{"id":34781,"date":"2025-02-12T06:21:34","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T06:21:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/?p=34781"},"modified":"2025-02-12T06:21:34","modified_gmt":"2025-02-12T06:21:34","slug":"should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/","title":{"rendered":"Should I use drive C or D for games?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_67_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#Should_I_Use_Drive_C_or_D_for_Games_A_Comprehensive_Guide\" title=\"Should I Use Drive C or D for Games? A Comprehensive Guide\">Should I Use Drive C or D for Games? A Comprehensive Guide<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#Understanding_Your_Drives_C_vs_D\" title=\"Understanding Your Drives: C vs. D\">Understanding Your Drives: C vs. D<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#The_C_Drive_Your_Systems_Heart\" title=\"The C Drive: Your System&#8217;s Heart\">The C Drive: Your System&#8217;s Heart<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#The_D_Drive_Your_Data_Hub\" title=\"The D Drive: Your Data Hub\">The D Drive: Your Data Hub<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#Why_Install_Games_on_the_D_Drive\" title=\"Why Install Games on the D Drive?\">Why Install Games on the D Drive?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#Protecting_Your_System\" title=\"Protecting Your System\">Protecting Your System<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#Performance_Considerations\" title=\"Performance Considerations\">Performance Considerations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#Avoiding_Overcrowding_Your_C_Drive\" title=\"Avoiding Overcrowding Your C Drive\">Avoiding Overcrowding Your C Drive<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#When_to_Consider_Your_C_Drive\" title=\"When to Consider Your C Drive\">When to Consider Your C Drive<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions_FAQs\" title=\"Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)\">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#1_Is_it_OK_to_store_games_on_the_D_drive\" title=\"1. Is it OK to store games on the D drive?\">1. Is it OK to store games on the D drive?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#2_Which_drive_is_faster_C_or_D\" title=\"2. Which drive is faster, C or D?\">2. Which drive is faster, C or D?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#3_Can_I_install_programs_on_a_D_drive\" title=\"3. Can I install programs on a D drive?\">3. Can I install programs on a D drive?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#4_Does_drive_speed_affect_gaming\" title=\"4. Does drive speed affect gaming?\">4. Does drive speed affect gaming?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#5_Do_games_run_slower_on_a_hard_drive_HDD\" title=\"5. Do games run slower on a hard drive (HDD)?\">5. Do games run slower on a hard drive (HDD)?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#6_Do_games_run_better_on_SSD_or_HDD\" title=\"6. Do games run better on SSD or HDD?\">6. Do games run better on SSD or HDD?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#7_Does_SSD_improve_FPS\" title=\"7. Does SSD improve FPS?\">7. Does SSD improve FPS?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#8_Do_games_run_worse_on_hard_drive\" title=\"8. Do games run worse on hard drive?\">8. Do games run worse on hard drive?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#9_What_internet_speed_is_best_for_gaming\" title=\"9. What internet speed is best for gaming?\">9. What internet speed is best for gaming?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#10_Can_low_storage_cause_lag\" title=\"10. Can low storage cause lag?\">10. Can low storage cause lag?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#11_Is_the_C_drive_always_an_SSD\" title=\"11. Is the C drive always an SSD?\">11. Is the C drive always an SSD?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#12_Is_16_GB_RAM_good_for_gaming\" title=\"12. Is 16 GB RAM good for gaming?\">12. Is 16 GB RAM good for gaming?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#13_Should_I_install_apps_on_C_or_D\" title=\"13. Should I install apps on C or D?\">13. Should I install apps on C or D?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#14_What_happens_if_I_install_Windows_on_the_D_drive\" title=\"14. What happens if I install Windows on the D drive?\">14. What happens if I install Windows on the D drive?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#15_What_type_of_SSD_is_best_for_gaming\" title=\"15. What type of SSD is best for gaming?\">15. What type of SSD is best for gaming?