The Nintendo Wii U SSD: Ultimate Guide

by Paul | Last Updated: July 5, 2022

The Nintendo Wii U is a gaming console that has served a lot of users and while it already has a predecessor, the Switch, it is still used by a lot of people. Gaming is fun and when you have a console dedicated for gaming it is different from using a PC that has other files taking up space. What happens where there are too many games and your wii u is filled up?

Wii U SSD is the process of expanding the storage capacity of your console by using an external SSD. Unlike the Xbox and PlayStation, your only option (currently) with the wii u is to get an external SSD then connect it to your console and enjoy.

While there are other external methods of increasing your console’s capacity, using an SSD is a good and efficient one. It is simple and there are so many options in the market, this article will aid your decision making as we will look at benefits and the installation of the SSD for wii u.

Wii U SSD- Basics

The solid-state drive is designed to give users an experience that is worth having. Although it is still considered expensive when compared to traditional HDD, using an SSD on any device that is compatible is an experience no one should miss out on.

The beauty of this drive goes beyond offering a better overall performance when compared to hard disk drives (HDDs) as manufacturers keep upgrading them for better data security and endurance. The NAND technology design is a major attribute that gives it speed by using flash memory to process data.

Data processing using the SSD does not generate as much heat as the HDD and there is barely noise. It offers better data security as it is not prone to damage from accidental drops, shocks, vibrations, and magnetic field. Also, there is no disk fragmentation as its design ensures data processing does not require moving parts.

We have highlighted the reasons why an SSD is a preferable option over the HDD for disk storage type, but why is everybody not using it if it so good? Well, there are two major drawbacks of the SSD, the first is price. The SSD is still considered expensive, and the second reason is storage capacity.

The storage capacity that is commercially available ranges from 128GB to 4TB. It is possible to find one less than 128GB, but it is quite difficult (not impossible) to find one bigger than 4TB. Asides these two there are barely any disadvantages of getting an SSD

Wii U SSD- SSD Type

Any regular SSD will do the job but that is not what you want, you want to be precise by understanding your needs and getting hardware that matches them. As we have pointed out earlier, there are various options in the market for SSD, let us look at three that have PCIe, NVMe which are essential for a very fast SSD. Having an SSD with just PCIe is not bad but let us look at 3 great options on the market:

Given that wii u games might not be so large to take up so much disk space, so, 250GB is okay but you can get a storage size of 500GB just to have a lot of space.

• Samsung 980 Pro: The 980 is so good, its design really fixes the heating issue as the nickel coating is basically an insulator. Although this is available in four storage sizes: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB and 2TB, you just need either 250GB or 500GB. It is an M.2 form factor SSD with DRAM which is key for the durability of your disk. It is also a PCIe Gen 4 which translates to a data transfer rate of over 6gb/s. In summary, it is designed for gaming.
• Crucial P5 Plus: 500GB, 1TB and 2TB are the three storage sizes available for the P5 plus. Just like the 980, it is an M.2 form factor SSD, and it is durable with an endurance rating of 600 TBW and a 5-year limited warranty. It also has a DRAM which is key for the durability of your disk. It is a PCIe Gen 4, and it translates to a higher data transfer rate at 6.6gb/s.

• Western Digital Black SN850: When the best drives are being analysed, a Western Digital product will surely find its way on the list. The SN850 is one of their high-quality SSD. This model comes in three storage capacities: 500GB, 1TB and 2TB. Like the 980, it has PCIe Gen 4 which translates to data transfer rate of 7gb/s.

Wii U SSD- Installing the SSD

To connect the SSD to your wii u, you need a Y cable or a SATA adapter that comes with its own power connector as this will aid stability. Once you have purchased your drive and you have a cable, take these steps:

Step 1: Connecting the external drive cable

• Turn off the console
• Plug the small end of the cable into your external drive
• Since it is a Y cable, plug both connectors in your console, preferably in a port that is positioned in a place that will not obstruct sudden movements.
• Turn on your console
• When it comes on, it will automatically detect your drive
• The console will offer to format the drive to make it compatible, accept it

If you want to move some files into this new drive, then take Step 2

Step 2: Data management

• Navigate to settings on your console
• Select data management
• On the top right-hand corner, choose the option to move/copy
• Click the file you want to move
• Put it in your new drive

These steps can be taken for as many drives as you want and once you have done this, anytime you download a new game, and the internal storage is full it automatically moves to the external drive that has been configured and is plugged in.

Related Question

Can I use multiple external drives for my wii u console? Yes, you can. Just make sure you turn off the wii u, then connect the external drive, you can only use one at a time.