With the right strategy and shopping habits, you can get all the parts for a gaming PC for around $600. And if you\u2019re willing to sacrifice some performance, you can bring that price tag down even lower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Furthermore, gamers don\u2019t need much extra storage space on their computer since most games take up between 20 GB and 50 GB of hard drive space after installation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s why many budget-friendly gaming PCs are equipped with only one hard drive: the primary one. But what exactly does that mean? How important is a secondary hard drive in your gaming PC? Let\u2019s find out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Related Article: Where to Place the SSD in My Gaming PC<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n A secondary hard drive is an additional storage device that is plugged into your computer using a SATA or USB cable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s typically smaller in capacity than your computer\u2019s primary hard drive, but that makes it a great tool for gaming PC users who want to save their games to a separate drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This second hard drive is referred to as being a secondary drive because it\u2019s best to store non-game-related data on it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The games and software that you run directly from your gaming PC\u2019s primary hard drive are referred to as the primary content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The primary hard drive in your computer is used for a lot of tasks, including storing the operating system, program files, and your computer\u2019s settings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This drive is also where you install games for your gaming PC, which means the majority of it will be taken up by game data like saved game progress, high scores, and saved in-game settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you try to install all of your games on the same hard drive as your computer\u2019s primary drive, you\u2019ll run out of space pretty quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s recommended to have a secondary hard drive that\u2019s designated for game installation. That way, you can free up your primary drive\u2019s space by moving your games to the secondary drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A secondary hard drive will help you free up space on your primary hard drive. This will, in turn, speed up your gaming computer since it won\u2019t need to access data as often. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A gaming computer with two hard drives will most likely be faster than one with only one. But it might cost you more in the long run since you\u2019ll have to replace both hard drives at once when the primary one breaks down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This setup also comes in handy if you want to install games on different hard drives. This can free up space on the primary one, which is often allocated to run the software, OS files, and essential game settings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Alternatively, if you have a massive game collection that takes up too much space, you can install games on a secondary hard drive and still play them without issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Space-saving: Perhaps the most obvious benefit of a secondary hard drive is that it frees up space on your computer\u2019s primary hard drive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to have enough storage space on your PC to store your operating system and other important files, but you also need space for your games. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Safety: If you\u2019ve ever experienced a hard drive crash, then you know how devastating it can be to lose your data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having your games installed on a separate hard drive gives you some peace of mind in case your main drive ever fails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also save some money on your gaming PC by opting for a smaller secondary hard drive without sacrificing game storage space. –<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ease of installation: Installing and uninstalling games on a secondary hard drive is much easier than trying to do so on your primary drive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most gaming PCs include only one hard drive, which means installing games on it directly can be a real hassle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When shopping for a secondary hard drive, there are two important factors to consider: capacity and speed. Capacity refers to how much data the drive can store, with 500 GB being the standard for most gaming PCs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The speed of the drive is important because it will affect how fast your computer performs. The most common types are SATA and USB, with SATA being the better option for gaming PC users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Capacity – The more capacity, the more data you can store on the hard drive. Since gaming computers don\u2019t need a ton of storage, it\u2019s best to go for a 1 TB hard drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s enough space for about 20-30 large-sized games. – Speed – A hard drive\u2019s speed determines how quickly it can read and write data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t do much intensive editing, you can settle for the standard 7200 RPM hard drive speed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Connectivity – Most modern gaming computers come with at least one USB port. If you\u2019re looking to use an external hard drive and don\u2019t have any ports, you can get a USB hub that plugs into the wall and provides more ports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, you can, but it\u2019s not ideal for a few reasons. First, loading games off a secondary hard drive will take a bit longer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your gaming PC\u2019s primary hard drive is plugged in, it will run the game off that drive and use the second drive only as needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, game files on a secondary hard drive aren\u2019t as easily accessible. If you want to edit your saved game data, change your game settings, or input commands directly from your game\u2019s folder, then you need to run your game from the primary hard drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, but you\u2019ll need to make a few edits to your gaming computer\u2019s settings first. – First, you\u2019ll need to enable your secondary hard drive\u2019s folder so your computer can recognize it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, you\u2019ll need to find the location of your game\u2019s folder. Click on it to open the game and navigate to the installation file. