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More storage is one of the cheapest upgrades for a gaming PC. The best option depends on the free slots in your computer.

This guide is based on product listings and general knowledge rather than our own testing, so confirm specs on the product page.

Last updated: November 1, 2026.

Find Out What Your PC Supports

  • Open the case or check the manual for a free M.2 slot.
  • Look for a spare 2.5-inch drive bay and SATA port.
  • Check whether your laptop has a second drive slot.

SATA, NVMe or External

A SATA SSD fits a 2.5-inch bay, and NVMe SSDs use an M.2 slot and are faster. If you have no free internal slot, a portable SSD is the simplest add-on. See our SATA SSD list and portable SSD list.

Replacing Your Old Drive

You can clone the old drive to the new one with the maker’s software, or do a fresh install. Back up your files first.

Reusing the Old SSD

An M.2 enclosure turns a spare drive into a portable one. Our enclosure list covers options.

After the Upgrade

  • Check the drive appears in the BIOS and in the operating system.
  • Update the SSD firmware if the maker provides it.
  • Move large game libraries to the new drive.

Quick Decision Table

  • Free M.2 slot: choose an NVMe SSD.
  • Free SATA port and drive bay: choose a SATA SSD.
  • No free slot: choose a portable SSD.
  • Spare old SSD: use an M.2 or SATA enclosure.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Buying an M.2 drive for a slot that only supports SATA.
  • Forgetting to back up before cloning.
  • Ignoring drive length (2280 vs 2230).
  • Skipping firmware updates.
  • Filling the drive completely, which can slow it.

How Much Space to Buy

Modern games can use tens or hundreds of gigabytes each. A 1 TB drive fits a handful of large games plus the system. If you also store video, 2 TB gives breathing room.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a bigger SSD better?

More capacity avoids running out of space, but speed also matters.

Can I install an NVMe SSD in any PC?

Only if it has a free M.2 slot that supports NVMe.

Do I need to reinstall Windows?

Not if you clone the drive.

How do I back up first?

Copy important files to an external drive or cloud storage.

Can I use two SSDs at once?

Yes, if you have two free slots or use an external drive.

Should I reinstall Windows when changing drives?

Not necessarily. Cloning avoids a reinstall.

Bottom Line

Check your free slots, choose SATA or NVMe to match and use an enclosure or portable SSD for extra space.