How Many Games Can 1TB microSD Card Hold

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As the capacity of microSD cards gets larger, you may want to know, how many games can 1TB microSD card hold.

Well, it depends on what kind of game you want to store on the card. For some games, as we discussed in another article “Is 250GB SSD enough for gaming?”, games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare will take up 231GB of storage space. This is equivalent to 1/4 the memory capacity of the 1TB microSD card.

In this regard, if you store similar types of games on the card, you can only hold 4 games.

However, if the game is a simple and easy one like Bubble Shooting which only needs 12MB, you can store many thousands of them on the microSD card.

Which File System Is Better for a 1TB microSD Card

We recommend using exFAT to format your 1TB microSD card.

FAT32 is the older and more widely used format. It has a maximum file size limit of 4GB, which means that if a game is larger than 4GB, it cannot be stored on a FAT32 microSD card.

On the other hand, exFAT is a newer format that supports larger file sizes and can store files over 4GB. This makes it more suitable for storing larger games, especially those with high-quality graphics and longer gameplay times.

In general, exFAT has a faster speed than FAT32 when it comes to microSD cards. This is because exFAT uses a more efficient file system that is optimized for handling large files and storing data on flash-based storage devices, such as microSD cards.

We have an article discussing “Is exFAT good for SD card?“. You can visit it and have a read for further information.

FAT32 uses a file allocation table (FAT) to track the location of files on the microSD card. This means that when a file is stored on a FAT32 microSD card, the system needs to consult the FAT to determine the location of the file before it can be read or written.

This process can slow down read and write speeds, especially for larger files, because it requires the system to access and search the FAT repeatedly.

exFAT support features such as journaling and caching, which can improve the performance of the microSD card by reducing the number of reads and write operations required.

However, not all devices are compatible with exFAT, so it’s important to check if your device supports this format before using it to store games.

Remember, after you format your microSD card, the remaining storage space on your microSD card is not going to be the same as your purchase capacity.

For example, when we format our 1TB microSD card, the remaining storage space left on the card is 937.5GB. Part of the capacity 62.5GB has been occupied by the new file system, which is used to manage all the files/folders on the card.

Can a 1TB microSD Card Use on Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck

Both the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck are compatible with microSD cards up to 2TB in size, therefore, a 1TB microSD card should work without any issues on these game consoles.

The reason is, the card slot at both game consoles is an SDXC slot and it can accept a maximum capacity of 2TB according to its specification. However, there isn’t any trustworthy 2TB microSD card on the market yet.

Those that appear online are unknown brands which you should avoid. Reviews are bad such as corrupted data, transfer issues, fake cards, etc.

It’s also worth noting that while there are many brands and models of microSD cards available, not all of them are created equal in terms of performance and reliability.

To ensure the best experience with your Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, you may want to consider purchasing a high-quality microSD card from a reputable brand such as SanDisk or Samsung.

Currently, Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck only support UHS-1 cards, which means the maximum card speed is only up to 104MB/s (for UHS-2 cards it can go up to 312MB/s). Therefore, no point in buying a UHS-2 card which usually costs more.

How To Install Game On The microSD Card

Can SD card store games? Yes, of course.

Depending on what kind of gaming device you used to play the game, the method to install the game on the microSD card will vary.

We have an article on this website, showing you How to save games on SD card. We have listed methods for:

  • installing game from your Windows PC to an SD card
  • installing games from MacBook Computer to SD card
  • installing your Nintendo Switch game to an SD card
  • installing Steam Deck game to SD card
  • installing games from Android phones to SD card

Follow the relevant section and install your favorite game on the microSD card. You can free up your internal device memory for other important tasks you need to work on.

You may not be able to buy physical copies of some games, therefore learning how to download games on a microSD card will allow you to play your favorite games.

Things To Consider When Choosing a microSD Card

According to SD Association, currently, there are about 1,000 product manufacturers that make interoperable memory cards and devices. Deciding which microSD card to use become a difficult task.

In another article, we have listed various factors to consider when buying an SD card. Here are some highlights you may want to take note of:

  • fast loading
  • efficient technical support
  • durable
  • compatible with your game console
  • longer warranty period, if possible lifetime warranty

Final Thoughts

The type of games you plan to install on your microSD card will determine how many games you can install on a 1TB microSD card.

Keep in mind that not all devices are compatible with microSD cards, therefore check the specifications before making your purchase.

Do consider the quality and reliability of the card, as well as the available support and warranty. This will help to ensure that the card will perform optimally over the long term, preventing data loss or corruption.

Here are some 1TB microSD cards you may consider:

Before you go, let’s enjoy this wonderful music video (Chemical – by Post Malone) to relax your mind and have some fun.

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