Playing Game via External Hard Drive?

I was just wondering if it was possible to effectively 'install' the games onto my external hard drive and play them on my computer.
I know that some sort of information has to be stored onto my computer (i think?) though my biggest problem s just saving the hard disk space on my computer and keeping the main game information on my external.

Please if anyone get me could they help?
(sorry if this doesnt make sense! -.-)

You can effectively do this. One thing to note though, the preformance of the game will be dependent on the Hardrive and USB port you plug it into. Becuase the PC has to grab the data from the Harddrive, then transfer it then actually execute it, it will most likely be slower than the game would be if you ran it off your in-built hardrive. So it will work but don't expect the same quality, also a good hardrive transfer speed is reccomended. Also if you need to know, to install things to the external hardrive you just have to press "Browse" when selecting where to install it, then you click the external hardrive and tada!

alright cheers (:
umm, i dont know the speed or whatever of my hard drive :| BUT i do know that my usb ports are 3.0 which helps doesnt it?

alright cheers (:
umm, i dont know the speed or whatever of my hard drive :| BUT i do know that my usb ports are 3.0 which helps doesnt it?

GTA-NerD-96

Unless it's over e-sata don't bother.skrat_01

I remember I used to do this to play games in my college's computer lab :P

I remember I used to do this to play games in my college's computer lab :P

mhofever

my entire games library, including steam, run off a USB 2.0 1tb external drive and its the exact same speed as an internal drive. Playing a game can't even max out the speed of a usb cable.

dont do it. Normal external harddrives are supposed to be for storage, not to be constantly running and transfering databonafidetk

my hard drive, my choices??i didnt exacly buy it for storage. bought it sort of on the basis of this reason.

I've been doing it for years, works perfectly fine on USB 2.0, on 3.0 you're laughing. For example, I've run Crysis, ArmA 2, Bad Company 2 and basically any other high end game you can think of on max settings off my external HDD with no problems or slowdowns.

I've been doing it for years, works perfectly fine on USB 2.0, on 3.0 you're laughing. For example, I've run Crysis, ArmA 2, Bad Company 2 and basically any other high end game you can think of on max settings off my external HDD with no problems or slowdowns.

Emraldo

I would suggest just storing/backing up games on external drives.. then when you want to play em move em over to your harddrive/install.

I have played games right off of 3 different external HD's and I definatly notice a difference in speed/performance, so I just use the externals to backup/store my games.

[QUOTE="mhofever"]

I remember I used to do this to play games in my college's computer lab :P

FelipeInside

I did that with Red Alert 2 and a flash drive.

I've been doing it for years, works perfectly fine on USB 2.0, on 3.0 you're laughing. For example, I've run Crysis, ArmA 2, Bad Company 2 and basically any other high end game you can think of on max settings off my external HDD with no problems or slowdowns.

Emraldo

Esata/USB 3.0 will give you the same bandwidth as a sata2 cable from inside the case. Even though your' port on your' comp may be usb3, is your' hard drive? They'll both have to be usb3 in order to use that speed, not just the port.demi0227_basic

i dont know! :s
how do i find out? my hard drive didnt really come with 'instructions' so to speak.

yes, it works ...

i even had crysis 1 playing from a 16gb usb-stick.

downside is that the levels would take nearly 3 minutes to load :(