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Implications of adding a 2nd SSD drive

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
February 27, 2022
5 replies
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The only Adobe software I have installed currently, is Premier Pro. However, I'm seriously considering upgrading to Adobe Cloud because I'd like: After Effects, Audition, Photoshop and Illustrator, and so obviously the cloud works out to be excellent value.

However, my HP Omen gaming desktop which is about 4 years, although still quite substantial in terms of processing power, only has 250GB SSD. Recently I've been struggling, fighting with my last 5 to 20GB trying to save space, but I've reached the limit of what I can uninstall, and as I unsterstand it, all my other main applications are better off left on my existing SSD drive (instead of moving some of them to my hard drive), which is of course my PC's primary drive.

Therefore, my question is: can I simply add a 2nd SSD for installing the additional 4 x Adobe products that I've stated? The reason I'm asking is that I don't know if there are any technical differences between a PC's primary SSD, and a 2nd, added SSD. For example... I'm wondering along the lines of shared adobe files perhaps residing at a common location on the primary SSD drive, such that it might cause problems for additional adobe products that I install on a 2nd SSD, although I have no idea to be honest; that's just my pure speculation, and hopefully it's wrong!

Any advice will be much appreciated 👍

Thank you, Gary.

Installation

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Correct answer Conrad_C

@Gary5E16 wrote:

Therefore, my question is: can I simply add a 2nd SSD for installing the additional 4 x Adobe products that I've stated? The reason I'm asking is that I don't know if there are any technical differences between a PC's primary SSD, and a 2nd, added SSD. For example... I'm wondering along the lines of shared adobe files perhaps residing at a common location on the primary SSD drive, such that it might cause problems for additional adobe products that I install on a 2nd SSD, although I have no idea to be honest; that's just my pure speculation, and hopefully it's wrong!

Yes, there are some technical implications. The Creative Cloud desktop app does let you change the default folder for installing applications, but that only takes care of the program files. As you said, files that those applications normally install in the user account folder still get installed there, and files normally installed in system directories still get installed there, so those locations, which default to the system volume, are not changed when you put the applications on another volume.

In addition, because you’re asking about Premiere Pro and After Effects, those maintain a Media Cache and other performance-related storage preferences that default to the system volume. For top performance, ideally the volume containing the Media Cache should have several hundred GB available. If you don’t change the location of those folders (in Preferences), as you use those two applications the potentially large Media Cache still grows on your system volume unless you have connected another large, fast SSD to put them on. Photoshop also wants to create a scratch temp file that defaults to the system volume, but again you can redirect it to an external volume. If you are down to your “last 5 to 20GB trying to save space,” you might find a way to install just the applications, but having no free space and no other volume with enough free space will cause serious performance problems, and possibly crashes.

One best practice is to make sure your system volume has enough free space for everything that needs to be on it plus maybe 100+GB of unused space at all times (I like 200GB unused space even more), and if using video editing and image editing applications, also connect a second large, fast SSD for all of the large cache/temp files in the previous paragraph. Or just one very large, fast system SSD with several hundred GB free to provide room for all of the above.

Conrad_C

Correct answer

Community Expert

@Gary5E16 wrote:

Therefore, my question is: can I simply add a 2nd SSD for installing the additional 4 x Adobe products that I've stated? The reason I'm asking is that I don't know if there are any technical differences between a PC's primary SSD, and a 2nd, added SSD. For example... I'm wondering along the lines of shared adobe files perhaps residing at a common location on the primary SSD drive, such that it might cause problems for additional adobe products that I install on a 2nd SSD, although I have no idea to be honest; that's just my pure speculation, and hopefully it's wrong!

Yes, there are some technical implications. The Creative Cloud desktop app does let you change the default folder for installing applications, but that only takes care of the program files. As you said, files that those applications normally install in the user account folder still get installed there, and files normally installed in system directories still get installed there, so those locations, which default to the system volume, are not changed when you put the applications on another volume.

In addition, because you’re asking about Premiere Pro and After Effects, those maintain a Media Cache and other performance-related storage preferences that default to the system volume. For top performance, ideally the volume containing the Media Cache should have several hundred GB available. If you don’t change the location of those folders (in Preferences), as you use those two applications the potentially large Media Cache still grows on your system volume unless you have connected another large, fast SSD to put them on. Photoshop also wants to create a scratch temp file that defaults to the system volume, but again you can redirect it to an external volume. If you are down to your “last 5 to 20GB trying to save space,” you might find a way to install just the applications, but having no free space and no other volume with enough free space will cause serious performance problems, and possibly crashes.

One best practice is to make sure your system volume has enough free space for everything that needs to be on it plus maybe 100+GB of unused space at all times (I like 200GB unused space even more), and if using video editing and image editing applications, also connect a second large, fast SSD for all of the large cache/temp files in the previous paragraph. Or just one very large, fast system SSD with several hundred GB free to provide room for all of the above.

G

Gary5E16Author

Known Participant

Outstanding advice, it really is, so thank you very much indeed.

It looks like I've now just got permission from my missus to get a new PC with an i9, RTX 3080 Ti, and 2TB of SSD, but then not anything else until next year... not even anything for Christmas.

Peru Bob

Community Expert

Have a look here:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/download-install-discussions/how-do-you-install-adobe-on-another-drive/td-p/10203833

G

Gary5E16Author

Known Participant

I've had a look. I think I'll just get a new PC and let my missus have mine.

A

Andy 1968

Inspiring

If you get a new PC that is great but if you end up keeping this computer it would be wise to get one 512GB M.2 SSD for the OS and programs. You can then get addition internal or external storage for content

Peru Bob

Community Expert

Moved to the Video Hardware forum.

Peru Bob

Community Expert

Therefore, my question is: can I simply add a 2nd SSD for installing the additional 4 x Adobe products that I've stated?

By @Gary5E16

It would be better to install a larger, fast SSD and keep the other SSD for exports.

G

Gary5E16Author

Known Participant

OK... But my concearn as I described is with respect to the technical implications relating to my primary SSD drive being the drive that, for example, has Windows 11 installed on it. So, if I just purchase a larger, fast SSD, what does that mean for my current Windows installation?

Also, my PC already has a 2TB D drive which I use to store the bulk of all my photos, videos, etc.

Please if anyone has some technical insight, can you advise me, thank you.