Does Starfield require an SSD to play on PC?

With the system requirements now out, fans are wondering: Does Starfield require an SSD to play?

The announcement of Starfield’s system requirements certainly told us one thing: it isn’t going to be an easy game to run. Indeed, if Jedi Survivor’s PC performance issues are anything to go by, it’s that modern AAA games are increasingly demanding on older PC hardware. One of the most eyebrow raising requirements is that Starfield requires 125GB of storage space, meaning you might struggle to free up the space if your gaming laptop or gaming PC is running on a 250GB SSD.

In light of this, Steam has added a note in their system requirements page to say that Starfield will require an SSD card to play. If buying an SSD for your PC is new to you, there are a few things you need to know before launching in.

Starfield storage – what size SSD should you buy?

Now that we’ve established that Starfield takes up a chunky 125GB of storage on your PC, you’ll need to decide what size SSD card to go after. We recommend going for the biggest SSD card you can afford. It doesn’t look like PC games are going to get any smaller, so it might be more cost-effective to invest in a 1-2TB SSD card now.

What type of SSD do you need for Starfield?

The type of SSD you need for Starfield is dependent on the type of motherboard you have. Before buying an SDD card, first, check what kind of connectors your motherboard has. It’s likely a 2.5 inch SSD will do the trick, but you’ll want to check the manual of your motherboard to be sure. Most motherboards come with either SATA and PCIe slots. It’s crucial to make sure what size socket your motherboard has, if any, before purchasing your SSD for Starfield. If your motherboard supports PCIe, you’ll also need to check whether it’s comparable with PCIe x2 or x4, and how many PCIe lanes there are available.

Ahead of the game’s launch, why not check out where you can pre order Starfield.

Frequently asked questions

Will an SSD make my PC games faster?

Yes, games load significantly faster with the help of an SSD, especially if its PCIe. SSDs can also help reduce a game’s latency, more so than if you were using an HDD.