How to Add More Storage to PC for Gaming – SSD HDD Guide

Do you keep seeing the annoying “Not Enough Storage” message? It’s a big problem for gamers. New games have great graphics and big worlds. Because of this, they can fill up your drive very quickly. If you want to know how to add more storage to pc for gaming, you are in the right place. This guide will show you everything you need. We’ll cover picking the right drive and putting it in your computer. Let’s get your PC ready for all the new games you want to play! 🚀

Why Is My Gaming PC Running Out of Storage So Fast?

It might feel like you had lots of space just a short time ago. Now, you can’t even download a new game update. So, what is the reason for this?

The main reason is that new video games are very large. Games like Baldur’s Gate 3 or Starfield can use over 100 GB of space each. When you add extra game content and saved files, they get even bigger.

Also, it’s not just the games. Your computer’s operating system, like Windows, takes up space. Other programs and your saved video clips also use a lot of space. Soon, your 1TB drive is full.

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How Much Storage Do I Need When I Add More Storage to PC for Gaming?

This is a very good question. A 1TB drive used to be a top choice. Now, it’s just the starting point for a gaming PC. If you play a few big games, a 2TB drive is a much better option. For people who collect many games and don’t like to uninstall them, 4TB or more is a good idea for the future. You can get this much space by using more than one drive.

What’s the Difference Between an SSD and an HDD When Deciding ?

When you look for a new drive, you will see two main types: SSD and HDD. It is important to know the difference to choose the right one for your gaming needs.

Hard Disk Drives (HDDs): The Classic Choice

HDDs are an older type of storage. They use spinning disks and a moving arm to read data. Think of it like a small record player.

• Pros: The best thing about an HDD is its low price. You can get a lot of storage, like many terabytes (TB), for not much money. This makes them good for storing big files like movies, music, or old games you don’t play often.
• Cons: Because they have moving parts, HDDs are much slower than SSDs. This makes game loading times longer. It can also make the game world load slowly while you play. They can also be damaged more easily if you drop or bump them.

Solid-State Drives (SSDs): The Speed Demons 🏎️

SSDs are the new standard for speed. They use flash memory to store data, like a USB drive. They have no moving parts.

• Pros: Speed is the biggest benefit here. An SSD can read and write data much faster than an HDD. This means your PC starts up very fast. Your games load almost instantly. Your whole gaming experience feels smoother.
• Cons: The main downside of SSDs is the price. They cost more for the same amount of storage compared to HDDs. However, their prices have been going down.

So, Which One Should I Get for Gaming?

For the best gaming, an SSD is the best choice. If you put your operating system and your favorite games on an SSD, you will cut down on waiting a lot.

But this does not make HDDs useless. A great idea is to use both types together:

1. A smaller, fast SSD (like 1TB or 2TB) for your operating system, main programs, and the games you play the most.
2. A larger, cheap HDD (like 4TB or more) for storing all your other games, movies, and files.

This way, you get speed for what’s important and lots of space for everything else.

What Are the Different Types of SSDs?

So, you want to get an SSD. Good choice! But there is more to it. SSDs come in different shapes and sizes. They also use different kinds of connections. Let’s look at them.

SATA SSDs: The Universal Connector

SATA is an older type of connection. It was first made for HDDs. SATA SSDs are small, 2.5-inch boxes.

• How they connect: They use two cables to connect to your motherboard. One is a SATA data cable for information. The other is a SATA power cable from your computer’s power supply.
• Performance: A SATA SSD is a big improvement over an HDD. But the SATA connection has a speed limit. It can only go up to about 550 megabytes per second (MB/s). This is very fast, but newer drives have gone even faster.
• Best for: They are great for older PCs that don’t have the new connection slots. They are also a good choice if you’re on a budget and want to add more SSD storage for games.

How to Add More Storage to PC for Gaming with NVMe M.2 SSDs?

This is the really fast stuff. NVMe is a special connection type made just for SSDs. These SSDs are shaped like a small stick and are called M.2 drives.

• What they look like: An M.2 SSD looks like a small stick of computer memory. It is very small and compact.
• How they connect: They plug right into an M.2 slot on your motherboard. You don’t need any cables. This makes the install very neat and easy.
• Performance: NVMe M.2 drives use the same fast connection as your graphics card. This gives them amazing speeds. They can be 20 times faster than a SATA SSD! This makes your whole computer feel faster and makes games load in just a few seconds.
• Best for: If your motherboard has an M.2 slot, an NVMe SSD is the best choice for your main drive. The fast speeds will make a huge difference.

How Do I Know if My PC Supports an NVMe M.2 SSD?

The best way to find out is to check your motherboard‘s info online. Just search for your motherboard’s model name. The product page will say clearly if it has M.2 slots. You can also open your PC case and look for a small slot on the motherboard labeled “M.2.”

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Install a New Storage Drive

Are you ready to do it yourself? Putting in a new drive is one of the easiest upgrades. Let’s go through the steps.

