rMB Boot Camp Partition Allocation

[mastercraft813]

I ordered the new rMB 1.3GHz/512GB model on opening night. My machine won't be here for a few weeks but I am planning out my software setup. My new Macbook will not serve as my “home base.” I have a Macbook Pro where I keep my iTunes, iPhoto/Photos, movies, etc. I bought the new Macbook for grad school and traveling.

I need to run Windows for school. I have used Parallels in the past but I decided that I want to use Boot Camp on my new rMB. My question is how much of the 512GB should I allocate to Windows and how much to OS X? I have a 1TB Dropbox account where I keep all of my important files including anything school related. I don’t run any “intense” applications like Photoshop, Logic, etc. at this point. I just want both partitions to run as smoothly as possible. Should I allocate 50%/50% to each?

Here’s a tentative breakdown of what each partition will look like:

Mac partition:
OS X 10.10.3 (I usually upgrade to the latest and greatest a couple weeks after it launches)
1Password
Dropbox
iStat
Bartender (maybe)
VLC
Chrome

Windows partition:
Windows 8.1 Pro (the discounted student version direct from MS)
MS Office (I am using Office 365 right now but I am planning to do a full install on this partition for convenience)
1Password
Dropbox
Chrome
When school starts, I will have other school-related software on here, but I don’t know much at this point.

Did I really need to buy the 1.3GHz/512GB model? Probably not and that’s not the question I am asking here. If you have any other suggestions, please share. Thanks.

 

[yjchua95]

I ordered the new rMB 1.3GHz/512GB model on opening night. My machine won't be here for a few weeks but I am planning out my software setup. My new Macbook will not serve as my “home base.” I have a Macbook Pro where I keep my iTunes, iPhoto/Photos, movies, etc. I bought the new Macbook for grad school and traveling.

I need to run Windows for school. I have used Parallels in the past but I decided that I want to use Boot Camp on my new rMB. My question is how much of the 512GB should I allocate to Windows and how much to OS X? I have a 1TB Dropbox account where I keep all of my important files including anything school related. I don’t run any “intense” applications like Photoshop, Logic, etc. at this point. I just want both partitions to run as smoothly as possible. Should I allocate 50%/50% to each?

Here’s a tentative breakdown of what each partition will look like:

Mac partition:
OS X 10.10.3 (I usually upgrade to the latest and greatest a couple weeks after it launches)
1Password
Dropbox
iStat
Bartender (maybe)
VLC
Chrome

Windows partition:
Windows 8.1 Pro (the discounted student version direct from MS)
MS Office (I am using Office 365 right now but I am planning to do a full install on this partition for convenience)
1Password
Dropbox
Chrome
When school starts, I will have other school-related software on here, but I don’t know much at this point.

Did I really need to buy the 1.3GHz/512GB model? Probably not and that’s not the question I am asking here. If you have any other suggestions, please share. Thanks.

128GB is going to be pretty tight. If installing on an external device is an option, then install Windows on an external USB SSD. That's what I do.

 

[mastercraft813]

128GB is going to be pretty tight. If installing on an external device is an option, then install Windows on an external USB SSD. That's what I do.

I got the 512GB, so (approximately) 256GB could go to each partition. I have no interest in using an external USB for Windows, plus the single USB-C port pretty much takes away that option.

 

[doynton]

I got the 512GB, so (approximately) 256GB could go to each partition. I have no interest in using an external USB for Windows, plus the single USB-C port pretty much takes away that option.

From what you say it doesn't matter. I have 120GB and have given 55GB to OSX and 65GB to Windows. Both work fine.

It is easier to read Windows (NTFS) from OSX (Corestorage drivers do not exist) than the other way around so I'd make the Windows part bigger if I was you unless you have some data that really needs to be on mac partition.

In your case I'd probably go for 80-100 for OSX, the rest, Windows.

Otherwise 50/50 is fine but it is a bit of a hassle to change it later on.

 

[z31fanatic]

W8.1 takes about 25GB of space after updates. Then you'll have applications and whatever software from school. Since you'll only be using Windows for school stuff, I don't see why you should split the storage in half.
I would do 100-120GB for Bootcamp and leave the rest for OSX.

 

[doynton]

I would do 100-120GB for Bootcamp and leave the rest for OSX.

Why? You don't have to give extra space to your favorite operating system to show you love it.

 

[Mike Boreham]

I have used Parallels in the past but I decided that I want to use Boot Camp on my new rMB. .

Any special reason for this decision? Parallels avoids the awkward decisions about partitions and is whole lot less hassle (IME, having used both for many years).

I think only serious gamers need Bootcamp.

I have two rMBPs and could never get Bootcamp (Win 7) to work nicely with retina, although I am told Windows 8 is more compatible with retina. Parallels handles retina very nicely.

 

[doynton]

I have two rMBPs and could never get Bootcamp (Win 7) to work nicely with retina, although I am told Windows 8 is more compatible with retina. Parallels handles retina very nicely.

Bootcamp works fine with Windows 8 or 10. 7 doesn't work so well with hDPI. Presumably it is just an old OS and they didn't bother.