Does an External Hard Drive make the Xbox One Faster?


Are External SSDs As Fast as Internal

Does an External Hard Drive make the Xbox One Faster?

When it comes to current-gen gaming setups, the Xbox One is the embodiment of speed. The 6 teraflop GPU and 2.3 GHz CPU allow the console to run in cookie crisp 4K.

If you use an older TV, the console is even quicker, with higher framerates at a 1080p resolution. Sounds like a dream but, one thought…would increasing storage capacity also amp up the horsepower?

An external hard drive can make an Xbox One faster provided it is sufficiently powered. The console can only work with external drives that have capacities of 256GB or higher. The hard drive must also feature USB 3.0 support for it to work. For the fastest performance, it is best to get a high-capacity solid-state hard drive that sports a USB 3.0 interface.

Without further ado, let’s look at what you’ll need to speed up your system and smoothen out your gameplay even further. We also look at a few of the best hard drives to hook up to the Xbox One. Hopefully, some people will finally stop blaming lag for missed “threes” in 2K.

Will an external hard drive increase speed?

The Xbox One comes with a standard hard drive that comes in 500GB and 1TB iterations. Of course, the operating system takes up 138GB of this but there is still more than enough space for the casual gamer.

However, if you’re like me, “casual” is not part of your vocabulary. Too many games to play with too little time means you need to speed up your system’s loading and gameplay as much as possible.

Luckily for you and me, the handy engineers at Microsoft allowed for upgrades. The console features three USB 3.0 ports, which means you could attach three external hard drives and increase your storage capacity several times over if you wish. 

For all of the Xbox’s innovations, its run-off-the-mill hard drive is surprisingly nothing to write home about.

While solid and reliable, it is no match for some of the ultra-speedy external hard drives that are on the market today. As a matter of fact, quite a few drives are made for optimum compatibility with the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4.

So, to answer the main question…yes, a sufficiently powered hard drive can speed up an Xbox One.

The hard drive(s) of choice must feature USB 3.0 compatibility. One tip: most of the low-cost hard drives that may be labeled “USB 3.0” might not actually have the performance that is advertised, so you will need to take your time and verify some specs.

For the fastest possible speeds, I would recommend that you get yourself a USB 3.0 SSD drive. SSDs consume less power while offering far greater performance than the console’s own electro-mechanical HDD.

With greater competition in the market, prices for SSD drives are much more reasonable nowadays…although some, like the Samsung T7, still demand a pretty penny. 

What is the fastest external hard drive for Xbox One?

The market is flooded with a lot of options that can help you speed up your Xbox. The abundance of choice makes things easier for you and your wallet as well, with some affordable drives available on Amazon.

A good choice would be the Seagate Game Drive Hub, an Xbox-optimized hard drive that packs up to 8TB of storage!

That means you can store up to 200 games and run every single one of them with ease via the two front-facing USB 3.0 ports that you can also use to charge controllers and mobile devices.

The drive also has an integrated hub that caters specifically to Xbox. Installation is easy as plugging the hard drive in, with the hub providing a user-friendly step-by-step guide to setting up. 

Games will run perfectly and in usual Xbox quality thanks to the impressive 220MB/s data transfer speeds that the awesome Game Drive Hub offers. It is a little on the bulky side, at almost 2 pounds, but that is a small price to pay for a device that can carry 200 games!

Besides, your Xbox is hardly portable, which means your hard drive needn’t be either. The optimization has several little perks and features to make your gaming experience just that bit more convenient.

However, when it comes to raw speed, few things are outrunning the aforementioned Samsung T7 Touch Portable SSD drive.

The Korean tech giants swiped their innovative paintbrushes and came up with the masterpiece that is the tiny T7. The drive measures 3.4 inches in length, 2.2 inches in width, and 0.3 inches in height. 

That is small by any hard drive’s standards. However, it packs mind-blowing transfer speeds of up to 1000MB/s, which is almost five times faster than the Seagate Game Drive Hub. Unlike the Game Drive though, the T7 has a maximum capacity of 2TB. 500GB and 1TB versions are also available.

While the space is fair and the technology is pretty cutting edge, the price you pay for it might still be considered a little steep, even for an SSD drive. However, if money is not a problem then prepare for some incredibly fast gaming once you hook this drive up to your Xbox. 

Belying the T7’s incredible speed is its PCIe Non-Volatile memory Express (PCIe NVMe) interface which is combined with NAND technology to propel the SSD drive to its incredible speeds.

While the drive itself is USB Type-C, it has backward compatibility with USB 3.0 devices, including the Xbox One. The T7 features a Type C-to-Type A adapter to allow for hassle-free connection to your console.

The drive’s sleek aluminum build is very aesthetically pleasing in both the silver and black variants. The device also boasts considerable security features, including a fingerprint sensor and password protection.

You can register several of your own fingers, or you can register different people’s fingers if it will be used communally. Pretty useful features that go a long way to justifying the lofty price tag.

If speed is your need, then look no further than the fabulous T7, yet another piece of technological brilliance from Samsung.

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