Is 500GB SSD Enough For Gaming?
You must be wondering, is 500GB SSD enough for gaming? If you’ve been gaming for as long as we have, you will know that storage is a sensitive topic when it comes to gaming. But, t doesn’t matter if you are playing on a console or PC, storage space is always an issue. However, with the increase in the size of games and the demand for high-resolution graphics, 500 GB might not be enough.
However, what if there was a way to get more storage capacity without spending any extra money? That’s where SSDs come into play. While HDD drives are cheap and offer plenty of storage capacity at an affordable price point, SSDs are fast and more expensive than HDDs. But with faster load times and quicker access to game files, it may be worth the initial investment. Here’s everything you need to know about SSDs if you plan on using one for your gaming setup.
What is SSD?
SSD stands for a solid-state drive. Traditionally, the data was stored on a rotating magnetic disk drive (HDD), but with the advent of new technologies, we got the SSD. The data is stored in flash memory chips (electronic non-volatile computer storage) instead of the spinning disks. It’s like having a USB drive on your computer.
Is 500 GB SSD enough?
If you are asking the question, is 500GB SSD enough for gaming? The answer to this question about SSD is simple, and it is yes. But as we mentioned earlier, gaming nowadays has a huge impact on storage. Games like GTA 5 and Witcher 3 take up 70 GB and over 100 GB of storage, respectively. So if you are a PC gamer, you know you must have enough storage to install the game and keep some space for the future.
Because the games are becoming bigger and bigger, you can’t really rely on a 500 GB HDD. You will end up installing a new game, and you will probably have to delete an old game to make room for it. And if you are a console gamer, HDDs are even more inadequate for modern games. In these cases, you should consider investing in an SSD. The fast load times and ample space on the SSD will make your gaming experience much better.
Why is it important?
Even if a 500 GB SSD is enough for gaming, why should you invest in it? Well, if we were to talk about the advantages of an SSD in comparison to an HDD, we can’t do it justice. There are many advantages of having an SSD over an HDD, but the most important one is speed.
Having an SSD installed on your computer will drastically increase the load times of your programs and games. You can also use it as a secondary drive for storing data and moving your old games to it to free up space on your primary drive. All in all, PC gamers should take the SSD route to really improve their gaming experience. Console gamers can also benefit from an SSD, but it’s not as crucial as it is for a PC gamer.
4 Best SSDs in 2022
The following are some of the best SSDs you can get for your gaming laptops:
1. WD Black SN770
The world has seen a few NVMe SSDs released lately that emphasize performance and cost. The WD_Black SN770 differs from the trend as it tries to provide better value for money than other NVMe SSDs. It does this by eliminating DRAM from the design. Thanks to the latest controller tech, these NVMe SSDs perform as well as, if not better than, previous models that utilized DRAM. Despite the drawbacks, these NVMe SSDs are still capable of delivering 5,150MB/s and 4,900MB/s read and write speeds, respectively.
Pros
- Reliable performance
- Warranty for five years
- Affordable price
Cons
- Become hot when overused
2. Seagate Firecuda 530
Despite taking a long time to enter the solid-state game, particularly the PCIe 4.0 sector, Seagate has made a big splash with the Firecuda 530. Without the heatsink (which is vital for PlayStation 5 compatibility) or the 2TB version (which delivers the greatest straight performance and greatest endurance levels), the Seagate drive is a stunner. The EKWB-heatsinked version is a little more costly, but if you don’t have integrated SSD cooling on your motherboard, it’s well worth the investment.
Pros
- Speedy performance
- Available in different sizes
- Don’t become hot
Cons
- Expensive
3. Crucial MX500
There is a diminished cost distinction between SATA and PCIe and SSDs, making it hard to favor the much slower SATA technology for our most effective SSDs for gaming. Although there is a limit on how many M.2 slots a motherboard can have, SATA SSDs are still viable as secondary storage. The Crucial MX500 is the greatest SATA SSDs. Because SATA bandwidth tops out at 600MB/s, you can say it is as quick as you can get, and Crucial drives are normally among the affordable options.
Pros
- Good price per GB
- Remain cool under heavy use
- Good bandwidth
Cons
- Not a popular brand
4. Kingston Fury Renegade
The Kingston drive is the only PCIe 4.0 SSD on the market. It’s pricey, but if you want speed, longevity, and functionality for years, it’s a great choice. The Phison PS5018-E18 takes advantage of TSMC’s 12nm technology to deliver eight channels. It has five CPUs overall. Three of which are based on generic ARM Cortex R5 technology and two of which are Phison’s proprietary designs. However, according to Phison, the E18 can push up to 7.4GB/s read and 7GB/s write speeds, in addition to one million IOPS. NVMe 1.4 has previously been used to refer to the E18, but the Kingston Fury Renegade supports NVMe 2.0.
Pros
- High write speed
- Remain cold under heavy write
Cons
- Expensive
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Conclusion
SSDs have become an essential part of the gaming experience. With their faster load times and ample storage, they have become an essential part of any gaming setup. If you are considering upgrading from your HDD drive to an SSD, we would recommend going for at least 500 GB.
However, 1 TB SSDs are also out now, so there’s no reason for you not to go for the bigger one. If you want to upgrade your computer setup, a new SSD is a great investment. It will dramatically speed up your computer and make it much more enjoyable. With such a low cost and high impact, there is no reason not to upgrade!
About the Author Michael E. Yates
Hi! The words you are going to read comes from me! A geek passionately and a writer of 5+ years professionally. If you ask about my likings, well, I love to tag along with upcoming technology trends. Though I also have contributed to many more technology sites through my writings. If you ask about my dreams, then one of them is finding an instant solution for every device malfunction, so I am creating a blog post. A blog post that will help more people like me. I, introduce thepcstuff.com the result of my hard work and patience. Do not worry, with me and my team behind the computers will make sure every vital information related to technology reaches all of you people. So, if you are ready to go on an adventurous ride with thepcstuff.com and me, let's get started!