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Double click on the installation file and select \u201cRun in a different location\u201d. – Click \u201cBrowse\u201d and navigate to the folder on your hard drive where you want to install the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t necessarily have to have two hard drives in your gaming PC. You can choose to install your games on one drive and your operating system on another, or you can install both your games and your operating system on the same drive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It really depends on your needs and budget. However, having a secondary hard drive is recommended for most gaming PC users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By installing your games on a second drive, you\u2019ll free up space on the primary drive and reduce the risk of data loss if your computer\u2019s drive fails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It depends on how many games you want to install. If you want to have about 30 games on your computer, a 1 TB hard drive should be enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re a fan of digital games and want to download a couple of massive games, a 2 TB hard drive should be sufficient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to install all your games, a 3 TB hard drive will be necessary. In short, you can have as many hard drives as you want on your computer as long as your motherboard allows them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can even have a mixture of SSDs and HDDs, or SSDs and SSHDs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The primary hard drive in your gaming PC is used for several important tasks. It houses your operating system, stores your files, and provides the space necessary to run your programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having a secondary hard drive in your gaming PC gives you the option of moving some of your data to the secondary drive, like your saved game progress, high scores, and saved in-game settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This frees up space on the primary drive, allowing you to install more games without having to delete anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A gaming PC with two hard drives allows you to separate your data. This makes it easier to organize your files and back them up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While you can get away with having a single hard drive, having two is ideal and recommended. There are many ways to partition and separate your data between the hard drives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can put your operating system, games, and other important software on the primary hard drive. Then, you can put all your pictures, videos, and other data-heavy files on a secondary hard drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The exact amount of storage you need for your gaming PC will depend on which games you play, the quality of graphics you prefer, and what other types of software you use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you like to play games with high-quality graphics and you use streaming software like OBS or XSplit, then you\u2019ll need a lot more storage than someone who prefers to keep their graphics settings low and who only uses their computer for basic tasks like word processing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In general, most modern games require at least 20 GB of hard drive space after installation, with some games requiring up to 50 GB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you like to play a wide variety of games, you may want to aim for an extra 30 GB of storage so you\u2019re not constantly having to clear out old data. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re not sure how much space your gaming PC needs, this chart offers a good starting point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The recommended hard drive storage for a gaming computer is between 1 TB and 2 TB. If you have a gaming PC with only one hard drive, you can use a few helpful tips to minimize the amount of data you store. <\/p>\n\n\n\n First, you can disable any unneeded programs that run in the background. This includes your antivirus, sound, and weather apps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, you can clear the cache on your browser and delete browsing history. And third, you can uninstall programs you don\u2019t use. This will free up a little bit of space on your hard drive and help your computer run faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, you can, but it\u2019s not ideal for a few reasons. First, loading games off a secondary hard drive will take a bit longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your gaming PC\u2019s primary hard drive is plugged in, it will run the game off that drive and use the second drive only as needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, game files on a secondary hard drive aren\u2019t as easily accessible. If you want to edit your saved game data, change your game settings, or input commands directly from your game\u2019s folder, then you need to run your game from the primary hard drive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That means you\u2019ll have to exit your game, navigate to the folder on your secondary drive, make your changes, then go back to your game and click \u201cContinue\u201d to get back to where you left off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a bit of a hassle, so it\u2019s best to install your games directly to your primary drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While a gaming computer that uses only one hard drive would be more affordable, it would also lead to space issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019d have to regularly delete games from your system to make room for new ones. But that would be a problem for most gamers who want to keep dozens or hundreds of games on their computers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A gaming PC with two hard drives would solve this dilemma. You could store your favorite games on the primary drive and relegate everything else to the secondary drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This way, you\u2019d have space for new games and rarely have to worry about running out of room. That being said, there are other benefits to using two hard drives in a gaming computer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, you can use one drive as a backup of your other data. Or you can install games on both drives to increase overall performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n M2 SSDs are a lot like standard SSDs in that they\u2019re flash drives with no moving parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They\u2019re often cheaper than their traditional counterparts, but the difference in price usually isn\u2019t significant enough to justify the swap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A typical SSD is a little faster than an M2 drive, which means you\u2019d get slightly better performance from a gaming computer that uses a standard SSD. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the difference between the two options is almost negligible in the real world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, the burst speeds of M2 drives are comparable to standard SSDs, which means they\u2019re just as fast when it comes to loading huge games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re running your operating system and important programs (like your graphics card and sound card) off of an external drive, then yes, it will negatively affect your gaming performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, if gaming is one of the programs that you\u2019re running off of an external drive, then there shouldn\u2019t be a significant difference in the speed of your gaming computer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Generally, you shouldn\u2019t use an external drive to store the programs that make up your gaming PC. If you do, you\u2019ll see a noticeable drop in performance that can be frustrating to deal with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, you should use an external drive for storing media like pictures, videos, and music. There\u2019s no noticeable difference in speed when running those programs off a separate drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best SSD for gaming PC is the Samsung 860 EVO. It offers the best combination of speed, capacity, and affordability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, the Corsair Force series is the best option for gamers who are looking for a more affordable option. If you\u2019re willing to spend a bit more, you\u2019ll get a ton of extra speed and a longer lifespan from the Samsung 860 PRO. