How much storage do I need for my pre built pc?
The Evolution of Game Sizes
In the formative years of video gaming, storage requirements were relatively modest. Nintendo cartridges, for instance, occupied a mere 8KB to 6MB of space. As technology advanced and we transitioned into the PlayStation era, game sizes expanded to surpass the 650MB mark.
Fast forward to the present day, and the storage demands of modern games have skyrocketed. AAA (Triple-A) titles, renowned for their cutting-edge graphics and immersive gameplay, now range from a substantial 30GB to an astonishing 150GB or more. Even games considered lower in specification typically fall within the 4GB to 30GB range.
While indie games are generally smaller in size, there is no guarantee that they will be significantly more compact than their AAA counterparts. This unpredictability in game sizes underscores the importance of having ample storage capacity in your custom gaming computer.
The Consequences of Insufficient Storage
Imagine investing in a state-of-the-art pre built pc, only to discover that you lack the necessary storage space to run your desired games. This scenario can be incredibly frustrating, as it renders your powerful machine incapable of unleashing its full potential.
If your computer fails to meet the minimum storage requirements for a particular game, you simply won’t be able to run it successfully. Even if your PC barely meets the minimum criteria, you may encounter a less-than-smooth gaming experience, marred by issues such as content package unavailability, crashes, lag spikes, and other performance hiccups.
To truly savour the immersive and seamless gameplay that modern titles offer, it is crucial to meet or exceed the recommended disk space requirements. But what exactly constitutes the ideal storage capacity for a pre built pc? Let’s delve deeper into this question.
Understanding Storage Types: HDD vs SSD
Before determining the optimal storage capacity for your premade pre built pc, it’s essential to understand the two primary types of storage devices: Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) and Solid-State Drives (SSDs).
HDDs: The Tried-and-True Option
HDDs have been the standard storage solution for decades. They consist of rotating magnetic platters and a mechanical arm that reads and writes data. While HDDs are known for their affordability and large storage capacities, they also come with a few drawbacks:
- Slower read and write speeds compared to SSDs
- Shorter lifespan due to wear from moving parts(typically 3 to 5 years)
- Noise generationdue to the rotating disks and magnetic head
- Vulnerability to physical shocksand vibrations
SSDs for gaming pc: The High-Performance Alternative
SSDs, on the other hand, have gained immense popularity in recent years due to their superior performance and durability. Instead of mechanical components, SSDs utilize flash memory chips to store data, resulting in several advantages:
- Faster read and write speeds(up to 20 times faster than HDDs)
- Longer lifespan(up to 10 years)
- Silent operation due to the absence of moving parts
- Resistance to physical shocksand vibrations
The primary drawback of SSDs used to be their higher cost compared to HDDs of the same capacity. However, as SSD prices continue to decline, they have become an increasingly attractive option for gamers seeking great performance, with the lower capacity SSDs such as 1TB costing between the same and £10-20 more than the same capacity HDD. The price gap does become more evident at 2TB and above with the average SSD being £40 plus more.
Determining the Ideal Storage Capacity
When it comes to selecting the ideal storage capacity for your pre built pc, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The optimal choice depends on several factors, including your gaming preferences, the types of games you play, and your budget.
It’s also good to keep in mind that while getting a larger SSD may be more expensive, it’s often less expensive and more convenient than needing to upgrade in the future.
500GB: A Compact yet Capable Option
A 500GB storage capacity is considered relatively small in today’s gaming landscape. While it may be suitable for casual gamers or those with a limited game library, it can quickly become restrictive for more avid players.
With a 500GB drive, you can typically accommodate around 3-10 games, depending on their individual sizes. However, larger, more graphics-intensive titles may consume a significant portion of this space, leaving you with limited room for other files or future game installations.
1TB: Balancing Capacity and Affordability
A 1TB storage capacity used to be widely regarded as the sweet spot for many gamers. It offers ample space to store a medium-sized game library while remaining affordable and readily available. However now the 2TB capacity SSDs have come down in price that’s what we recommend.
With a 1TB drive, you can comfortably store between 7 and 20 games, depending on their sizes. This capacity is particularly well-suited for gamers who enjoy a mix of smaller and medium-sized games and prefer to have a diverse selection available without constantly needing to uninstall and reinstall titles.
2TB: The one we love
If you’re a gamer with a growing library or someone who frequently plays the newest and large, graphics-intensive games, a 2TB storage capacity is probably the ideal choice. This is what we usually recommend in our prebuilt PCs because it gives you a great amount of storage for the average gamer without going overboard on budget.
With a 2TB drive, you can store a substantial number of games, typically ranging from 20 to 40 titles, depending on their individual sizes. This option allows you to maintain a diverse game library while minimizing the need for frequent storage upgrades or deletions.
3TB or Higher: For Extensive Game Collections
For dedicated gamers with extensive libraries or those who prioritize having a wide variety of games readily available, storage capacities of 3TB or higher may be the most suitable option.
