The argument: match the drive to the workload
The core idea is about access patterns. SSDs shine at random access, where a drive reads many small pieces scattered across the file system. Booting Windows and loading a game level are the classic cases. A spinning disk can crawl through that work.
Large sequential reads are different. A movie, a folder of RAW photos, or a backup archive streams start to finish, and an HDD can usually keep up. Sherback's point is that putting rarely opened material on flash means paying for speed you won't notice.
This is the author's technical framing, not a benchmark. Real-world results vary with the drive model, the connection, file layout and the software involved. Treat it as a rule of thumb, not a law.
What the evidence doesn't prove
Sherback says most of a typical PC's storage is media and downloads, and that recent price rises make the hybrid setup the smarter choice. Neither claim comes with representative data in the piece. Your PC may be full of games, VMs or project files instead, so check your own drive.
On prices, TrendForce's 4Q26 memory forecast, last modified 2026-09-24, offers context. It projects overall NAND flash contract prices up 15–20% quarter over quarter, and enterprise SSD contract prices up 23–28%. That is a forecast for contract pricing, with enterprise SSDs rising fastest. TrendForce says consumer segments see only minimal compensatory increases. So the forecast doesn't show that retail SSD prices for home buyers have jumped by those amounts. It shows pressure on memory markets, led by AI demand.
Sherback also says 1TB NVMe drives cost only a little more than hard drives. The gap widens as capacity grows. I haven't verified current retail prices, so compare like-for-like drives yourself before buying.
Step 1: See what's actually using your space
Microsoft's documentation says Windows Storage settings break usage into categories such as installed apps, temporary files, and system and reserved storage. That applies to Windows 11 and Windows 10.
- Open Settings > System > Storage.
- If you have more than one drive, open Advanced storage settings > Storage used on other drives.
- Select a drive for a breakdown by file type, such as documents, pictures and videos.
Microsoft notes that the Disks & volumes page shows each disk's type (SSD or HDD), capacity and usage. That page is useful if you can't remember which drive is which.
Storage Sense only works on the system drive, usually C:. Microsoft says that with default settings it won't touch your Downloads folder or cloud content unless you configure it to. Don't expect it to tidy a secondary HDD.
Step 2: Find the big files and point new content elsewhere
Microsoft's guidance for freeing space says the Videos, Music, Pictures and Downloads folders usually hold the largest files. In File Explorer, switch to the Details view and use Sort by > Size to put the biggest items at the top.
You can also change where new content is saved. In Storage settings, Where new content is saved lets you choose a default drive for new apps, documents, music, pictures and videos. Pointing the media types at the HDD keeps your SSD from silently filling up. The drive has to be connected for it to appear in the drop-down.
Step 3: Park the game backlog on the hard drive
Games are the other big SSD tenant. Sherback's suggestion is to keep the library you're playing on flash and move the rest to the HDD. Steam's built-in tools do this without a re-download.
- Open Steam's Settings > Storage. Older client versions put this under Downloads > Steam Library Folders.
- Use the + button to add a library folder on the HDD. Create this folder before you use Move.
- Select the drive where the games currently sit, check the box for each game you want to move, then click Move.
- Pick the destination drive in the pop-up and confirm.
A per-game route also exists. Right-click the game, choose Properties, click Move install folder, pick the library on the new drive, and click Move. If the Move button is greyed out, a common cause is that no second library folder exists yet. Menu labels shift between Steam client versions, so follow whatever your current client shows.
Before you move or delete anything, check where your saves live. Steam's support guidance notes that some games' saves aren't kept in Steam Cloud and may sit in your Documents folder. Moving a game's install folder shouldn't affect saves in Documents. Confirm cloud sync for games you care about before you delete anything.
Sherback also suggests deleting a game and re-downloading it later if your internet connection is faster than your HDD. That works for some people, but caps and slow connections make it impractical for others.
The SSD-required games caveat
Sherback says some games now list an SSD as a hard requirement, and that this is becoming more common with big releases. He also says Microsoft's DirectStorage can technically run on SATA SSDs and even hard drives, with its biggest gains on NVMe. I couldn't confirm the SATA and HDD claim from Microsoft's documentation. Microsoft describes DirectStorage as a way for games to use high-speed storage, including NVMe SSDs.
The practical advice is simple. Check the published system requirements for any game you plan to move to a hard drive. Don't assume every title will run well, or even run, from spinning storage.
When all-flash makes more sense
The hybrid approach has limits, and Sherback acknowledges several:
- Case design: Small-form-factor and some sleeker ATX cases have few or no 3.5-inch bays.
- Cabling: M.2 drives need no separate data or power cable, which is attractive on its own.
- Capacity pricing: The price advantage of HDDs grows as capacities rise, so bulk storage favors them most.
- Noise and vibration: HDDs are mechanical, which matters in quiet or portable builds. This is general industry knowledge, not a point from the source.
A drive is not a backup
A second internal hard drive adds capacity, not protection. If the only copy of your photos sits on that drive, a single failure can wipe it out. Keep a separate copy, ideally on another device or in the cloud. Microsoft's Storage settings link to Windows Backup, which covers files, settings, installed apps and Wi-Fi information.
Bottom line
The case here is conditional, not universal. SSDs belong under Windows, your apps and whatever you're playing now. Bulk data you rarely open, like archives, old footage and the game backlog, is a sensible fit for cheaper spinning storage if your case has room for it.
The "most people" framing rests on assumptions about typical usage and current retail prices that the evidence doesn't establish. Open your Storage settings, see what's actually taking up space, and decide from there.