Can Install and Run games from an External Hard disk ?

I'm planning to upgrade my laptop's HDD to a SSD, so I can do two things with the HDD

1- Buy an optical hard drive caddy and an external enclosure for the optical drive. then Install the HDD directly to the SATA interface via the caddy and use the optical drive externally. and install games like normal.

2- Buy a USB 3.0 HDD External Enclosure Case , and install games on the external HDD and play from there.

which option is better, keeping in mind the performance alone , I don't mind the cost involved. is it possible to run high end games from an external HDD without effecting performance? has anyone tried this?

Yes you can, i had installed games in my External HDD and played
Only problem if theres a lose connection the game crashes

theserpent said:
Yes you can, i had installed games in my External HDD and played
Only problem if theres a lose connection the game crashes

great, but other than loose connection there's no other problem right? and did you play any high end games?

^ I played AC 3 and had played MP3 once

No there won't be any problem at all AFAIK.

Wouldn't that damage the hard disk in the long run?

cyborg47 said:
Wouldn't that damage the hard disk in the long run?

And why is that ?? HDD is just storing the data and you are accessing it. Its not a SSD anyway.

I suspect performance hit. USB transfer rate aren't made for gaming IMO. I may be wrong.

Load times will increase yes if the Interface is USB 2.0 but no framedops whatsoever.

yea if its USB 2.0 there will be increased load times in certain games, but if its USB 3.0 that's not an issue.

but even the I do feel there should be some difference, because instead of SATA-SATA connection, it'll be a SATA-USB-SATA connection.

gameranand said:
And why is that ?? HDD is just storing the data and you are accessing it. Its not a SSD anyway.

Not sure about that, the OP better consult a pro about it, he don't want to damage his hdd does he?

I think in the long run...the controller of your enclosure could go kaput (dead) because that unit does majority of your work.....

I would suggest you can go for a enclosure with e-sata ( i suppose you are having e-sata motherboard) .....that would ensure reliability in the long term...!

Now-a-days you can get enclosures with load of connectivity option such as usb 3.0,e-sata,firewire,wifi & e-sata 6.0gbps ...!

Even if the controller goes kaput then also his HDD would be intact.

I think the first option would be better for OP.

ok I'm pretty confused now

, but I saw this video and it says otherwise