Does VALORANT need to be on SSD?
When players ask “Does VALORANT need to be on SSD?”, it’s important to understand what each type of storage offers and how it affects the game. While VALORANT can run on both SSDs and HDDs (Hard Disk Drives), there are several reasons why using an SSD can improve your gaming experience.
HDD vs. SSD: Understanding storage options
- HDD (Hard Disk Drive): HDDs are traditional storage devices that utilize spinning disks to read and write data. While they typically offer larger storage capacities for a lower cost, their mechanical nature results in slower data access speeds. This can lead to longer load times and potential stuttering during gameplay, particularly when the game needs to access new assets.
- SSD (Solid State Drive): SSDs use flash memory to store data, which allows for much faster read and write speeds compared to HDDs. This results in quicker load times, reduced latency, and overall smoother performance during gaming. SSDs also lack moving parts, making them less susceptible to physical damage and failure.
Deeper dive: Why does VALORANT need to be on SSD?
Here are all you need to know about it:
- Faster load times: One of the biggest advantages of installing VALORANT on an SSD is the reduced loading time. Games on SSDs can start and load matches almost instantly, allowing players to get into games much faster. This is especially important in VALORANT, where being quick to join a match can help you get ahead.
- Smoother gameplay: SSDs provide consistent performance, which means they can handle data requests without delays. In VALORANT, this translates to fewer interruptions when the game needs to load new textures or assets, especially in crowded or complex situations. This leads to a smoother experience with less stuttering or lag.
- Handling updates: As VALORANT receives regular updates, the game size increases. An SSD makes it easier to manage these updates because it can load the new content quickly. This means you can enjoy the latest features without having to wait long periods.
- Impact on frames per second (FPS): While having an SSD doesn’t directly increase your FPS in VALORANT, it helps maintain a stable frame rate. If the game needs to load new textures while you are playing, an HDD might cause delays, leading to frame drops. An SSD can reduce these issues and keep your gameplay smoother.
Do you really need an SSD for VALORANT?
While VALORANT doesn’t strictly require an SSD to play, using one can provide several benefits as mentioned. If you only have an HDD, you can still enjoy the game, but you might face longer load times and potential performance issues during intense moments. However, if you want to be competitive in VALORANT, moving the game to an SSD is a smart choice.
How to move VALORANT to an SSD?
Are you convinced? Moving VALORANT to an SSD can greatly improve your gaming experience, but it involves more than just copying and pasting files. Because VALORANT is linked to Riot’s game client, the process requires some specific steps. Here are two ways to transfer VALORANT to your SSD:
The easy way: Reinstalling VALORANT on an SSD
The easiest way to get VALORANT on your SSD is to uninstall it from your current drive and then reinstall it directly on the SSD. This method takes longer, but it ensures a clean installation without needing to edit any files.
Uninstall VALORANT:
- Open the Riot Client and exit the application.
- Go to your PC's “Add or remove programs” section.
- Find and uninstall VALORANT, Riot Vanguard, and the Riot Client.
Reinstall VALORANT:
- Visit the official VALORANT website and download the client.
- During the installation, choose your SSD as the destination drive. The game will then install there.
The hard way: Manually moving VALORANT to an SSD
If you prefer a quicker method, you can manually move VALORANT to the SSD. This method requires more steps but avoids a full reinstallation.
- Locate the folder where the Riot Client is installed.
- Copy this folder and paste it onto your SSD.
- Find the RiotClientInstalls.json file in the Riot Games directory.
- Open it in a text editor like Notepad and change the paths to point to your new SSD location. You’ll replace the old paths with the new ones for the SSD.
- Inside the “Metadata” folder in the Riot Games directory, find the valorant.live_product_settings.yaml file.
- Open this file and update the install path to your SSD as well.
After completing these steps, you can launch VALORANT from your SSD and enjoy faster loading times. This process helps enhance your overall gaming experience by taking advantage of the SSD's speed.
Want to learn more about VALORANT? Check out our guides below: