Playing games on a PC is an incredibly enjoyable experience, but when your gaming performance starts to suffer due to your PC not having enough storage it can be incredibly frustrating. Luckily, there are a few simple steps you can take to add more storage to your gaming PC. In this article, I’ll explain how you can add more storage to your gaming PC with ease.
First, decide on how much additional storage you need. Think about the size of the games you usually play, along with any other programs you might have. This will help you determine how much additional storage space you need. You’ll also need to decide what type of storage to add. The most common types are hard drives, SSDs (solid-state drives) or a combination of both.
Once you know the size and type of storage you need, you’ll need to purchase the drive. New hard drives, whether internal or external, should come with the necessary software and hardware needed to connect it to your computer. SSDs, on the other hand, are usually just plug-and-play and require no additional setup.
The next step is to physically install the drive. This will vary depending on the type of drive you’re installing. For internal drives, you should refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for installation. External drives are much easier and just require plugging them into the appropriate port.
Once the drive is physically in your system, you’ll need to configure it. First, you should partition it for better organization. You should also assign a drive letter for easier navigation. Finally, you’ll need to format the drive to make sure it’s properly usable. This can be done through the Windows Disk Management tool.
Once your drive is formatted and you have assigned a drive letter, you can begin to transfer files to it. Any programs and games you have previously installed can be moved to the new drive. This is a great way to free up space on your primary drive if needed.
Once the drive is installed and all your files are transferred, you can begin using the extra space. You can keep your games and programs on the larger drive, which should improve your PC’s performance, especially during gaming sessions.
What About Hybrid Hard Drives?
A hybrid hard drive is a combination of a hard disk drive and a solid-state drive. These drives offer the best of both worlds, as they provide the high capacity of a hard drive and the fast performance of an SSD. Hybrid hard drives are especially useful if you need extra storage but don’t want to sacrifice speed.
Hybrid hard drives should be treated the same way as regular hard drives and SSDs when it comes to adding storage to your PC. You’ll need to purchase the drive and install it in your PC. Then, you will need to partition it, assign a drive letter and format it. After that, you can begin transferring files to the drive.
Usually, hybrid hard drives are only available as external drives. This means they can be connected to your PC via USB or a similar type of port. It is possible to install a hybrid hard drive internally, but this might require additional hardware or software depending on your PC.
Hybrid hard drives come in a variety of sizes and are usually more expensive than traditional hard drives or SSDs. It is important to take that into consideration before purchasing a hybrid hard drive.
Overall, If you are looking for extra storage with fast performance, a hybrid hard drive might be the best choice for you.
Adding Storage with an External Hard Drive
If you don’t want to open your PC and install an internal drive, you can add more storage with an external hard drive. This is an easy way to add storage as you don’t need to worry about installing any hardware or software. All you need to do is plug the drive into an available port and it should be ready to use.
External hard drives come in a variety of sizes and speeds, so you’ll need to determine how much storage you need and the speed you require. External hard drives can also be purchased with pre-installed software which makes them even easier to set up.
Once the drive is connected, you can format it, assign it a drive letter and begin transferring files to it. As with a traditional hard drive or an SSD, you can keep your games and programs on the external drive and free up space on your primary drive.
External hard drives are excellent for adding extra storage without the hassle of opening your PC and can offer a good balance of capacity and performance.
Another advantage of external hard drives is their portability. They are easy to move around and can be used in different PCs if needed. Some external hard drives even come with their own power source, which makes them even more versatile.
Adding Storage with a M.2 SSD
Adding storage with an M.2 SSD is another great option for gamers. These drives offer blazing-fast performance compared to traditional hard drives or SSDs, and they also take up minimal space. This makes them ideal for gaming PCs where space is limited but performance is paramount.
M.2 SSDs usually require a special type of port and connection, so make sure your motherboard supports them before purchasing one. These drives are fairly expensive and you’ll need to purchase the necessary hardware and software, but they are worth the additional cost.
Once the M.2 SSD is installed, you can format it and assign it a drive letter. Then, you can begin transferring programs and games to the drive. This will free up space on your primary drive, improving your overall gaming performance.
M.2 SSDs are a great way to add additional storage and performance to a gaming PC. Keep in mind, though, that they are expensive and require additional hardware and software.
Adding Storage with a NAS Drive
NAS (Network Attached Storage) drives are great for a variety of tasks, including adding extra storage to your gaming PC. These drives are high-capacity and offer fast performance, and they are also fairly easy to set up.
NAS drives are usually connected to your home network, so you’ll need to make sure your router is capable of connecting to a NAS drive. Once your router is set up, you’ll need to purchase the NAS drive and connect it to your network. This should be a fairly easy process as most NAS drives come with their own software and hardware.
Once the NAS drive is connected to your network, you can begin transferring files to it. This is a great way to free up space on your primary drive while simultaneously backing up your data. It also means you can access the NAS drive from any computer connected to the network.
NAS drives also come with their own specialized software which can be used to configure and manage them. This is an ideal way to keep your data safe as you can use the software to set up automated backups and other data protection measures.
Overall, NAS drives are a great way to add extra storage to your gaming PC and improve the overall performance of your system.
