I found a laptop at a good price, but it only has one SSD slot, meaning I’d have to reinstall Windows if I wanted to upgrade. I’m not very tech-savvy and am wondering if 512 GB would be sufficient, considering I’d have to delete games I’m not actively playing.
From my experience, 512 GB isn’t enough if you’re planning to play video games. You might find yourself needing more space soon. Reinstalling Windows isn’t as hard as it sounds, though.
Keaton said:
From my experience, 512 GB isn’t enough if you’re planning to play video games. You might find yourself needing more space soon. Reinstalling Windows isn’t as hard as it sounds, though.
Actually, you don’t necessarily need to reinstall Windows. I upgraded my laptop with a 512 GB SSD by cloning the old drive using an SSD enclosure, then swapping them out. Everything stayed the same, just with more space.
It depends on what games you play and your other storage needs. If you’re only playing a few games and have good internet to re-download as needed, it might be okay. However, for most people, I’d recommend at least 1-2 TB. If the laptop’s deal is good, consider the possibility of upgrading the SSD later.
Many of my friends manage with 512 GB laptops without issue. For larger games like RDR2 or Cyberpunk, you could use an external SSD for storage. Are you considering an OMEN or VICTUS by any chance?
Chen said:
Many of my friends manage with 512 GB laptops without issue. For larger games like RDR2 or Cyberpunk, you could use an external SSD for storage. Are you considering an OMEN or VICTUS by any chance?
Yes, it’s one of those models. I’m also concerned about battery life for college. I heard it lasts about 6 hours, but I’m not sure that’s enough.
@Lake
Six hours of battery life is fairly standard, but it can vary with your usage. Some newer models might last longer under light use.
@Lake
You can often extend battery life by adjusting settings like screen brightness and background applications, especially if your laptop has a dedicated GPU that can be turned off when not in use.
@Lake
I use an OMEN for college too. It typically lasts about 6 hours, but I’ve noticed it drains faster since the last Windows update. Still, it’s a solid laptop for school and gaming.
@Lake
Gaming laptops generally have shorter battery life, especially when using the GPU. You might only get 3-4 hours from some models.
It’s generally a good idea to perform a clean installation of Windows when you upgrade to a larger drive. It can help the system run more smoothly.
Noor said:
It’s generally a good idea to perform a clean installation of Windows when you upgrade to a larger drive. It can help the system run more smoothly.
Does reinstalling Windows actually save space?
For peace of mind, you might want to upgrade to a 1 TB SSD if the laptop allows it. It’ll save you from having to manage storage so tightly.
Depending on your gaming habits, 512 GB might be tight. Many modern games can exceed 150 GB each. I have a 2 TB laptop and sometimes even that feels cramped.
Given the size of many modern games, you might find 512 GB restrictive. Upgrading to a 2 TB drive isn’t too complicated with tools like the Windows Media Creation Tool, which guides you through the setup.
I downgraded from 2 TB to 512 GB due to a drive failure and it’s manageable. I play a few large games and keep the rest on an external drive. A 1 TB drive might be a better middle ground if you’re concerned about space.
If the laptop meets your other specs, consider sticking with 512 GB and investing in an external SSD later if you need more storage.
Consider how much storage you actually need. I manage with 512 GB and use an external 1 TB SSD for my larger games. It’s a good setup if you don’t want to replace the internal drive.
If you’re a serious gamer, 512 GB might not cut it. I recommend at least 1 TB, but I personally prefer having even more.
512 GB should be sufficient if you’re not storing large files or many high-end games.