When building or buying a gaming PC, one of the most important considerations is how much solid-state drive (SSD) storage to get. An SSD can have a huge impact on gaming performance and the overall user experience. But how much SSD space do you really need for gaming? Here are some quick answers to common questions about SSD storage for gaming PCs:
What are the benefits of an SSD for gaming?
Compared to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), SSDs provide much faster load times, boot times, and data transfer speeds. This means:
- Games and levels load faster
- There’s less waiting around in game menus and lobbies
- Games boot up quicker when launching
- Games can cache data and stream content faster with less lag or stuttering
For competitive online games, the faster load times can give you an edge over opponents. And for all games, SSDs provide a much snappier and responsive experience.
How much SSD space do you need for gaming?
As a baseline, most gaming PCs should have at least 250GB to 500GB of SSD storage. Here are some factors to consider:
- The types of games you play – AAA blockbuster games tend to be 50GB+ in size, while indie games can be under 1GB
- The number of games you have installed at any one time
- How frequently you uninstall/reinstall games
- How much non-gaming data is stored – videos, music, photos, etc.
For most mainstream gamers, 500GB to 1TB of SSD space is recommended. This allows you to have 5-10 major titles installed, plus extra room for media files and more.
Should you use NVMe or SATA SSDs for gaming?
NVMe SSDs connect directly to your motherboard via PCIe lanes, while SATA SSDs use a traditional SATA connection. NVMe SSDs have faster maximum theoretical speeds, but for gaming, most users won’t notice a huge real-world difference. The table below compares NVMe and SATA SSD specs:
| SSD Type | Interface | Max Seq. Read Speed | Max Seq. Write Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| SATA SSD | SATA 3Gb/s | up to 550 MB/s | up to 550 MB/s |
| NVMe SSD | PCIe 3.0 x4 | up to 3,500 MB/s | up to 3,000 MB/s |
The main advantages of NVMe are:
- Faster sequential read/write speeds for moving large files
- Lower latency and overhead
- Higher bandwidth from PCIe lanes
But for gaming, loading levels and textures relies more on random I/O speeds, where NVMe and SATA SSDs are comparable. Unless you move huge files regularly, a SATA SSD is often sufficient for gaming.
Should you get a HDD in addition to an SSD?
Adding a traditional hard disk drive (HDD) along with your main SSD can be useful for some gamers. HDDs have much higher capacities, usually 1TB to 4TB. An HDD can be used as a secondary drive to store your gaming library or other media files. The benefits of adding an HDD are:
- Much cheaper per gigabyte than SSDs
- Lets you store more games/files without filling up your primary SSD
- Good for storing media like videos, music, ROMs, ISOs
The downsides are that HDDs are slower, louder, higher latency, and more prone to failure compared to SSDs. But for secondary mass storage, they can be a cost-effective option.
Ideal HDD/SSD combos
Here are some popular setups with an SSD + HDD:
- 500GB SSD + 1TB HDD
- 1TB SSD + 2TB HDD
- 2TB SSD + 4TB HDD
For most gaming PCs, a 500GB/1TB SSD paired with a 1TB/2TB HDD is a balanced solution, giving you plenty of fast SSD space for active games and HDD storage for the rest.
M.2 vs 2.5” SATA SSDs
M.2 SSDs and 2.5” SSDs refer to the physical size and connection type of the SSD:
- M.2 SSD – Small, stick-like card that plugs directly into an M.2 slot on the motherboard. Can be either SATA or NVMe.
- 2.5” SSD – Standard rectangular SSD that connects via SATA cable, like a laptop hard drive.
In terms of performance, M.2 SATA SSDs are identical to 2.5” SATA SSDs. But M.2 NVMe SSDs can be much faster than 2.5” SATA SSDs. Other differences:
| Factor | M.2 SSD | 2.5″ SATA SSD |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe (NVMe) or SATA | SATA only |
| Size | Much more compact | Larger drive enclosure |
| Cables | No cables, slots directly into motherboard M.2 socket | Requires power and SATA data cables |
| Capacity | Typically smaller capacities | Wide range of capacities |
For a clean build with fewer cables, M.2 SSDs are excellent. But 2.5″ SATA SSDs allow for greater storage expansion down the road.
