Preload or Download?

[Starfield 1]

Seen different opinions on this topic, but which is genuinely better? (I'm using a fairly expensive SSD, so my storage shouldn't be an issue)

Some issues were mentioned like;
Preload takes too long due to its decrypting, while others say downloading at global launch affects download speed heavily.

[Tenoshii]

Not sure my laptop is up for the task of swift decryption, so I'm going the download route.

[Schlumpsha]

You download either way. With preloading the time to get into the game shortens drastically depending on your internet speed. Decrypting the game files takes longer if you have it installed on an HDD tho.

[Triss]

For me, the preload took 2.5 hours

[Tunnfisk]

I've never had an issue with preloaded games, but I've used SSD's since they were released.

[CommanderEly]

on games like this. definitely preload. Otherwise you'll be spending hours downloading.

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

the preload took me 15 mins lol

[CQCoder]

If a zillion people download the servers may get jammed. I'm not convinced on this deencryption BS.

[CommanderEly]

Originally posted by CQCoder:

If a zillion people download the servers may get jammed. I'm not convinced on this deencryption BS.

not may, It'll tank!

[Auxikko]

Originally posted by Triss:

For me, the preload took 2.5 hours

wow, it took me maybe about 20 minutes. Did you have something else downloading in the background?

[nfinite.recursion]

Well if your CPU and SSD are slow then it'll take a long time. Simple as.

Also FYI OP, "expensive" is ultimately meaningless. You can spend $1000 on an old decrepit 120GB SSD from 2010 and it will give you garbage performance.

[Raziel Leonhart]

I did the pre-load while afking in fallout 76

[Lazerfocusing]

Unless you have a toaster for pc the unpacking will not take long at all.

[LeftIsBest-James]

3hrs preload.

[Myztkl©-Kev]

I usually don't preload, unlocking the files when the game releases usually takes longer than just downloading, if you have a slow HDD and an old CPU, this issue is compounded.

[Meltdown]

Man all these guys not realizing there is no 'just download the files on early access release', you are still going to be decrypting, you are still going to be decompressing. The files are the same for early access and release, we just get to unpack and decrypt eearlier.