With these larger capacities, you can store a substantial number of games, ranging from 30 to 80 or more, depending on their individual sizes. While these higher-capacity drives can be more expensive, they offer peace of mind and future-proofing for gamers who value having ample storage space at their disposal
Combining HDDs and SSDs
While both HDDs and SSDs have their respective advantages and drawbacks, many gamers opt for a hybrid solution that combines the best of both worlds. By utilizing an SSD for critical activities and an HDD for long-term storage, you can strike a balance between performance and capacity.
A common configuration involves pairing a SSD (typically 500GB or 1TB) with a larger-capacity HDD (2TB or more). The SSD serves as the primary drive for your operating system and frequently played games, ensuring lightning-fast boot times and seamless in-game performance. Meanwhile, the larger HDD acts as a secondary storage solution for your documents, pictures, movies, music etc.
This hybrid approach allows you to enjoy the responsiveness and speed of an SSD while benefiting from the cost-effective storage capacity of an larger HDD. It’s a versatile solution that caters to the diverse needs of modern gamers, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable gaming experience without compromising on storage space. Although this approach has declined in recent years due to the lowering prices of higher capacity SSDs.
Upgrading Your Storage.
As your game library expands and your storage needs evolve, you may find yourself in a situation where upgrading to a larger disk becomes necessary. Upgrading your internal SSD or HDD is certainly an option, although it’s usually cheaper and more convenient in the long run to buy a custom gaming pc with larger storage if your budget allows.
If you do need to upgrade your storage you can do this several ways, the easiest will be to add in an additional SDD or HDD and manually point any new games to that drive instead of your main one.
You can also upgrade your main drive; however this will involve either cloning the old drive onto the new one or reinstalling Windows, drivers and your games.
Optimizing Storage: Tips and Tricks
While having ample storage space is crucial for a smooth gaming experience, there are several tips and tricks you can employ to optimize your pre built pc’s storage and ensure efficient utilization:
Leverage Cloud Storage
Cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive can be invaluable tools for offloading non-essential files and freeing up space on your local storage. By storing documents, media files, and other data in the cloud, you can reduce the strain on your pre built pc’s storage while ensuring easy access to your files from multiple devices.
We recommend keeping all your important data files backed up as well, regardless of storage issues. Cloud storage is a great and easy way to keep your filed backed up. Usually you’ll get a certain amount of storage free and then there will be a small charge ranging from £0.69 to £9.99 per month on average.
Utilize Game Libraries and Platforms
Many popular game distribution platforms, such as Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG Galaxy, offer convenient tools for managing your game library and storage. These platforms often allow you to move installed games between different storage drives or even external storage devices, giving you greater flexibility in managing your game collection.
Consider External Storage Solutions
If you find yourself consistently running out of storage space, external storage solutions like portable hard drives or network-attached storage (NAS) devices can provide additional capacity without the need for upgrading your pre built pc’s internal storage.
These external solutions offer a cost-effective way to expand your storage capabilities and can be easily connected to your pre built pc via USB or network connections.
External drives can also be a quick and easy way to share files between devices (especially NAS drives, although these can be expensive) and external drives work particularly well for gaming laptops too. External SSDs are available as well and those can be used for games (depending on your hardware speeds).
Future-Proofing Your Storage Needs
As game developers continue to push the boundaries of graphics, immersion, and gameplay complexity, the storage requirements for games is going to keep getting bigger. To future-proof your pre built pc and ensure it remains capable of handling the latest and greatest titles, it’s essential to consider your long-term storage needs.
When selecting a storage solution, opt for capacities that not only meet your current requirements but also provide room for growth. This approach will save you from the hassle and expense of frequent upgrades or deletions as your game library expands.
SSD speeds and gaming
While ample storage capacity is crucial for a seamless gaming experience, it’s also important to strike a balance between performance and budget. Investing in a high-speed SSD with a large capacity can be costly, especially for gamers on a tight budget.
There are 3 main kinds of SSDs, SATA drives, M.2 drives and high-speed M.2 drives. SATA drives are usually the cheapest but are also the slowest, although they’re still on average 5 times plus faster than standard HDDs. Running at about 500MB/S.
Standard M.2 drives are much faster than SATA drives running at about 1500-3000 MB/s. These are the types of drives that we would usually put in a pre built pc. They offer a great comprise between speed, capacity and budget.
The other type of drives is a faster version of the M.2 Drive. These now run at around 7000MB/s. We never currently recommend these for pre built pc. Simply because they’re expensive and for gaming in the real-world you won’t see any performance increases or any benefit against a standard M.2 drive. Games simply don’t make use of that extra speed.
They can be great for video editing, graphics design and other file heavy tasks though. You can read more about SSDs vs HDDs in this Article from Crucial aswell.
Conclusion
Determining the optimal storage capacity for your pre built pc is a delicate balance between performance, capacity, and budget. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, understanding your gaming preferences, the types of games you play, and your future plans can help you make an informed decision.
Whether you opt for a compact 500GB SSD, a spacious 3 or 4TB HDD, or a combination of both, the key is to select a storage solution that meets your current needs while providing room for growth and future-proofing.
By embracing emerging technologies, optimizing your storage usage, and staying informed about the latest advancements in the gaming industry, you can ensure that your pre built pc remains a powerful and capable companion for years to come, delivering an unparalleled gaming experience that keeps you immersed in the virtual worlds you love.