New storage device for steam files.

rossiboy001

rossiboy001

rossiboy001

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Hi looking for more storage (not for OS) currently use SSD`s I just keep running out and having to delete stuff. Looking for around 4TB Mechanical or 2TB SSD. For this type of storage is it really worth paying extra for an SSD when you can get 4TB for like 80 or 90 quid on mechanical, for example Seagate Barracuda with 5400 spin speed.
I`m guessing once it starts loading the performance comes from the Ram (16GB 3200mhz) and GPU working together 3080 OC Tuf gaming. All that this matters is a second or two extra in loading startup. Once done there will be no performance loss? Any recommmendations perhaps if my choice of thinking Seagate Barracuda is bit meh.
 
SSDs will provide better performance for your games, that's your ideal scenario, if your library includes lots of games that don't need bleeding edge read/write speeds you could maybe get away with pushing those onto a mechanical and take whatever hit that comes with performance wise. Steam does support having multiple library folders (install locations), so you could keep high end games that need(or most benefit from) the raw performance from the SSD in one library and plonk others on the "spinning rust" as EsaT put it, in another library (location). If it is literally just games, large SSD and rotate installs (as you've been doing) when space gets tight (again).
 
Also unless you're intending to have only old games, you should be looking for NVMe SSD.
Because DirectStorage intended to increase loading speeds of games in general supports only PCIe and not SATA.
Currently only few games are made well enough to be able to use faster transfer rates, but in those difference between PCIe and SATA SSD is clear:
https://www.realhardwarereviews.com/silicon-power-us70-1tb-review/11/

Anyway standard level NVMe SSD doesn't even cost more per TB than SATA SSD.
WD Blue SN550 2TB SSD NVME M.2 2280 PCIe Gen3 Solid State Drive (WDS200T2B0C)= £176.99
 
EsaT said:
Also unless you're intending to have only old games, you should be looking for NVMe SSD.
Because DirectStorage intended to increase loading speeds of games in general supports only PCIe and not SATA.
Currently only few games are made well enough to be able to use faster transfer rates, but in those difference between PCIe and SATA SSD is clear:
https://www.realhardwarereviews.com/silicon-power-us70-1tb-review/11/

Anyway standard level NVMe SSD doesn't even cost more per TB than SATA SSD.
WD Blue SN550 2TB SSD NVME M.2 2280 PCIe Gen3 Solid State Drive (WDS200T2B0C)= £176.99
Click to expand...

I thought about them for the OS, never so far for games, but what concewrns me about them is splitting the bandwith with the GPU turning it into x8 rather than x16 ect since now your are populating two sockets. Also i fear that it would have to fit in the lower one as mine and cards in general are to big and cover the second slot. So it could be you using the bandwith at x4 on the motherboard.
 
CPU has dedicated PCIe lanes for M.2 slot and PCIe x16 slots.
It's those second "PCIe x16" slots which steal half the lanes of primary x16 slot in desktop platform boards.
 
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