Hey everyone! I built my first gaming PC during the pandemic with some help, but I'm running out of storage for all my games. I'm a bit clueless about internal hard drives, so I'd appreciate any advice. I've come across terms like M.2 and SSD, but I'm not really sure if that's what I need. I play various games including Warzone, Red Dead Redemption, and some casual ones like Cities Skylines. Here are my specs:
- **Operating System**: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
- **CPU**: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700 @ 3.40GHz
- **RAM**: 32GB
- **Motherboard**: ASRock Z170 Gaming-ITX/ac
- **Graphics**: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
- **Storage**: 427GB Samsung SSD 950 SCSI
Any help would be fantastic!
3 Answers
You put that PC together during COVID? Nice! That Intel processor and SSD are a bit older, though. If you're looking for more storage, it depends on your budget and how much space you need. Since you have an M.2 drive already, your motherboard can only fit one of those. So, you'd have to replace it if you want more speed or just add a SATA drive. Also, keep in mind that SSD prices are pretty high right now due to shortages, so a traditional hard drive could be a more economical option.
For gaming, an SSD (Solid State Drive) is the way to go because they offer much faster loading times compared to traditional hard drives. Your current drive is already an SSD, but it’s worth noting that SSDs come in various formats, like 2.5" and PCIe. The M.2 format is a type of PCIe SSD, which can be either NVMe (super fast) or SATA-3. The NVMe drives are faster but might only show noticeable differences if you're using your PC for heavy tasks or large game files. Generally, people still prefer SSDs for performance, but hard drives are better for long-term storage.
But honestly, not every game needs an SSD. You could easily play casual games off a regular hard drive without issues, and your current M.2 slot is already taken.
I suggest going for a hard drive if you're looking for the best bang for your buck. You can move games that you're not currently playing from the SSD to the HDD, making management easier and keeping your SSD less cluttered. For HDDs, go for one with at least 7200 RPM for better performance. Large SSDs can get pricey, but this method will definitely be easier than reinstalling games every time you want to play them.
Totally! Many casual games work just fine on an HDD. I have most of mine stored there with no problems!
Yeah, I actually got it from a friend who didn't need it for gaming and I just upgraded the graphics.