If you're buying a gaming PC, you'll definitely want to buy SSD storage to speed up your computer. For creators or gamers who like to store multiple games on your computer at the same time, a fast, high-capacity SSD is the best option. In fact, it is a necessity.
While fast SSDs are just one of many factors that will improve your PC gaming experience, skimping on your storage space will only lead to weaker performance. Compared to HDDs (hard drives), SSDs (Solid State Drives) are faster, more durable and offer a better option; especially those with a large capacity, so you can install many games at once.
These are the most frequently asked questions we receive about 512GB SSDs from gamers:
Will a 512GB SSD be enough for gaming?
A 512GB SSD is good enough for gaming and most performance tasks.
Even though games gradually become larger, a 512GB SSD can hold most of your favorite games at once. As long as you don't plan to install too many games on your PC at once, a 512GB SSD is more than enough for a good selection of games, as well as your personal photos, videos and files.
The operating system files on your computer take up a maximum of 15 GB of disk space, leaving about 480 GB for video games when you take other files into account. On average, PC games take up between 30 GB and 50 GB of storage space. Therefore, 500 GB SSD is enough for games without having to buy external hard drives.
How many games can a 512GB SSD hold?
On average, each game takes up between 30 GB and 50 GB per game. game.
When you combine this with the approximately 15 GB of storage space required for your operating system, a 512 GB SSD should make installingbetween 8-10 games at a time.
This means that as long as you don't plan on installing extremely large games or have too many games installed at once, a 512GB SSD will be enough to run your favorite games.
If you find yourself quickly running out of space, delete any games you don't play to save space. Even if we all think we're going to play eight to ten games at the same time, chances are that won't be true.
Do your computer a favor and give it some room to breathe.
How much space is a 512 GB SSD?
A 512 GB SSD can store exactly 512 GB of data, which is equivalent to 512,000 megabytes.
Translated into a language we can all understand, the 512 GB SSD can store approximately the following:
- 8 to 10 video games of 30-50 GB each
- 128,000 images of 4 MB each
- 4,000 HD videos of 128 MB each
- 400 applications of 1.2 GB each
- 256,000 Microsoft Word files of 2 MB each
As you can see, that's a decent amount of storage space if you only use your computer for one program. But if you want to use your computer for gaming, working, making videos and more, a 512GB SSD may not be enough storage space to meet your needs.
Both a 512 GB SSD and a 512 GB HDD can each hold exactly 512 GB of data.
However, there is a difference in the way they store data.
But are SSDs better than HDDs for gaming?
SSD vs HDD for gaming
Regardless, 512 GB SSDs store data better than 512 GB HDDs
By handling data more efficiently, SSDs will also transmit data more efficiently while gaming, which benefits gamers. When comparing SSD vs HDD for gaming, SSDs will write and read data much faster than HHDs, meaning they will also handle gaming data more efficiently. No more lag, no more stuttering.
Video games store and transfer a huge amount of data on your PC in a fraction of a second. From rendering images to inspecting your glorious groundsfavorite JRPG gameto deal with a lot of math over the course of areal time strategy skirmishgames require large amounts of processing.
The RAM on your computer handles most of the dynamic processing of data. Investing properly in your RAM can also ensure that data is sent without any noticeable delay. However, sometimes games can load certain assets directly from your hard drive or storage device. Everything is stored on your SSD, so it makes sense that this is the holding record for all data being retrieved and pushed; including the data that your RAM also processes.
Here are 3 reasons why SSDs are better than HDDs for gaming:
1. Faster game loading times
No one wants to sit around waiting for a game to load. If you've ever experienced this, especially waiting for just a five-second cutscene, you know how frustrating it can be. When a game loads a level, your computer collects all data and resources related to that level from your storage device and passes it to your RAM, which then processes the information.
If you have an HDD instead of an SSD, the prefetch process will be much slower. Therefore, the time it takes to transfer the data to your RAM for processing will also be slower. That's why SSDs are better than HDDs when it comes to loading games.
2. Smoother gameplay
Most modern games render if you get close enough. This gives a more realistic effect. From fog obscuring distant objects until you're close enough, or bullets whizzing past your face, data is constantly being sent; even after the loading screen.
For the most part, your computer will rely on your GPU and RAM to process this data smoothly. But if you have an HDD instead of an SSD, the prefetch process will again be substandard. This means that some jitter may occur, making the game feel less smooth.
3. Fast installation time of the game
As much as we all love waiting for a game to install, there are times when you just wish the damn thing would hurry up!
Compared to an HDD, an SSD processes game installation packages up to 10x faster. For a 30-50GB game, HDDs can read and write data at speeds of around 300MB/70MB. This means it will take about 20-30 minutes to install the game on the average computer.
