SSD Size for Media Cache & Scratch

[CC268]

I've watched the Storage Optimization video from Puget Systems and their subsequent article. I have been thinking about upgrading my storage to something more optimal for editing. One of which is having an SSD dedicated to Media Cache and Scratch. The only thing I am not sure of is how big of an SSD I need for Media Cache and Scratch. Is 250GB enough? 500GB?

Puget Systems did their testing with a 1TB drive, but that seems like it may be overkill?

Thanks.

[Jeff Bugbee]

It completely depends on what you're going to be editing. 1080? 4k? 8k? Each type of footage has different storage requirements.

[CC268]

I apologize - I meant to add that in my OP. 4K for the most part.

[Jeff Bugbee]

4k footage is large. Are you editing a 30 second spot? Or a 2 hour feature? There is no one-size-fits-all solution here. Personally, I'd go with a smaller one and upgrade as needed.

[CC268]

I’m just a hobbyist so nothing huge. The largest thing I edited was about 670GB worth of footage (this was AFTER transcoding). I think it was about 35GB in the h.264 format...

I couldn’t swe creating anything over 30-45 mins long. It’s just family vacations, etc.

[rodneyb56060189]

I would go with the fastest 1TB SSD you can get, and assign that to your cache.

Don't forget, you have access to that drive for OTHER THINGS even though you have your cache there.

The whole idea of splitting up the drives for O.S., source material, cache, and exports is to make the system FASTER ( don't have to read and write to the same drive at the same time ).

So, the space you get won't go to waste, cause you can use it for other stuff too.

[CC268]

Yea...honestly a 860 EVO 1TB is cheap enough that it is probably worth just going with 1TB drives.

[Ann Bens]

I use a 860 evo 2T for everything related to Pr: media, project, cache, etc.

I edit Canon avc XF 4k native, playback in full resolution. No complaints.

[CC268]

Thanks - I will likely go the route of a 1TB Nvme for Media and 1TB SSD for Media Cache & Scratch. Archive with WD Reds.

[YisG]

According to Puget Systems, you'd get far more benefit from using nvme for cache and scratch than for media files 

[caseyph]

"an 860"