What’s a good affordable 2TB SSD for storing games?
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MellowCedar47
I'm running low on storage and want to add a 2TB SSD dedicated to games. My system has a Gigabyte B650 Eagle AX motherboard with one unused M.2 slot, while the other two M.2 slots are already occupied. Does a gaming library benefit from an especially fast PCIe 5.0 drive, or would a more affordable PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD be perfectly adequate? I'm trying to avoid overspending and would appreciate suggestions for reliable budget-friendly models.
Answers
Your Gigabyte B650 Eagle AX has another M.2 slot available, so adding a 2TB NVMe drive is straightforward. Check the drive’s recommended heatsink setup and make sure the motherboard’s M.2 cover is installed if applicable. For a game library, a reasonably priced PCIe 4.0 model is the sensible choice; PCIe 5.0 would mostly be wasted money here.
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For games, you don’t need a top-end PCIe 5.0 SSD. A decent PCIe 4.0 NVMe drive will provide excellent performance, and the difference in loading times is usually minor. Look at reliable budget or mid-range models from brands such as WD, Crucial, Solidigm, or Lexar, depending on what’s available where you live.
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If you didn’t have a free M.2 slot, a 2.5-inch SATA SSD would still work well for games, although it would be slower. Since you do have an open M.2 slot, an NVMe drive is the cleaner option. Sales can happen around major shopping events, but it’s better to compare the drive’s normal price and specifications rather than assuming every advertised discount is genuine.
SilverJuniper3: Exactly. It’s worth checking price history because some stores raise prices beforehand and then label the reduced price as a special sale.
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MellowCedar47: That makes sense. Since it’ll only hold games, I’m mainly looking for something dependable with good capacity rather than the fastest possible benchmark numbers.