Symlinking my steamapps folder onto an external hard drive

[{ABK}AbbySciuto]

I'm moving my steamapps folder onto an external hard drive and symlinking it to C:\...\steamapps so that I can free up 40+GB of space on my exceedingly tiny 160GB SSD currently installed in my laptop.

Will there be a slight performance hit in loading times because of this? The external hard drive's a USB, so I'm thinking loading times will be much slower, but other than that it won't do much, right?

[Shadaez]

I have my entire steam library on an external HDD. I don't really know how worse the loadtimes are though, I have a pretty bad laptop only ATM. It doesn't take that long to load, though.

[editline]7th December 2010[/editline]

Well, coming from a SSD, I imagine it'll be a pretty big change.

[not_Morph53]

There will be a performance hit, USB2 is far slower then SATA (as you already know). Because you are symlinking, it also has to touch your SSD's filesystem first, but this won't have anywhere near as much as an impact as the USB2 would. If you were using USB3 or eSATA, the hit would be negligible.

[{ABK}AbbySciuto]

[QUOTE=not_Morph53;26546834]There will be a performance hit, USB2 is far slower then SATA (as you already know). Because you are symlinking, it also has to touch your SSD's filesystem first, but this won't have anywhere near as much as an impact as the USB2 would. If you were using USB3 or eSATA, the hit would be negligible.[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately, not an option without upgrading the hard drive. My laptop's docking station has an eSATA port, so I might consider upgrading. Any suggestions?

[not_Morph53]

[QUOTE={ABK}AbbySciuto;26546938]Unfortunately, not an option without upgrading the hard drive. My laptop's docking station has an eSATA port, so I might consider upgrading. Any suggestions?[/QUOTE]

Startech sells cheap eSata enclosures, here is one at around [url=http://www.amazon.com/Infosafe-2-5IN-Esata-Drive-Enclosure/dp/B0014BJIF2]$25[/url]

[{ABK}AbbySciuto]

[QUOTE=not_Morph53;26549310]Startech sells cheap eSata enclosures, here is one at around [url=http://www.amazon.com/Infosafe-2-5IN-Esata-Drive-Enclosure/dp/B0014BJIF2]$25[/url][/QUOTE]

It's an external hard drive that I have my stuff on, not an internal one. Those only work with internal drives.

[editline]7th December 2010[/editline]

Though thank you for trying.

[not_Morph53]

[QUOTE={ABK}AbbySciuto;26552683]It's an external hard drive that I have my stuff on, not an internal one. Those only work with internal drives.

[editline]7th December 2010[/editline]

Though thank you for trying.[/QUOTE]

What I meant was, instead of buying an eSata drive, buy an enclosure, and pull the HD out of the USB Drive you already have.

[bohb]

[QUOTE={ABK}AbbySciuto;26552683]It's an external hard drive that I have my stuff on, not an internal one. Those only work with internal drives.

[editline]7th December 2010[/editline]

Though thank you for trying.[/QUOTE]

:downs: What do you think is in that external hard drive enclosure?

[{ABK}AbbySciuto]

[QUOTE=not_Morph53;26555876]What I meant was, instead of buying an eSata drive, buy an enclosure, and pull the HD out of the USB Drive you already have.[/QUOTE]

I'm not that confident in my ability to crack open a Seagate FreeAgent Go.
Not right now, not before finals anyway...actually that's a good idea now that I think about it...

[editline]8th December 2010[/editline]

[QUOTE=bohb;26556014]:downs: What do you think is in that external hard drive enclosure?[/QUOTE]

uhh...magic and fairies?

[editline]8th December 2010[/editline]

:v:

[not_Morph53]

[QUOTE={ABK}AbbySciuto;26562601]Seagate FreeAgent Go.[/QUOTE]

Aww fuck, one of the few HD models that can't be taken apart without causing damage. My WD My Passport Essential is in shambles.

[editline]8th December 2010[/editline]

[QUOTE=not_Morph53;26563907]Aww fuck, one of the few HD models that can't be taken apart without causing damage. My WD My Passport Essential is in shambles.[/QUOTE]

Disregard that, I [url=http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Seagate-FreeAgent-Go-Portable-Drive-Teardown/2193/1]suck[/url] [url=http://forum.notebookreview.com/hardware-components-aftermarket-upgrades/301553-seagate-freeagent-go-500gb-disassembly-samsung-hd-upgrade-laptop.html]cocks[/url].

[{ABK}AbbySciuto]

[QUOTE=not_Morph53;26563907]Aww fuck, one of the few HD models that can't be taken apart without causing damage. My WD My Passport Essential is in shambles.

[editline]8th December 2010[/editline]

Disregard that, I [url=http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Seagate-FreeAgent-Go-Portable-Drive-Teardown/2193/1]suck[/url] [url=http://forum.notebookreview.com/hardware-components-aftermarket-upgrades/301553-seagate-freeagent-go-500gb-disassembly-samsung-hd-upgrade-laptop.html]cocks[/url].[/QUOTE]

You're awesome. :glomp: