Storage Upgrade Advisor
Compare your current and proposed storage types, capacity and library size to plan responsiveness, free space and approximate game capacity.
Enter your configuration
Calculated planning result
Planning estimate only — verify important upgrade decisions with measurements, compatibility checks and independent benchmarks.
Worked planning example
Storage Upgrade Advisor
This static example shows what the calculator evaluates before you enter your own hardware.
Example inputs
HDD → PCIe 4.0 NVMe · 2,000 GB × 0.90 − 200 GB − 500 GB · 80 GB
Calculated reading
About 1,100 GB estimated free capacity, or roughly 13 additional games at 80 GB each.
How to use it
Moving from HDD to any SSD usually provides the largest responsiveness change. NVMe improves sequential transfers, but many game load-time differences versus SATA SSD are smaller than headline bandwidth suggests.
The advisor uses broad relative responsiveness tiers, reserves 10% of nominal capacity plus the entered system allowance, and divides remaining space by average game size.
How to interpret the result
Moving from HDD to any SSD usually provides the largest responsiveness change. NVMe improves sequential transfers, but many game load-time differences versus SATA SSD are smaller than headline bandwidth suggests.
Calculation methodology
The advisor uses broad relative responsiveness tiers, reserves 10% of nominal capacity plus the entered system allowance, and divides remaining space by average game size.
The calculator runs in your browser from the values you select. Estimates use transparent planning rules and the site’s normalized hardware data; they are not lab benchmarks.
Formula or model used
Usable capacity = drive capacity x 0.90 - system reserve - existing library
Calculation steps
- Compare broad storage responsiveness tiers.
- Reserve formatting, system and free-space allowances.
- Calculate remaining space and approximate additional game capacity.
Assumptions and limitations
- Load times depend on game engine, CPU, compression and random-I/O behavior.
- Manufacturer capacity is decimal and real formatted capacity appears lower in many operating systems.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about this tool’s calculation, evidence and practical limits.
Is the Storage Upgrade Advisor result a measured benchmark?
Moving from HDD to any SSD usually provides the largest responsiveness change. NVMe improves sequential transfers, but many game load-time differences versus SATA SSD are smaller than headline bandwidth suggests.
How does the Storage Upgrade Advisor calculate its result?
The advisor uses broad relative responsiveness tiers, reserves 10% of nominal capacity plus the entered system allowance, and divides remaining space by average game size.
What should I verify before acting on the result?
Load times depend on game engine, CPU, compression and random-I/O behavior. Manufacturer capacity is decimal and real formatted capacity appears lower in many operating systems.
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