What is the best external SSD for gaming? Finding the best external SSD for gaming is an easy way to expand storage and speed up the loading times of the best PC games without the hassle of rummaging around the insides of your machine. Simply plug one into a free USB port on your gaming PC or gaming laptop, install your game, and play to your heart's content. Portable SSDs don't have to be bland, either. Adata leans into a distinct RGB-lit honeycomb effect and Sandisk makes a dust- and water-resistant NVMe drive that fits into the palm of your hand. You can even do it yourself if you own a spare internal NVMe thanks to an enclosure from Asus turning your existing drive into a portable storage device. Portable and external options do come with some caveats, of course, such as slower speeds. They're a marked improvement over hard drives, but you'll want to grab the best SSD for gaming if you're all about performance. Check out our guide on how to install an SSD to make sure it sits correctly. So why buy an external SSD? The advantage of a portable SSD is that you can swap it between devices without any fuss. With so many prices to choose from and read speeds ranging from 540MB/s up to 2,800MB/s, we've tried and tested drives for every usage and budget so you can choose the best external SSD for gaming in 2024. Continue reading Best external SSD for gaming in 2024: top portable drives MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming