For those playing on a SSD

Acrolas · January 2020

krachall wrote: »

Semi-related question.

External SATA can behave a little differently than internal SATA, including cases where the external drive randomly stops being recognized by your computer. A hassle for files, but a bigger problem when you have programs running from that drive. I'd recommend getting an inexpensive dual mounting bracket and internally connecting both SSDs in one 3.5" hard drive bay.

The ideal situation would be using the smaller SSD for just boot + operating system, and the larger SSD for games and other programs. But installing ESO on the 120 GB works.

SSD mileage is going to vary based on motherboard specs and SATA generation, but one of the best arguments for SSD is that they're a lot less expensive now than when ESO first launched.

Alinhbo_Tyaka · January 2020

krachall wrote: »

Semi-related question.

I had a 120GB SSD for Windows and a 1TB HDD for content, including ESO. There isn’t enough room on the 120 SSD for ESO so I replaced it with a 255 GB I had. I’m waiting for the forced re-download to install ESO on that.

But my PC case has an odd slot on the top with a built-in tray to directly mount an external SSD. Not a USB but actual drive connections. I plugged the cleaned 120GB in there and it’s showing as a third drive.

Would it be best to install ESO on the 256 that has Windows (plenty of room for ESO too) or the 120GB third drive?

The problem I've run into with a drive smaller than twice the size of the ESO client is downloads/installs will fail due to a drive full situation. I don't know all of the conditions but I have run into the case of the client being downloaded and during the install it decides it needs to download everything again (or maybe just a huge amount) for an update. The only way around this using a larger drive.

Sylvermynx · January 2020

I've got a 500 GB C drive with win 10 installed. This is the drive with ESO installed as well. This drive has over 300 GB free. Pretty sure that's not going to be a problem when it comes to space the game needs to install.

The problem for me is that my download speed is slow. And my download bw isn't.... optimal. In fact that's so far from true.... my download bw is...marginal. I don't know how I'm going to be able to download the whole game again.... and still manage to play - or do all the other stuff I have to use bandwidth for on a daily basis.

Anotherone773 · January 2020

Reyleigh wrote: »

Nestor wrote: »

Reyleigh wrote: »

Thank you all for your input
I'm playing with 16GB ram, 1070ti, i5-8400 and a 7200 rpm HDD
Sometimes the loading screens are fast and other times they're really long but what bothers me the most are the black silhouettes whenever i log in vivec city

Those black textures will improve.

Also, upgrading to an SSD is beyond easy. You can use the included cloning software and copy your OS, Programs and Files over is minutes. No need to reinstall anything.

Note, you will want to use something like CC Cleaner, and maybe defrag your platter first. And further, once on SSD, no need to defrag that.

My OS is already on a SSD, its only 120Gb though, so not enough for eso
Some people from another forum also said that they didn't notice much of a difference... Seems like there are diverging opinions on this

Thats because your storage device is not the only factor. Generally going from HDD to SDD and then to NvME all offer improvements. So people will have different experiences with the improvement based on a variety of factors. Your general question is asking for basically a large degree of opinions without knowing the circumstances in which the person responding upgraded.

So your going to get responses from people who have a similar computer to yours and then people who have a Core 2 Duo and integrated graphics saying it didnt help at all. I personally think it will help in your situation and give a noticeable but not drastic improvement.

I think this article will help you make a much better decision. In my opinion, depending on your technical know how, i would probably upgrade my main drive to a 500 plus GB SSD and keep the HDD as a secondary.

daemonios · January 2020

Sylvermynx wrote: »

I've got a 500 GB C drive with win 10 installed. This is the drive with ESO installed as well. This drive has over 300 GB free. Pretty sure that's not going to be a problem when it comes to space the game needs to install.

The problem for me is that my download speed is slow. And my download bw isn't.... optimal. In fact that's so far from true.... my download bw is...marginal. I don't know how I'm going to be able to download the whole game again.... and still manage to play - or do all the other stuff I have to use bandwidth for on a daily basis.

If you have access to an unmetered connection, e.g. at work, library, etc. you could take a laptop, download the game there, and copy the folder to your machine if it's not the same as that laptop. Or have someone send you a pen drive with the game folder.

ArchMikem · January 2020

Nestor wrote: »

SSD may have a small impact on framerates, but will have a huge impact on load times.

New xbox next winter will have an SSD. Kinda stoked. Though i keep my games on an external drive...hm, that may be an issue.

olsborg · January 2020

Yes it speeds up load times quite abit imo.

Uvi_AUT · January 2020

Loading times on a PCi-EX SSD are pretty much nonexistant. I would say about 5 seconds for a Zonechange with a lot of Mods installed.

MJallday · January 2020

On Xbox my load screens went from 20 seconds to 3

The whole game runs quicker too

GenjiraX · January 2020

I haven't noticed any in-game performance improvement but the loading screens are much shorter (other than during known issues, I haven't seen the "unusually long load time" message at all) and also seem to last the same amount of time consistently. This is on an external SSD.

Reducing loading screen time was the only reason I bought one.

eklhaftb16_ESO · January 2020

Logging into a character is still way too long to notice any difference (I think servers are to blame for that - there's probably some sort of throttle in place). But loading into instanced areas like homes and delves is definitely faster than it used to be. Also I haven't had a single case of black people in Rawl'kha bank lately. But then again, that may be also caused by the fact that many people don't go to Rawl'kha anymore.

Kadoin · January 2020

Yes, since I have obtained an SSD (external in USB 3.0 enclosure), have almost never encountered a long loading screen even in Cyrodiil except when I get DCed because of three faction stack. I mainly got the SSD for fast portable storage.

Naftal · January 2020

Rahar wrote: »

Naftal wrote: »

Rahar wrote: »

Reyleigh wrote: »

Did it really improve performance with regards to loading screen and texture ?

I switched to a 1TB PCIe SSD (the best of the best in terms of read/write time... aka loading time, ~$200 USD at time of purchase?) and noticed negligible differences in loading screens. Very disappointing. However, textures popping in are nonexistent and intermittent frame lag is greatly reduced.

So: DO NOT buy an SSD if you want to fix loading screens (in ESO). That is server latency and you can't fix it with better hardware.

Something is wrong with your setup then. My old SSD has much shorter loading screens than my HDD.

Are you sure that's not just placebo? Loading screens are server side.

I am 100% sure.