How does installing a SSD affect the games performance?

[Kyomagi]

Obviously i know the pluses of having a SSD for just whatever reason but how does it improve the game, if at all?

My system is

AMD FX6300
8GB Ram
500gb 7200RPM HD
HD 7970 3gb GPU
600W PSU

[Kio]

I ended up purchasing an entirely new pc, with a ssd. My previous rig wasn't anything to sneeze at either, but I was suddenly able to do things like dodge when I absolutely couldn't do before due to latency. It basically saved the game for me because it was unplayable without the ability to dodge. Loading times were also reduced. I can't say if it was due to moving from a HDD to a SSD or the overall performance upgrade or both.

[DoctorPepper]

Putting 2x SSD in raid 0 improved loading times between areas by around 5-10 seconds give or take for me (upgraded from 7.2k drives). Other than that there was no noticeable performance increase. The biggest increase will come from upgrading your CPU/GPU. Helps for things like hunts but I wouldn't purchase SSDs just for FFXIV.

Additionally it improves OS boot time quite a bit and allows you to access and copy files more quickly between multiple SSDs. Installing software/games also gets a lot faster in comparison to 7.2k drives.

[Marisela]

To take full advantage of SSD Drive, first you must install Windows 8.1. I have a Samsung 840 Pro and it dramatically improve game loading time when zoning, especially loading NPC and when in Moh Donah and Gold Saucer. It also a must have if you are doing Hunt and any Raid Contents.

There is also benefits of having SSD as main Operating System. Boot time for me on Windows 8.1 to the Desktop is 20 seconds. Your system may varies depend on Ram and CPU.

I say it is worth it. Other then that, more Ram also help since if you don't have a lot of Ram, it will slow down once it doesn't have enough Ram to load more textures in the game.

[Cirgellon]

To take full advantage of SSD Drive, first you must install Windows 8.1. I have a Samsung 840 Pro and it dramatically improve game loading time when zoning, especially loading NPC and when in Moh Donah and Gold Saucer. It also a must have if you are doing Hunt and any Raid Contents.

There is also benefits of having SSD as main Operating System. Boot time for me on Windows 8.1 to the Desktop is 20 seconds. Your system may varies depend on Ram and CPU.

I say it is worth it. Other then that, more Ram also help since if you don't have a lot of Ram, it will slow down once it doesn't have enough Ram to load more textures in the game.

There is no need for 8.1 with an SSD. That reduction in time for turning on the computer is from 8.1 as you basically just go into a standby mode. That has nothing to do with game performance though... That said, a SSD will improve startup times of all OS's.

A SSD will make things load faster. It won't improve things like FPS or lag.

[Aerowaffle]

If you're looking for game performance (once you're already loaded into a zone), an SSD wont cause too big of an effect unless you were already relying on virtual memory because of low ram.

An SSD will improve any and all reading/writing to your main memory storage (so quicker load and save times if that's what you're looking for). But most of the heavylifting your game requires is done by the processor, ram, and GPU.

[Ditto]

Super fast loading screens. I upgraded to one a while ago and now my loading screens are non existent.

[CGMidlander]

Your internet speed is also a factor in loading times.

When I got my SSD, load times decreased a bit, but not as much as I had expected. I know internet speed affects loading because I load noticeably slower if I'm streaming a video or downloading something.

[Azper]

Your load times will improve, sure, but for any instance you'll still wait around for everyone else without an SSD to load in as usual. So if you get one, make sure you're getting it for the right reasons.

[Zumi]

It will not help you dodge red circles in game. Because at that point everything is loaded into the ram weather you dodge or not is more dependent on your connection. You will have to wait for dungeons and trials for everyone else to load. But if you want to change zones when teleporting faster it would help with that.