Samsung Portable SSD T5: The load time boost for Xbox One
This article was written in cooperation with Samsung. |
Video games are becoming more and more extensive - this is not only reflected in the playing time, but also in the amount of hard drive storage required. This is especially a problem on Microsoft's Xbox One. Here, an external SSD can conveniently provide more space and significantly shorter loading times, as our benchmark shows.
The memory problem of the Xbox One
If you have a gaming PC or use one for gaming, it's relatively easy to get more storage space by replacing the built-in hard drive with a new one - but that's not possible with the Xbox One. Microsoft does not offer users an upgrade option at this point. Removing the original hard drive automatically voids the warranty.
In times when games consume more and more memory on the console, this quickly becomes a challenge. Having to constantly delete games in order to install new ones is more than impractical.
This is especially true for the new Xbox One S All-Digital Edition, which does without a disc drive. That means: If you want to reinstall a game, you have to download it every time - with downloads of 50GB and more, that not only costs nerves, but also time.
External SSDs: Optimal storage solution for Xbox One
The only way to expand your hard drive space on Xbox One // consoles is via an external USB hard drive. You can choose between classic HDDs and the newer SSDs. While the former only offer more storage space, the latter score with two additional advantages.
Firstly, SSDs do not have any moving parts since they rely on flash memory, which makes them much more robust and durable than HDDs. Secondly, SSDs offer a significantly higher performance, which is reflected in noticeably shorter loading times.
We tested how much faster an external SSD actually is compared to the installed hard drive of an Xbox One with the Samsung Portable SSD T5 (1 TB). It is not only fast, but also handy and light with its compact dimensions (10.5 x 57.3 x 74 mm) and a weight of 51 grams.
Samsung Portable SSD T5 - shorter loading time, longer gaming time
For our performance test, we chose two games that are downright notorious for their long loading times: The open world racing game cracker Forza Horizon 4 and the loot shooter Tom Clancy's The Division 2. Specifically, we stopped several game-specific load times in both cases (five times each), and then averaged them in seconds. The results are clear:
| Game | Tested load time | Internal HDD | Samsung T5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forza Horizon 4 | Game start -> Menu screen | 64 | 44 |
| Menu screen -> Game (Festival Playlist) | 108 | 34 | |
| Fast travel main island -> Fortune Island | 60 | 24 | |
| The Division 2 | Start -> Menu screen | 59 | 45 |
| Menu screen -> Character selection | 29 | 21 | |
| Character selection -> in game | 68 | 23 |
The Samsung Portable SSD T5 beats the HDD, which is used in the original Xbox One as well as in the Xbox One S, by far. If you want to play a round of Forza Horizon 4 in the Fortune Island expansion, you have to stare at various loading screens for an average of 3 minutes and 52 seconds after starting the game with the installed HDD.
With the external Samsung Portable SSD T5, it takes less than half as long with 1:42 minutes. The Division 2 shows a similar picture for the comparable scenario (game start to control over the game character) (HDD 2:36 min, SSD 1:29 min).
Strong performance, simple installation
If you prefer to gamble rather than wait, the Samsung Portable SSD T5 is a practical and powerful additional storage device for your Xbox One. Conveniently, the installation is also very simple: Plug the SSD into the Xbox One via USB cable, format it (a corresponding request appears directly after connecting it), and that's it.
From now on, you can specify in the settings of your Xbox One that the SSD should be used as storage medium. You can also move already installed games from the HDD to the SSD in the games overview of your Xbox One - so you can enjoy the faster SSD loading times in no time.
Win one of five Samsung Portable SSD T5!
The Samsung Portable SSD T5 not only offers you lightning-fast loading times, but also flatters your eyes: It comes in four different color variants, namely the classic and the new colors and .
In line with the release of the new colors, we are giving away a total of 5 Samsung Portable SSD T5 in Rose Gold with 500 GB storage capacity together with Samsung. For a chance to win one of the SSDs, all you have to do is fill out the raffle form above. We wish you good luck!
If the form is not displayed correctly, please click here
The sweepstakes runs from 28.05. 2019 up to and including 17.06. 2019 at 10 am!
Visit us on Facebook and Instagram and discuss your favorite games with us!