I'm putting together a new gaming PC while SSD prices are still much higher than they used to be. I can either get a 512GB SSD or spend more on a 1TB model, and I can add a 1TB hard drive to the build at no extra cost. Is 512GB reasonable as a starting point, with the option to add or upgrade storage later, or is 1TB the better choice despite the current prices?
3 Answers
It mostly depends on the games you plan to keep installed. A 512GB drive is fine for Windows, applications, and a few games, especially if you have another drive for less frequently used files. Indie and 2D games take very little space, while several modern AAA games can use 100GB or more each.
Check how many M.2 and SATA slots the motherboard has. If there are several open slots, starting with 512GB is a reasonable way to save money. If expansion will be limited or difficult, getting 1TB now is safer. Either way, storage prices and future pricing are impossible to predict, so base the decision on your current budget and usage rather than expecting a guaranteed price drop.
If the budget allows it, I’d choose 1TB. After formatting, Windows, applications, and leaving some free space, a 512GB drive gives you considerably less usable room than the label suggests. Games are also getting larger, and 1TB drives usually offer better value per gigabyte.
That makes sense. I’ll probably only keep a couple of large games installed at once, so swapping them out may be manageable.