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Best Hard Drive (HDD) For Gaming in 2022

As a PC builder, your taste for customization would certainly be wild. In this walkthrough, we will highlight best Hard Drive (HDD) for gaming.

Author:Daniel BarrettMay 30, 2022103 Shares51367 Views
Your taste for customization would certainly be wild and different as a PCbuilder. Looking for the best Hard Drive (HDD) for gamingcould appear tasking.
We have chosen eight of the best HDDs in the following article. These meet all needs and situations, leaving no stone unturned. They range from Hybrid storage solutions to budget options with sizes varying from 500GB to 14TB!

1. Seagate FireCuda (2TB)

Best Hard Drive (HDD) For Gaming in 2021
Best Hard Drive (HDD) For Gaming in 2021
Ranking number one on our list is the Seagate FireCuda (2TB). On the outside, it seems like an ordinary mechanical hard drive. But in truth, it’s a hybrid storage device equipped with super SSD speeds and high HDD. This is all due to the 8GB NAND solid-state memory, which exponentially increases boot and loading times.
Seagate is a name you can depend on for storage devices. The Firecuda comes packed with the two essential features that every storage junkie requires speed and capacity.
For those that don’t know, the Firecuda is an SSHD. This hybrid storage solution has been engineered to have the features of both an SSD and an HDD in one. The best of both worlds. It has been equipped with 8GB of high-performance solid-state memory, which gives it lightning-quick loading times while still having a total capacity of 2TB.

2. Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1TB

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Samsung-970-EVO-Plus-1TB-1024x576.jpg
Capacity: 1TBInterface: NVMeTransfer Speeds: 3,500MBps Read3,300MBps WriteForm Factor: M.2
Advantages
  • Ultra-fast read and write speeds
  • Optimized for 4K gaming and 3D modeling
  • Space-saving design
Disadvantages
  • No macOS compatibility
  • Issues with Samsung Migration software when creating new boot drives
Most modern motherboards have at least one M.2 slot. You’re missing out if you’re not putting it to good use. Not only does using an M.2 drive free up one of your SATA ports, but these drives also tend to perform better than their SATA counterparts.
The Samsung 970 EVO Plus SSD is raging fast. It uses four PCIe 3.0 lanes for up to 3,500MBps read and 3,300MBps write speeds. While these speeds are only hypothetical, the specs serve as a good measure for comparison against other drives.
Don’t miss: How To Install An M.2 SSD: A Step-By-Step Guide

3. Western Digital Black SN750 1TB NVMe SSD

Best Hard Drive (HDD) For Gaming in 2021
Best Hard Drive (HDD) For Gaming in 2021
Capacity: 1TBInterface: NVMeTransfer Speeds: 3,470MBps Read / 3,000MBps WriteForm Factor: M.2
Advantages
  • Six times faster than traditional SATA SSDs
  • Dedicated game mode
  • Fast file migration
Disadvantages
  • No heatsink for laptop model
  • No macOS support
If you’re interested in the newer M.2-style SSDs but want something more affordable, the WD_Black SN750 is good. It’s available in capacities ranging from as little as 250GB up to 2TB to give you all the room you need to store your favorite games, programs, and files.
It’s enhanced for 4K gaming and video production. Thus, allowing users to use this drive for work and gaming. The SN750 boasts speeds up to six times faster than its SATA SSD counterparts from Western Digital. It can give you file transfer speeds up to 3,430MB/s for faster file migration between computers or internal hard drives.

4. Western Digital 14TB Ultrastar HDD

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Western-Digital-14TB-Ultrastar-HDD-1024x576.jpg
Serious streamers or video editors who fiddle with 4k regularly understand the need for large storage capacity. This is the sole reason why Western Digital’s 14TB Ultrastar makes an appearance on our ‘best of’ list. It hits everything when considering extensive storage options and will be a valued piece of your hardwarefamily.
This elite storage solution is our top pick for streamers and 4k video editors. Even though this was primarily built with NAS in mind, it has a legitimate claim as our large volume option.

