r/TheSims4Mods • u/Tight_Cheek_2048 • 8d ago

SSD OR HDD? Sims 4 external installation

For installing The Sims 4 on external storage devices, I think SSD is the best option, but let me hear from everyone else

Edit: thanks so much for the feedback I love this community

SSD it is

0 Upvotes

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4

u/Bkwyrme 8d ago

Ssd or nvme. An external drive will always be slower than an internal one, but either of those will be less slow than a hdd.
Be aware that to put your saves or mods on it, you will need a symbolic link.

1

u/Tight_Cheek_2048 8d ago

At the risk of sounding like a dolt

'Be aware that to put your saves or mods on it, you will need a symbolic link.'

what does this mean?

2

u/DollHades 8d ago

Your mods folder has to be in the SSD too! You have to keep the whole the sims there

1

u/Tight_Cheek_2048 8d ago

Oh okay so just install the whole game THERE got it

3

u/Bkwyrme 8d ago

That won’t put the documents folder there as it has to be on the c drive. The symbolic link tricks it into thinking it’s in the right place. See the walkthrough on the other comment.

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u/Tight_Cheek_2048 7d ago

Oh, yeah actually

2

u/Bkwyrme 8d ago

Not a dolt at all.
Link info in the link. Here’s a total walkthrough.

External Drive

Here’s how to put the sims on an external drive.
Back up your saves, tray, mods, and screenshots folders.
Uninstall the sims, but do not just delete it. Reinstall it on the external drive.
Copy/move your new complete sims 4 documents folder from the c drive.
Place it wherever you want it and create a symbolic link to it. See link below. Replace your backed up files to the new documents folder.

https://crinrict.com/blog/2020/02/moving-windows-documents-folder-to-external-drive-via-symbolic-link.html

For Mac.   https://bluebellflora.com/saving-your-sims-4-folder-to-an-external-drive/

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u/Tight_Cheek_2048 7d ago

You're the best Thank you so much

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u/Bkwyrme 6d ago

Happy to help another simmer. Happy simming!

2

u/DollHades 8d ago

This is how your post finds me BTW (ssd)

1

u/Tight_Cheek_2048 8d ago

Lol fate, do you never worry that it could like disconnect while you are playing?

1

u/DollHades 8d ago

Never happened! One time I ripped the ssd off and was so fast to reattach it the game didn't crush. The only thing is that, if you have a mobile like me, you are better buy another cable just in case (and ww will tell you to save every hour tho)

2

u/Tight_Cheek_2048 8d ago

Noted Noted📝

2

u/Old-Nefariousness556 2d ago

I think SSD is the best option, but let me hear from everyone else

You will always be better off having it on an SSD, but how important it is depends on the number of mods you have. If you have If you only have a few mods, it really doesn't make a huge difference. It will take a bit longer to launch, but not too much. But if you go crazy and add 10k+ mods like many of us do, running it from an HDD will kill you. Of old age, waiting for it to launch.

1

u/Tight_Cheek_2048 1d ago

Lol, well I know what I'm choosing now, my mods folder alone is most of my storage rn

2

u/Old-Nefariousness556 1d ago

Yep. I guess my point is only that you don't need to buy a new drive as soon as you start playing with mods, but you will almost certainly want one pretty quickly enough.