Gamers always consider storage space when choosing a gaming PC. The storage space will determine the number and type of games you can store on your PC. So, when choosing storage, will you consider 500GB?
This post discusses the prospects of using a 500GB SSD for gaming. Is it enough to store games? How many games can you store in it? We’ll respond to this question here. Read on!
Is 500GB SSD Enough For Gaming?
The answer is yes, the 500GB solid state drive is enough space for gaming.
Several factors determine the storage space a gamer should buy. For instance, if you wish to store several games on your gaming PC simultaneously, together with some other software (video editor, apps, etc), then you have to get a larger SSD. But then, 500GB is quite big, so it should be enough.
The size of games you wish to store in your SSD also matters. Games range from 30GB to high-end ones as large as 250GB.
Check out the list of games below and their sizes:
- Gears 4 – 117 GB
- Call of Duty Warzone – 95 GB
- Elder Scrolls Online – 96.5 GB
- Forza Horizon 4 – 98.2 GB
- Hallo: The Master Chief Collection – 125.9 GB
- Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition – 148 GB
Now, check out the list of games above. You can see that not all games are in the 250 GB range like Call of Duty.
You can play Call of Duty on your 500 GB SSD by the way. You can even include one or two other games alongside.
However, remember that other software and apps would take up space in your computer too.
Factors To Consider When Choosing SSD For Gaming
Here are several factors to consider when choosing a solid state drive for gaming.
1: Game size:
You need to be certain about the type of games you want to store and play in your SSD. Are you going to look at 50GB or 100 GB + games? Are you planning to store multiple games in your drive?
Consider these factors when choosing a solid state drive for your computer. Your 500 GB storage will contain an enormous amount of games, so don’t panic.
Just choose your favorite games and store them. Your 500 GB SSD will store any game. The only concern is the number of games you can store in it.
You can even decide to play one game at a time, if the game’s size is large. You can delete and install a fresh game if you’re tired of playing.
So, before you buy your solid state drive, consider the size of games you wish to play. And if you’re looking at high-end games, please note that you may not be able to store multiple games in your drive, especially if you’re using a 500 GB drive.
2: Price point:
Here is a serious factor. I said it’s serious because I actually came across something that caught my attention.
Check out the two solid state drives below:
- SanDisk Ultra 500 GB
- Samsung 870 Evo 500 GB
About the specifications of both solid state drives: Both have a sequential read speed of 560 MB/s and write speed of 530 MB/s.
The price point is the most shocking part. While the SanDisk is $54, the Samsung Evo is $95.
Both solid state drives have the same read and write speed, but different price point. In fact, the price of the Samsung Evo can buy two 500 GB SanDisk.
What’s the message I am trying to pass across? When choosing a solid state drive, consider your budget. Think about how much you can conveniently spend on your drive for gaming.
Again, I would advise you to create a list of solid state drives. In other words, consider the brands and take note of their price points.
You can compare prices to see which is the most budget-friendly or offer the best price. See how I compared the Samsung Evo and SanDisk above.
3: Decide the type of SSD:
Here, you have to decide the type of solid state drive you want. Different types of SSD exist. Here is the list below.
- 2.5-Inch SATA SSD
- M.2 SATA SSD
- M.2 NVMe SSD
- PCI Express SSD
So these are the various types of SSD available. You can choose from any of them.
Generally, SSDs are faster than hard disk drives. But when it comes to speed, the M.2 NVMe SSD is the fastest.
Comparing 500GB To 1TB SSD Storage For Gaming PC
1: The speed factor:
So, between a 500 GB and a 1TB SSD, which is the fastest? Many people would say the 1TB is the fastest. Of course, 1TB is bigger than 500 GB. Therefore, the 1TB should be faster.
I don’t dispute this fact. Of course, I believe those that are claiming that a 1TB SSD is faster than 500 GB.
But here’s the thing. The available space you have in your SSD is a major determinant of speed.
But then, a 1TB SSD is bigger than a 500 GB SSD. Therefore, it will store more games and other software you may want to use from time to time.
So, if you have the option to choose between a 1TB SSD and a 500 GB SSD, and you’re considering speed, choose the 1TB SSD.
The reason for this is that you’ll be able to store 500GB worth of games, and your 1TB SSD would still be faster than a 500 GB SSD. Why? It has more space and can accommodate more games, without compromising your games’ speed.
2: 1TB SSD will store more games than 500 GB SSD
Storage capacity is one of the factors that differentiate one SSD from another. The 1TB SSD is bigger than the 500 GB SSD.
When I say bigger, I mean the 1TB SSD will occupy more games, saved game data, app, video editing tools, and many more.
Let me put it this way: A 1TB SSD can store 100 GB worth of data; while a 500 GB SSD can store up to 500GB worth of data.
Now, what should be the advice for someone pondering which SSD to buy between 1TB SSD and 500 GB 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 a large number of 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 too much space in your computer’s storage.
However, if you don’t have plans to store more than one game in your computer at a time or use it for other purposes besides gaming, a 500 GB SSD won’t be a bad idea.
For me, I love having more than one game on my computer. I don’t like playing the same game week-in, week-out. So I use the 1TB SSD. Enough space to store more games.
3: Cost:
Price is another factor to consider when choosing between a 500GB and 1TB SSD.
Which is the cheapest between 1TB SSD and 500 GB SSD?
Of course, 500 GB is the cheapest. But the thing is, the price difference isn’t that much.
All the same, if you’re on a budget, the 500GB SSD should be a wise choice for you.
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 a 500 GB SSD or 1TB SSD is yours to make. But here is a quick piece of advice for you.
The 1TB SSD has more space, and choosing it would be the most 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, forget about the 1TB solid state drive and get the 500 solid state drive.
Again, I will suggest you pair your 500 GB SSD with a 1TB HDD or even 2TB HDD as backup. But please, only do this if you don’t plan to use your PC for anything high performance.
Conclusion
Is 500GB SSD enough for gaming? Yes, it is
Solid state drives are generally fast. In other words, they’re faster than hard disk drives and are even more durable. But what determines the speed of your solid state drive (when comparing a 500 GB to 1TB) is the available space in the drive.
