Starfield is Bethesda’s epic space exploration RPG that comes packed with plenty of incredible interstellar gameplay and realistic visuals. If you’re looking to take to the stars in Starfield, you’ll first up need to make sure your PC is up to the task of running your adventures across the galaxy.
The official PC specification isn’t that outrageous for an AAA title. However, one of the key recommendations is an SSD. Whilst it may not be a requirement, an SSD boasts huge advantages for gamers, especially thanks to their fast read and write speeds.
Need more convincing? Keep on reading this blog post for more reasons as to why you want an SSD for Starfield.
Starfield
Set in the year 2230, humanity has long ventured beyond the confines of their own solar system, creating new settlements across the galaxy. As the last remaining group of space explorers, join Constellation as you hunt for rare artifacts.
Embark on a thrilling adventure across the stars, explore more than a thousand planets, complete challenging quests, collect rare materials, and meet a diverse range of characters.
Official PC System Requirements:
To ensure your PC is up to the task of running your space exploration in Starfield, we’ve included the official PC specification down below.
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 | Windows 10 |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 2600K or Intel Core i7 6800K | AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i5 10600K |
| Memory | 16GB RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce 1070 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 5700 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 125GB available space | 125GB available space |
| Additional Notes | SSD required | SSD required |
We’ve got a huge range of Starfield blog articles, designed to take you through all the incredible interstellar gameplay. As an added bonus, there’s even a Starfield gaming set-up.
What Type of SSD Should I Buy for Starfield?
As you can see in the specification, Bethesda has recommended that you store Starfield on an SSD.
A high-quality SSD will deliver you an enhanced gaming performance, especially when compared to a hard drive. These storage drives no longer feature the traditional mechanical moving parts, and instead utilise intelligent cell and flash memory technology to access your data. All of which allows you to take advantage of ultra-fast read and write speeds, to enjoy virtually zero slow in-game loading times or input lag breaking up your immersion as you traverse across the galaxy.
What’s more, in open-world games like Starfield, there are thousands of different planets, spaceships, and more that the player can interact with. All of this requires a significant amount of data in order for them to be loaded into the game’s memory in real-time. With an SSD, the speed at which this data is processed is notably faster than an HDD.
Your chosen SSD for Starfield all depends on your individual preferences and what your system is compatible with. However, we’ve listed all the types of SSD and their key differences below, to help you pick out the right solid-state drive for your set-up.
2.5’’ SATA:
A 2.5’’ SATA SSD boasts high capacities, along with read and write speeds of up to 600MB/s. Due to their large form factor, they are typically mounted inside your PC case and connected to your motherboard via the SATA connector.
A SATA SSD is the perfect choice if you are looking for a fast storage solution that is perfect for your operating system, frequently assessed data, applications, and more.
Lexar NS100 1TB 2.5” SATA Solid-State Drive:
- 2.5” SATA
- 1TB storage capacity
- 550MB/s read speed
M.2 SATA:
Alternatively, an M.2 SATA SSD is slimmer and doesn’t require any cables. Instead, an M.2 SATA SSD utilises the M.2 slot on a motherboard with an average data transfer speed of up to 6Gbps.
M.2 SATA SSDs are significantly cheaper than their NVMe counterparts but still boast all the great advantages of a high-speed SSD storage solution, making them perfect for those on a budget. However, you will need to ensure that you have a compatible motherboard with an M.2 slot.
WD Blue SA510 1TB M.2 SATA Solid-State Drive:
- M.2 SATA
- 2280 M.2
- 1TB storage capacity
- 560MB/s read speed
- 520MB/s write speed
M.2 NVMe:
Another type of M.2 is NVMe. These drives harness powerful NVMe technology to deliver blisteringly fast data transfer speeds, making them the fastest type of SSD available. An M.2 NVMe SSD utilises PCIe connectivity, requiring either the PCIe x1 or x4 slots on your motherboard.
An M.2 NVMe is the best type of SSD you can buy right now. They boast countless advantages for gamers, especially those looking to achieve maximum performance on all the latest games, including Starfield. The ultra-fast read and write speed makes them perfect for storing all your favourite games, delivering virtually zero latency and quick loading times.
