Can I have Steam games on 2 hard drives?

Can I Have Steam Games on 2 Hard Drives? A Comprehensive Guide

As a gaming enthusiast, you might be wondering if you can store your Steam games on two separate hard drives (HDDs) or solid-state drives (SSDs). The answer is, yes, you can! In this article, we’ll explore the benefits and limitations of having a multihard drive setup for Steam games, as well as providing a step-by-step guide on how to set it up.

Benefits of Dual Hard Drive Setup

Having two separate hard drives for your Steam games can bring about several benefits, including:

• Gaming performance: By storing heavy games on a separate drive, you can achieve better loading times and improved frame rates.
• Data preservation: In the event of a drive failure or corruption, having a redundant copy of your games on the other drive ensures that your saved progress is preserved.
• Disc space management: With two hard drives, you can allocate space more effectively, allowing you to store more games on each drive.

Setting up a Dual Hard Drive Setup

1. Create a new Steam library: Open Steam and navigate to the Steam settings. Click on "Downloads" and select "Steam Library Folders." Create a new folder for your games on the second hard drive.
2. Move games to the new library: Select the games you want to move from the default library to the new one. Right-click each game and choose "Properties." Update the "Library" path to the newly created folder.
3. Change the default install location: Go back to Steam settings and select "Downloads" and then "Steam Library Folders" again. This time, create a new folder for the default install location or update the existing one to the location of your primary hard drive.

Moving Games between Drives

• Manually move games: Each game has its own folder, located in the SteamSteam Apps directory. Move the game folder from one drive to the other.
• Use third-party software: Tools like Relocator and Steam Mover can migrate games between drives with fewer manual steps.

Tips for Managing Your Dual Hard Drive Setup

• Organize your games wisely: Consider grouping similar-genre games together or creating different folders for different platforms (e.g., Xbox, PlayStation).
• Duplicate games on both drives: Save a copy of each game on each drive to ensure easy access and minimize reliance on a single drive.
• Adjust your Steam settings: Update your Steam settings to reflect the new library locations and preferences.

What Happens to Multiplayer and Online Features?

Gaming on multiple hard drives requires some consideration for multiplayer and online features:

• Multiplayer requires a consistent drive: Ensure you specify the same drive for multiplayer games to minimize connectivity issues.
• Online patches and updates: Steam will prioritize updates on the default drive. Manual updates might be required for games residing on the secondary drive.

Conclusion

Splitting your Steam games across two hard drives not only improves performance and data reliability but also offers greater flexibility in gaming management. By following the steps outlined above and adjusting your Steam settings and workflows, you can take full advantage of dual hard drive setup for your Steam games. For more gaming-related tips, tune in to our next article exploring the best practices for optimizing PC gaming performance!