Can External Hard Drives Work For Gaming?

[Noah M]

Hello! I plan on upgrading my GPU soon and that means that I can run a lot more games. I am currently getting low on storage and was wondering if I should get an external hard drive instead of upgrading the one I currently have (I also have an SSD-250GB - Current Hard Drive-1tb). I would like to put games on the external hard drive. So how does it really work? Can I just plug it in with a bunch of games already installed and play it right off of it? Does it act as a normal hard drive but is just external/portable?

I was looking at this: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/wd-my-passport-2tb-external-usb-3-0-portable-hard-drive-yellow/5605505.p?skuId=5605505

 

[bjornl]

Won't work.

You have to install the games with that HD attached. You can't then move that HD to another PC and have the games work unless they are special "portable" versions, which very few if any companies make.

The external USB port is much slower in use than the SATA internal ports. So if you do attach it and do install games to it, load times and such will be poor.

I suggest you either add another internal HD or pay someone to do it for you.

 

[Noah M]

Won't work.

You have to install the games with that HD attached. You can't then move that HD to another PC and have the games work unless they are special "portable" versions, which very few if any companies make.

The external USB port is much slower in use than the SATA internal ports. So if you do attach it and do install games to it, load times and such will be poor.

I suggest you either add another internal HD or pay someone to do it for you.

Thanks for the info! I do not plan on moving the drive, it will be stationary if I were to get it.

 

[bjornl]

If you never move the drive, it will work. But you are likely going to be annoyed at the performance.