Why Modern PC Games No Longer Support HDDs | AWD-IT
Lennon Byatt
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is in full swing, and between screaming at the TV, arguing with mates about formations, and watching Germany dismantle Curacao 7-1, we reckon there's another lineup worth building. Your dream gaming PC.
Every great football team needs the right player in the right position. And every great gaming PC needs the right component doing the right job. So we've matched the two up, here's your Dream XI, AWD-IT style.
Why Modern PC Games No Longer Support HDDs
If you've looked at the system requirements for recent PC games, you may have noticed something new, many now list an SSD as a minimum or recommended requirement. While hard disk drives (HDDs) were once the standard for PC gaming, they're quickly becoming a thing of the past.
So, why are developers leaving HDDs behind, and do you really need an SSD to play the latest games? Let's take a look.
Games Are Bigger and More Detailed Than Ever
Modern AAA games feature vast open worlds, incredibly detailed textures and complex environments. Instead of loading everything at once, games constantly stream new assets as you move through the world.
Traditional hard drives simply can't keep up with this demand, often resulting in longer loading screens, texture pop-in and occasional stuttering.
SSDs Keep Gameplay Smooth
Unlike HDDs, SSDs have no moving parts and can access data much faster. This means games can load assets almost instantly, helping to create smoother gameplay and faster transitions between areas.
Games like Starfield, Cyberpunk 2077 and Microsoft Flight Simulator all benefit from the speed of modern SSDs, with some developers now recommending them as standard.
Unlike HDDs, SSDs have no moving parts and can access data much faster
The Perfect England Matchday PC Schedule
Here's how to make the most of the best England kick-off time we've had all tournament:
| Time (BST) | What's Happening | PC Task |
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2pm–4:45pm
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Pre-match build-up
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Game session — get a proper hour in
|
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4:45pm
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Teams announced
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Close the game, open BBC iPlayer
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5pm
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Kick-off
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Stream on second monitor, game on hold
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~6:50pm
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Second half
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Back on the stream
|
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~8pm
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Full time (hopefully)
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Celebrate / commiserate, fire the game back up
|
New Technology Is Driving the Change
Technologies like Microsoft DirectStorage allow games to send data directly from an NVMe SSD to your graphics card, reducing loading times and improving performance in supported titles.
As more developers adopt these technologies, SSDs are becoming an essential part of the modern gaming experience rather than just a nice upgrade.
For new gaming PCs, we'd recommend an NVMe SSD
Should You Upgrade?
If you're still gaming from an older hard drive, upgrading to an SSD is one of the easiest ways to improve your overall experience. While it won't increase your FPS, it can dramatically reduce loading times, improve system responsiveness and help modern games run more smoothly.
For new gaming PCs, we'd recommend an NVMe SSD for the best balance of speed and value, with 2TB offering plenty of room for today's ever-growing game libraries.
Why an NVMe SSD Matters
Storage capacity isn't the only thing to think about, speed matters too.
Modern NVMe SSDs offer much faster loading times than older SATA SSDs or traditional hard drives, helping games launch quicker and reducing loading screens in large open-world titles.
Many newer games are also designed with fast SSDs in mind, making an NVMe drive a worthwhile investment for smoother gameplay.
Which Ryzen X3D CPU Should You Choose?
AMD offers several excellent X3D processors depending on your budget and gaming needs.
- Ryzen 7 7800X3D – A fantastic all-round gaming CPU that continues to deliver exceptional performance.
- Ryzen 7 9800X3D – Ideal for gamers looking for the latest Zen 5 architecture and top-tier gaming performance.
- Ryzen 9 X3D models – Better suited to users who also stream, edit videos or create content alongside gaming.
For most gamers, a Ryzen 7 X3D processor offers the best balance of price and performance.
Ryzen 7 X3D processor offers the best balance of price and performance
Get the full squad: Gaming PC Bundles
A Gaming PC Bundle makes sense if you need more than the tower.
Maybe your monitor is ancient. Maybe your keyboard and mouse have seen better days. Maybe you are building your first proper gaming setup and want the essentials sorted together.
A bundle can help you get the full setup in one go, instead of slowly piecing it together over months.
It is the easiest way to go from “I need a PC” to “I’ve got a full setup.”
