[Answered!] How much storage should a gaming computer have?

Hey, gaming enthusiasts! As an avid gamer, we often ponder the question, "How much storage does a gaming PC need?" And why is that important? Well, it's crucial because many games can be quite large in size, and having sufficient storage is a must.

If that sounds like something you're interested in, then this article from Gizmo is perfect for you. Today, you'll find out the ideal storage capacity for your gaming PC! Figure out how much storage space your gaming computer should have to accommodate games, files, and future needs. Get the most out of your gaming experience with the perfect amount of storage.

What You Need to Know About Game Saves

Over the years, the world of video games has seen tremendous growth, along with a rapid change in the size of games. During the Nintendo cartridge era, game sizes ranged from a modest 8KB to a more substantial 6MB. When we entered the PlayStation age, game sizes grew even larger, exceeding 650MB.

Fast-forward to 2021, and AAA games now range significantly in size, from 4 GB to over 100 GB. Most lower-spec titles tend to fall between 4 GB and 10 GB. Though indie games are often smaller, they can still be quite large. It's worth noting that there's no guarantee an indie game will be smaller than an AAA game.

Thankfully, the increasing power of game consoles and PCs has allowed for more-detailed graphics and higher resolutions. But those quality gains have come at the cost of ever-larger installation files. For example, even after heavy compression, Forza Motorsport 7 clocks in at over 100 gigabytes.

Now, you might be wondering what happens if your gaming PC doesn't have enough space. Well, if your computer doesn't meet the minimum storage requirements for a game, it won't run smoothly, or at all.

Even if your PC meets the minimum requirements, you might experience less than ideal performance – like content packs unavailable in Fallout 4 or increased latency in Rainbow Six Siege.

To ensure a smooth gaming experience, it is recommended to meet the game's suggested disk space requirements. So, how much storage space is recommended for a gaming computer? Let's explore the answer in the following content.

Should you use an SSD or an HDD?

One important decision you'll have to make when choosing storage for your gaming PC is whether to go with a traditional HDD (hard disk drive) or a modern SSD (solid-state drive).

Each option has its own pros and cons, so it's important to consider your specific needs and circumstances before making a decision.

Hard Disk Drive

HDD (hard disk drive) has been the standard storage solution for years. They contain spinning magnetic disks and an arm that reads and writes data. HDDs are known for their affordability and larger storage capacity compared to SSDs. They are particularly suitable for storing vast game libraries or other large files.

Solid State Drive (SSD)

In recent years, solid-state drives (SSDs) have gained popularity due to their significant performance advantages over traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). SSDs do not utilize mechanical components but instead store data on flash memory chips, enabling faster read speeds and improved overall system responsiveness.

The choice between HDD and SSD ultimately depends on your specific needs. If you're on a tight budget and require large storage capacity for an extensive game library, then HDD might be the more economical option. However, if you prioritize faster loading times, improved performance, and durability, investing in an SSD is highly recommended.

How much storage does a gaming PC need? The storage requirements for a gaming PC depend on several factors, including the type and number of games you plan to play, as well as any other files and applications you need to store. Here are some key considerations: 1. **Game Sizes**: Modern games typically range from tens of GB to over a hundred GB in size. For instance, large open-world games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Red Dead Redemption 2 may require more than 100GB. 2. **Operating System and Software**: Your operating system (like Windows) and other essential software will also occupy a portion of your storage. 3. **Additional Content**: If you plan to record or stream gameplay, you'll need extra space for video files. 4. **Future Games**: It's wise to leave some extra room for future game purchases or downloads. 5. **Drive Types**: SSDs (Solid State Drives) load games faster than HDDs (Hard Disk Drives), but they're more expensive. If your budget allows, it's recommended to have at least a sufficiently large SSD for your OS and frequently played games, while an HDD can be used for storing other files and less-played titles. Generally, a 500GB SSD might be sufficient for light to moderate gamers. However, for heavy gamers or those with a large game library, 1TB or more would be more appropriate. If considering a balance between price and capacity, a 1TB or 2TB HDD could also be a good option.

How much storage do I need for a gaming PC? The best storage capacity for a gaming computer depends on how many games you download and their sizes. To give you an idea, here are the minimum hard drive storage requirements for some popular games:

The storage capacity needed for a gaming computer varies depending on a user's gaming requirements and personal preferences. Let's examine some common storage capacities and their suitability for different types of games: 1. **64GB**: This is quite limited and might only be suitable for casual gamers who play smaller indie titles or older games that don't require much space. 2. **128GB**: A bit more spacious, this can accommodate a few larger games along with some smaller ones. However, it's still not ideal for those who want to have a diverse library of modern titles. 3. **256GB**: With this capacity, you can have a good selection of modern games, but you'll need to manage your storage carefully, uninstalling older titles when necessary. 4. **512GB**: This is a more comfortable size for gamers who enjoy having a variety of games installed at once. Most modern games should fit comfortably, but you might run out of space if you're an avid collector. 5. **1TB (1024GB)**: This is a popular choice for gamers, providing ample space for a large game library, including high-resolution textures and DLCs. 6. **2TB (2048GB) and above**: Ideal for serious gamers or content creators, these capacities offer enough room for a vast collection of games, large file backups, and additional software. Keep in mind that SSDs (Solid State Drives) are generally preferred over HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) due to their faster read/write speeds, which can significantly improve game loading times. However, SSDs tend to be more expensive per GB, so finding the right balance between capacity and performance is crucial.