Conversely, SSDs can read and write data at speeds of up to 4GB/9GB. This means that the same game that took up to 30 minutes to install with an HDD now only takes 5 minutes to install with an SSD. The same rules apply to game updates and patches, which we all know can be frustrating when you don't expect them!
Once again, this means that an SSD is better than an HDD for gaming.
Different types of 512GB SSD
Before you get on your high horse and shout that SSDs are better for gaming, even though this is strictly true, it's important to note that not all SSDs are created equal. Aaaah, there's always a catch!
Normally, a base level SSD will always outperform a high-end HDD when it comes to gaming. However, there are different types of SSDs to consider depending on your needs.
To keep things simple, SSDs are classified based on two metrics:
- Vormfactor
- Data transfer protocol
In terms of form factor, you can choose between an M.2 or 2.5-inch SSD. How you choose between the two depends on your motherboard and how much space it can use.
For smaller motherboards, M.2 is the newer SSD that has a slimmer build. It's so slim that you might mistake an M.2 SSD for an oversized SD card. Conversely, 2.5-inch SSDs are thick and look as outdated as they really are. However, they are also good options for motherboards with larger slots.
When it comes to the data transfer statistics, there are also two types of 512GB SSDs. Gamers can choose between SATA SSD or NVME SSD. The former is the older technology and the latter is the newer technology. If you can afford the NVME SSD, a recent speed test from TechReport indicated that an NVME SSD will transmit data10 times faster than the fastest SATA SSD.
For gamers who want speed, an M.2 NVME 512GB SSD is the best choice.
512 GB SSD vs 1 TB SSD - Which is better?
In the world of SSD storage, bigger is better.
Therefore, a 1TB SSD will always be better than a 512GB SSD.
If you can afford to buy a 1TB SSD for your gaming PC, go for this option. But if you are on a budget, you can buy a 512GB SSD and enjoy a lot of games at the same time.
If you don't want to perform any other high-performance tasks with your PC besides gaming, a 512GB SSD may be all you need. But for anyone who plans to use their computer for anything remotely creative, as well as gaming, stretch your budget to a 1TB SSD.
Remember, you can always purchase backup hard drives to store less important files. The price of a 2TB HDD will likely be the same amount as the difference between a 512GB SSD and a 1TB SSD, so you can essentially get the best of both worlds. More storage space and a powerful SSD drive for your game.
512 GB SSD vs 1 TB HDD - Which is Better?
While bigger is better when comparing one SSD to another SSD, the same cannot be said when comparing a 512GB SSD versus a 1TB HDD. While a 1TB hard drive will give you more physical space, a 512GB SSD will outperform a 1TB hard drive on almost all other performance metrics.
This makes the 512 GB SSD the better choice.
Why? First, SSDs are much faster than HDDs. And with modern games pushing the limits of PC hardware, an SSD is actually a necessity if you want to keep up. From loading games quickly to keeping track of all the other components that make up your gaming rig, a standard SSD will even outperform high-end hard drives.
Secondly, for those of you who don't care much about speed, an SSD drive is also more durable and energy efficient than hard drives.
There's nothing worse than losing important files, and hard drives can fail over time. Conversely, solid-state drives are known to last a very long time under heavy loads. They are more resistant to disruptions and certainly require less energy to operate. This also makes them quieter during processing.
Trust me, just buy a 512GB SSD.
Is 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD enough for gaming?
Yes, 8 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD is enough for gaming. While many games claim they can run smoothly with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, this isn't always the case.
For example, GTA V requires almost 16 GB of RAM to run optimally at moderate settings. Many players with 8 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD have difficulty running this game smoothly.
However, for most games, 8 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD are sufficient.
Conclusion
I hope this guide has given you the answers you need. I've often been asked if 512GB of storage is enough for games, and more often than not the answer has been yes. It's rare that I come across a gamer who immediately needs more storage space. However, if you fall into that category, I wouldn't recommend buying a 1TB hard drive because the extra space isn't worth the reduced performance.
Instead, you should save a little more and buy a 1TB SSD, which will give you the extra space you need without sacrificing performance. As for everything else, forget it. As you have learned by now, there is no other option for games that are solid state driven.
Did you like this tutorial? Check out some of my other guides below:
- How to stop anger
- FTTN vs FTTP Network: Which is Better?
- Best gifts for gamers in Australia
- Top 6 Best Gaming Ethernet Cables
- Are wireless mice better for gaming?
- How to put games in the backseat
- Intel Core i9 versus AMD Ryzen 9
- What is gaming jargon?
- Top 10 Most Popular Video Game Genres
