SSDs (solid-state drives) are far better than HDDs (Hard disk drives)—no doubt about that. And the reasons for SSDs recommendations are numerous.
Solid-state drives will speed up your computer. In addition, they’re durable and fast and deliver a far better performance than HDD.
But then, we’re not going to discuss or compare SSDs to HDDs. Instead, we will compare 512GB to 1TB SSD storage. The question is, which should you get for your gaming PC?
So, if you’re a gamer, gather here! Let’s clear this debate once and for all. Are you ready to dig in? If yes, let’s go!
512GB SSD Vs. 1TB SSD: The Best Choice For You
We will concentrate on their fundamental differences to paint a clearer picture of the best option between 512GB and 1TB (both SSDs).
1: Speed comparison:
Solid-state drives are generally fast. They’re faster than hard disc drives.
So, which is the fastest between a 512GB SSD and a 1TB SSD? The 1TB is the fastest. Of course, 1TB is bigger than 512GB. Therefore, it should be faster.
I am not here to dispute this fact. Of course, I stand with the people who say a 1TB SSD is faster than 512GB.
But here’s the thing: The available space in your SSD is the primary determinant of your SSD’s speed.
In other words, the more your SSD fills up, the slower it will become. Let me put it this way: If Mr. A’s gaming PC has 512GB storage space, and Mr. A has only one game of about 120GB.
On the other hand, MR. B’s gaming PC has 1TB and stores over ten games with a total of 900GB already occupied, then the PC with 512GB SSD might be faster.
So, you should remember that speed is a function of the space available in your SSD.
But then, a 1TB SSD is bigger than a 512GB SSD. Therefore, it will store more games and other software you may want to use from time to time.
So, if you can choose between a 1TB SSD and a 512GB SSD, and you’re considering speed, choose the 1TB SSD.
The reason is that you’ll be able to store 500GB of game, and your 1TB SSD would still be faster than a 512GB SSD. Why? It has more space and can accommodate more games without compromising your games’ speed.
2: Storage capacity comparison:
Storage capacity is one of the factors that differentiate SSD from others. Anyone can see that the 1TB SSD is bigger than the 512GB SSD.
When I say bigger, I mean the 1TB SSD will occupy more games, saved game data, apps, video editing tools, and many more.
Let me put it this way: A 1TB SSD can store 100GB of data, while a 512GB SSD can store up to 500GB of data.
What should be the advice for someone pondering which SSD to buy between 1TB SSD and 512GB SSD?
Well, the answer to this question is subjective. It depends on the number of games you wish to store on your computer.
If you wish to store several high-end games and use your gaming computer for other tasks like video editing, photo editing, rendering, and others, a 1TB SSD will be a great choice.
With a 1TB SSD, you can store many games, apps, software, and even your working tools. Additionally, you’ll be able to save your game data and don’t have to worry about taking up too much space in your computer’s storage.
However, if you don’t have plans to store more than one game on your computer at a time or use it for other purposes besides gaming, a 512GB SSD will be a good idea.
Overall, I love having more than one game on my computer. I don’t play the same game week in and week out. So I use the 1TB SSD.
3: Price comparison:
Price is another factor to consider when choosing between a 512GB and 1TB SSD.
Which is the cheapest, between 1TB SSD and 512GB SSD?
Of course, 512GB is the cheapest. But the price difference is a little.
The 512GB SSD should be a wise choice if you’re on a budget.
However, if you can wait a little bit and stump up the cash to get a 1TB SSD, you’ll get more value considering its storage space.
The Verdict: The final decision on whether 512GB SSD or 1TB SSD is yours. But here is some quick advice for you.
The 1TB SSD has more space, and choosing it would be an ideal thing to do. But it’s more expensive, so you have to stump up the cash to buy it.
However, if you’re working with a tight budget, you can get the 512 solid-state drive.
