One player has developed a unique way to store games by transforming old SSDs into miniature cartridges for the Steam platform. Each of these boxes contains a 2.5-inch SSD, on which one specific game is recorded. Creating this collection was a response to the problem of insufficient space on the main drive, as the player faced the necessity of deleting old titles to install new ones. Currently, the collection includes games like The Elder Scrolls Online and Cyberpunk 2077, which took up 60 GB of memory. The player admits that "it would probably be cheaper to just buy a 2 TB SSD, but I have too much fun sticking boxes and labels." Thus, he found not only a functional but also a creative solution.
However, there is an important nuance with using SSDs: data in NAND cells is stored as an electrical charge, which can leak over time without power. This creates a risk of losing data if the drive sits idle for a long time. Therefore, it is recommended to connect the SSD once a year and check the integrity of the files to avoid unpleasant surprises, such as empty or corrupted files. An alternative for long-term storage is BD-R optical discs, which are not susceptible to charge leakage and allow for more reliable data archiving, although for games, it is better to use them as installers rather than running directly from the discs.
The idea of creating cartridges from SSDs is driven not just by a desire for collecting, but by practical necessity. Players are increasingly seeking original solutions that help free up space on their hard drives and preserve their favorite titles. Interestingly, the SSD market today is experiencing a shortage problem, which has caused prices for even basic models to rise significantly—– 250 GB SSDs are now selling for 20-50 dollars at auctions. This leads to the possibility that players' creativity could become not only an entertaining hobby but also an economically justified solution in the current market conditions.