Seagate Game Drive: 500GB SSD (Hardware) Review

Prime real estate

There are a ton of options when it comes to space for consoles today. I have reviewed multiple Seagate products, all have been high quality, and with the size of games these days almost necessary. I have always felt like size was king. I need more space, that was until I discovered SSD. First with my PC and installing Windows on it. Booting up from an SSD is game-changing. Now I have tried it with games loading and I am sold. While it is still considered a luxury item (these things are expensive) the benefits are undeniable.

For this review we tested the Seagate 500GB drive for Xbox One. I loaded multiple games onto it and tested them against a separate external hard drive. For testing I used the 8TB Game Drive. I loaded the games from the continue screen to actual game play. Below are a few examples of games and their speeds on each drive.

Tekken 7 has been a bane for Xbox One owners. Load times between fights are horrific. So this was one of the first games I installed. These speeds are from selecting a character, to the start of the fight.

External 8TB Game Drive: 23.69 seconds
External 500GB SSD: 16.62 seconds

This is a really big difference, especially for a fighting game where getting in and out of matches is imperative. Next up is Shadow of the Tomb Raider which has a lengthy initial load.

External 8TB Game Drive: 45.05 seconds
External 500GB SSD: 26.77 seconds

This time we shaved off almost 20 seconds, which is massive. Finally I tested Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, another title that has an extensive load from the start screen.

External 8TB Game Drive: 45.12
External 500GB SSD: 34.99 seconds

While not as impressive as Tomb Raider, taking off ten seconds is a massive achievement. SSD is so much faster in every case I tested. Shaving off those seconds caused me to setup my most played games to load directly from it. It is a nice option, and again totally a luxury item. It is also worth noting that the footprint is super tiny. These drives are small and easy to pack away in an entertainment center. It is also a perk that they are whisper quiet. No noise whatsoever.

The price tag is high, but the results speak for themselves. For those that prioritize speed over space this is a no-brainer. Getting in and out of games is crucial for someone like me and the Seagate SSD delivers. While the price is high, it is worth it if you can afford it. Now if I can somehow find room in my budget for the 2TB SSD in the future.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.

Good
  • Super fast loading
  • Small footprint
  • Whisper quiet
Bad
  • Price-to-size ratio
7.5
Good
Written by
Ken is the Editor-in-Chief of this hole in the wall and he loves to troll for the fun of it. He also enjoys long walks through Arkham Asylum and the cool air of Shadow Moses Island. His turn-ons include Mortal Kombat, Metal Gear Solid and StarCraft.