If you are shopping for a gaming PC, you will definitely want to buy SSD storage to speed up your computer. For video creators or gamers who like to store multiple games on their computers simultaneously, a fast SSD with high capacity is the best option. Indeed, it is a necessity.
While fast SSDs are just one of the many factors that improve your PC gaming experience, skimping on storage space will only lead to weaker performance. Compared to HDDs (Hard Disk Drives), SSDs (Solid State Drives) are faster and more durable, giving you a better choice, especially those with large capacities, so many games can be installed at once.
Is 512GB SSD Enough For Gaming?
A 512GB SSD is sufficient for gaming and most high-performance workloads. Even when games become larger and larger, a 512GB SSD can hold most of your favorite games at once. A 512GB SSD will be more than adequate to carry a respectable variety of games, as well as images, videos, and personal files, as long as you don’t plan on installing too many games on your PC at once.
After you add more files, the operating system files on your computer will take up 15GB of hard drive space, leaving roughly 480GB for games. On average, PC games will take up between 30GB and 50GB of storage space. Therefore, a 500GB SSD is enough to play games without buying external hard drives.
How Many Games Does a 512GB SSD Hold?
On average, each game will take up between 30GB and 50GB per game.
When you combine that with the roughly 15GB of storage required for your OS, a 512GB SSD should be able to support 8-10 games being installed simultaneously. This means that as long as you don’t plan on installing extremely large games or have too many games installed at once, a 512GB SSD will be enough to run your favorite games.
If you find yourself running out of space quickly, be sure to uninstall any games you aren’t playing to save space. As much as we all think we’ll be playing 8-10 games at once, that’s probably not true.
Do the computer a favor and give it some breathing room.
How Much Space Does a 512GB SSD Have?
A 512GB SSD can store exactly 512GB of data, which equals 512,000 megabytes. Translated into a language that everyone can understand, a 512 GB SSD can contain approximately:
- 8 to 10 games of 30 to 50 GB each
- 128,000 images of 4MB each
- 4,000 high-definition videos of 128MB each
- 400 applications of 1.2GB each
- 256,000 Microsoft Word files of 2MB each
As you can see, this is a decent amount of storage space if you were only using your computer for one application.
However, when you’re looking to use your computer to play games, work, create videos, and more, a 512GB SSD may not be enough to meet your needs. Both a 512GB SSD and a 512GB HDD will hold exactly 512GB of data. However, there are differences in how they store data.
Different Types of 512GB SSD
Before you decide that SSDs are better for gaming, even though that’s absolutely true, it’s important to note that not all SSDs are created equal.
Typically, an entry-level SSD will always outperform a high-end HDD in gaming. However, depending on your needs, there are different types of SSDs.
Keeping things simple, SSDs are ranked based on two metrics:
- Form factor
- Data transmission protocol
You can choose an M.2 or a 2.5-inch SSD for the form factor. Which way you choose between the two will depend on your motherboard and how much space you can work with.
M.2 is the latest SSD for smaller motherboards to feature a sleeker build. In fact, it’s so elegant that you might mistake an M.2 SDD for a large SD card. In contrast, 2.5-inch SSDs are chunky and look as outdated as they really are. However, these are also good options for motherboards with larger slots.
Regarding the data throughput metric, there are also two types of 512GB SSDs. Gamers can choose between SATA SSDs or NVME SSDs. The former is the older technology, and the latter is the newer technology.
If you can afford the NVME SSD, a recent TechReport speed test indicated that an NVME SSD would transmit data 10x faster than the fastest SATA SSD. So for gamers looking for speed, a 512GB M.2 NVME SSD is the best option.
Importance of Bigger SSD Storage
A 512 SSD card will suffice when it comes to intense gaming. However, if you want the finest gaming experience possible, you should acquire a larger SSD card, such as a 1TB or 2TB SSD card. SSD cards vastly improve your gaming experience.
An SSD card is useful for more than just gaming. A big SSD card boosts your computer’s overall performance.
For example, if you acquire a large SSD card, your computer will boot up and shut down faster. File transfers from one drive to another will also be faster and more fluid.
Also, your laptop will crash less often and have more storage space. A bigger SSD card can help protect your SSD card from physical damage. Because SSD cards boost overall performance, there is less chance of your laptop overheating or creating loud fan noises. Consider buying a large SSD card if you use your laptop a lot for applications that take up a lot of storage space.
For example, if you’re a graphic designer or photo editor and like to play games, a typical 128GB or 256GB will strain your computer. Getting a 512GB or 1TB SSD card can greatly increase the efficiency of your laptop.
However, if you want your SSD card to improve the performance of your PC, make sure you buy a good SSD card. SSD cards can be relatively expensive. However, don’t let the price cloud your judgment when shopping. A good-quality 256GB SSD card is still much better than a low-quality 512GB SSD card. Don’t be in a hurry to buy. Research products carefully and find the best SD card for your computer.
Choose One or Two Multiplayer Games
Multiplayer games are less likely to be uninstalled. Not everyone can install a game in minutes to suddenly join their colleagues in the game. So pick one or two and stick with them. Replay those to your liking, then switch to new ones.
Not all games require blazing-fast SSDs. For starters, some games don’t have fast loading times. For example, games like Rocket League, Among Us, and older titles load relatively quickly on a good HDD or HHD. So, keep these games on those drives to save space on your SSD. Also, keep your downloaded movies and files on them as well. Only save games with long loading times, like GTA 5, PUBG, Rust, etc., to your SSD storage.
Best 512GB SSD to Buy
SP 512GB SSD
The SP 512GB SSD is the ultimate storage solution for your PC, laptop, or Mac. The SSD has a 3D NAND design that offers enhanced durability and performance. It is powered by an A55 SLC Cache Performance Boost and features SATA III (6 Gbps).
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TEAMGROUP AX2 512GB
TEAMGROUP AX2 512GB SSD, with a transfer speed of 540/490 MB/s. This TEAMGROUP AX2 is your best selection for PC and Laptop upgrades. SATA III 6Gb/s interface provides more efficient data transferring performance.
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SAMSUNG 870 EVO SATA SSD 500GB
The latest Samsung 870 EVO is the SSD with the performance to maximize SATA interface limits, delivering professional-level sequential speeds of up to 560/530MB/s and accelerating write speeds with a larger buffer size. It’s available in various capacities, including 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB, so there’s an 870 EVO for everyone.
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Fanxiang S101 512GB SSD
The Fanxiang S101 512GB SSD is an affordable, reliable and durable 2.5 SATA III 6Gb/s solid state drive. This means that the drive has a maximum read speed of 550MB/sec and a maximum write speed of 520MB/sec.
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Conclusion
So, to sum up, is the 512GB SSD enough to play games? Yup. However, a 512GB card is the minimum requirement for an SSD card. If you’re a hardcore gamer, try getting a larger SSD card, such as a 1TB or 2TB SSD card.
I hope this article helped you learn more about SSD cards and the SSD card sizes needed for gaming. Now that you know the basics, I’m sure you’ll have no problem choosing the best SSD card for you. Thanks for reading, and happy playing!