How does console storage work?

Submitted by SallySmall75 t3_zx9v2b in consoles

I’m new here, and I’ve never owned a console. I’m thinking about buying my first console, but I’m stuck between one that has an option for disks and one that doesn’t. My question that I’m hoping someone can help me with is this, how does the disk work, like let’s say I have my game and I put it in for the first time and now it’s taking up storage on the console. When I take the disk out, is the storage it’s taking up reduced so in that example all my data is saved on the disk? Or is it like I use the disk for the first time and now all the data is on my console and after that the disk is more like a key that lets me access it. Really what I’m wondering is would it be saving me any storage to have a disk version instead of digital downloads? Hope someone can help me out

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LosRiaso t1_j1z2vhj wrote

Lots of discs these days are just codes for the digital download, unfortunately. In short, you won't save any space on the hard drive by going with discs. The major advantage of discs is cost, you'll be able to take advantage of much lower 2nd hand costs versus being at the mercy of Microsoft or Sony's digital pricing.

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SallySmall75 OP t1_j1zj8br wrote

Okay so I hope you don’t mind but I have a few questions on this😅 is there much of a difference in price, is it enough to warrant paying extra for a disk console? If I bought a digital only would I be able to put games I bought in external storage and sell them in the same way you could a disk?

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LosRiaso t1_j1zkju2 wrote

Digital purchases are tied to a specific account on a specific platform (i.e. your individual PlayStation or Xbox account) and can only be played on a console you're signed into. There's no second hand market and no real way to pass them around.

Definitely don't go for the Series S or PS5 Digital if you can afford the disc versions, you'll end up resenting being tied into a price gouging digital ecosystem.

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Kear_Bear_3747 t1_j20oqs6 wrote

I don’t use discs anymore, just digital storage.

My Xbox Series X has two external HDDs attached to it: one for everything pre X|S (4TB) and one for shuttling X|S titles to internal storage (5TB)

Shuttling is when you move games back and forth from HDD to HDD instead of deleting and having to download games again, so have I like 40 X|S games installed even though my internal HDD can’t hold nearly that many. The transfer rate is between 500mbps and 1000mbps so the largest games only take like 10-15 minutes to transfer.

I also have a Series S at my work desk and an Xbox One X in the bedroom, both of which receive games from the Series X via Network Transfer so I’m only ever downloading games once even though I may be using them on various consoles.

Digital is the SHIT

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SallySmall75 OP t1_j20yrh6 wrote

Quick question, so I get the shuttling part but what I don’t get is why are you moving stuff to internal storage? And why do you need a while other storage thing for it?

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Kear_Bear_3747 t1_j20z91v wrote

For the X|S consoles the new-Gen games only work on internal storage, you can’t run them off an external HDD. The alternative to shuttling is buying one of those proprietary storage cards which are like $300 for a 1TB internal storage expansion, which is obviously dumb as bricks.

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SallySmall75 OP t1_j210i7j wrote

Ohhh I think I get this now please correct me if I’m wrong, so your able to play games straight from your 4TB HDD because they are older games but for the newer games that need to be on the internal storage you have a 5TB HDD so you can keep some on the internal, and are able to play those straight away and the other games that you can’t fit which are on the 5TB you just swap them and move something on the internal storage to the 5TB HDD in order to play the game you wanted to?

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Kear_Bear_3747 t1_j211f15 wrote

That is 100% correct

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SallySmall75 OP t1_j21dzug wrote

Okay thanks that really helps me and just one last thing I want your opinion, do you think that buying your game’s digitally was bad, as in do you feel that it was too expensive and that you could have gotten cheaper if you bought second hand games. I just wanna know cuz I don’t want to regret buying a no disk console

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Kear_Bear_3747 t1_j21e6b1 wrote

There are constantly digital sales going on, and Xbox has a great rewards program.

If it’s between the two Xbox consoles I would still get an SX because it’s 4K rated.

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Ramsessuperior45 t1_j212qeu wrote

I love how these posts disrespect the market leader and the true innovator. Ps5 and Microsoft are just downgraded PCs. The only console is the Switch. Brings something new and innovative, not just wannabe PCs. I have owned every Playstation and Sega device except PS5.

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Common_Act6598 t1_j1zrc4c wrote

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