I'm planning to build a new PC and need some advice on storage options. Should I go for a 2TB HDD to store my games and Windows, or would it be better to get a separate 128GB SSD for the Windows installation while keeping the HDD just for games? Here are the specs of my build: GPU: Arc B580 ASRock, CPU: i5 12600KF, Case: Lian Li V100 ATX Mid Tower, Motherboard: MSI PRO B760-P, PSU: MSI MAG A650BN.
4 Answers
If a 1TB SSD is out of your budget right now, it might be worth saving a bit more. Otherwise, combine a small SSD for the OS with an HDD for everything else, but for gaming, you're really going to want that SSD option if you can swing it.
Honestly, you should definitely go for an SSD for your operating system and any applications. HDDs are just too slow for that nowadays. They’re best used for bulk storage of files like photos or videos rather than gaming or anything that requires quick access.
If you plan to play modern games, consider getting at least a 1TB SSD. Most new titles can leverage direct storage technology, which lets them quickly stream necessary files into RAM, greatly enhancing performance. An SSD will give you a much better gaming experience than an HDD.
I’ve been using a 1TB SSD for Windows and a 4TB SSD for games, and it's been fantastic. The speed increase compared to HDDs is noticeable, especially when loading games or applications.
Absolutely! I wouldn’t even consider putting Windows on an HDD. For gaming, you really want that SSD speed.