Safety First! ⚠️ Before you open your PC, do these things:

1. Turn off your computer all the way. Do not just put it to sleep.
2. Unplug the power cable from the back of the PC.
3. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds. This gets rid of any leftover power.
4. Get rid of static electricity. Touch a large metal object, like your PC case, before you touch any parts inside. This stops static from damaging your computer.

What Tools Will I Need for the Installation?

You will probably only need a Phillips-head screwdriver. That’s it! Some PC cases have screws you can turn with your hands. The small screw for an M.2 drive usually comes with your motherboard.

How to Install a SATA Drive to Add More Storage to PC for Gaming

This is how you install a SATA drive. The steps are the same for a 2.5-inch SSD or a larger 3.5-inch HDD.

1. Open Your PC Case: Take off the side panel of your computer case.
2. Find a Drive Bay: Look for a metal slot where drives go. Your case manual can help you find it.
3. Mount the Drive: Put the drive in the slot and use four small screws to hold it in place. Make sure the ports face out so you can plug in the cables.
4. Connect the Data Cable: Plug the thin SATA data cable into your new drive. Plug the other end into an open SATA port on your motherboard.
5. Connect the Power Cable: Find a free SATA power cable from your power supply. Plug it into your new drive.
6. Close and Power On: Put the side panel back on, plug the power cord in, and turn on your PC.

How to Install an NVMe M.2 SSD

This install is even easier. There are no cables.

1. Open Your PC and Ground Yourself: Follow the same safety steps from before.
2. Find the M.2 Slot: Look for the M.2 slot on your motherboard. It might be under a metal cover called a heatsink. You will need to unscrew it.
3. Insert the M.2 Drive: Line up the notch on the drive with the slot. Gently push the drive in at an angle.
4. Secure the Drive: Gently press the drive down. Use the tiny screw that came with your motherboard to hold it in place. Do not make it too tight.
5. Put the Heatsink Back (if you had one): If you took off a heatsink, put it back on now.
6. Close and Power On: You’re done! Close your case, plug in your PC, and turn it on.

I’ve Installed the Drive… Now What? Initializing Your New Storage

Plugging in the drive is only the first step. Your new drive will not show up on your computer right away. Don’t worry! You just need to set it up.

How Do I Initialize a New SSD or HDD in Windows?

1. Open Disk Management: Right-click the Start button and choose “Disk Management.” This helpful tool shows you all the drives in your PC.
2. Initialize the Disk: A window should pop up for your new drive. It will ask you to choose a setup style.
   • Always choose GPT. It is the new standard and works best. MBR is an old style. Click “OK.”
3. Create a New Volume: You will now see your drive as “Unallocated” or unused space.
   • Right-click the unused space and choose “New Simple Volume.”
   • A setup guide will start. Click “Next.”
   • Use the full size of the drive. Click “Next.”
   • Give it a drive letter, like D: or E:. Click “Next.”
4. Format the Volume: This is the last step.
   • The File type should be NTFS.
   • You can give the drive a name, like “Games.”
   • Make sure “Perform a quick format” is checked.
   • Click “Next,” then “Finish.”

In a few seconds, your new drive will be ready. It will show up in File Explorer, and you can start adding games! For a more visual guide, you can check out resources from educational institutions like the Computer Science department at the University of Texas.

How Can I Move My Games to the New Drive?

You have a new, empty drive. How do you move your games to it? You don’t want to download everything again. Luckily, most game launchers make it easy.

Moving Games on Steam

1. In Steam, go to Settings > Storage.
2. Click the “+” button to add a new library on your new drive.
3. Find the game you want to move.
4. Right-click the game and go to Properties > Installed Files.
5. Click “Move Install Folder…” and choose your new library.
6. Steam will do the work for you!

Moving Games on the EA App / Epic Games Store / GOG Galaxy

Other launchers might take a few more steps.

1. Copy the game folder: Find where your game is installed and copy the whole folder to your new drive.
2. Uninstall the game: In the launcher, click uninstall. This tells the launcher the game is gone.
3. Start the “install”: Click to install the game again. Choose the new location where you copied the files.
4. Let it check the files: The launcher will see the files are already there. It will check them and download any small missing parts. This way, you won’t have to download the whole game again.

Can I Use an External Hard Drive for PC Gaming?

Yes, you can! An external drive that connects with a USB cable is an easy way to add space. You don’t have to open your PC. But there are some downsides.

• Performance: A USB connection is usually slower than an internal one. For better speed, use an external SSD instead of an HDD.
• Convenience: It is very easy to just plug in and use. It’s a good choice for games you don’t play often.
• Recommendation: It’s best to use an external drive for extra storage. Keep your main games on a fast internal SSD for the best performance.

By following these steps, you’ve successfully learned how to add more storage to pc for gaming. Your PC now has the space and speed for any game. Enjoy the fast load times and the freedom to add more games! Happy gaming! 🎮

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Jurica Sinko

Jurica Šinko is the CEO and co-founder of EGamer, a comprehensive gaming ecosystem he built with his brother Marko since 2012. Starting with an online game shop, he expanded into game development (publishing 20+ titles), gaming peripherals, and established the EGamer Gaming Center

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