So I have a current PC configuration of C Drive 80gb SSD and D Drive 1tb.  Couple of external usb drives for offline storage.
 
Currently my C Drive (SSD 80gb) has VST plugins and D Drive has Cakewalk Sonar X1d and all my other sample libraries and other applications (Komplete 9 Ultimate libraries, Omni, Reason refills etc.).
 
managing the 80GB ssd drive is crazy.  space is limited.
 
I bought a new PC i7 3.6ghz blah blah blah.
 
New PC configuration is C Drive 120gb SSD and D Drive 2tb. faster drives than before with more storage.  Before I install any software I am adding a E Drive 2 tb.  3 hard drives.
 
I have read in the past that 3 drives is best configuration as read/write to separate hard drive devices helps with lag, latency etc.
 
So where should I be installing software onto each drive for the best performance?  I really want to keep the SSD Drive as clean as possible so I am not managing space all the time (120gb space gets eaten up goes SOOO fast).
 
So is it:
 
C Drive Cakewalk
D Drive VST Plugins/Cakewalk project files/Appz (NI Komplete, Omni, Nexus, etc)
E Drive sample libraries (Kontakt, EastWest, Sampletank etc).
 
???  Do I need the 3rd drive, as I have lived with 2 drive for many PC Configs is 2 okay and enough?
 
I really would like to set this system up for best use once before having to change again.
 
any advice help would be greatly appreciated.
 

SSD is the way to go . I have a 120G samsung SSD drive for OS and X2 as well as most programs. I have a second one for all samples, VSTs and synths. In this config everything happens fast. I have 2 other conventional drives for video and audio recording including cakewalk project files. I highly recommend samples and sample oriented synths (ie Dimension, AD or toontracks etc) on SSD it just works so great. If you try to configure so that most of your chatty apps (aps that do a lot of writes) are pointed at the conventional drives, your SSDs will last and last. I read a test where the samung 840 drive was endurance tested and they concluded that under normal use it would last 24 years! I was happy since I went with samsung on my rig.

I used to use SSD drives, but found them to be unreliable - 2 out of 2 failed within 8 months of purchase.  (These were also pricey 512GB drives from almost 2 years ago).
 
I currently use 2 internal SATA 3 2TB drives, 7400, and have zero performance issues with that configuration.
 
My primary drive (C:) contains all programs, and as little data as possible.
 
My secondary drive, (D:), contains all projects and sample content and such.
 
Some folks go even farther and have an additional drive to split projects from sample content, and that is fine, but for me, I seem to be working just fine with the setup I use.
 
I DO have two external 2 TB USB 3 drives, that are used exclusively for backups.
 
If you were to start with a split like I use, you can always move your projects off to a new drive, if you want to later, and then you just have to update a single path in Sonar Preferences to tell it where the projects folder lives and you are all set.
 
Hope that helps, 
 
Bob Bone
 

Thanks guys.
 
I cannot go all SSD, way to much money and sizes are just to small right now.
 
I think I am okay right now and I can add another HD if needed later on.
 
Thanks.

robert_e_bone
I used to use SSD drives, but found them to be unreliable - 2 out of 2 failed within 8 months of purchase.  (These were also pricey 512GB drives from almost 2 years ago). 

What make were these drives Bob?

To the Op, I have C drive with Sonar, D drive for projects/audio and an ssd drive for samples.

Works well for me. Hoping my SSD doesn't bite the dust like Bobs!

Fairly standard setup here:
 
C Drive - OS, Programs & plugins
D Drive - Cakewalk Projects, Exports & Mixdowns
E Drive - Sample Libraries
 
All are 1Tb HDD's mounted in silencer sleeves - my only noise issue is my CPU fan. Everything else is virtually silent.

Here's how I'd configure the HDs:
 
C:  OS/Apps
D:  Audio files (projects)
E:  Samples
 
An SSD for the boot drive makes Windows navigation a bit "snappier".
A nicety... but not a necessity 
 
No need to go SSD for your audio drive.
SATA-III HDs are plenty fast... and offer more space/$
 
Disk-streaming samples is where SSD really shines.
At ~3 times the speed of a fast conventional HD, you can pull massive polyphony.

I am going to throw another HD into this new PC box I got then I will  have
 
C:  cakewalk/vst
D:  audio project files
E:  samples.
 
this seems like the standard "good" way of doing things.
 
before I can do that I have to get rid of Windows 8 on this box and get windows 7 up and running.  I just cannot get used to Windows 8 at all - it's way way different and I need to start installing.
 
Bought X3 Producer upgrade last night - took the plunge.  So clean installs and nice drive setups and I should be ready to rock n roll (or bang noise loudly actually).
 
Thanks for confirming HD setups you guys use.  I thought I was on the right track but always doubt myself - great to have some confirmation.

If you go to the Start Menu in Windows 8 and drag the Desktop tile to the upper-left most corner, that will be easy to see on start up, and once you click in there you are back to your regular desktop.
 
Then all you have to do is go on a one-time romp through All Apps and either pin the ones you really want to access regularly to either the Start Menu or to the task bar, or both, and then you will find yourself mostly working out of the desktop view, which is pretty much just like Windows 7.
 
Just a thought.  There are also quick access methods of doing things like restart and shutdown.
 
If you were planning to have to purchase Win 7 to put it on that PC, you could configure as above, then take the savings and upgrade the Melodyne to the full editor.
 
Bob Bone