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/#Final_Thoughts\" title=\"Final Thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_Use_Drive_C_or_D_for_Games_A_Comprehensive_Guide\"><\/span>Should I Use Drive C or D for Games? A Comprehensive Guide<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>The question of where to install your games \u2013 on the <strong>C drive<\/strong> or the <strong>D drive<\/strong> \u2013 is a common one for PC gamers. The short answer is: <strong>It depends<\/strong>, but generally, <strong>you should install games on a drive other than your C drive whenever possible, especially if the C drive is an older or smaller drive or if it has a low amount of free space<\/strong>. While this might sound counterintuitive, it\u2019s rooted in understanding how your computer&#8217;s storage works and the impact of drive choice on performance and overall system stability.<\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s dive deeper into why and when you might choose one over the other, along with addressing common questions and concerns.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Understanding_Your_Drives_C_vs_D\"><\/span>Understanding Your Drives: C vs. D<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_C_Drive_Your_Systems_Heart\"><\/span>The C Drive: Your System&#8217;s Heart<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The <strong>C drive<\/strong> is typically the primary partition where your <strong>Windows operating system<\/strong>, system files, and crucial program files reside. This drive is the lifeblood of your computer; if anything goes wrong with it, your entire system can be compromised. The C drive is also where many programs default to when installing, making it easy for this drive to fill up.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_D_Drive_Your_Data_Hub\"><\/span>The D Drive: Your Data Hub<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The <strong>D drive<\/strong>, or any drive other than the C drive, is often a secondary partition or an entirely separate physical storage device. This drive typically hosts personal data like documents, photos, videos, and, most relevant to our discussion, game installations. Separating data from your system files can offer several benefits, as we\u2019ll explore below.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Install_Games_on_the_D_Drive\"><\/span>Why Install Games on the D Drive?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Protecting_Your_System\"><\/span>Protecting Your System<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>One of the primary reasons to prefer a <strong>D drive<\/strong> for games is system protection. If your <strong>C drive<\/strong> were to suffer data loss due to a system failure, hard drive issue, or virus, any games stored on it would also be lost. By storing games on a separate drive, especially on a <strong>secondary drive<\/strong>, you minimize the risk of losing game data during system malfunctions. This isolation can be a lifesaver when disaster strikes. <\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Performance_Considerations\"><\/span>Performance Considerations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>While the core game performance (FPS &#8211; frames per second) isn&#8217;t directly impacted by which drive the game is on (that\u2019s more about your <strong>CPU<\/strong> and <strong>GPU<\/strong>), load times are drastically different depending on the type of storage used. In the past the C drive was usually the same drive as the operating system drive and was an older and slower drive. Now many modern PC&#8217;s use a separate <strong>Solid State Drive (SSD)<\/strong> for the operating system (C drive) and a much larger <strong>Hard Disk Drive (HDD)<\/strong> for storage (D drive).<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><strong>SSD vs. HDD<\/strong>: This is where the biggest performance difference lies. <strong>SSDs<\/strong> use flash memory for rapid data access, resulting in significantly <strong>faster load times<\/strong>, smoother scene transitions, and an overall better experience compared to traditional <strong>HDDs<\/strong>. If your <strong>D drive<\/strong> is an SSD and your C drive is a hard drive, there is no question which drive to install the game on. If your C drive is an SSD and you install games on the <strong>HDD<\/strong> the game will <strong>load much slower<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Read\/Write Speeds<\/strong>: A faster <strong>read speed<\/strong> on your storage drive means quicker loading and access to game files. Similarly, a faster <strong>write speed<\/strong> allows for faster saving of game progress. If your D drive is an SSD or <strong>NVMe SSD<\/strong> and your C drive is also an SSD or NVMe drive with plenty of space, it becomes a matter of personal preference. If your D drive is a slower HDD, you will want to install the game on your C drive assuming the C drive is fast (SSD) with enough space.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Avoiding_Overcrowding_Your_C_Drive\"><\/span>Avoiding Overcrowding Your C Drive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Overcrowding your <strong>C drive<\/strong> with games and other data can lead to performance issues. When the C drive becomes too full, the operating system has less space to work with, leading to decreased system responsiveness and performance slowdowns. Keeping games on the <strong>D drive<\/strong> can help maintain your system drive&#8217;s health and ensure optimal performance.