Best External SSD for Gaming
Are you thinking of getting a new external SSD for gaming? Well, you are probably overwhelmed by the tons of options that are available in the market. Things are even more confusing because there aren't many guides online that explore this in detail.
If you are looking to get some more information about external SSDs for gaming or if you are looking for recommendations, then you are at the right place. Here is our take on the best external SSDs for gaming in 2022.
Why You Might Need An External SSD for Gaming
If we were in 2012, we would have recommended you get an internal SSD instead of an external SSD. It is simply because, at that time, external SSDs were way too slow for gaming. Getting an external SSD was not worth it. However, external SSDs are now able to transfer and receive data at much faster rates because of the technological improvements in USB connectivity.
However, you will have to spend a bit more money to get an external SSD that is as fast as an internal SSD. It then begs the question, why even get an external SSD? Well, there are plenty of reasons for that.
Firstly, one of the main reasons most gamers consider getting an external SSD for gaming is that they need a quick and easy way to transfer game files onto other computers.
For example, let's say that you have multiple computers in your home, which is not that uncommon. You might have one for gaming on your main setup, one for playing video games on your large UHD TV, and maybe another one that your younger brother uses.
If a large update get's released for a game that all the computers have installed and you have a slow internet connection, it doesn't make sense to initiate a download on all computers. Keeping game files in an external SSD, downloading the update on a single computer connected to the external SSD, and then transferring the updated game files to other computers is way easier and faster.
Another common reason why gamers get an external SSD for playing video games is that they want a plug-and-play solution and don't to tinker with their gaming PC.
For example, let's say you play video games on a gaming laptop and now need more storage. Installing a new SSD on a laptop can be quite difficult, especially for gamers who are not familiar with this kind of stuff.
The Best Budget External SSD for Gaming
Not everyone has an unlimited budget to spend on parts for their gaming PC. Not only that, but it makes no sense to spend tons of money on an external SSD when you don't have the top-tier internal hardware like GPUs. For gamers on a budget, here are our picks for the best external SSDs for gaming.
Samsung T5
If you are on a super tight budget and want to get more external storage for gaming for the least amount of cash possible, then you should go for the Samsung T5.
The Samsung T5 with 1 TB of storage space will set you back around 110 U.S. dollars, and this is the absolute lowest you want to spend on an external SSD if you want to use it to play video games.
The T5 uses USB Type-C and Type-A connectivity with read-write speeds of around 500MB/s. Also, the T5 uses SATA technology to keep the price low, so don't expect insanely fast loading times.
Adata SE900G
If you can spend a bit more for an external SSD, which we strongly recommend that you do, you can get the Adata SE900G. The 1TB SE900G will cost you around 150 U.S. dollars, which is only about 40 U.S. dollars more than the T5.
The SE900G uses USB Type-C and Type-A connectivity with read-write speeds of up to a respectable 2000MB/s. It also uses the NVMe technology which will help a ton in speeding up loading times. Along with all that, the Adata SE900G also has an RBG lighting cover, which is way more than what anyone could ask for at this price.
The Best No-Compromise External SSD for Gaming
When you already have the best-performing hardware and have some cash to spare, you can go for much better external SSDs. Here are our top picks for no-compromise external SSDs for gaming.
WD Black P50 Game Drive
If you are after a great performance, fast in-game loading times, and don't mind spending around 200 U.S. dollars, then the WD Black P50 Game Drive SSD is the right one for you. It comes jam-packed with features that will make your gaming experience much better.
The WD P50 uses the USB 3.2 Super Speed interface, which results in performance comparable to internal SSDs. Along with that, the P50 reaches speeds of up 2000MB/s for both reading and writing. With a price tag of around 200 U.S. dollars, you can't go wrong with the WD P50.
Samsung X5
If you are willing to spend as much money as it takes to get the best performance possible, and want nothing but the best, then there is no better option than the Samsung X5. It is also one of the fastest external SSDs out there at the time of writing this.
The X5 uses NVMe technology and Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, which will result in blazing fast load times while gaming. The X5 can reach up to a whopping 2800 MB/s read speeds and 2300 MB/s write speeds. However, you will be spending around 400 U.S. dollars on all this.
Final Thoughts
Out of all these SSDs, we recommend that you either go for the Adata SE900G if you are on a budget or the Samsung X5 if you want the absolute best performance. But if you don't have a high budget, you can opt for the 500 GB variants to save up on some cash.
