Are external hardrives any good for gaming?

[ebsbyers]

I am wondering if external hard drives are any good for installing games on?

 

[geofelt]

In a word... No.

If you can connect via Esata, then maybe. But any usb connection will be very slow.

Better to remove the drive and install it in your case on a sata connection.

 

[ebsbyers]

thats what i thought cause i wanted to get a gaming laptop with a smaller hard drive to save money then get a larger one to store everything i need 1-2TB

 

[geofelt]

thats what i thought cause i wanted to get a gaming laptop with a smaller hard drive to save money then get a larger one to store everything i need 1-2TB

I am surprised you need that much.
There are 1tb laptop drives around. Check to see if the laptop might have two hard drive bays.

 

[ebsbyers]

Best answer selected by ebsbyers.

 

[ebsbyers]

alright

 

[JackNaylorPE]

1. It would affect game loading times but have little impact on actual game play.

2. You could just "swap" games from the external to internal when you want to play them. For example with C:\ as internal and D:\ as external:

a) You buy a new game ..... Earth Vs Zucchini Monster II ....... but have no room on Internal Drive
b) You have the 1st installment in C:\Games\Earth Vs Zucchini Monster I
c) Cut and paste the entire Earth Vs Zucchini Monster I game folder from C:\Games to D:\Games
d) Install Earth Vs Zucchini Monster II to C:\Games

Now you after enjoying the 2nd installment you get nostalgic for the 1st .....just reverse the process:

a) Cut and paste the entire Earth Vs Zucchini Monster II game folder from C:\Games to D:\Games
b) Cut and paste the entire Earth Vs Zucchini Monster I game folder from D:\Games to C:\Games

Voila..... rinse and repeat for games as you want to play them or place into short term "storage"

3. Buy whatever HD or two HD's when you order the laptop. For example:

http://www.pro-star.com/index.cfm?mainpage=productdetail&model=W150ERQ

HD No. 1
500GB/7200rpm 16MB Cache Buffer SATA-300 (SATA II 3GB/s)
750GB/7200rpm 16MB Cache Buffer SATA-300 (SATA II 3GB/s) [add $20.00]
500GB/7200rpm Seagate Momentus XT Hybrid Drive w/4GB SSD Memory SATA-300 (SATA II 3GB/s) [add $60.00]
60GB Intel 520 SERIES SATA III Solid State Drive [add $70.00]
128GB Crucial M4 SATA III Solid State Drive [add $85.00]
750GB/7200rpm Seagate Momentus XT Hybrid Drive w/8GB SSD Memory SATA-600 (SATA III 6GB/s) [add $115.00]
120GB Intel 520 SERIES SATA III Solid State Drive [add $140.00]
256GB Crucial M4 SATA III Solid State Drive [add $195.00]
180GB Intel 520 SERIES SATA III Solid State Drive [add $235.00]
240GB Intel 520 SERIES SATA III Solid State Drive [add $295.00]
512GB Crucial M4 SATA III Solid State Drive [add $550.00]
480GB Intel 520 SERIES SATA III Solid State Drive [add $775.00]
600GB Intel 320 SERIES SATA II Solid State Drive [add $995.00])

HD No. 2
N/A
500GB/7200rpm 16MB Cache Buffer SATA-300 (SATA II 3GB/s) [add $90.00]
750GB/7200rpm 16MB Cache Buffer SATA-300 (SATA II 3GB/s)(Regular $115, Now $95, Save $20) [add $95.00]
500GB/7200rpm Seagate Momentus XT Hybrid Drive w/4GB SSD Memory SATA-300 (SATA II 3GB/s) [add $135.00]
60GB Intel 520 SERIES SATA III Solid State Drive [add $140.00]
128GB Crucial M4 SATA III Solid State Drive [add $160.00]
750GB/7200rpm Seagate Momentus XT Hybrid Drive w/8GB SSD Memory SATA-600 (SATA III 6GB/s) [add $185.00]
180GB Intel 520 SERIES SATA III Solid State Drive [add $210.00]
120GB Intel 520 SERIES SATA III Solid State Drive [add $215.00]
256GB Crucial M4 SATA III Solid State Drive [add $270.00]
240GB Intel 520 SERIES SATA III Solid State Drive [add $370.00]
512GB Crucial M4 SATA III Solid State Drive [add $625.00]
480GB Intel 520 SERIES SATA III Solid State Drive [add $830.00]
600GB Intel 320 SERIES SATA II Solid State Drive [add $1,070.00]

 

[ebsbyers]

Ahh ok I see