is, should I simply upgrade the NVMe SSD drive to a 1TB drive, or install a 1 TB SATA SSD drive and move my games there while only booting from and storing only extremely important files in the 256GB NVMe SSD? I apologize if I used the wrong terms, Im still really new to all this.

As pointed out, let the os and apps stick to the m2 and put your games on a sata or external ssd (:

 

Ram alone wont improve the fps that much, atleast in a noticeble area, But nice to have while playing with mods and stuff.

 

To the sata ssd, I doubt u need a cable, sata port should be on the notebook mainboard, on the other hand, since this notebook has usb-c i would also take a look at external ssd's like the samsung t5.

Besides my samsung pro ssd's I'm also using a 2tb T5 and it's doing the job fine (:

[HeyYou]

 

Hello, Im new to pc gaming, modding, and computer components. I bought an Hp OMEN dc1020nr laptop about a year ago and was super excited because it would be my first gaming laptop. I bought the version with the best graphics card and processor within my budget at the time ( Intel Core i7 9750H, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti). However it only came with a 256GB SSD NVMe drive and 2 4GB DDR4 2666 SDRAM. I realized that I would eventually have to upgrade the memory components. Recently I started following Sinitar's guide for modding Skyrim SE and have almost finished the graphics section. The game looks BEAUTIFUL! However, I have only about 56GB of space left in my Drive and the fps is low in some spots so I decided this is the time to upgrade the memory. I will be buying two 8GB DDR4 SDRAM sticks to help with the fps hopefully but I have a question regarding the SD drive. See aside from the NVMe SD drive slot, I can add a SATA SSD drive if I buy the cable for it. So my question is, should I simply upgrade the NVMe SSD drive to a 1TB drive, or install a 1 TB SATA SSD drive and move my games there while only booting from and storing only extremely important files in the 256GB NVMe SSD? I apologize if I used the wrong terms, Im still really new to all this.

As pointed out, let the os and apps stick to the m2 and put your games on a sata or external ssd (:

 

Ram alone wont improve the fps that much, atleast in a noticeble area, But nice to have while playing with mods and stuff.

 

To the sata ssd, I doubt u need a cable, sata port should be on the notebook mainboard, on the other hand, since this notebook has usb-c i would also take a look at external ssd's like the samsung t5.

Besides my samsung pro ssd's I'm also using a 2tb T5 and it's doing the job fine (:

 

I am not a fan of trying to game from an external drive. The transfer speeds just aren't there. Granted, somewhat less of an issue with an SSD, but still.... If his laptop will support the drive in an internal bay, that is the best solution.

[EyMiMayhem]

 

 

Hello, Im new to pc gaming, modding, and computer components. I bought an Hp OMEN dc1020nr laptop about a year ago and was super excited because it would be my first gaming laptop. I bought the version with the best graphics card and processor within my budget at the time ( Intel Core i7 9750H, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti). However it only came with a 256GB SSD NVMe drive and 2 4GB DDR4 2666 SDRAM. I realized that I would eventually have to upgrade the memory components. Recently I started following Sinitar's guide for modding Skyrim SE and have almost finished the graphics section. The game looks BEAUTIFUL! However, I have only about 56GB of space left in my Drive and the fps is low in some spots so I decided this is the time to upgrade the memory. I will be buying two 8GB DDR4 SDRAM sticks to help with the fps hopefully but I have a question regarding the SD drive. See aside from the NVMe SD drive slot, I can add a SATA SSD drive if I buy the cable for it. So my question is, should I simply upgrade the NVMe SSD drive to a 1TB drive, or install a 1 TB SATA SSD drive and move my games there while only booting from and storing only extremely important files in the 256GB NVMe SSD? I apologize if I used the wrong terms, Im still really new to all this.

As pointed out, let the os and apps stick to the m2 and put your games on a sata or external ssd (:

 

Ram alone wont improve the fps that much, atleast in a noticeble area, But nice to have while playing with mods and stuff.

 

To the sata ssd, I doubt u need a cable, sata port should be on the notebook mainboard, on the other hand, since this notebook has usb-c i would also take a look at external ssd's like the samsung t5.

Besides my samsung pro ssd's I'm also using a 2tb T5 and it's doing the job fine (:

 

I am not a fan of trying to game from an external drive. The transfer speeds just aren't there. Granted, somewhat less of an issue with an SSD, but still.... If his laptop will support the drive in an internal bay, that is the best solution.

 

Yes, but it rly depends on the ext. ssd. The t5 is more or less on the same level as the 860 evo. And the normal user wouldn't rly noticed the difference, but just an option.

Since op has a free sata port, he can go with sata.

But thats still up to op.

 

[JimmyRJump]

Never buy an external drive. You're better off with buying a regular internal drive and get an enclosure that can hold two or four drives. I'm using IcyBox enclosures. They have USB3 and eSATA connectors and have their own fan. external drives can be a hassle with bloatware and they overheat easily. Not such a big thing with SSD storage, but still.

[HeyYou]

Never buy an external drive. You're better off with buying a regular internal drive and get an enclosure that can hold two or four drives. I'm using IcyBox enclosures. They have USB3 and eSATA connectors and have their own fan. external drives can be a hassle with bloatware and they overheat easily. Not such a big thing with SSD storage, but still.

Hhhmm... Good lookin' boxes, but, they don't appear to sell them here in the US.

[EyMiMayhem]

 

Never buy an external drive. You're better off with buying a regular internal drive and get an enclosure that can hold two or four drives. I'm using IcyBox enclosures. They have USB3 and eSATA connectors and have their own fan. external drives can be a hassle with bloatware and they overheat easily. Not such a big thing with SSD storage, but still.

Hhhmm... Good lookin' boxes, but, they don't appear to sell them here in the US.

 

Amazon has some for sata and m2, even from icy box and usb-c.