Best SSD for Starfield in 2023 – our top picks for gaming

Best SSD for Starfield in 2023 – our top picks for gaming
Marla Broadway Updated on by

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Enthusiasts are excited to explore the cosmos and discover the depth of the outer worlds – and they want the best SSD to do it. Bethesda is really working on a masterpiece and with this upcoming AAA title, and as a resuly Starfield has gained a lot of traction. 

The system requirements of this much-awaited title suggest it’s best to invest in an SSD card to experience it the way it was meant to be played. Our experts have scoured the market and found a few of the best SSD for Starfield that you can buy today. It’s worth bearing in mind that these SD cards are only compatible with motherboards that have M2 slots.

So, if you’ve found yourself looking for the best SSD for Starfield, We’ve got you covered. 

Best SSD for Starfield at a glance

Samsung 990 PRO Series – 1TB PCIe

Capacity

1TB

Read/write speed

7,450/6,900 MB/s

Connectivity technology

NVMe

WD_BLACK 2TB SN850X

Capacity

2TB

Read/write speed

7,300MB/s and 6,350MB/s

Connectivity technology

M.2

Interface

PCIe

WD_BLACK 1TB SN770

Capacity

1TB

Read/write speed

5,150MB/s and 4,900MB/s

Connectivity

M.2

Interface

PCIe

Before you invest in a new gaming SSD, it may be worth checking out the Starfield system requirements to make sure you have the correct setup to run this long-awaited fantasy title. We’ve also rounded up the best gaming monitors for Starfield and the best controllers for the ultimate gaming experience.

Best overall SSD for Starfield – Samsung 990 PRO Series 1TB PCIe

Samsung 990 PRO Series – 1TB PCIe

Capacity

1TB

Read/write speed

7,450/6,900 MB/s

Connectivity technology

NVMe

Pros
  • Top-notch performance
  • Easy to install
  • Solid build quality
Cons
  • Can overheat quickly

If you’re in the market for a Gen 4 drive, the Samsung 990 PRO is undoubtedly one of the finest options on the market. It offers exceptional performance, while also eliminating all sorts of loading times and boot-up delays. 

Boasting a read/write speed of 7,450/6,900 MB/s, it is a blazing fast SSD that won’t give out in even some of the most intense scenarios. Taking advantage of PCIe 4.0, the M.2 drives offer an all-around performance and if you’re upgrading from a hard drive or a SATA SSD, you’ll feel a major performance difference. 

As for the price, it is quite reasonable, considering that it is a Gen 4 drive. Compared to its competitors, Samsung 990 PRO seems to be the most ideal option for enthusiasts. 

Best value SSD for Starfield – WD_BLACK 2TB SN850X

WD_BLACK 2TB SN850X

Capacity

2TB

Read/write speed

7,300MB/s and 6,350MB/s

Connectivity technology

M.2

Interface

PCIe

Pros
  • Fast performance at low temperatures
  • Comes with proper heatsink
  • A big improvement in loading times
Cons
  • Draws a lot of power, even at idle

The WD_BLACK 2TB SN850X is an all-time fan favorite Gen 4 M.2 SSD on the market, despite it’s larger price tag. However, when looking at the performance, you’ll be amazed by the numbers that this SSD has to put up.

Offering a staggering read/write rate of 7,300/6,350 MB/s, this SSD will ensure a blazing-fast boot-up and exceptional performance in some of the most demanding AAA titles, which means you can expect Starfield to run incredibly smoothly. 

With 2TB of internal storage, it will be more than enough for all your storage needs when considering downloading Starfield and any game updates. Although the price tag is more on the expensive side, you can always go for the 1TB variant to save a few bucks. All-in-all, the WD_BLACK 2TB SN850X is another excellent option if you’re looking for an SSD to take your PC to the next level in preperation for the release of Starfield later this year. 

Best budget SSD for Starfield – WD_BLACK 1TB SN770

WD_BLACK 1TB SN770

Capacity

1TB

Read/write speed

5,150MB/s and 4,900MB/s

Connectivity

M.2

Interface

PCIe

Pros
  • Adheres to budget
  • Easy to install
  • Compatible with Macbooks
Cons
  • Limited variants, available above 3TB

If you’re after the best budget SSD ready to download Starfield, the WD_BLACK 1TB SN770 is the finest cheap Gen 4 M.2 drive on the market. Furthermore, the 500GB variant just a click away offers an even smaller price tag. Overall, the performance this SSD has put up is quite exceptional considering its price.

While you can’t compare it to the newer models on the market but still, with a read/write speed of 5,150/4,900 MB/s, expect to be blown away by the performance – especially if you’re upgrading from an HDD. 

Furthermore, since it is also backward-compatible with PCIe 3.0, you can take advantage of the drive if you’re using an old motherboard. Overall, a pretty decent option with the most pocket-friendly price tag that should allow you to run Starfield following its release. 

How much space will Starfield take?

After installation, Starfield will occupy around 125GB of internal storage. If you want the best SSD for Starfield, a 1TB or above variant would be the ideal choice. 

How much RAM will Starfield need?

For minimum and recommended settings on 1080p setups, Starfield will at least need 16GB of memory. For 1440p or above displays, more memory will be needed for smooth gameplay. 

Hopefully you find our suggestions helpful. If you’re looking for more ways to make the best of your time before the release of Starfield, you could start looking for the best deal in our Starfield pre-order guide. Stay tuned for any further updates we cover as we get closer to the release date this September.