When building a computer for gaming, storage is one of the things you must pay attention to. The amount of storage space your computer has will determine the number and type of games you can run.
The Solid State Drive (SSD) has dislodged the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and taken over the gaming industry. Today, you’ll find SSD in almost all modern laptops available.
The fast loading speed and ability to offer users more storage space are part of the things that sets SSD apart.
If you’re building a gaming computer or considering starting one soon, you must have thought about the SSD you need. How much SSD space should your gaming PC have? We’ll find the answer to this question and provide more information on SSD.
So, are you ready? If yes, let’s dive in.
How Much SSD Do I Need For Gaming?
Several factors determine the amount of SSD a gaming PC should have. Among the factors is budget-size and the types or qualities of games you plan to play.
SSD comes in varied sizes. You’ll find 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and more. More SSD sizes will pop up in the future.
Now, here’s how to choose SSD for gaming based on your gaming appetite.
For individuals classified as “hardcore gamers,”512GB to 1TB is a wise choice. Your high graphics game will run smoothly in both SSD sizes, but remember that the higher the storage space, the better.
The 1TB SSD is bigger than 512GB. Therefore, it should cost more. But if you have the financial capacity, it would be a better option for your gaming computer.
For individuals classified as “casual gamers,” a 256GB SSD isn’t a bad idea. You can play two or more low-graphics games on a computer with 256GB SSD storage, but have this in mind: You may encounter challenges running games with high-quality graphics.
Most modern laptops boast 128GB SSD storage. And these are good for surfing the web, typing documents, and streaming movies.
Now, can you play games on a computer with 128GB storage? Yes, you can. However, this SSD is too small to run high-graphics games.
You won’t enjoy gaming on a computer with 128GB SSD storage. In fact, you’ll have a terrible experience, as the computer will drag and crash several times. So, it’s not worth it.
Is 256GB Better Than 128GB SSD For Gaming?
Is 256GB a better option than a 128GB SSD for gaming?
What determines most gamers’ choice of SSD is price. The higher you move up the SSD ladder, the more money you have to shell out.
However, a 256GB is twice as large as a 128GB SSD. Thus, it can accommodate and run more games. Most games are well over 100GB. For example, Gears Of War 4 is 112.3GB. You cannot run such a game on a 128GB SSD.
A 256GB SSD will be enough to run the game, and you could add a game of 60 GB. But the truth is, most people won’t be content with having one or two games on the computer. It’s easier to get bored playing a single game for weeks.
Here is some good advice for gamers. If you’re an avid gamer, consider getting a higher SSD for your computer. Solid State Drives are loads faster, but the size of your game can impact its speed.
So choose a higher SSD, probably a 512GB or 1TB. With this SSD size, you can play several AAA games on your computer and not experience a crash.
Note: Games with high-quality graphics require a large SSD. Another thing you need to keep in mind is that games aren’t getting smaller. On the contrary, they’re getting larger and larger.
Therefore, we can expect high-end games with superior graphics and larger file sizes in the future.
Factors That Determine How Much SSD You Need For Gaming
How can you calculate or determine your gaming storage need? Avid gamers gather here.
Let’s not forget that most people use their PCs for other things besides gaming. Some use theirs for video editing and other tasks in addition to gaming.
You must consider the tasks you wish to perform with your computer besides gaming before splashing the cash.
So, here is a quick explanation on how to determine your SSD storage need.
1: The Computer’s Operating System:
The operating system will occupy some space in your SSD. It could be 20GB or more, depending on the OS you plan to use.
Most gamers prefer using Windows 10, while some use older versions. While the older Windows may occupy far less space in your SSD, it has other disadvantages that make them unattractive.
The thing is, certain games won’t run on older Windows. Tech giant, Microsoft, has announced that it plans to stop supporting and providing updates for Windows 8.1 from January 10th 2023.
Another scary thing about using older Windows is the security risk it poses. The lack of updates means several bugs will remain unfixed, and hackers could gain access to your PC.
