How Much External Storage Do I Need for PS4?
The question of how much external storage you need for your PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a common one for gamers. The short answer is: it depends on your gaming habits, but a 2TB external hard drive is generally considered the sweet spot. This provides a substantial amount of space for most gamers without breaking the bank. However, the ideal amount can vary. A minimum of 250GB is required for PS4 compatible external drives, up to a maximum of 8TB. Let’s dive into what makes these recommendations and what other factors might influence your choice.
Understanding Your Storage Needs
Before committing to a specific size, you need to consider:
- How many games do you typically have installed at once? If you’re someone who likes to keep a large library of games ready to play, you’ll need more storage.
- What size are the games you play? Some AAA games can easily exceed 50GB, while indie titles might be much smaller, some under 5GB.
- Do you anticipate purchasing a lot of new games in the near future? If so, it’s wise to plan for expansion.
- Are you comfortable deleting games to free up space? If not, you should lean towards a larger drive.
Thinking about these points will help you determine whether you’re closer to needing a 1TB drive or something closer to 8TB.
Why 2TB is Usually the Best Option
A 2TB external hard drive strikes a good balance between cost and capacity for the average PS4 user. It can comfortably hold over 50 games, allowing you to maintain a varied gaming library without constantly deleting and re-downloading content. With most AAA games ranging from 40-50GB each, 2TB provides the breathing room you need. This capacity allows you to accumulate games without being overly concerned about constantly running out of space.
When 1TB Might Be Enough
A 1TB external hard drive could be suitable for gamers with less intense needs. If you:
- Primarily play a few favorite games.
- Are comfortable frequently deleting older games.
- Don’t have a large digital library.
A 1TB drive will likely hold around 25+ games, sufficient for some. However, as games grow larger, a 1TB drive can feel limiting quickly.
The Case for Larger Storage: 4TB and 8TB
For those who want ultimate peace of mind, 4TB or even 8TB external hard drives are viable options. These provide a significant amount of space and are ideal for:
- Gamers with extensive digital libraries.
- People who prefer not to manage storage by deleting games.
- Families or shared console users who have multiple profiles and diverse tastes.
A 4TB drive can store 100+ titles, while an 8TB drive maximizes capacity. These are particularly suitable for those who purchase most games digitally and like having everything readily available. Keep in mind, an 8TB capacity is the maximum supported size on the PS4.
The Importance of Drive Type
Beyond capacity, you also need to consider the type of external drive: HDD (Hard Disk Drive) vs. SSD (Solid State Drive).
HDD External Drives
Most external drives you see will be HDDs, known for being more affordable and having larger storage capacities for the price. They provide the same load times that you’d be used to with the PS4’s internal drive. Seagate HDDs are a popular and reliable choice.
SSD External Drives
SSDs are known for their faster read/write speeds, which theoretically lead to shorter loading times. While you will notice a 20% load time improvement on a PS4 Pro, and a similar small benefit for other PS4 models, it’s not significant enough to justify the higher cost of an external SSD. The overall performance gains are often not worth the investment for the average gamer. An SSD is mostly beneficial if you intend to use it for other purposes in addition to PS4 storage.
Setting Up Your External Hard Drive
It is essential to format your external hard drive before you use it with your PS4. This can be done by navigating to Settings > Devices > USB Storage Devices, and then selecting Format as Extended Storage. The drive will then be set up to store your applications and games. The games will still run off of the external drive, but user saved data will still be saved to the PS4’s internal storage. You can move applications to external storage through the System Storage menu.
It is also important to note that Backup Plus Hub products are not compatible with PS4 as of now. Additionally, make sure that the drive is connected with a wired connection, is USB 3.0 or later compatible, and is plugged into the PS4 directly and not through a hub. This ensures proper communication and avoids compatibility issues.
Conclusion
In summary, the optimal external storage size for your PS4 depends on your gaming needs. While a 2TB drive is generally a safe and excellent choice, a 1TB drive may be adequate for casual players, and 4TB or 8TB is ideal for gamers with large collections. HDDs are the most cost effective method for storage expansion on PS4, as SSDs will offer limited performance benefits, despite a higher cost. With careful consideration of your personal usage patterns and following the set up procedures correctly, you will find the perfect storage solution for your PlayStation 4.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I use any USB external hard drive with my PS4?
No, not every external hard drive will work. It must be a USB 3.0 or later external hard drive, have a minimum capacity of 250GB and a maximum capacity of 8TB, and be directly connected to the console via a wired connection.
2. Do games run slower on an external hard drive on the PS4?
Unless the speed of your external drive is slower than the internal drive, the game experience will not be slower. Generally, an HDD external drive offers the same load times as the internal hard drive.
3. How many games can a 1TB external hard drive hold for PS4?
A 1TB external hard drive can generally hold 25+ games, though this can vary depending on the size of each game.
4. How many games can a 2TB external hard drive hold for PS4?
A 2TB external hard drive can hold 50+ games, offering a comfortable space for most gamers.
5. Can I run PS4 games exclusively from an external hard drive?
Yes, games and applications can be installed and run directly from the external hard drive, while user save data remains on the console’s internal drive.
6. Can I save PS4 game data on an external drive?
No, user saved game data must be stored on the internal hard drive of the console, and cannot be moved to an external drive.
7. Can I upgrade the internal hard drive of my PS4 instead?
Yes, you can upgrade the internal hard drive for more storage. This can be more complex but can be an alternative if you want to avoid an external device. However, keep in mind that the internal storage will only have a capacity of 2TB.
8. Is an SSD external hard drive worth it for PS4?
An external SSD may offer slightly faster load times, but the improvement over a standard HDD is usually not significant enough to justify the extra cost for a PS4.
9. Does formatting an external hard drive delete everything?
Yes, formatting an external hard drive will delete all data on it. You should back up any data you wish to keep before formatting the drive.
10. Why isn’t my PS4 recognizing my external hard drive?
Ensure your drive is connected via a wired USB 3.0 connection directly to the PS4, is formatted correctly, is compatible with the PS4, and that no other external hard drives are plugged in.
11. How do I format an external hard drive for PS4?
Go to Settings > Devices > USB Storage Devices, then select Format as Extended Storage.
12. What is the maximum external storage capacity for PS4?
The maximum supported external storage capacity for a PS4 is 8TB.
13. Can I use my external hard drive on a PC and a PS4?
No, once the drive is formatted for PS4, it cannot be used on a PC without reformatting, which will delete any game files.
14. Is 4TB a lot of storage for PS4?
Yes, 4TB provides a substantial amount of storage and can hold 100+ games, ideal for avid gamers.
15. Is it necessary to back up the internal storage before upgrading?
Yes, it’s always a good idea to back up your internal storage before making any changes, even if just to an external drive, to ensure no data loss.