Gaming performance depends heavily on your computer’s storage drive. Should you use an internal hard disk drive (HDD), external HDD, or solid state drive (SSD) for the best gaming experience? There are tradeoffs with each option involving speed, durability, portability, and cost. This article explores whether external HDDs can provide fast enough performance for a smooth gaming experience or if you need internal SSD storage to avoid lags, long load times, and choppy frame rates.
Gaming Requirements
For a good PC gaming experience, there are generally three main requirements to consider – frame rates, resolution, and quick loading times. Moderns games require frame rates of at least 60 fps at a 1080p resolution for smooth gameplay. Higher end games aim for frame rates of 144fps or more at 1440p or 4K resolution for optimal performance. Quick loading is also crucial, as long gaming load screens can disrupt immersion. Most gamers aim for games to load in under 30 seconds. Overall, to meet these gaming requirements requires a powerful CPU, high VRAM graphics card, and a fast SSD.
Internal vs External HDDs
When it comes to choosing between an internal or external hard drive for gaming, the most notable difference is the interface speed. Internal hard drives connect directly to the motherboard via SATA cables, which offer transfer speeds up to 6Gbps. External hard drives usually connect via USB 2.0, USB 3.0 or USB 3.1, with maximum bandwidth of 480Mbps, 5Gbps, and 10Gbps respectively [1]. The faster SATA interface used by internal drives provides a clear advantage for bandwidth-hungry gaming tasks.
However, modern external drives can utilize Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.1 Gen 2 connections with speeds up to 40Gbps, rivaling internal SATA drives. With the right port and cable, external drives can deliver enough bandwidth for smooth gameplay [2].
External drives offer more flexibility and portability, allowing easy connection to different gaming platforms. But cable length may limit positioning options. Overall, modern externals can match internals in speed, but internal drives provide marginally faster performance.
External SSDs
External SSDs (solid state drives) are significantly faster than traditional hard disk drives thanks to the use of flash memory rather than magnetic spinning platters. This makes them better suited for gaming, where fast load times and data transfer speeds are highly desirable.
According to testing by PC World, the latest external SSDs can achieve sequential read and write speeds of up to 2,800 MB/s if connected via a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 or Thunderbolt 3/4 port. This is drastically faster than a mechanical HDD.
However, the downside is that external SSDs are far more expensive in terms of cost per gigabyte. A 1TB external SSD may cost $150-$200, while a 1TB portable HDD is around $50. So you pay a premium for the performance boost.
Overall, external SSDs provide a major speed advantage and are recommended if the budget allows. But HDDs remain a viable lower-cost option for bulk game storage.
Thunderbolt/USB speeds
The bandwidth limits of Thunderbolt and USB can impact the speed of an external hard drive for gaming. Thunderbolt 3 offers up to 40Gbps while USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 offers 20Gbps. In comparison, USB 3.0 only offers 5Gbps.
According to Seagate, USB 3.0 may not provide enough bandwidth for high performance gaming, especially with large game files that need to load quickly. The greater bandwidth of Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 can enable higher throughput and lower latency.
However, other factors like the drive’s rpms and cache size also impact real-world speeds. So high bandwidth interfaces like Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 don’t guarantee optimal gaming performance on their own.
Real-World Performance
When it comes to game load times, SSDs provide a significant advantage over traditional HDDs. According to a Reddit user benchmark, loading times for games on an HDD are typically around 40 seconds, whereas games load in the 7-15 second range on an SSD.
For example, tests show the open world game Red Dead Redemption 2 takes 1 minute and 5 seconds to load from an HDD, but only 28 seconds on a SATA SSD and 14 seconds on an NVMe SSD (Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/wew5x0/does_an_ssd_make_that_big_of_a_difference_in_game/).
The difference is substantial, with SSDs loading games anywhere from 2-5x faster than traditional hard drives. For serious gamers where load times impact the experience, SSDs provide a massive real-world benefit.
Heat and Power
External hard drives can generate a lot of heat and draw significant power, especially when running demanding games. According to sources like EaseUS, external drives can suffer from overheating when running multiple programs or games concurrently. The small, enclosed cases of external drives restrict airflow and heat dissipation compared to internal drives. Overheating can lead to potential hardware damage or throttling.
Factors like drive model, build quality, and ventilation impact heat levels. High-speed SSDs generally run cooler than mechanical HDDs. Larger 3.5″ drives generate more heat than smaller 2.5″ ones. Drives with metal casing or open vents dissipate heat better than plastic enclosures. External cooling fans or stands can help in some cases.
External HDDs and SSDs also draw much more power than internal drives, since they require their own AC adapter and power supply. Models optimized for gaming have higher power demands. Using bus-powered USB hubs to daisy chain multiple external drives can overload and damage them or the host system. Separate wall power for each device is recommended.
Durability and Portability
External hard drives can handle bumps and movement better than you might expect. The casing and cushioning inside protects the drive from shocks and vibration when traveling. As long as you don’t drop it from a significant height or expose it to extreme forces, an external drive should hold up just fine during transport (Source). Of course, solid state drives with no moving parts tend to be more durable than traditional hard disk drives. But HDDs have improved in shock resistance over the years. As with any electronics, just use reasonable care.
One downside of portability is that smaller external drives may sacrifice features like cooling fans and redundancy. Larger desktop drives are really meant to remain stationary, while portable drives are built for travel. So consider your use case and environment when choosing an external hard drive for gaming.
Budget Considerations
When looking at external drives for gaming, one of the most important factors to consider is cost per gigabyte (GB). This determines how much you will be paying for the storage capacity of the drive.
According to Disk Prices, as of March 2023, typical costs per GB for external hard disk drives (HDDs) range from around $0.012-$0.025. For external solid state drives (SSDs), costs per GB are higher, usually ranging from around $0.15-$0.30.
For a 1TB external HDD, expect to pay around $25-$50. A 1TB external SSD will cost significantly more, from around $150-$300. Larger capacities become even more cost-prohibitive for SSDs. A 4TB external HDD may cost $80-$120, while a 4TB SSD can cost over $1,000.
When budget is a major concern, HDDs offer significantly lower cost per GB. But SSDs provide major performance advantages. Gamers need to weigh up this cost-performance trade-off carefully based on their budget and needs.
Conclusion
So are external hard drives fast enough for gaming? The answer depends on a few key factors. Traditional external hard disk drives (HDDs) often do not have the speeds necessary for a good gaming experience. Their transfer rates over USB may cause slow load times, lag, and graphics popping. However, external solid state drives (SSDs) connected via Thunderbolt or high-speed USB can match or even exceed the speeds of internal drives. The ultra-fast transfer rates ensure your games have snappy loading screens and smooth performance. However, SSDs come at a much higher cost per gigabyte. If budget is a concern, an external HDD may suffice for less demanding games. Just be prepared for somewhat longer load times. In summary, external SSDs are the best choice for high performance gaming, though HDDs can work in a pinch. Check your connection protocols and aim for Thunderbolt or USB 3.2+ for best results.
