I'm curious about what type of storage drive I should get for gaming. Given the current high prices, is it better to invest in a large M.2 NVMe drive, or would I be better off saving some cash by opting for a HDD or SATA drive? I know the latter options are slower, but is the cost difference significant enough to justify that performance hit?
8 Answers
I'd recommend getting a lower-end NVMe; SATA drives aren't much cheaper anymore, and traditional HDDs just aren't worth it—they're way too slow now.
Keep your frequently played games on an SSD or M.2, and stash the ones you rarely touch on larger HDDs. Steam's file migration feature is a real lifesaver!
NVMe SSDs are simply faster, so if you're all about speed, go for one. It makes a noticeable difference.
A mid-range NVMe drive is perfect—no need to splurge on the top-tier models like Samsung 980. Brands like Kingston or WD make solid options that perform well without breaking the bank.
You really can get by with a SATA SSD. They generate less heat and are generally sufficient for most games these days.
Honestly, M.2 NVMe drives are the best choice right now. SATA SSDs are often just as expensive, and HDDs aren't recommended since many games require SSDs for optimal performance. If you can, go with an NVMe drive!
I agree, but not all games need NVMe speeds to run well. For me, it's more about installation ease on my board. I’m leaning towards a SATA next because I have limited M.2 slots on my ITX setup.
I just snagged a 4TB 990 EVO for about $300. Thought it was a good deal!
I use a 1TB NVMe for my active games, while I keep my older games on HDDs. Steam makes it super easy to transfer games between drives, which is a plus! Plus, large HDDs are still a good buy since demand is high right now.
I picked up a Samsung 980 recently, and since prices are all over the place right now, it ended up being a decent deal.