Best Sim Racing Setup for Beginners: Start With the Essentials
You don’t need a full cockpit immediately. A well‑chosen beginner setup helps you develop skills faster and keeps costs under control.
1. Steering Wheel and Pedals (Top Priority)
Your wheel and pedals are the most important part of any sim racing rig. Force feedback allows you to feel grip changes, kerbs, and steering resistance—crucial for learning car control.
Beginner tip: Focus on force feedback quality rather than raw power.
Your wheel and pedals are the most important part of any sim racing rig. Force feedback allows you to feel grip changes, kerbs, and steering resistance—crucial for learning car control.
Creators in attendance
Stacked lineup
Experience zones
Arcades · Sim rigs · PCs
Tech on display
Latest gen builds
Verdict
Showroom certified
Pick Your Tier
We've named each tier after a tournament stage, because let's be honest, that's exactly the kind of thing we'd do. Find your budget and dive in.
Group Stage
Round of 32
Quarter Final
World Cup Final
England's Path If They Get Through
Win against Congo DR and England's potential route to the Final looks like this:
• Round of 16 (8–9 July): Mexico or Ecuador — tough but winnable
• Quarter-Final (12–13 July): Potentially Brazil — the big one
• Semi-Final (15–16 July): Possibly Argentina — we're in Messi territory now
• Final (19 July): MetLife Stadium, New Jersey — it might be coming home
The bracket is genuinely open. England are well-placed, and Tuchel's side are unbeaten in ten competitive fixtures. Don't get your hopes up. Also: get your hopes up.
The bracket is genuinely open
GTA 6 GPU Comparison Table (RTX 50 Series)
|
GPU Model
|
Performance Tier
|
Best Resolution
|
VRAM (Expected)
|
GTA 6 Settings
|
Ideal User Type
|
|
RTX 5060
|
Entry-Level
|
1080p
|
8–12GB
|
Medium–High
|
Budget gamers looking for smooth GTA 6 gameplay
|
|
RTX 5070
|
Mid-Range
|
1440p
|
12–16GB
|
High–Ultra
|
Best value for most UK gamers
|
|
RTX 5070 Ti
|
Upper Mid-Range
|
1440p / 4K
|
16GB
|
Ultra
|
High FPS + future-proofing
|
|
RTX 5080
|
High-End
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4K
|
16–20GB
|
Ultra + Ray Tracing
|
Enthusiasts & high-performance gaming builds
|
|
RTX 5090
|
Ultra Enthusiast
|
4K+ / 8K
|
24GB+
|
Max Settings + Full Ray Tracing
|
No-compromise, ultimate GTA 6 experience
|
The point is don't buy a £150 mouse expecting it to fix your aim. Buy it because the weight, shape, and quality will make long gaming sessions more comfortable.
AWD-IT stocks gaming mice from Razer, Corsair, and ASUS at a range of price points. If you're unsure where to start, a mid-range wireless mouse from any of these brands will give you everything you need for competitive gaming.
Signs your PC has genuinely run its race
When It IS Time for a Full Rebuild
Even Messi will retire eventually. And there are signs your PC has genuinely run its race:
• CPU is pre-2018 and DDR3 (no DDR5 upgrade path available)
• Motherboard doesn't support PCIe 4.0 — you're bottlenecking modern GPUs
• Power supply is under 500W — can't safely run anything modern
• Multiple components failing, temperatures consistently hitting 90°C+
If you're ticking more than two of those boxes, a fresh AWD-IT pre-built is often better value than stacking upgrades onto a dead-end platform. You get a warranty, a coherent spec, and you know everything works together from day one.
Is It Worth Upgrading?
If your current system is several years old or you're building a new gaming PC, a Ryzen X3D processor is one of the best upgrades you can make for gaming performance.
Pairing an X3D CPU with a modern graphics card like an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 or AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT creates a system capable of delivering excellent frame rates across today's most demanding games.
Final Thoughts
As PC games continue to grow in size and complexity, SSDs are no longer just an optional upgrade—they're becoming the new standard. Whether you're building a new gaming PC or giving your current system a refresh, switching to an SSD is one of the best investments you can make.
At AWD-IT, you'll find a range of gaming PCs and storage upgrades featuring fast NVMe SSDs, helping you spend less time waiting and more time playing.
