I've upgraded my PC recently with a 5600X CPU, a 1660 Super GPU, and a 750W PSU, and I'm now looking to play some AAA games at 1080p high/ultra settings. However, I'm running into a storage issue: I have a 512GB NVMe drive installed, but my motherboard only has one M.2 slot. I want to know what storage solutions are available that fit within my $400 budget, especially for games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Cyberpunk.
4 Answers
You could also get a larger HDD (like a 4TB one) for storing less frequently used files. Keep your essential games and programs on the NVMe, while offloading videos and images to the HDD to free up space.
Have you considered using a PCIe adapter to add another M.2 drive? Even a Gen 3 PCIe x1 lane performs faster than a SATA SSD. You can find adapters easily online, and it could save you some budget to upgrade your GPU too!
Yes, you can use an x1 PCIe slot for the adapter. It's a great way to utilize your NVMe capabilities!
One option you have is to get a 2.5" SATA SSD, preferably with DRAM. Prices are a bit inflated right now, but it's a solid addition. Just avoid anything QLC; stick to TLC for better performance.
Great point! I wouldn't settle for QLC either; those drives can be unreliable. TLC is definitely the way to go.
Look for a good used SATA SSD with TLC and DRAM. A 4TB drive like the MX500 can be a worthy investment, lasting you a long time. If that's too pricey, a DRAM-less SSD works as long as it's TLC. Just steer clear of QLC!
Would I have a spare slot on my motherboard for that? I didn't know about this option!