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_to_Consider_Your_C_Drive\"><\/span>When to Consider Your C Drive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There are situations where installing on your <strong>C drive<\/strong> could be considered, however these are generally not the norm in modern PCs.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Fast SSD C Drive<\/strong>: If your <strong>C drive is a fast SSD or NVMe<\/strong> and you only have one hard drive, it could be the best place for games as well as your operating system. If you install your game on an older HDD the loading times will be much slower. In this scenario, you should prioritize having adequate free space on your <strong>C drive<\/strong> to prevent performance issues.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Prioritizing Speed<\/strong>: If both your C and D drives are fast <strong>SSDs<\/strong> or <strong>NVMe SSDs<\/strong>, then there will likely be no performance difference between them. If you would like to simplify the storage of your games, then storing them on your C drive would be fine.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions_FAQs\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Is_it_OK_to_store_games_on_the_D_drive\"><\/span>1. Is it OK to store games on the D drive?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, absolutely. If your D drive is a <strong>separate hard drive<\/strong>, you can safely install your games there. Most game platforms, like Steam, Epic Games Store, and others, allow you to configure the install location.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Which_drive_is_faster_C_or_D\"><\/span>2. Which drive is faster, C or D?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The speed of the drive isn&#8217;t determined by the letter assigned to it. The important factor is whether the drive is an <strong>SSD<\/strong> or <strong>HDD<\/strong>. The drive\u2019s overall speed (read and write times) will matter far more than the assigned letter. Generally, modern computers use an <strong>SSD for the C drive<\/strong> and an <strong>HDD for the D drive<\/strong>. If this is the case, the <strong>C drive will be faster<\/strong>. If they are the same technology (SSD\/HDD) the performance will be very similar.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Can_I_install_programs_on_a_D_drive\"><\/span>3. Can I install programs on a D drive?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, you can install most programs on the D drive, as long as the D drive is a hard drive and not a CD\/DVD drive. During installation, you\u2019ll usually have the option to choose a custom installation path to the <strong>D drive<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Does_drive_speed_affect_gaming\"><\/span>4. Does drive speed affect gaming?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, <strong>read and write speeds<\/strong> significantly impact game load times and the general responsiveness of games. A fast <strong>SSD<\/strong> results in much quicker loading and smoother transitions.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Do_games_run_slower_on_a_hard_drive_HDD\"><\/span>5. Do games run slower on a hard drive (HDD)?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>While gameplay itself isn&#8217;t directly slower, loading times will be notably slower on an <strong>HDD<\/strong> compared to an <strong>SSD<\/strong>. A slow HDD can significantly lengthen how long you have to wait when starting the game or moving between locations or maps.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Do_games_run_better_on_SSD_or_HDD\"><\/span>6. Do games run better on SSD or HDD?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Games launch and load much faster when installed on an <strong>SSD<\/strong>. SSDs, with their lack of moving parts, also provide a smoother experience when loading assets during the game.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Does_SSD_improve_FPS\"><\/span>7. Does SSD improve FPS?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No, <strong>SSDs do not directly improve FPS (Frames Per Second)<\/strong>. FPS is dictated by your <strong>CPU<\/strong>, <strong>GPU<\/strong>, and in-game settings. An <strong>SSD<\/strong> impacts load times and game smoothness but not framerate.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Do_games_run_worse_on_hard_drive\"><\/span>8. Do games run worse on hard drive?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No, games don\u2019t <em>run<\/em> worse on an HDD. However, loading times will be much slower. Actual in-game performance is dependent on your other hardware and game settings.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_What_internet_speed_is_best_for_gaming\"><\/span>9. What internet speed is best for gaming?