The 10 Best Gaming Hard Drive, Tested And Researched

Tim Powers By, Tim Powers
Updated
Best Gaming Hard Drive
Best Gaming Hard Drive

The Rundown

1. Best Overall: Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD

Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD gives you an easy way to back up all your data. Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this hard drive offers the automatic recognition software required and easily stores your data thanks to its compact design. With its sleek, portable design, you can take your files on the go. Read Review

2. Runner Up: WD_BLACK 2TB P10 Portable External Hard Drive HDD

Get a sleek metal top covering and a compact form factor with the WD Black 2TB Portable External Hard Drive. With capacities of up to 2TB, this drive can hold up to 125 games. Read Review

3. Best Smart: Seagate BarraCuda 4TB Internal Hard Drive HDD

Never worry about running out of space again with Seagate BarraCuda 4TB Internal Hard Drive HDD. Store more and compute faster with this robust internal hard drive that offers a variety of capacities and form factors. Equipped with 4TB of storage, the Seagate BarraCuda delivers plenty of space for your needs. Read Review

4. Best Reliable: Toshiba Canvio Gaming 4TB Portable External Hard Drive

Toshiba's Canvio Gaming 4TB Portable External Hard Drive is a stylish, portable hard drive that's perfect for on-the-go storage. With a sleek, compact form factor and a firmware-customized "Always-On" mode for responsive gaming performance, this external hard drive offers the performance of an internal hard drive with the convenience of USB 3.0 connectivity. Read Review

5. Best Compatible: WD_BLACK 8TB Gaming Internal Hard Drive HDD

With up to 10TB of storage, WD Black 8TB Gaming Internal Hard Drive is the ultimate in performance and reliability. This HDD offers Western Digital StableTrac software that provides peace of mind knowing your data is safe and secure. As well as Dynamic Cache Technology which increases efficiency by continuously monitoring the drive and managing power usage to deliver maximum performance. Read Review

Hard drives have been with us since the dawn of personal computing. They’re an essential component of any gaming PC, and choosing the right hard drive for your needs can be a daunting task. Today, there are a dizzying array of options available to gamers.

Choosing the best gaming hard drive isn’t easy, and there are several features to consider when shopping around: price per gigabyte capacity speed read/write performance reliability size power consumption noise output weight There are also other important factors that shouldn’t be overlooked: storage capacity storage reliability storage interface storage transfer speeds read/write performance upgradeability external port support cost per gigabyte capacity cache size data transfer rates drag coefficient vibrations operating temperature.

After nearly 18 hours of research, we were able to come up with many top products from prominent brands like Seagate, Wd_black, Toshiba, Avolusion, Western digital. Among them, We think the best gaming hard drive is Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD. Alternatively, if you're simply looking for another option, you may go with -the second-product.

Our article today focuses mainly on giving you guidelines and tips to be able to buy the right product that best suits your needs. Explore with us right here.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD
Our Score:
9.9
Seagate

This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable

Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive

Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop

To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required

TOP Choice #2 WD_BLACK 2TB P10 Portable External Hard Drive HDD
Our Score:
9.8
WD_BLACK

Compatible with Xbox Series X/S (play and store Xbox One games, archive Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S games) and PlayStation 5 (play and store PS4 games, archive PS5 games) consoles

Premium HDD with 3-year limited warranty, purpose-built for gamers based on WD_BLACK quality and reliability

Portable form factor with sleek metal top covering that provides fast access to your growing game library

Available in capacities up to 5TB that can hold up to 125 games, so that you can save old favorites and still have room for new titles (As used for storage capacity, one terabyte (TB) = one trillion bytes. Total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment. Number of games based on a 36GB average per game. The number of games will vary based on file size, formatting, other programs, and factors.)

Comes with an 18-inch (457mm) USB Type-A to Micro-B cable with SuperSpeed interface up to 5Gbps (Cable length may vary.)

