Most gamers would consider Reddit a great resource for tips and tricks about gaming. A large portion of the Reddit community is dedicated to gaming, and many users have asked about how much storage they need for their PC gaming setup. In order to understand what kind of storage you’ll need for a gaming PC, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide.
First off, the amount of storage you need for gaming depends largely on the type of games you intend to play. For example, if you’ll be playing newer games that require more storage space and faster performance, you’ll need to invest in larger and faster storage devices. On the other hand, if your gaming rig consists predominantly of older and less storage-intensive titles, then smaller and slower-performing storage solutions may be more suitable.
Most modern gamers will want to invest in an SSD (Solid State Drive) to take advantage of the faster read and write speeds these devices offer. An SSD will typically offer speeds up to 10 times faster than a traditional Hard Disk Drive (HDD), meaning your gaming experience will be much smoother. Generally speaking, most gamers will want to go for a 1TB or higher capacity SSD, with some gamers opting for bigger sizes if their budget permits it.
Of course, not everyone is in the position to invest in a high-capacity SSD. For those on limited budgets, investing in an HDD may be the better option. While HDDs don’t offer the same read and write speeds as an SSD, they are much cheaper and can still provide decent enough performance for those on a tight budget. Most users will want to aim for a 1TB or higher capacity hard drive.
Additionally, if you plan on playing games across multiple devices or platforms, then cloud storage can be a great way to free up some of your own storage. There are several cloud services that offer gamers the ability to store their games and play them across multiple devices, including Steam, Xbox Live, and PlayStation Network.
Finally, if you’re eager to stay ahead of the storage game, then there are also solutions such as larger capacity hard drives, multiple SSDs and hybrid drives, as well as external storage solutions such as USB flash drives, external hard drives, and NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices.
More On Storage Capacity
Many gamers think that 1TB of storage is the ultimate gaming solution. These assumptions aren’t necessarily true. It all depends on the type of games you choose to play and the amount of space they require to store. For instance, gamers who rely on open-world games should consider 2TB of storage. This amount of storage ensures you have plenty of capacity for updates and patches.
Installing updates of a game can quickly consume storage. This is especially true if the game is new and a lot of updates are being pushed. Thus, it’s important to check your game’s storage requirements before making purchase decisions. For instance, when playing the latest Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, it comes with a hefty 80GB of disk space.
Moreover, the extra capacity allows gamers to enjoy modding capabilities and add even more content to the world. After all, it’s always best to have a little extra storage for these kinds of additions. But, if you’re playing on a tight budget, storage capacity won’t necessarily make or break your gaming experience.
It’s always important to remember that whichever storage option you choose, it should always come with plenty of speed. This means investing in a solid-state drive. Traditional Hard Disk Drives are much slower and won’t give you the advantage you need when gaming. Generally speaking, gamers should look for speeds of 500MB/s or higher.
For higher-end gaming set ups, a hybrid drive might be the best solution. This device combines a large capacity HDD with a small capacity SSD to give you the best of both worlds: speed and capacity. This combination often produces the best gaming performance.
Factors To Consider
It’s true that watching out for the storage capacity of a game is important. Nonetheless, gamers should also consider other factors when determining how much storage for gaming PC is needed. This includes using 2TB of storage for a gaming PC, depending on the game’s graphics requirements.
Graphics can quickly consume data. For instance, 4K visuals, or ultra-high definition graphics, needs more storage than any other visual. Generally, such visuals will take up 6GB of storage. If you’re playing some of the newer, more graphics-intensive games, a storage capacity of more than 2TB is important.
And, depending on the type of gaming setup you have, storage isn’t the only factor to consider. Most gaming PCs will use up more power than standard PCs, so plan accordingly. In addition, you should check the cooling system of your gaming PC to make sure it’s capable of dealing with the heat generated by a gaming session.
And, one of the most important factors to consider is whether you’re planning on streaming your gaming. If this is the case, it means you’ll need additional storage for all the streaming assets, such as overlays and images, as well as other assets that can help make your gaming experience even better.
Accessible Storage Solutions
If you’re looking for a mix of affordability and performance, there are numerous solutions available. The most popular of these solutions is the 2.5” HDD. This type of hard drive will generally provide you with up to 1TB of storage at a reasonable price point. In addition, many gamers tend to go with the 7mm form factor because it allows for more storage capacity.
