Boot Camp partition on SSD for installing Windows and MW2 (and/or 3)

[Karlington]

Hi!
I have a brand new MBP that runs my OSX on a 120 GB SSD. Besides that I have the regular 500 GB HDD that for now contains all my files.

Now I want to install Windows 7 for playing Modern Warfare 2 (and/or 3) and I want to know two things:

1. Where shall I put the Boot Camp partition for installing Windows 7? Is it possible to put it on the SSD or do I have to install it on the HDD? My instinct tells me that gaming on a SSD disc would be much better (faster) than on a regular HDD, but then I'm a total noob at this so probably I'm wrong...

2. How large must the partition be? If it's possoble to put it on the SSD, I only have around 50 GB left on it. Is that enough for Windows 7 and MW2 (and/or 3)? I'm only going to play this game so I don't need extra space for other apps such as Office etc.

Would be more than grateful if you could help me with this!

Kind regards,
Karl

 

[The-Pro]

I have a 56GB windows partition on my 256GB SSD with vista installed. Vista takes up like 19GB :O then I have Battlefield 3(16.91GB) and MW3 (14.93GB) installed. Leaving me with 5.4GB free space.
Levels load super fast with the SSD but thats the only thing where a SSD benefits in games.
I also have a portable 500GB Firewire 800 HDD which has a partition for windows. I have several games installed on that and I play through the HDD. Still loads which enough for me
This is what I would recommend to you. Install windows on a small(ish) partition, maybe 25-35GB, so that you have a smooth OS and quick boot up and shut down, then install the games on an extra partition of your 500GB data drive. Levels wont load as quickly as if they were on the SSD but Whoteva (IMO).

 

[Karlington]

Wow!
Great! Thanks for that answer.

Just to clearify: I should make an partition (30ish GB) on my SSD to install Windows 7 on. Then I'll make a new partition (50ish GB) on my HDD and on that one I install the game(s)... Do you think that the game will run smooth on my MBP 2,2 GHz i7 8GB Ram even with the game installed on the HDD?

Kind regards,
Karl

 

[Karlington]

Damn!
I forgot something and this will probably make me look stupid.
As I mentioned I've got an SSD installed in my MBP and I have there for moved the HDD where my optical drive previously was mounted. So now I don't have an optical drive to install Windows from. Can you do this via a USB drive or what is the best solution for this?

/Karl

 

[The-Pro]

Yep you got it!!
It will run perfectly! I play MW3 on my 2010 i7 MBP. Resolution is set at 1680x1050, All settings High, AA x2, and all those other settings are switched on. It is 100% smooth, around 40fps (thats what it seems like), in some scenes frames dipped but it was very smooth 99% of the time. Keep in mind you have a HD 6750M which is several times better then the GT 330M I run MW3 with. I played MW3 on a friends laptop which has 2.2 i7 and a HD 6650M (tiny bit worse than 6750M) on extra settings, 1600x900 Res, AA x4. It was totally smooth.
The only difference an SSD makes when it comes to gaming is how quickly it loads levels etc. Once in the game the CPU and GPU is what matters.

Yep a USB DVD drive would do the job. You can buy cases or caddy's, or whatever they are called , for the internal DVD drive you took out of the MBP. It should cost like 10-25 $ (same in € and pounds)

 

[Karlington]

Amazing!
Thanks for your help my friend! I'm happy but from now on my girlfriend's not that happy since I'm not going to see here that much.

Kind regards,
Karl

 

[The-Pro]

haha, i feel ya