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>An internet speed of above <strong>20 Mbps<\/strong> is generally ideal for online gaming. Lower speeds can lead to lag, especially in competitive multiplayer games. It is also important to have a fast upload speed. A <strong>5 Mbps upload speed<\/strong> or better is generally recommended. You should also try to have a <strong>ping rate of less than 50ms<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Can_low_storage_cause_lag\"><\/span>10. Can low storage cause lag?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, running out of disk space or memory can cause noticeable lag and slow performance. It&#8217;s important to maintain adequate free space on your hard drive to avoid performance issues.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"11_Is_the_C_drive_always_an_SSD\"><\/span>11. Is the C drive always an SSD?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The <strong>C drive<\/strong> can be either an <strong>SSD<\/strong> or an <strong>HDD<\/strong>. Modern PCs frequently use an SSD for the C drive to take advantage of the speed. Older PCs generally use an HDD for the C drive and may not have an SSD at all.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"12_Is_16_GB_RAM_good_for_gaming\"><\/span>12. Is 16 GB RAM good for gaming?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, <strong>16 GB of RAM<\/strong> is the recommended amount for most modern games. For future-proofing or multitasking while gaming, <strong>32 GB of RAM<\/strong> might be even better.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"13_Should_I_install_apps_on_C_or_D\"><\/span>13. Should I install apps on C or D?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Generally, programs are installed on the <strong>C drive<\/strong>, though you can install non-essential programs on the <strong>D drive<\/strong> if desired. It is best to store games on the D drive unless you have no other option or the C drive is a very fast SSD or NVMe drive with lots of available space.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"14_What_happens_if_I_install_Windows_on_the_D_drive\"><\/span>14. What happens if I install Windows on the D drive?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Installing <strong>Windows on the D drive<\/strong> is possible, but it&#8217;s generally not recommended. This would make the D drive your new C drive, and the old C drive would become another storage drive (unless you chose to format it during the windows installation). This can cause confusion and potential compatibility problems.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"15_What_type_of_SSD_is_best_for_gaming\"><\/span>15. What type of SSD is best for gaming?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For gaming, <strong>NVMe SSDs<\/strong> are the fastest and best overall, followed closely by standard <strong>SATA SSDs<\/strong>. The <strong>Samsung 990 Pro, Kingston Fury Renegade, and WD Black SN850X<\/strong> are some of the top choices for gaming. These generally offer higher speeds than traditional SSD&#8217;s.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Thoughts\"><\/span>Final Thoughts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Deciding whether to install games on the <strong>C drive<\/strong> or the <strong>D drive<\/strong> comes down to a combination of factors including type of drive available (SSD\/HDD), available space, and personal preference. While in the past, the <strong>D drive<\/strong> was almost always recommended, the wide adoption of high-speed <strong>SSD<\/strong> drives as <strong>C drives<\/strong> has complicated this question. If your <strong>C drive is an HDD<\/strong> then you should definitely put your games on another drive such as an <strong>SSD D drive<\/strong>. If your <strong>C drive is an SSD or NVMe<\/strong> then you should put your games on the <strong>D drive if it is also an SSD or NVMe<\/strong> drive or if it is an HDD. In this case it depends on your personal preference. Remember to keep your operating system drive (usually C drive) as clutter-free as possible to ensure optimal performance. By understanding the differences between the <strong>C<\/strong> and <strong>D<\/strong> drives, you can make the best choice for your gaming experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Should I Use Drive C or D for Games? A Comprehensive Guide The question of where to install your games \u2013 on the C drive or the D drive \u2013 is a common one for PC gamers. The short answer is: It depends, but generally, you should install games on a drive other than your &#8230; <a title=\"Should I use drive C or D for games?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/should-i-use-drive-c-or-d-for-games\/\" aria-label=\"More on Should I use drive C or D for games?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34781","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34781"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34781\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34781"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34781"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}