For gamers who want the best performance they can get, then investing in an M.2 NVMe drive is the way to go. These small form factor drives come in capacities of up to 4TB and can offer speeds of up to 3,500MB/s. And, many of these drives are compatible with the smaller internal bays of a gaming case.
Today, many gaming PCs come with built-in slots for M.2 drives. And, for gamers who don’t have a built-in slot for an M.2 drive, there are plenty of adapters available on the market. These adapters come in various form factors and are compatible with a wide range of gaming motherboards.
Finally, dedicated gamers can also opt for external storage solutions. These solutions include SATA Express, U.2, and Thunderbolt drives. SATA Express and U.2 drives are best-suited for network storage, and are usually used for big data transfers, or streaming multiple games from the same device. On the other hand, Thunderbolt drives are portable and can be used to add additional storage to your gaming setup.
Conclusion
When it comes to how much storage for gaming PC Reddit, the answer depends largely on the type of games you play and your budget. If you’re looking for the best performance and speed, then an SSD is the way to go. On the other hand, if you’re on a budget, then investing in an HDD may be a better option. And, if your rig includes multiple devices and platforms, then investing in a cloud-based storage solution may be the best option.
Benefits Of External Storage
Another great benefit of having an external storage solution for gaming is the ability to upgrade capacity and performance as needed. This allows for increased gaming performance when needed, without needing to replace the entire storage setup. This makes external storage solutions highly beneficial for gamers who find themselves playing a lot of new titles.
In addition, external storage solutions are generally easier to manage than internal storage solutions. For instance, external drives are easier to connect and disconnect when needed, allowing gamers to quickly upgrade or downgrade their setup without having to open their PC cases. This also allows gamers to switch from one game or platform to another without having to change settings within the game.
Lastly, external storage solutions can also provide gamers with more flexibility in terms of changing their gaming settings and playing their games. With an external drive, gamers can easily store their personalized game settings and quickly switch to another game or platform without worrying about losing all their work.
All in all, Investing in an external storage solution can provide multiple benefits depending on the type of gaming experience you desire. From faster performance to more flexibility in gaming settings, external storage solutions can prove beneficial for hardcore gamers and casual gamers alike.
Pros and Cons of Cloud Storage
The use of cloud storage for gaming has become increasingly popular over the years, but it’s important to understand the pros and cons of this solution when considering it for your gaming rig. The biggest pro of cloud storage is that gamers are able to access their game files and progress from any device. This eliminates the need to transfer files manually and makes gaming on multiple devices and platforms easier.
In addition, cloud storage offers gamers a secure solution for storing and protecting their game data. With a few clicks, gamers can back up their files and rest assured that their data won’t be lost in the event of hardware failure. Furthermore, cloud storage can also help protect gamers from data corruption or accidental file deletion.
The downside of cloud storage is that it often requires a subscription or payment in order to use it. This means gamers must make an ongoing investment in order to access their data. Furthermore, cloud storage solutions can often be slower than traditional storage solutions due to the fact that data is being transferred through the internet.
Finally, gamers must also consider data privacy when using cloud storage. Although cloud storage companies use encryption and other security measures to protect user data, there is still a risk that the data could be breached if the cloud service is not properly secured.
Storage Needs For Different Platforms
The type of platform a gamer chooses will also dictate how much storage they require. For instance, console gamers won’t need to invest in an external storage solution, as consoles typically come with larger storage capacities than gaming PCs. However, console gamers still need to consider the type of games they play when selecting a console, as some games may require more storage than others.
On the other hand, PC gamers will need to invest in extra storage solutions if they intend to take advantage of modern gaming. As previously mentioned, PC gamers should opt for an SSD when possible, as this will provide them with the best performance. Furthermore, PC gamers should choose their storage solutions carefully, as some games may require specific kinds of storage.
Finally, gamers should also be aware of the amount of space required for gaming servers. Although many of today’s games are playable on home PCs, some require more powerful machines in order to operate. This means investing in more storage in order to host a game server.
In Summary
In summary, the amount of storage required for gaming depends largely on the type of games you intend to play. For most gamers, a 1TB or larger capacity SSD is the ideal storage solution, offering the best balance between speed and capacity. However, those on a budget can opt for a larger capacity HDD, while gamers looking for the best performance