Lexat NM790 1TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 NVMe Solid-State Drive:
- NVMe M.2
- 1TB storage capacity
- 2280 form factor
- PCIe 4.0
- 6500MB/s write speed
- 7400MB/s read speed
Be sure to read through our dedicated guide to storage for a complete in-depth look at all the different storage solutions you can find for your gaming PC.
Get Your PC Starfield Ready!
Is your PC lacking the storage you need for Starfield? We’ve selected our top gaming PCs that are perfect for exploring the universe. What’s more, they each come with a fast reliable SSD.
If none of these systems meet your vibes, you can also shop our full range by clicking the button below.
Refract Gaming Celeste Pre Built PC:
Enjoy venturing to every corner of the galaxy in Starfield with the Refract Gaming Celeste Pre-Built PC. Harness the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X to unlock powerful performance that is perfect for both and play. Plus, utilise up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM for virtually no input lag or latency, thanks to speeds of up to 5600MHz. What’s more, take advantage of the NVIDIA RTX 4070 GPU to render your space exploration in stunning photo-realistic quality, complete with silky-smooth frame rates and enhanced AI capabilities. Lastly, with a 1TB M.2 SSD, you’ll have plenty of lightning fast storage for your expanding gaming library.
- Pre built PC
- Designed for mid-range gaming and streaming
- AMD Ryzen 7 7700X CPU and NVIDIA RTX 4070
- 32GB DDR5 RAM
- 1TB M.2 SSD
OcUK Gaming Karambit Configurable PC:
Small yet mighty, the OcUK Gaming Karambit is the perfect companion to take with you as you journey through the stars. Powered by a hyperthreaded Intel 14th Gen CPU, harness the hybrid P- and E-core architecture, to unlock ultra-fast processing and enhanced efficiency. Both of which are intelligently managed by the integrated Intel Thread Director. Harness the NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti, built utilising the latest Ada Lovelace architecture, for stunning mind-blowing visuals in all your favourite games. Featuring support for ray tracing and AI DLSS 3.0, enjoy realistic lighting and shadows, along with buttery-smooth frame rates. Plus, with a selection of Gen 4 M.2 and SATA SSDs to choose from, you’ll never need to worry about running out of precious storage space for your expanding gaming library, creative projects, and more.
Lastly, as a configurable PC, you can customise the case, upgrade the memory and graphics card, along with choosing from a selection of SSDs for that much-needed storage boost.
- Configurable gaming PC
- As standard includes an Intel i5 14600KF CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
- Up to 16GB DDR4 RAM
- Flexible storage options available
OcUK Gaming Sabre Configurable PC:
Achieve maximum performance with the OcUK Sabre PC. Armed with an Intel i5 12400F CPU with six cores and twelve threads, enjoy ultra-fast performance and seamless multitasking, perfect for both work and play! Harness up to 16GB of DDR4 RAM for virtually zero input lag or latency for an optimised gaming experience. What’s more, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super GPU will render all your favourite games in incredible hyper-realistic quality. Utilise enhanced ray tracing and AI capabilities, to enjoy silky-smooth frame rates and stunning visuals. In addition to all of this, take advantage of both a 1TB M.2 and optional secondary SSD, to enjoy lighting fast data transfer rates and an optimised gaming experience. Perfect for getting lost in your space exploration in Starfield.
As a configurable PC, you can upgrade the processor, memory, graphics card, and operating system, along with opting for additional storage drives.
- Configurable gaming PC
- As standard includes an Intel i5 12400F CPU and NVIDIA RTX 4070 Super
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- Flexible storage options
Have You Played Starfield?
Have you been exploring deep space in Starfield? Let us know in the comments below.
*Prices correct at time of writing and PC specs are subject to change.
- 8 min read
Ruth Rowley
Author
Ruth has been with Overclockers UK for over a year and has gone on to write about everything ranging from in-depth hardware guides to monthly game releases.
Outside of writing blog posts, she can be found wrapped in a blanket with her black cat, engrossed in a book or playing life-simulation games such as The Sims, Stardew Valley, and Animal Crossing.
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