Ideal M.2 + 2.5” SSD combo
A good combination for many gaming PCs is:
- 500GB – 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD (for OS and active games)
- 1TB – 4TB 2.5″ SATA SSD (for more storage expansion)
This gives you the benefits of faster NVMe speeds for critical files and room to add more 2.5″ SSD capacity over time.
How much SSD overprovisioning should you set?
SSD overprovisioning is reserving extra unused space to improve performance and endurance. For example, on a 500GB SSD you might set 10% overprovisioning, leaving only 450GB usable. The benefits of overprovisioning include:
- More spare area for garbage collection and wear leveling algorithms
- Reduced write amplification
- Faster write speeds and lower latency
- Increased drive endurance
Most experts recommend setting 10-20% overprovisioning on SSDs. Some tips:
- Consumer SSDs typically come pre-configured with 7-10% overprovisioning
- Setting 10-15% overprovisioning is a good starting point
- Heavy workloads like video editing may benefit from 20%+ overprovisioning
- You can monitor your SSD usage and adjust overprovisioning as needed
Just remember that increasing overprovisioning reduces usable capacity. But it can improve real-world performance, especially for write-heavy workloads.
Should you store games on an external SSD?
Using an external SSD over USB has some benefits compared to external hard drives:
- Faster load and transfer speeds
- More durable and resistant to shocks
- Smaller and more portable form factors
However, there are some downsides to external SSD game storage:
- Slower USB interface bottlenecks speeds (10Gbps max for USB 3.2 Gen 2)
- Higher cost per GB than internal SSDs
- Not as seamless integration and user experience as internal storage
Thunderbolt and USB4 external SSDs can reach near internal SSD speeds. But overall, external SSD game storage works best for:
- Transferring and playing games across multiple PCs
- Expanding limited storage space on laptops or small PCs
- Storing old game backups or ROMs
For your main gaming machine, internal SSDs are still better for performance, convenience, and value.
Ideal uses cases for external SSD gaming storage
- Steam library drive to play games on a laptop and desktop
- Emulator ROM storage for older systems
- Mods, maps, and other game add-ons
- Console game backups from PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Should you RAID 0 your SSDs for gaming?
SSD RAID 0 stripes data across two or more drives for increased performance. Twice the SSDs means close to twice the read and write speeds. For gaming and other demanding workloads, potential benefits of SSD RAID 0 include:
- Faster game and level load times
- Higher bandwidth for gameplay recording
- Improved game streaming while multitasking
- Decreased game engine pop-in and lag spikes
However, there are some downsides to consider with RAID 0:
- No data redundancy – one failed drive means complete data loss
- Potential stability issues from SSD firmwares not syncing
- Diminishing returns past 2-3 SSDs in array
- Extra setup complexity for drivers and filesystem
For high-end gaming rigs, RAID 0 can provide a noticeable speed boost. But for most users, a single fast NVMe SSD is adequate and much simpler to manage.
Ideal RAID 0 scenarios
SSD RAID 0 makes the most sense when:
- Using drives exclusively for games and temporary storage
- Combining identical models of SSD for compatibility
- Regularly backing up data elsewhere as redundancy
- Avoiding mission-critical or sole data drives
What SSD benchmarks matter most for gaming?
These SSD performance specifications have the biggest real-world impact for gaming:
- Random read/write speeds -affects game load times and texture streaming
- 4K QD1 reads/writes – reflects performance in random small file access
- IOPS ratings – indicates speed in high input/output scenarios
- Latency – lower is better for real-time interactivity
While important for other workloads, extremely high sequential speeds over 1,000 MB/s matter less for gaming. When comparing SSDs, prioritize their performance in random operations rather than just raw throughput.
Conclusion
To summarize, for most gamers an ideal SSD setup includes:
- 500GB – 1TB fast NVMe SSD for OS and active games
- 1TB – 2TB SATA SSD or HDD for additional game storage
- 10-20% overprovisioning on OS and game SSDs
- External SSD if needed for backup game libraries or ROMs
With SSD prices declining, aim for 1-2TB of total fast SSD storage for your gaming PC. Pick an SSD based on good real-world random speeds rather than just maximum througput. And make sure to factor in your full game library size and future growth.