TOP Choice #3 Seagate BarraCuda 4TB Internal Hard Drive HDD
Our Score:
9.7
Seagate

Confidently rely on internal hard drive technology backed by 20 years of innovation; Max sustained transfer rate OD(MB/s): 190 MB/s

Build a powerhouse gaming computer or desktop setup with a variety of capacities and form factors

The go to SATA hard drive solution for nearly every PC application from music to video to photo editing to PC gaming

Store more, compute faster, and do it confidently with the proven reliability of BarraCuda internal hard drives

Compatible with: PlayStation 5 (Play and store PS4 games / Store PS5 games) and Xbox Series X|S (Play and store Xbox One games / Store Xbox Series X|S games) (Compatibility may vary depending on user‘s hardware configuration and operating system.)

Built for gamers. Features a firmware-customized “Always-On” mode for a responsive gaming experience.

2-year manufacturer's limited warranty (3).

Sleek, compact form factor lets you take your games on the go.

Expand your game library. Store up to 100 games (4TB (1)) ( Estimated game storage assumption is 36 GB per game. The number of games actually stored may vary depending on file size, formatting, programs, and other factors.)

Designed for Gaming Console and PC (check compatibility at Toshiba's Consumer HDD website).

Western Digital’s StableTrac and Dynamic Cache Technology increase reliability and optimize performance

An industry-leading 5-year limited warranty** | ** See official Western Digital website for warranty details.

Performance storage available in up to 10TB* capacities | * As used for storage capacity, 1TB = one trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.

Desktop performance gaming hard drive

Designed for gamers, system builders, and creative professionals.

High Performance with 7200 RPM and large cache size

Designed for gaming PC and high-end desktop workstations

Massive capacity to accommodate large gaming libraries

Ramp loading and drive stabilization technologies for reliability

Toshiba's cache technology to deliver high-level performance in real time

7 WD_BLACK 12TB External Hard Drive HDD
Our Score:
9.2
WD_BLACK

7200RPM drive with active cooling technology and speeds up to 250 MB/s. (Based on read speed and internal testing. As used for transfer rate, megabyte per second (MB/s) = one million bytes per second. Performance will vary depending on your hardware and software components and configurations.)

Two 7.5W USB Type-A charging ports to charge your gaming gear and accessories.

Purpose-built for gamers based on WD_BLACK quality and reliability.

12TB so you can save and build your Xbox gaming collection up to 300 games. (As used for storage capacity, one gigabyte (GB) = one billion bytes and one terabyte (TB) = one trillion bytes. Total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment.) (Number of games based on a 36GB average per game. The number of games will vary based on file size, formatting, other programs, and factors.)

1-Month membership of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate included with purchase. (1-Month trial offer of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for new Xbox Game Pass members only. Limit: 1 per person/account. Available for a limited time. See product packaging for full details.)

2 Years Warranty

Pre-formatted on Game Console, Plug & Play

Build-in 1TB Capacity USB 3.0 External Hard Drive

Works for XBOX One X, S, Orginal 1st Generation Game Console

Easy Installation, Plug-n-Play, Ultra Slim & Lightweight

PLUG AND PLAY USB 3.2 Gen 1 bus-powered for quick function and less clutter

LIGHT IT UP Create an epic gaming atmosphere with customizable RGB LED lighting

HIGH CAPACITY Up to 2TB of capacity builds the ultimate gaming library without sacrificing titles

BRILLIANT DESIGN A bold and refined design, crafted to compliment gaming battlestations

10 Avolusion External PS4 Gaming Hard Drive
Our Score:
8.5
Avolusion

2 Years Warranty from Reseller

Compatible with PlayStation 4, PS4 Slim, PS4 Slim Pro

Built-in 8TB Capacity Hard Drive, 7200RPM, 64MB Cache

Add extra storage to your PS4 game console without opening up the case

PS4 File System Pre-Formatted, Expand PS4 hard drive storage instantly!