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s one of the most reliable SSDs available and has a 10-year warranty. The Samsung 860 EVO is our recommended gaming SSD because it offers the best combination of speed, capacity, and affordability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With this SSD, you get sequential read\/write speeds of 550 megabytes per second (MB\/s) and 540 MB\/s, respectively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s plenty fast for running the latest PC games at the highest settings. If you\u2019re looking for a more affordable option, the Corsair Force series is a great choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This SSD offers sequential read\/write speeds of up to 560 MB\/s and 540 MB\/s, respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A secondary hard drive is great for gaming PC enthusiasts who want to save their games without sacrificing space on their computers. It\u2019s also a good idea to have a secondary hard drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When building your own gaming PC, you have the opportunity to choose which types of drives you want to use. You can go with a traditional HDD or opt for an SSD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The decision will have an impact on your total cost and performance. Although HDDs are cheaper, SSDs have better performance and last longer because they have no moving parts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you use an HDD or an SSD, be sure to install your operating system<\/a> and games on the primary drive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This way, you\u2019ll avoid running out of space and having to delete programs and games from your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A hard drive is a computer storage device where data is stored permanently. It’s like a large external hard cover book with a bunch of pages inside. The pages are called sectors. What is the best hard drive? The best hard drive depends on your needs and budget. However, most gaming PC users recommend 7200 RPM drives because they typically have lower failure rates than slower-rotating drives<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Internal hard drives are installed directly into your computer, usually inside the case. External hard drives are plugged in and connected to your computer using a SATA or USB cable. What is a hard drive capacity? The capacity of a hard drive is measured in gigabytes (GB). The more GB you have, the more data and games you can store.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Installing a hard drive in a gaming PC takes about 10 to 20 minutes once you\u2019ve connected the drive and downloaded the installation software from the manufacturer<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n To decide between an SSD and a hard drive for your gaming PC, you\u2019ll want to consider the total cost of ownership (TCO). SSDs cost a bit more upfront, but they last longer and have lower TCO<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n While you can use a secondary hard drive for storing games and other files, it isn\u2019t typically fast enough to run them. The standard for gaming computers is 7,200 RPM drives, which are simply too slow for running games. For instance, if you were to load up a game like Dark Souls, it would take nearly 30 seconds just to load the title screen. Obviously, that isn\u2019t ideal, which is why you shouldn\u2019t use your secondary drive for running games.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n If you want to install two hard drives in your computer, you\u2019ll need to do some research on which drives are compatible with your motherboard. Once you know what kind you\u2019ll be getting, you can follow the instructions in your motherboard manual to install the drives. Depending on your motherboard, you might be able to install a hard drive in the first slot on your motherboard and another in the second. Alternatively, you might be able to install one hard drive above the other on the same side of the board.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Gaming PCs have a reputation for being expensive and over-the-top. But even with a high initial investment, building your own gaming PC is cheaper than buying pre-built options that offer comparable performance. Is an SSD Necessary for a Gaming PC? You do not necessarily need\u00a0both types of storage for a\u00a0gaming PC, It all depends on … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/productank.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1429"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/productank.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/productank.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/productank.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/productank.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1429"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/productank.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1429\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1436,"href":"https:\/\/productank.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1429\/revisions\/1436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/productank.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/productank.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/productank.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/productank.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/image-8.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat is a Secondary Hard Drive?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why You Need a Secondary Hard Drive<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/productank.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/image-9.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBenefits of a Secondary Hard Drive in a Gaming PC<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to Choose the Right Type of Secondary Hard Drive<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/productank.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/image-10.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCan you run games off a secondary hard drive?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How many hard drives should a gaming computer have?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/productank.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/image-11.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhy do gaming pcs have two hard drives?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Recommended storage for gaming pc<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Recommended](\"https:\/\/productank.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/image-12.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCan I install games on a secondary hard drive?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Is a solid-state drive necessary for a gaming PC<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Can I use an M2 SSD instead of a standard SSD in a gaming PC<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Do external hard drives affect gaming performance in a gaming PC<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Best SSD for gaming pc<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
FAQs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
What is a hard drive?<\/h3>\n
What is the difference between an internal hard drive and an external hard drive?<\/h3>\n
How long does it take to install a hard drive in a gaming PC?<\/h3>\n
How do I choose between an SSD and a hard drive for my gaming PC?<\/h3>\n
Can you run games off a secondary hard drive?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How do I install 2 hard drives in my PC?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/h2>\n\n\n\n