Topic: Using an SSD on the Xbox One

Thought this would make a useful thread for the future if anyone is considering adding an SSD to their Xbox One to improve loading times. The drive I purchased is a Samsung Portable SSD T1 - a 1TB USB 3 SSD. It's a very small device - the cable is just long enough to sit the drive on top of the Xbox One over the rear USB ports.

Out of the box it wouldn't work - I had to plug the drive into my Surface (Windows 10) and 'activate' the main partition using the propriety Samsung software pre-installed on the drive. After doing that it was recognized just like any other drive on the X1 and allowed me to format it.

I've only tested 2 games so far but I'm very pleased with the results:

Fallout 4 - Game Save Loading from external 4TB Seagate HDD - 57 seconds. From Samsung SSD 28 seconds!
AC Syndicate - Game Save load time from external 4TB Seagate HDD - 71 seconds. From Samsung SSD 44 seconds!

I've not tested the built-in internal drive speed as it's full!

Not the most scientific or extensive testing but in both cases the load times were almost halved so it was a worthwhile purchase in my book.

@stylon, just what I wanted to hear.

@sorethumbed: Thanks for the nudge in the direction of the Sammy SSD, although not so sure my wallet is quite as appreciative lol.

Wow. That is tiny. I'm thinking the price isn't! LOL

I'd definitely categorise it as an indulgent purchase, but given that gaming is my main hobby in life I feel it was worth the money

@stylon: A pleasure. I will be getting one as well after Christmas.

Discovered my best speed improvement yet last night with GTA 5. Timed how long it took from launching the game to actually being able to play it (single player). It took 2 minutes 8 seconds on the normal drive... once moved over onto the SSD is was just 58 seconds

Also has anyone tried one of these?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00T76ZGDO?keywords=collec...

Would be perfect for dropping in a regular bare SSD or even just a normal 2.5" drive... plus the 3 USB 3 ports on the front... gets good reviews too but would be nice to know if anyone on here knows someone that has actually tried one for real!

WOW. That's a hell of an improvement!

@Captain_Chao5: Damn right... it's just a shame we can't replace the internal drive... just imagine how quick the Xbox would boot with an SSD inside it!

@stylon: You probably can but it would take a bit of work. Give it 6 months and YouTube it, somebody will have figured it out.