Product Images, Product Titles, Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

What to Look For in a best gaming hard drive?

Reliability

All hard drives eventually die, and there’s no definitive answer on when that day will come. We recommend replacing your backup drives between the third and sixth years of use, if possible. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to get metrics on which hard drive models are more reliable over the long run, and even so, there will always be outliers and failures that occur sooner than expected.

Performance

Transfer speed is the feature that most people notice on a daily basis. We evaluated each drive with tests that replicated different real-world uses, and we focused on the drives that consistently outperformed the other contenders. Drives that did well on some tests but failed others were unreliable and not worth purchasing.

Cache Memory

This is a cache that functions much like Computer RAM Memory. It stores important files temporarily so that it takes less time to access them on the disk. The larger the cache size, the faster the hard disk will be. However, the difference is not major, and as such, this should not be the biggest determiner.

External Vs. Internal HDD

The main advantage of external hard disks is their portability. Which also makes them perfect backups in case your PC is compromised. Desktop PCs allow you room to add extra hard disks, but if you are using a laptop or other gaming device, you will have to replace your existing hard drive.

Size Of The Disk

I understand that you are buying the hard disk in order to eliminate the need to delete some files when you install a new game or add modifications. Also, at a time when a single game can take up to 100GB, Call of Duty WWII is 90GB; it only makes sense that you select the hard disk that will allow you sufficient storage space.

Speed

HDDs, or hard drives, contain spinning disks that read and write your data. The faster these disks spin—rated in rotations per minute (RPM)—the faster the drive can access data and transfer it to your computer.

Rotation Speed

Did you know that hard drives store information on spinning magnetic plates? The faster these plates spin, the faster the load and access time. The rotation is measured in RPM (Rotations per Minute), and although we recommend hard disks with 7200RPM, 5400RPM is still a good option.

FAQs

How do I know if my gaming hard drive is compatible with my gaming system?

To determine if your gaming hard drive is compatible with your gaming system, you should check the specifications of the hard drive and the gaming system. Make sure the hard drive is the correct size and type for your system and that it has the necessary connections. You should also check to see if the hard drive is compatible with the operating system you are using.

What type of hard drive should I get for gaming?

The type of hard drive you should get for gaming depends on the type of games you are playing and the type of system you are using. If you are playing graphically-intensive games, you should get a Solid State Drive (SSD) as they provide faster loading times. If you are playing less intensive games, you should get a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) as they offer more storage space.

What is the difference between a gaming hard drive and a regular hard drive?

Gaming hard drives are designed to handle the intensive workloads of gaming. They are optimized for faster loading times and offer higher performance than regular hard drives. Gaming hard drives may also come with additional features such as LED lighting, cooling systems, and additional storage space.

What is a gaming hard drive?

A gaming hard drive is a type of storage device designed to give gamers an added edge when playing the latest games. It offers faster loading times, larger storage capacity, and improved performance, allowing gamers to play more efficiently.

What are the benefits of using a gaming hard drive?

The benefits of using a gaming hard drive include faster loading times, larger storage capacity, and improved performance. This allows gamers to play more efficiently and with less lag or stuttering. Additionally, gaming hard drives are designed with gamers in mind and come with features such as advanced caching, high data transfer speeds, and low latency.

Conclusion

It's challenging to determine the greatest product while deciding what to buy. We wanted to help you narrow things down by offering a list of best gaming hard drive above so you can make a better-educated decision before purchasing anything that might never work for you.

Would any of these ideas strike a chord with you? If that's the case, keep these in mind before making any purchases! You may also look into Avolusion External Gaming Hard Drive to find another option that is a good fit for you.


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About Tim Powers

Tim Powers

Tim Powers is an audio equipment & home theater gadget reviewer and the editor of TheAudioInsights.com. He has been involved in the home theater hobby since the late 1990s when he purchased his first AV receiver. Tim is also a writer, with articles appearing in various online and print publications.