SSD vs HDD for Gaming: Does a Gaming Computer Need an SSD?

SSD vs HDD for Gaming

HDDs are electromechanical data storage devices that use metal platters with a magnetic coating to store data and use read/write heads on the arm to access the data on the spinning platters. On the other hand, SSDs use integrated circuit assemblies to store data persistently, typically using flash memory. They have no moving mechanical components.

When it comes to SSD vs HDD, the main differences are as follows:

• SSDs are smaller than HDDs.
• SSDs are usually faster than HDDs.
• SSDs use less power and produce less heat and noise than HDDs.
• SSDs are more reliable than HDDs.
• HDDs are cheaper than SSDs.
• HDDs usually offer a larger capacity than SSDs.
• HDDs usually have a longer lifespan than SSDs.
• Data on HDDs are easier to recover than that on SSDs.

To know more about SSD vs HDD, you can read this post: SSD VS HDD: What’s Difference? Which One Should You Use in PC?

How about the SSD vs HDD for gaming? The gaming performance usually refers to FPS (frames per second). The Tom’s Hardware website has ever made a test on SSD vs HDD gaming performance.

The result shows that games that are installed on an SSD will not deliver you more frames per second than if those games were installed on a hard drive, all other things equal. If you want to improve the FPS, upgrading GPU is recommended.

However, although an SSD isn’t going to give you a higher framerate in your favorite games, it can improve the gaming experience in other aspects:

• Games that are installed on an SSD will typically boot faster than games that are installed on an HDD. In some instances, booting a game from an SSD can take less than half the time it would take to boot it from an HDD.
• Games that are installed on an SSD will take less time to load game maps or other game components than games installed on an HDD.

SSD or HDD for Gaming? Get the Answer From This Post

Does a Gaming Computer Need an SSD?

Is SSD important for gaming? Is SSD necessary for gaming? The answer is NO. Games installed on an HDD can also have good gaming performance.

Does a gaming computer need an SSD? If your budget is limited, an HDD is also OK. However, if your budget is enough, an SSD is recommended because it can decrease the game boot time and load time, and produce less heat and noise. 

In addition, to combine the advantages of SSDs and HDDs, some people will install both an SSD and an HDD on their PCs. To save the money, the SSD is not very large. 128GB or 256GB SSD are also OK.

Can I Use SSD and HDD at the Same Time – Here’s Your Full Guide

Can I use SSD and HDD at the same time? How to use SSD and HDD together on one computer? Are there useful tips? This post will explore all the questions.

Read More

Bottom Line

Does a gaming computer need an SSD? Is SSD important for gaming? How about SSD vs HDD for gaming? This post will give you the answer.

MiniTool Partition Wizard is an all-in-one tool. It can help you clone the system, manage disks better, and recover data. If you have this need, you can download it from the official website.