5. Western Digital Blue 4TB 3.5-inch PC Hard Drive

Capacity: 4TBInterface: SATATransfer Speeds: 150MBps Read / 150MBps WriteForm Factor: 3.5-inch HDD
Advantages
  • Budget-friendly
  • Large capacity
  • Free cloning software
Disadvantages
  • Slower than SSD
  • Moving parts can fail
The WD Blue WD40EZRZ 4TB is here mainly due to its large capacity, price, and reliability. The drive has read/write speeds, both hitting 150MBps. Users are best served using this as bulk storage for games or other files rather than gaming directly from the drive. It is a SATA interface, which means most computers will have a slot for it, and installing the drive is relatively simple.

6. SATA SSD: SK hynix Gold S31 TB

Best Hard Drive (HDD) For Gaming in 2021
Best Hard Drive (HDD) For Gaming in 2021
Capacity: 1TB | Interface: SATA | Transfer Speeds: 560MBps Read / 525MBps Write | Form Factor: 2.5-inch SSD
Advantages
  • Clone software included
  • Excellent warranty
  • Good price
Disadvantages
  • No encryption
  • 1TB max
SSDs have finally attained the level of price similarity with traditional mechanical hard drives. The SK Hynix Gold S31 1TB is one of the newest SATA SSDs. Additionally, at launch, its price of $105 is around what you’d pay for a 1TB HDD a few years ago.
Cloning software is included. Thus, allowing users to replace any old drives that may be taking up space. Unfortunately, there are no drives above 1TB, and it’s not self-encrypted, which is a significant drawback that potentially opens security holes.

7. WD _BLACK P50 Game Drive SSD

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WD-_BLACK-P50-1024x576.jpg
Capacity: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | Interface: SuperSpeed USB | Transfer Speeds: Up to 2000MBps Read / 2000MBps Write | Form Factor: External SSD
Advantages
  • Tough, durable design
  • Lightning speed
  • Tiny and portable
Disadvantages
  • Costly
  • Works only as storage for PS5 and XboxSeries X games
The WD_Black P50 Game Drive has a black, military-inspired design that includes shock resistance, which will allow gamers to take advantage of the portability of an external drive. It has a fast read speed of 2000MBps, which is excellent for an external drive.
The drive is compatible with PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One. This makes it valuable to gamers of any system. Although due to restrictions from Xbox and Playstation, it can store games only for the latest-gen consoles. Fast storage for the latest consoles will allow for faster transfers, so there’s an advantage there.
There are multiple storage size options available, up to 4TB, but the price is a bit high. Especially as you rise in storage sizes. The drive uses SuperSpeed USB, which can handle up to 20Gb/s, depending on conditions. This should make transfers quick and gaming smooth. Plus, a five-year limited warranty rounds things out to back up the drive’s quality.

8. Crucial MX500 1TB SSD

Best Hard Drive (HDD) For Gaming in 2021
Best Hard Drive (HDD) For Gaming in 2021
Capacity: 1TB | Interface: SATA | Transfer Speeds: 560MBps Read / 510MBps Write | Form Factor: 2.5-inch SSD
Advantages
  • AES 256-bit encryption
  • Built-in power loss immunity
  • Windows/Mac compatible
Disadvantage
  • Older Windows and macOS systems may have trouble recognizing the SSD
The Crucial MX500 features built-in AES 256-bit encryption to protect your entire drive from hackers. It also has integrated power loss immunity to prevent data loss and corruption if the drive suddenly loses power.The 2.5-inch form factor means you can install this SSD in laptops or desktops for an easy storage upgrade. There are some issues with some older devices not recognizing the SSD, so be sure to check if your system is compatible.
The Crucial MX500 uses 3D NAND technology to feature more storage in a smaller physical space. \ Crucial’s proprietary Dynamic Write Acceleration techgives you flash fast read and write speeds. The SSD comes with Acronis True Image cloning software included. This makes migrating files and operating systems fast and easy.
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