So Windows 10 or any latest Windows operating system is a wise choice. However, remember that Windows operating systems require updates, which you must perform now and then.
You can set the computer to update manually or automatically. Note also that Windows 10 file update will involve giving up some space in your SSD. In other words, you may have new files of around 20GB.
So when choosing SSD for gaming, remember that Windows will occupy a fraction of your storage, around 20GB.
2: The Game Sizes:
The gaming you intend to do is another factor to consider when deciding your storage needs. Are you going for high-quality graphics games (Triple-A games) or lower?
Any serious gamer would want to play the best games available. So, if you’re an avid gamer, consider SSD size when buying your laptop or building a desktop computer.
Another thing you need to understand is that games are getting bigger. And you’ll have to run updates now and then.
Furthermore, most people may want to have two or more games on their computer, as they easily get bored playing only one game repeatedly, week in and week out.
Here are some top PC games and their respective sizes.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War – 250GB
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare – 231GB
- Quantum Break – 178GB
- Destiny2: Shadowkeep – 165GB
- Red Dead Redemption 2 – 150GB
- Final Fantasy 15 – 148GB
- Microsoft Flight Simulator – 127GB
- Mass Effect: Legendary Edition – 120GB
- Borderlands 3 – 116GB
3: Graphics Card and Processor:
The CPU and GPU are crucial components to consider when buying an SSD. Both components, together with your SSD, will impact the gaming experience.
In other words, the GPU, CPU and storage memory (SSD) determines the games you can play on a newly built PC.
If you want to play PC games with high-quality graphics, get a high CPU, GPU and SSD.
Mounting a high SSD, GPU, and low-end CPU in your computer won’t give you a smooth gaming experience. The low CPU will impact the game’s framerate adversely.
Note that you don’t necessarily need 1TB or 3TB SSD because you use a high-end GPU and CPU. Just get enough SSD space for the game you intend to play.
For example, Borderlands 3 is 116GB. You can run this game conveniently on a 256GB SSD.
A Handy Tip: Intel and AMD are the two leading processors in the market, though the Intel Core processor is the most recommended for gaming computers.
4: RAM:
RAM, also called Random Access Memory, is a crucial component to consider when deciding the size of your SSD. Note that the CPU and SSD depend on the RAM.
When booting the system or loading information, RAM does it faster than SSD, preventing lag.
However, the size of RAM you mount in your computer matters greatly. Thus, you have to choose the right size based on your needs.
Different sizes of RAM exist. You will find 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 12GB, 16GB, 24GB, 32GB and 64GB.
RAM is responsible for the fast transition experienced during gaming. But the thing is, choosing the right RAM is essential.
Now here is something you need to know. Your computer’s RAM speed won’t even matter if the CPU is low-end and cannot keep up. On the other hand, you’ll experience a boost in performance if other components in the computer (CPU, SSD, and GPU) can handle the RAM.
Most gaming experts recommend 16GB RAM for gaming PCs, but 8GB isn’t a bad idea for occasional players.
A Handy Tip: You’ll find the recommended RAM speed listed on some CPUs. You can follow the recommendation, but remember that it might not be for gaming. Thus, you may only experience a slight boost in performance.
Choose RAM, CPU, GPU and SSD based on your gaming needs.
Finally, the motherboard is another thing you need to consider when choosing RAM. You have to be sure that the motherboard can carry the RAM. Otherwise, it would cap out.
The Conclusion
The question is, how much SSD do I need for gaming? If this question concerns you, this post is for you.
Different SSD sizes exist. But one thing is clear: SSDs are faster and last longer than HDDs.
The SSD sizes are 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and even 3TBs. More SSD sizes may pop out in the future. But these are in existence currently.
So choose the SSD you want based on your gaming needs. In other words, consider the sizes of games you want to play. Other factors determining SSD sizes include Windows OS, RAM, GPU and CPU.