What Hard Drive Should I Buy For Gaming 〈DIRECT〉

Choosing the right storage for gaming in 2026 is no longer about comparing "hard drives" in the traditional sense. While mechanical Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) still offer the best value for massive storage, Solid State Drives (SSDs) are now considered essential for primary gaming performance.

Keeping 100+ indie or older games that don't need fast loading.

Designed for gaming with a massive SLC cache and optional heatsink. Crucial P3 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. what hard drive should i buy for gaming

Affordable PCIe 3.0/4.0 option that is still miles ahead of any mechanical drive. Corsair MP700 Pro XT

Getting 10TB+ of space for a fraction of the cost of an SSD. Key Buying Specs for 2026 Choosing the right storage for gaming in 2026

For modern AAA titles, an is the gold standard. These drives plug directly into your motherboard and offer speeds that virtually eliminate long loading screens and in-game stutters. Recommended Model Key Highlights Best Overall Samsung 990 Pro Go to product viewer dialog for this item.

Extreme speeds up to 14,000MB/s for those with the latest motherboards. Designed for gaming with a massive SLC cache

Blazing PCIe 4.0 speeds (up to 7,450MB/s) and excellent reliability. WD Black SN850X Go to product viewer dialog for this item.