New PC - operating system or editing files on M.2 storage?

[itsdavedotnet]

Hey,

I'm just building my new workstation

It's pretty highly specced, 6700k, GTX 780, 32gb fast ram, etc.

I have an 850pro SSD and a 950pro M.2, both 256gb, and basically can't decide which to install the OS to - any insights would be really helpful?

I ingest onto an SSD that I keep solely for that purpose. They get synced off onto external disk storage for archive and backup, then backups verified and the files deleted when the project gets exported and sent to clients.

The biggest thing on my OS drive is Lightroom previews at a total of 37GB, I could maybe move my lightroom catalogue and previews to the M.2, as well as using that as the edit disk?

 

[Brazo]

I have the 256 m.2 950 and have my OS installed on it. I have installed Lightroom catalogue and cache onto it too and then I have a 1tb ssd which contains my data files.

 

[Oliver Pohlmann]

Sorry to hijack, but this might help Dave and myself.

I have a 512mb Samsung Evo m.2. I have my OS and Lightroom installed on it but keep my Lightroom catalogues and RAW files on a standard internal hard drive. I create a new catalogue for each shoot. Would Lightroom run better if I set up the catalogues and imported my RAW files straight to the m.2 then moved them over to the HDD once I've completed the retouching? Or is there a better way to utilise the speed of my m.2 using Lightroom?

 

[Brazo]

I really don't think you'll notice a real world speed difference between Lightroom using ssd and an m.2 ssd. hoth will be somewhat CPU bound i.e they will have to wait for it.

Even a ram disc which would make the fastest m.2 ssd seem like treacle wouldn't make a huge difference.