In the current day and age, there are new games and inventions popping up almost every single day. Not to mention new gaming equipment like https://www.razer.com/gaming-mice. It is hard to keep track of the changes that occur all the time, but one thing that is for sure is that the games that we enjoy now are much better than what they used to be. Game consoles have also evolved over time to match the demands of various games, providing a better and more immersive experience than ever before. With that said, it is also undeniable that there are still some challenges to overcome. With the new content and innovation in games, game consoles have tried to keep up but may still fall short in some areas. Extra content that needs to be loaded often results in longer time needed for screens to load, and even possibly a choppy and glitchy screen view. As gamers and players, what you can do on your part is to make upgrades to your gaming consoles to enjoy a smoother and better gaming experience. In this article, we will be looking specifically at the options available if you are thinking of upgrading your PS4’s internal hard drive.
Factors to consider
Before you embark on your search for an upgrade to your PS4’s internal hard drive, you need to think about what are the factors that you consider important, and how this will affect the choice of drive that you are looking for. The top consideration is often price. Consumers may not necessarily look for the cheapest option, but will always look for an option that offers value for money. You also need to think about storage space. How much space do you need to accommodate your needs and preferences? Another key factor is also speed. Are you looking to upgrade your hard drive to get faster loading times and smoother gameplay? If so, you need to look out for the specifications that show how the drive can better the game experience and how it performs compared to other products.
Seagate BarraCuda
If you’re looking for a cheap and good option that is absolutely value for money, you can go for Seagate’s Barracuda Hard Drive. The Barracuda comes at various capacities and enjoys the same spin rate as the original PS4’s HDD. In fact, it is one of the best PS4 HDD options available on the market. It boasts a 64 MB cache and is relatively quiet for a hard drive. With a range of storage options available, customers can choose from 500 GB to 4TB, depending on their individual needs. For a regular PS4 player, the Barracuda at 1TB capacity will be more than sufficient for your gaming needs. Seagate also offers a two-year limited warranty with the purchase. Essentially, the Barracuda is a replacement for the PS4’s hard drive but with more storage space if that is what you need. For a simple low-cost hard drive that offers extra storage space, Seagate’s Barracuda does its job well.
Seagate FireCuda
Another excellent option produced by Seagate is their Firecuda Hybrid Drive. The Firecuda is a solid-state hybrid drive that delivers multi-tier caching, with a 2.5 inch HDD coupled with an 8GB SDD cache memory. This helps with better performance and smoother overall gameplay. With a solid-state hybrid drive, you get to enjoy the extra speed to your system with faster loading time and smoother gameplay. Due to the fact that it has lesser moving parts than a regular HDD, it has a longer lifespan and is more reliable. At the same time, since it is also not a full solid-state drive, you are also paying lesser while reaping some of its benefits. Seagate had designed the Firecuda with gaming in mind, so if you’re a hardcore gamer, the Firecuda will definitely benefit you with its flash accelerated technology that aims to deliver loading times that are five times faster than the original hard drive. Furthermore, the Firecuda also comes with all the benefits that the earlier Barracuda option offers. You can think of the Firecuda as a premium option to the Barracuda mentioned above. The Firecuda is an excellent choice with its value for money while offering premium features that enhances gameplay.
Samsung 850 Pro
If you’re a hardcore gamer who is serious about his or her game, Samsung’s 850 Pro would be a good option to consider. From a regular hard drive like the Barracuda to a solid-state hybrid drive like the Firecuda, it’s time we talk about a full solid-state drive. The Samsung 850 Pro is exactly that, a solid-state drive (SSD) that delivers the best durability and maximum speed. SSD has lesser moving parts as they store information on microchips. What the lesser moving parts mean is that movement can be significantly faster, and cooling down will be significantly faster as well. This provides a gaming experience that is as best as it can be. As an SSD, the 850 Pro enjoys reliability and durability while staying energy efficient. Samsung even offers a ten years limited warranty with every purchase, a testament to how durable and reliable they believe the 850 Pro to be. Compared to regular drives and hybrid drives, SSDs offer an even faster loading time, with the smoothest gameplay at a zero frame rate drop. The 850 Pro will be ideal for hardcore PC gamers, business professionals, heavy PC users, and even PS4 users. Do take note, however, that the 850 Pro is only compatible with the PS4 Pro. If you want to get a drive that adds a boost of speed and overall smoother gameplay, the Samsung 850 Pro is an excellent option to consider and is definitely worthy of the extra bucks compared to other competitors.
Conclusion
Seagate’s Barracuda and Firecuda are great options you need to seriously consider if you’re looking to upgrade your PS4’s internal hard drive. If you own a PS4 Pro, you can even go one step further and opt for Samsung’s 850 Pro which offers the best features overall, providing you with the best gameplay experience possible.
