Gaming laptops often come with limited internal space, and building a movable collection of titles can be a hassle. An external solid-state drive addresses these challenges effectively, offering expandable capacity that travels easily wherever you go.
Selecting the right external SSD involves navigating a vast selection of products, where a misguided pick could disappoint. Fortunately, our extensive evaluations provide reliable suggestions that enhance rather than complicate your gaming configuration.
Continue reading past our selections for insights into our assessment methods and key considerations for purchasing an external SSD suited to gaming needs.
PCWorld earns confidence in its reviews of external storage and purchase guidance through decades of scrutinizing computer components. Our assessments of drives are comprehensive and demanding, pushing each item to its boundaries—from speed measurements to everyday functionality. Drawing from our own user experiences, we identify what elevates a device above the rest. Details on our evaluation approach appear later in this piece.
Among premium 20Gbps external SSDs, rivals perform neck-and-neck, exchanging leads across various tests. Ultimately, the Lexar SL600 edged out the former leader, Crucial X10 Pro, by a slim margin.
The Lexar SL600 delivers outstanding speeds and features a distinctive design with a lanyard slot for convenient carrying. For gamers seeking flair, the SL660 version includes RGB illumination in its compact grip. It includes a typical five-year guarantee.
With speeds so evenly matched, cost becomes the key decider. The SL600 matches the Crucial X10 Pro closely in price and undercuts several rivals, especially at 2TB, based on current listings.
Explore our complete Lexar SL600 analysis.
For users who transport their gaming storage frequently or handle devices roughly, a durable external SSD proves essential.
Beyond its IP65-rated shell that shields from dust and splashes, the PNY RP60 combines sleek aesthetics and light weight with strong results, surpassing the Crucial X10 Pro in select trials among 20Gbps units.
Priced at $85 for 1TB and $135 for 2TB, the RP60 offers solid value.
Check our in-depth PNY RP60 20Gbps USB SSD examination.
The Sabrent Rocket Nano V2 suits those needing a compact SSD for pocket carry. This 20Gbps USB 3.2×2 unit spans 2.73 by 1.16 by 0.44 inches and tips the scales at 1.7 ounces.
Its bundled silicone cover adds 0.06 inches to each dimension for impact protection and a rugged appearance.
Performance-wise, the Nano V2 holds its own, occasionally leading peers like in our 450GB write trial where it ranked just behind the Crucial X10 Pro, and topping CrystalDiskMark 8 random writes while staying strong in random reads.
Available up to 4TB, it's ideal for maximum storage and speed in a minimal footprint. The five-year warranty and reusable metal case add appeal.
See our full Sabrent Rocket Nano V2 coverage.
USB4 external SSDs require compatible systems to achieve 40Gbps speeds and command higher costs.
For those equipped, the Adata SE920 EX provides the swiftest USB4 speeds we've encountered at a better value than the prior choice, OWC Express 1M2—$170 for 1TB Adata versus $230 for OWC. The 4TB model costs $418, undercutting OWC's $550.
The SE920 EX outperformed the OWC Express 1M2 in most tests by narrow amounts at 40Gbps. A sliding fan cools it effectively during heavy use.
Measuring 4.13 by 2.52 by 0.62 inches and weighing 7 ounces, it's more portable than the larger OWC Express 1M2.
The USB4 SSD pick stands out clearly.
Review our detailed Adata SE920 USB4 SSD report.
For maximizing output from USB4 or Thunderbolt 3+ connections, the LaCie Rugged SSD4 leads the pack.
In tests, it achieved the highest 40Gbps USB4 speeds overall, though narrowly. It sustained over 1.65GBps even writing multiple 950GB files back-to-back, a boon for video editors.
The IP54-rated silicone exterior guards against dust and sprays, ideal for fieldwork. Its vivid orange hue aids visibility in bags or desks.
Though not budget-friendly, its pricing remains competitive.
Read our comprehensive LaCie Rugged SSD4 overview.
The Teamgroup PD20 at 20Gbps impresses with style, durability, and respectable speeds. The TerraMaster D1 SSD Plus 40Gbps enclosure allows custom NVMe inserts, while the rugged Asus TUF Gaming A2 enclosure intrigues similarly. The Crucial X10 fits up to 8TB in a compact, weather-resistant body. The Sandisk Extreme Pro SSD with USB4 boasts appealing looks and cost but falters on connections and 40Gbps speeds. The Addlink P21 blends strong performance with eye-catching design. The Corsair EX400U lags in USB4 speed but saves money. Aimed at PS4/PS5 users, the 10Gbps Seagate Game Drive SSD excels in its category with stylish PlayStation branding, though it's costly. The 20Gbps Lexar Armor 700 endures rough handling for mobile or clumsy gamers. The 20Gbps Adata SD810 performs well except when writing large files, where it dips; its 4TB at $300 offers great value.
Our drive evaluations run on Windows 11 24H2, 64-bit, with a PCIe 4.0 Samsung 990 Pro on an Asus Z890-Creator WiFi (PCIe 4.0/5.0) board. Powered by a Core Ultra i5 225 and 64GB Kingston Fury DDR5-4800, it includes integrated 20Gbps USB and Thunderbolt 5 via Intel graphics. Test SSDs use a HighPoint 7604A PCIe 5.0 RAID card or Asus ROG M.2 PCIe 5.0 adapter.
We conduct CrystalDiskMark 8, AS SSD 2, and ATTO 4 for theoretical speeds, plus 48GB and 450GB transfers via Windows Explorer and FastCopy. A 25Gbps RAID 0 array on the HighPoint serves as source/destination.
Tests occur on fresh, NTFS-formatted, TRIMmed drives for peak results. Real-world filling may reduce speeds due to NAND caching limits, though modern SSDs mitigate this with advanced NAND.
Note: Results reflect the reviewed unit and capacity; variations occur from chip counts, caching, or component changes. Report discrepancies to us.
Some SSDs here used alternative setups; see individual reviews for specifics.
For deeper methodology, consult PCWorld's external SSD testing guide.
As PCWorld, our experts have rigorously examined hardware for decades. Drive reviews probe deeply, from benchmarks to routine handling, informed by personal use to spotlight superior products. Testing details follow below.
Jon Jacobi began with switch-based computing and has seen storage evolve from tapes to SSDs, testing HDDs, SATA, and NVMe for PCWorld over 20 years.
PC interfaces by speed: 80Gbps Thunderbolt 5, 40Gbps USB4/Thunderbolt 3/4, 20Gbps USB 3.2×2, 10Gbps USB 3.2, 5Gbps USB 3.x.
SSDs fail less than HDDs, usually from controllers (now rare and fixable by pros). Wear limits writes but allows reads, milder than HDD crashes.
Capacity shows lower in Windows due to binary (IEC: TiB) vs. decimal (SI: TB) systems; a 2TB drive holds 2 trillion bytes but displays ~1.8TB. Formatting and partitions reduce usable space further.
NAND cells endure finite writes; internals like M.2 NVMe TLC rate ~600TBW/TB, QLC ~200TBW, though externals rarely specify. Estimate lifespan by daily writes; warranties span 3-5 years, but real durability might reach a decade barring defects.
Gamers enjoy diverse high-quality external SSDs. For peak 40Gbps, choose Adata SE920; for 20Gbps value, Lexar SL600 or Crucial X10 Pro shine.