Is 256GB Enough for Gaming (Explained from the Perspective of SSD)

An SSD or Solid State Driver has become very popular in the gaming community these days. Many gamers choose SSD over HDD to have a mesmerizing gaming experience because SSD comes with higher power proficiency, superb performance, and a jolly model. 256GB is the preferred SSD data storage capacity because it’s adequate for most uses.

But the question of many users is – whether or not is 256GB enough for gaming. Well, if you are willing to play two games frequently on your PC then storage of 256GB SSD is enough for you.

Here, you’ll learn more about 256GB SSD including if they are adequate to run all of your most-used programs along with your favorite games.

How Many GB of SSD Do I Need for Gaming

The majority of modern PCs and laptops come with SSD storage options of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. As the entry-level option, 128GB SSD drives are an excellent choice if you’re a casual gamer who only plays one game at a time. But 128GB SSDs are a poor choice if you’re a serious gamer who regularly plays three Triple-A titles. Choose a 256 or 512 GB instead.

Is 256GB Enough for Gaming Laptop

There are numerous types of games on the market. Gaming on a 256GB SSD is sufficient, but only for a select few games. But it’s questionable whether investing in a laptop with 256GB of SSD storage would be sufficient for you. It entirely depends on how much storage space your game need.

It’s suitable for games with light to medium storage with 256GB. But high-quality games typically occupy a lot of space, leaving you with little capacity for other things. A 256GB SSD is enough for gaming if you only want to play one or two intensive games at once.

Moreover, it’ll be unwise if you’re up to playing high-end games while also running other heavy applications on your laptop with a 256GB SSD. In this case, you should go for laptops with 512GB or 1TB SSD.

How Many Games Can a 256GB SSD Store

It’s important to understand that a 256GB SSD will only ever have about 220GB of usable space available as the remaining space will be taken up by the operating system.

Operating System typically uses more or less of 15GB storage space. But when you also have to allow room for the installation of updates, it expands to almost 30GB.

Generally, most well-known games have file sizes between 30GB and 40GB. With only 256GB of storage, you won’t be able to play these games at a time because they can occasionally exceed 100GB in size. This means that your 256GB SSD can only hold a maximum of 5 games at once.

So, if you want to know how many games can fit on your 256GB laptop, you must first look for the specifications of the games you intend to play, specifically their sizes.

Pros and Cons of 256GB SSD on Gaming

Everything has pros and cons. SSDs are no exception. Now we will examine both the pros and cons of SSD.

1. Pros of 256GB SSD

A 256GB SSD is a wonderful option for a gaming laptop because basically it’s speedy and provides extra storage. The notable advantages of 256GB SSD are –

• Quicker startup times
• Quicker game load times
• Greater durability compared to a hard drive
• More space for games and other stuff to be stored

2. Cons of 256GB SSD

The use of a 256GB SSD in a gaming laptop has a number of disadvantages.

• A 256GB SSD is now expensive due to the recent rapid increase in SSD prices.
• Also, it has a lower capacity for game storage than a larger SSD. Therefore, players with a huge game library may need to invest in extra storage.
• Last but not least, a 256GB SSD can’t operate as well as a larger SSD. In this case, gamers that want the finest performance will go for a better storage alternative.

Top 256GB SSD for Gaming

If you’ve decided this storage is ideal for you, then it’s time to look for the top 256GB SSDs to put in your laptop.

The fastest data transport is essential to prevent buffering and lag and ensure that games load fast. So, keep in mind that it’s necessary to verify that the SSD you intend to get for your gaming laptop has NVMe. 

Because an SSD with NVMe brings a lot of potential with huge bandwidth. It also ensures the fastest possible data transmission. So, whichever SSD you choose to buy, make sure it includes NVMe and adequate storage for your games.

For suggestions, you can try among Samsung 980 Pro 250GB NVMe SSD, Samsung 970 Evo Plus 250GB NVMe SSD, Wd Black SN750 250GB NVMe SSD, etc.

Is 256GB HDD and SSHD Enough for Gaming?

Compared to SSD, 256 GB storage of HDD and SSHD isn’t enough for gaming. The drawback you will get while using 256 GB HDD and SSHD is, you will get less storage for storing game files and if you force to storage more, your PC will work slowly. And of course, no one want to make their machine slower. For these reasons, you should have at least a storage of 1TB in HDD or SSHD.

Bonus Tip

If you are not capable of having a SSD then you can go for an SSHD instead of HDD. SSHD is the combination of SSD and HDD which will give you more speed compared to an HDD.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Is 256GB memory enough?

A device that is mostly designed to perform less demanding tasks, such as web browsing, email, and document authoring, won’t need a lot of storage. 256GB should be more than plenty, regardless of whether you wish to store images, videos, music, or any other types of files on your device.

• How much storage do I need for gaming?

A 512GB SSD will be plenty for light gaming. However, if you’re a hardcore gamer who’s used to playing top-notch games, you might require a 1TB or 2TB SSD to handle your game install and store original game files

• What is a good size SSD for gaming?

1TB or 2TB can be considered good-sized gaming. Modern high-end games require high configuration along with lots of storage. So, these SSDs will be more than enough for gamers as they’ll make gameplay smooth and faster and can load larger game files.

• How durable is a 256GB SSD?

A 256GB SSD will typically last 5–6 years. But if you correctly store and use it, it can last up to 10 years. The SSD doesn’t degrade when reading data. It entirely relies on how the SSD stores and removes data.

• Is a 256GB SSD Better than a 1TB Hard Drive for Gaming?

A 1TB hard drive can hold eight times as much as a 128GB SSD and four times as much as a 256GB SSD. The most important issue is how much you require. Various modifications have assisted in making up for SSDs’ reduced storage capacity.

Conclusion

As you can see, a 256GB SSD is enough for gaming if you’re used to playing mid-level games. But if you’re an extreme gamer and play a lot of quality games on a regular basis, then you should go for 1TB or 2TB SSD.