Again, pair your 512GB SSD with a 1TB HDD or even 2TB HHD as a backup. But please, only do this if you don’t plan to use your PC for high performance.
Is 512GB SSD Good For Gaming?
The answer is yes; the 512GB solid-state drive is enough space for gaming.
Several factors determine the storage space a gamer should buy. For instance, if you wish to simultaneously store several games on your gaming PC and some other software (video editor, apps, etc.), you must get a larger SSD. But then, 512GB is big, so it should be enough.
The size of the games you wish to store in your SSD also matters. Games range from 30GB to high-end ones as large as 250 GB. The Call of Duty: Black Ops is 250GB.
So, if you plan to install Call of Duty on your gaming PC, you may want to forgo other games or install several smaller ones.
You also shouldn’t forget that other software and apps would also take up space in your gaming computer.
The best thing to do is evaluate the size of each game you want to install on your gaming PC and choose the ones you consider your top favorites first. You can also delete old games and reinstall newer ones.
So, if you’re asking if a 512 GB SSD would be suitable for gaming, the answer is yes. For an average gamer, it’s a good storage space to kick-start the gaming expedition. However, most avid gamers may want to consider more memory and may choose 1TB SSD or higher.
Can I Install Any 512GB SSD or 1TB SSD In My Gaming PC?
Well, a SATA SSD is the only solid-state drive that is universal and compatible with every PC.
Here are the four types of SSD below.
2.5-Inch SATA SSD
M.2 SATA SSD
M.2 NVMe SSD
PCI Express SSD
So the SATA SSD can fit into any PC. But for others, like the M.2 and NVMe, compatibility can be an issue. Thus, you need to check your computer’s motherboard to know if an M.2 or NVMe drive is compatible.
So, check your motherboard before buying an M.2 or NVMe. I have seen cases where some motherboards have two M.2 slots. Unfortunately, only one of them is compatible with the NVMe bandwidth.
Furthermore, some motherboards may even have M.2 slots but may not support the NVMe bandwidth. Some motherboards don’t even have the M.2 slot. Why? The motherboards were created before the M.2 was developed, and became popular in the market.
512GB SSD And 1TB SSD: Which Is The Best For Gaming PC?
Generally, solid-state drives are suitable for gaming. They’re fast, reliable, durable, and deliver exceptional performance.
Between a 512GB and 1TB SSD, the latter is the best in capacity. A 1TB SSD will store twice as many games as a 512GB.
However, there’s no guarantee that a 1TB SSD will last longer than a 512GB SSD. The drive’s durability isn’t about size. A 512GB may even last longer than a 1TB.
So, what makes an SSD the best if it isn’t about the size? Well, it’s about the type.
The NVMe is the best option you can have right now. But I advise you to get a high-end NVMe to enjoy massive storage performance improvement.
If you can’t afford the high-end NVMe, you can get one closer or at a similar price as the SATA SSD and still enjoy impressive performance improvement.
Can I Use An External SSD For My Gaming PC?
Firstly, external SSDs exist and are an excellent option for people with limited internal storage space.
However, your PC’s USB connection will determine whether you can use an external SSD.
How? You’ll require USB 3.1 or 3.2 to connect the SATA SSD to your PC. You’ll need something entirely different for the NVMe Gen3. You’ll need the thunderbolt 3 to use the NVMe Gen3.
Please, note that you can’t use an external SSD if your PC doesn’t support these standard connections.
Conclusion
This 512GB SSD Vs. 1TB SSD is a comparison every gamer should consider checking out. You’ll understand from this post that storage size isn’t the primary factor determining your SSD’s speed.
Solid-state drives are generally fast. In other words, they’re faster than hard disk drives and are even more durable. But the space in the drive determines the speed of your solid-state drive (when comparing a 512GB to 1TB).
After storing games and other software, the space left in your drive determines the speed. So, a 512GB SSD might be faster than a 1TB SSD if the former’s available space is more after storing files.
