Profile guide
Storage for gamers.
The core criteria here is transfer speed: how long a game takes to load depends on the drive, and not every drive — or every 'charging' cable — is built to move them fast.
SSD for active games, HDD for your library
You don't need every game living on an SSD — you need the ones you're playing right now to be there. An SSD noticeably cuts load times, especially in open-world games; a large, budget HDD is still the best way to store the rest of your library without overspending.
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External SSD for active games
If your console runs out of internal space, an external SSD built to the console's own speed standard avoids the most common mistake: installing a game on a drive that can't keep up with the speed the game expects, and ending up with load times worse than playing off the internal drive.
Seagate Storage Expansion Card 1 TB (Xbox Series X|S)
An official accessory co-designed with Xbox to install and play directly from the card.
- Xbox Velocity Architecture — lets you run optimized games straight from the card.
- PCIe 4.0 interface, keeps the fluidity expected from current Xbox Series titles.
- Over 10,000 units sold, 4.9/5 rating with 3,860 reviews.
From $5,499 MXN
Large, budget HDD for your library
For the games you're not currently playing, putting your money toward capacity makes more sense than paying for speed you won't notice on a title you open once a month.
WD My Passport 2 TB
Budget space to store your full library of titles you don't play regularly.
- 2 TB is enough for a large library of games that don't need instant load times.
- USB 3.0, compatible with PC, PlayStation and Xbox as extra storage.
- Western Digital's best-selling portable drive on the platform.
From $4,662 MXN
A USB-C hub if your console or laptop runs out of ports
Between an external drive, a wired controller, a headset and a charger, it's easy to run out of available USB ports. A hub with a video output also lets you connect the system to an extra monitor or TV without buying a separate adapter.
UGREEN 6-in-1 USB-C hub
3 USB-A ports, USB-C and 4K HDMI output in a single adapter.
- 6 ports total — enough for an external drive, peripherals and video output at the same time.
- 4K HDMI output, useful for connecting a gaming laptop to an external monitor or TV.
- Official UGREEN store, over 100,000 sales, 4.9/5 rating.
From $716.87 MXN
The cable matters more than it seems
A "charging" USB-C cable doesn't necessarily support the data transfer speed your SSD is capable of — many budget cables are only certified for power delivery, not high-speed data. If your fast drive is behaving like a slow one, the cable is one of the first suspects. You can check the real difference between advertised and actual speeds in the Mbps to MB/s converter.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play directly from an external SSD on PS5 or Xbox?
On Xbox Series X|S, the Storage Expansion Card is designed exactly for that — you play directly with nothing to transfer. On PS5, an external USB SSD works to store PS4 games, but PS5 games need to be installed on the internal SSD (or an internal NVMe expansion) to play directly at full speed.
Is an SSD worth it for a gaming PC if I already have an internal one?
Yes, as an extension: installing your active games on the internal SSD and using the external one as a backup library or to move progress between a PC and a laptop is a common and reasonable setup.
How long does it take to transfer a 100 GB game?
It depends on the drive and the port — use the download time calculator with your connection's or transfer's real speed to get a concrete estimate instead of guessing.