500GB (Gigabytes)

In today's gaming landscape, a 500GB storage capacity is considered relatively small. It is suitable for users who primarily play smaller games or have a limited library of games. With this capacity, you can generally accommodate around 10 games, depending on their sizes. However, it's worth noting that larger, graphically demanding games can quickly consume a significant portion of that space.

"1TB" in American English is "one terabyte."

A 1TB storage capacity is a popular choice among gamers, providing more room for a medium-sized game library. With 1TB, you can comfortably store around 10 to 20 games, depending on their sizes. This capacity is recommended for users who enjoy a mix of mid-sized games and wish to have a good selection without frequently uninstalling and reinstalling titles.

2 TB (recommended)

For many gamers, 2TB strikes an ideal balance between affordability and capacity to meet most needs. This amount of storage allows you to keep more games on hand, including larger, high-quality titles. With 2TB, you can comfortably accommodate a diverse library of games, typically ranging from 20 to 40 titles, depending on the size of the games.

3TB or 4TB

For gamers with large game libraries or who frequently play big, graphics-intensive games, 3TB or 4TB storage capacities are usually more appropriate. With this amount of space, you can store many games, ranging from 30 to 80 or more, depending on the size of the games. These larger capacities are recommended for avid gamers who want access to a variety of titles at all times without worrying about storage limitations.

How to upgrade to a larger hard drive without losing data

After knowing how much storage a gaming computer needs, if your current hard drive is running out of space, upgrading to a larger hard drive is a practical solution to gain more available space for meeting your increasing data demands. In this case, using a professional disk cloning tool can simplify the process of upgrading to a larger hard drive without data loss.

AOMEI Disk Clone provides you an easy and efficient way to clone existing hard drive to a larger one. It helps you clone operating system, disk, partition, etc., and migrate OS from HDD to SSD or SSD to SSD. For instance, it allows you to transfer Windows 10 from HDD to SSD without losing data.

In addition, it can help resize partitions during cloning and clone a hard drive with bad sectors. It supports both full disk and partition-level cloning, making it an ideal tool for users looking for a reliable way to replace a laptop hard drive without losing data and reinstall Windows.

Don't wait – download the Disk Copy utility to upgrade your hard drive without losing data! Here's how to use Disk Copy to upgrade your hard drive to a larger capacity:

Step 1: Select "Disk Mode", and then choose the smaller disk as the source disk.

Step 2: Select the larger hard drive to save data, then click “Next”.

Step 3: Edit the disk layout, and click “Continue” to proceed.

• Auto adjust disk size resizes the layout to best fit the target disk.
• Copy as source disk preserves all settings of the target disk, and its layout will be the same as the source disk.
• Edit disk layout allows you to manually adjust/move partitions on the target disk.

Step 4: A warning message will appear, stating that all data on the target disk will be erased. If there is no important data on the target disk, click "OK" to proceed.

Step 5: Wait for the process to complete.

In short

How much storage does a gaming PC need, or how many terabytes (TB) of hard drive does a gaming computer require? This depends on the size of your game library, the space that the games you play occupy, and your personal preferences. While smaller storage capacities like 500GB can accommodate a limited number of games, it's recommended that gamers with extensive libraries or a preference for large, graphics-intensive games opt for 2TB or higher.

When choosing a storage device for your gaming PC, you'll have to decide between an HDD and an SSD. HDDs offer high capacity for their price, while SSDs provide faster performance, shorter load times, and improved durability.

If you run out of space, you can upgrade to a larger one using a cloning software like Disk Copy to save your data. This way, you can transfer all your data, files, and settings to the new HDD without the risk of losing them or having configuration errors. This also comes in handy if you want to install Windows after replacing the hard drive.

By using tools like Disk Copy, you can avoid the time-consuming tasks of manually reinstalling the operating system and applications and transferring data to the new disk. This eliminates the risks of data loss or configuration errors that can occur during a manual transfer.

Frequently Asked Questions About Storage for Gaming Computers

If you have any further questions, we have a comprehensive FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) that can help answer any queries you might have about how much storage a gaming computer might need. Keep reading for more details.

1. How much RAM do I need for gaming?

For a gaming PC, the amount of RAM you need depends on the games you want to play and any other programs you plan to run. Generally, 8 or 16 GB of RAM should be sufficient for most gaming needs.

2. Does your gaming PC need extra storage?

While secondary storage isn't strictly necessary, it can be beneficial for a gaming PC. It provides extra space to store games, media files, and other data, allowing you to dedicate your primary storage (like an SSD) purely to running games for faster load times.

Is 512GB SSD enough for gaming?

A 512GB SSD might be sufficient for gaming, especially if you mainly play smaller titles or have a limited number of games. However, if you have a large game library or frequently play graphics-intensive games, you could run out of storage quite quickly. Consider your gaming needs and preferences before deciding on the storage capacity.

4. Is a 256 GB SSD better than a 1 TB hard drive?

In terms of speed and performance, a 256GB SSD generally outperforms a 1TB HDD. SSDs offer faster read and write speeds, resulting in shorter game loading times and a more responsive overall system. However, a 1TB HDD provides greater storage capacity, making it a better choice if you have a large library of games or need extra space for storing other files and data.