Solid-state drives are now a viable option for Windows 10 users. Price hikes and issues with availability previously made it difficult for users to get their hands on a reasonably sized and priced SSD. But that's changed.
Does it make sense to buy an SSD for gaming, though? In most cases, the answer is absolutely. These drives are much faster than an HDD, but they usually have a higher price tag.
If you're considering getting a solid-state drive for gaming, consider reading the guide below!
SSDs vs HDDs
HDDs and SSDs are both used for storing and permitting access to information. However, there are a few key differences that set these apart.
Surprisingly, even though SSDs are a newer technology, HDDs still have a place in the modern technological world. Here are some key differences between the two, and a few reasons why HDDs are still relevant to this day.
SSDs
Simply put, an SSD functions just like the normal hard drives, but with a different technology. They're quite similar to USB drives, using flash memory to store information.
SSDs are extremely fast because they don't rely on a mechanical or physical set of parts to access data.
HDDs
An HDD is the more well-known storage option for most computers, and functions in an interesting way. Hard disk drives actually use a spinning platter in coordination with an arm to read and write sections of data.
SSD for Gaming
When it comes to picking between SSD vs HDD for gaming, using an SSD for gaming is usually the optimal choice. They're faster in almost every way, and provide an overall smoother gaming experience.
Additionally, in many cases, an SSD has a better capacity to interact with most graphics cards, ram chips, and CPUs. There are a few exceptions, though.
Some titles require users to store larger amounts of data on a drive for an optimal experience. And, given the price difference between an HDD and a SSD, it might make more sense to go for the seemingly slower HDD option.
Some of the latest titles require at least 80 GB of space after installation. That's not even mentioning the total amount of space necessary for the installation. And, given that the price for 1 TB of HDD space can match that of 250 GB of SSD space, it might be better for some gamers to stick with an HDD.
SSD vs HDD for Gaming
Picking between an SSD and HDD for gaming comes down to a few basic priorities. As previously mentioned, it's important to consider how much hard drive space a user will need for their gaming preferences.
In terms of spending, an HDD will always be more affordable. So, if a gamer doesn't mind longer loading times and longer installation processes, they're much better off picking up an HDD.
However, if a player can afford a larger SSD for their rig, they're much better off doing so. There's one downside, though. SSDs typically have a shorter lifespan. So, it's smart to regularly backup an SSD to cloud storage, and be ready after a few years to replace the SSD.
Loading Times
Solid-state drives have a significant impact on how a computer loads certain programs or games. Of course, this depends almost entirely on the configuration and setup of the chipset.
It's important to combine the right CPU, ram, and graphics card, with a solid-state drive. When these are coordinated properly, overall performance along with loading times will improve significantly.
Loading time improvements apply both to win an environment is loading for a game and when real time environments are loading during gameplay.
But, overall, the general consensus is that a solid-state drive can greatly improve loading times and the overall user experience while gaming.
On-boarding Ram to SSD
One major benefit that many people don't consider when it comes to solid-state drives is that users can on board ram to the SSD. In general, modern rigs should come with at least 8 GB of RAM. However, when not possible, be it due to the motherboard configuration or other limitation, users can onboard ram to the SSD to improve certain aspects of gaming performance.
Games like Rust highly recommend at least 16 GB of ram. So, a user that has only 8 GB of ram, can onboard an additional 8 GB of virtual RAM on the SSD.
It's important to highlight that onboarding ram functions very well and properly on an SSD. However, the same is not true for HDDs, as they don't have the same capacity and speed for reading and transferring information.
Speed vs Storage Space
There's currently a pretty large debate regarding whether it's more important to have a fast drive or a drive with a lot of space. This, of course, depends almost entirely on the user's preference.
For example, security camera setups tend to use HDDs for storing video footage captured by the cameras. This makes sense, as security camera footage over extended periods of time can quickly accumulate and take up a large amount of space on a drive.
So, given the importance of keeping records on security cameras, it makes sense to invest in less expensive drives that have more space at the expense of speed in terms of transferring data and information.
SSDs Make Sense for Gaming
Whenever possible, getting your hands on an SSD for gaming simply makes sense. They're much faster, reducing loading and installation times by significant amounts. And, since they transfer data at a higher rate than an HDD, your overall gaming experience improves even outside of installation and loading.
You can even use an SSD to create virtual ram. This, in many cases, can work in tandem with the right CPU, graphics card, and pre-installed amount of RAM, to greatly improve a computer's overall performance. While a higher price tag might cause some hesitation, there's no doubt that it's the best choice for gaming.
Contact us if you're interested in building a custom PC with an SSD, or need some technical assistance with your current SSD. We're more than happy to help, and we'll guide you through the process from start to finish!