Best external SSDs for gaming: Portable performance for any budget
Perhaps your gaming laptop doesn’t have enough storage. Or perhaps you simply want your game library to be portable so you can move between systems. A speedy external SSD can solve both of these problems. Not only will it provide you with a lot more fast storage for your games, you can use it on any system you wish.
Choosing the external SSD that’s right for your needs means sorting through a dizzying array of protocol and speed options. Making the wrong choice could leave you disappointed, either financially or performance-wise. Luckily for you, we’ve tested a bunch of these wee beasties and can offer recommendations guaranteed to leave you satisfied.
PROMOTION
Fortify your games and moments of glory
Built for gamers and streamers, FireCuda X Vault offers massive capacity and convenient bus-powered single-cable connectivity. Vault’s striking design with customizable RGB illumination and Windows Dynamic Lighting keeps your vibe in check and syncs to your rig’s energy.
Below are recommendations for drives from 80Gbps down to 10Gbps; scroll below those to learn more about our evaluation process and what to look for when buying an external SSD for gaming.
Note that SSD prices have risen considerably since our original reviews thanks to the AI / data center gold rush, and the recommendations below reflect that new reality. The older, linked reviews may not. We’ve also added a couple of enclosures to which you can add your own NVMe SSD, as the availability of many pre-populated SSDs is currently scattershot. Furthermore, an enclosure / DIY option is a way to save money in these time of inflated prices.
Why you should trust PCWorld for external drive reviews and buying advice: PCWorld has been putting computer hardware through its paces for decades. Our external drive evaluations are thorough and rigorous, testing the limits of every product — from performance benchmarks to the practicalities of daily use. As consumers ourselves, we know what makes a product exceptional, or not. For more about our testing process, scroll to the bottom of this article.
Samsung P9 — Best 40Gbps USB4 external SSD for gaming
Pros
- Fast and sustains long writes exceptionally well
- Runs remarkably cool despite its diminutive dimensions
- Up to 8TB of capacity
Cons
- Like all current SSDs — very expensive
Perhaps your gaming laptop doesn’t have enough storage. Or perhaps you simply want your game library to be portable so you can move between systems. A speedy external SSD can solve both of these problems. Not only will it provide you with a lot more fast storage for your games, you can use it on any system you wish.
Choosing the external SSD that’s right for your needs means sorting through a dizzying array of protocol and speed options. Making the wrong choice could leave you disappointed, either financially or performance-wise. Luckily for you, we’ve tested a bunch of these wee beasties and can offer recommendations guaranteed to leave you satisfied.
PROMOTION
Fortify your games and moments of glory
Built for gamers and streamers, FireCuda X Vault offers massive capacity and convenient bus-powered single-cable connectivity. Vault’s striking design with customizable RGB illumination and Windows Dynamic Lighting keeps your vibe in check and syncs to your rig’s energy.
Below are recommendations for drives from 80Gbps down to 10Gbps; scroll below those to learn more about our evaluation process and what to look for when buying an external SSD for gaming.
Note that SSD prices have risen considerably since our original reviews thanks to the AI / data center gold rush, and the recommendations below reflect that new reality. The older, linked reviews may not. We’ve also added a couple of enclosures to which you can add your own NVMe SSD, as the availability of many pre-populated SSDs is currently scattershot. Furthermore, an enclosure / DIY option is a way to save money in these time of inflated prices.
Why you should trust PCWorld for external drive reviews and buying advice: PCWorld has been putting computer hardware through its paces for decades. Our external drive evaluations are thorough and rigorous, testing the limits of every product — from performance benchmarks to the practicalities of daily use. As consumers ourselves, we know what makes a product exceptional, or not. For more about our testing process, scroll to the bottom of this article.
Samsung P9 — Best 40Gbps USB4 external SSD for gaming
Pros
- Fast and sustains long writes exceptionally well
- Runs remarkably cool despite its diminutive dimensions
- Up to 8TB of capacity
Cons
- Like all current SSDs — very expensive