NVMe M.2 SSD For MSFS

[cowpatz]

Now that my system is capable of cranking up sim settings, I'm considering setting up a drive exclusively for MSFS (assuming my slow 30 MBs internet speed can hack it) and giving it a crack.
I'm looking at a Gen 4 drive and was wondering if I should opt for a 2 or 4 TB drive. I know that storage devices are somewhat similar to man sheds, you can never go too big. As I do not have much idea as to how large a typical MSFS scenery, or aircraft addon is, I seek your advice in order to determine the ideal drive size without running out of head room. I may also have to factor in the possibility of having to download significant geographical areas if my internet connection is too slow.
So, to those using MSFS, what would you recommend?

[ZK-DWF]

I just added a Crucial 2TB MVME a few months back. I already have Crucial 1TB for my OS drive. I also have a 4TB HDD. I was tossing over whether to go 4TB, but decided on the 2TB (price was a factor)
There's always that discussion going on about the limited lifetime of SSD's, so if my current ones last more than 6-8 years (hopefully way past that), I'll be happy.
When the time comes to replace them, hopefully something better (and more permanently) will have come along.
We'll probably all be running MSFS totally on the Cloud by then anyway.

Regards, Dave

[Charl]

Things seem to be around 2-3GB per.
I have all the World and City updates, mandatory packages etc that have been pushed over time, amounting to 321 GB.
I've added mostly NZ sceneries including NZAA NZWN and NZCH, and a few aircraft and things: wow 4,000 files and 72GB.
500GB probably represents a reasonable sim size, and I have allowed 1TB for it overall.
Hedging bets, I have a data drive of 2TB for all that other stuff one accumulates outside the sim, and as a backstop if I need to redirect the Community folder.
I guess you'd need some discipline with slow internet, like overnight downloads!
MSFS 2024 I read, will be more friendly about Cloud use.

Hope that is of help, it's fun to explore this sim, has lots to offer as you know.

[cowpatz]

Thanks for the replies. Fortunately, the price of these drives is coming down all the time and with the introduction of Gen 5 (PCIe 5.0) SSDs, it will mean prices for Gen 4 should keep coming down.
I may punt for the 4Gb.

MSFS certainly looks good and hopefully FS 2024 will be even better.
This certainly stirs the Flt sim juices:

Watch on youtube.com

[Charl]

I may punt for the 4Gb

That would be the bargain of the month, and a very small sim!
Nice promo clip, I am a huge fan of NZA's Nelson in particular.
These guys put heart and soul into the sim.

[cowpatz]

So, with the current state of MSFS, what is the best installation method? MS store or Steam and why?

[ZK-DWF]

I have everything over at Steam.

I like the interface and the updating process.
Plus, they have some nice flight sim specials at certain times of the year.
Love the car racing sims available too on Steam ... especially the rFactor2 and F1 stuff.

Regards, Dave

[cowpatz]

Thanks Dave. I have steam and it is very good and convenient. I seem to recall that there was some issue with accessing (modding) files with a steam downloaded MSFS system.
Is this still the case? I do like to fiddle from time to time.

[Charl]

Steamer here - and no complaints.
I believe there is no difference in content delivered, compared with MS direct.
What does happen - as in the case of the Reno Harvards - is that some models are built with cfg files that are locked, hence no smoke mod for example.

[FlyingKiwi]

I am a Steam user, for a variety of other sims and games but I purchased my MSFS through the MS store because I thought it would make future addons etc. easier to manage. With hindsight I regret that decision, the MS store is a mess and basically all of the issues I've had with MSFS (fortunately few) have been directly attributable to it. My recommendation would be if you are already a Steam user you might as well purchase through Steam.

[cowpatz]

Well, I went with Steam in the end. A bit of a major download being 130GB at a speed of 20 to 23 mbs. A sort of set and forget. I thought that I had been hacked when doing the MS/Xbox signup/login as I never had the username that it came up with. After a bit of research I discovered that a username is assigned. So, for the time being I am Rankpuppy something or other. I will get around to changing that.

[Charl]

I am Rankpuppy

Careful it doesn't stick.

Sure beats mine: FiftyThrower38

[FlyingKiwi]

Mine is FiscalCarcass...

[cowpatz]

Well that makes me feel a little better. They could have warned newbies that a gamer tag would be generated without input. I really thought that my email address had been hacked.

[toprob]

In the early days of Xbox Live, you could choose your gamertag, and I went with 'ChildrenOfTheCorn' for the kids' Xbox. When they merged all the regions worldwide they took this off us, and gave me something weird, but apparently you can change it once?

[cowpatz]

Yes, I believe that you can change it. Apparently the first time is free (as it should be) and for any subsequent change there is a charge.