The Best Harddrive For Gaming In 2024

By, Piers Anthony
Updated 17 Nov 2024 10:03

The Rundown

1. Best Overall: Seagate FireCuda HDD 8TB Internal Hard Drive HDD

Seagate FireCuda HDD 8TB Internal Hard Drive HDD is a massive storage solution with a capacity of 8 TB. With 7200-RPM speeds, 256MB of Cache, SATA 6Gb/s interface, and our latest firmware technology, the Seagate FireCuda HDD 8TB is the perfect addition to your computer. Read Review

2. Runner Up: Toshiba Canvio Gaming 4TB Portable External Hard Drive

The Toshiba Canvio Gaming 4TB Portable External Hard Drive is the perfect storage solution for gamers. Its design is specially designed for use with game consoles and PCs. Features a firmware-customized “Always-On” mode for a responsive gaming experience. Read Review

3. Best Portable: WD_BLACK 2TB P10 Game Drive - Portable External Hard Drive

Never worry about not having enough space with this WDBLACK 2TB external hard drive. It comes in capacities up to 5TB and is compatible with any PC or laptop with a USB 3.0 port, so that you can save old favorites and still have room for new titles on your drive. Read Review

4. Best Quality: WD_BLACK 12TB D10 External Hard Drive

The WD BLACK 12TB D10 is an external hard drive that is a great choice for Xbox One game players. It offers high capacity and fast data transfer, with a 7200RPM drive and active cooling technology to keep your data protected. The WD BLACK 12TB D10 has speeds up to 250 MB/s. Read Review

5. Best Technology: WD_BLACK 6TB Gaming Internal Hard Drive

With the WD Black 6TB Gaming Hard Drive, you can place your games and other big files in a central location and then access them easily on any computer. With up to 10TB of storage, this hard drive is designed for gamers, system builders, and creative professionals. Read Review

When it comes to gaming, you need a fast and reliable hard drive. If you play games often or plan to do so in the future, then getting an optimal hard drive is key. In this article, we will discuss the factors you should consider before buying a new hard drive for your gaming PC.

Hard drives are used as storage devices for storing data. Your operating system, applications, games, videos, images, etc., all come under different categories known as content. The amount of space that lets you store this content varies from one another too. Hence choosing the right drive with enough storage space is essential so as not to run out of space or have files get stored in inaccessible places.

After hours of product research and analysis, We are able to identify the best Harddrive for gaming is the Seagate FireCuda HDD 8TB Internal Hard Drive HDD. Seagate FireCuda HDD 8TB Internal Hard Drive HDD is a massive storage solution with a capacity of 8 TB. The performance of this product is of an excellent standard, and it offers a complete set of features that can satisfy your requirements. You can also check out the Toshiba Canvio Gaming 4TB Portable External Hard Drive as an alternative and others to the list.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 Seagate FireCuda HDD 8TB Internal Hard Drive HDD

Best Overall
Seagate FireCuda HDD 8TB Internal Hard Drive HDD

Product Highlights

Our Score:

9.7

Brand: Seagate

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Obtain maximum sustained transfers at 255MB/s

Achieve new performance heights with a large 256MB cache to load applications and files faster

Build the ultimate Storage Vault with this massive capacity 8TB hard drive

TOP Choice #2 Toshiba Canvio Gaming 4TB Portable External Hard Drive

Runner Up
Toshiba Canvio Gaming 4TB Portable External Hard Drive

Product Highlights

Our Score:

9.6

Brand: Toshiba

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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.)

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

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

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

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

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.)

TOP Choice #3 WD_BLACK 2TB P10 Game Drive - Portable External Hard Drive

Best Portable
WD_BLACK 2TB P10 Game Drive - Portable External Hard Drive

Product Highlights

Our Score:

9.5

Brand: WD_BLACK

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

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

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

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

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.)

Best Quality
WD_BLACK 12TB D10 External Hard Drive

Product Highlights

Our Score:

9.3

Brand: WD_BLACK

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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.)

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.)

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.)

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.

Our Score:

8.4

Brand: Avolusion

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Built-in 6TB Capacity External Gaming Hard Drive

Compatible with XBOX ONE X, S, Orginal (1st Gen)

XBOX File System Pre-Formatted, Expand Game Console hard drive storage instantly!

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

2 Years Warranty from Reseller

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

What to Look For in a best harddrive for gaming?

Please follow the bellow points before selecting the best harddrive for gaming:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

FAQs

What type of hard drive do I need for gaming?

The type of hard drive you need for gaming depends on the type of game you are playing. If you are playing a game that requires a lot of power, such as a high-end shooter, then an SSD (Solid State Drive) is the best option. This type of hard drive is much faster than traditional hard drives, and can help you get the most out of your gaming experience. If you are playing simpler games, such as casual titles or MMOs, then a traditional HDD (Hard Disk Drive) should be sufficient.

How much hard drive space do I need for gaming?

The amount of hard drive space you need for gaming depends on the type of games you are playing and the amount of content you are downloading. Generally speaking, most modern games require at least 30GB of space, but some can require up to 100GB or more. If you plan on downloading lots of extra content such as game expansions, patches, or mods, then you may need even more space. It’s important to make sure you have enough hard drive space for the games you plan on playing.

Can I use an external hard drive for gaming?

Yes, you can use an external hard drive for gaming. External hard drives are generally slower than internal hard drives due to the slower connection speeds, but they can still be used for gaming. However, if you plan on downloading lots of content or playing graphics-heavy games, an internal hard drive is recommended for the best performance.

Can I upgrade my hard drive for gaming?

Yes, you can upgrade your hard drive for gaming. You can either buy a new hard drive or replace your existing one with a larger one. Make sure to backup your data before upgrading.

What are the benefits of having a faster hard drive for gaming?

A faster hard drive will result in faster loading times and smoother gaming performance. This is especially important for games that require large files and require frequent loading. It is also beneficial for gamers who play online or stream their gameplay.

How do I install a hard drive for gaming?

Installing a hard drive for gaming is a relatively simple process. First, you will need to purchase the necessary components for your particular gaming system. Then, once you have the necessary components, you can install the hard drive by connecting it to the motherboard and then installing the operating system.

In general, it's difficult to say who creates the best harddrive for gaming since each firm has unique qualities, features, and pricing points that set them apart from the competition. We only suggest products from the most outstanding manufacturers on our site, so you can rest assured about their quality.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require assistance with your problems. Wish you a happy shopping!

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About Piers Anthony

Piers Anthony is a freelance writer and computer expert who enjoys helping others get the most out of their technology. He has written extensively about laptops, soundbars, and other computer-related topics, and he currently serves as the editor of The Audio Insights website. When he's not writing or tinkering with his gadgets, Piers can be found spending time with his wife and family.

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