Satisfactory players can discover Hard Drives to unlock Alternate Recipes, which serve to enhance factory efficiency. This tier list will categorize the best and worst recipes available.
Satisfactory 1.0 offers an engaging resource management experience—as long as players can avoid game crashes upon launch. The open-world factory simulator presents numerous opportunities for both new and veteran players, with Alternate Recipes playing a crucial role in optimizing factory production.
There are an impressive 97 Hard Drives scattered throughout the game world, offering nearly as many Alternate Recipes to learn. Here’s a tier list ranking the most beneficial ones in Satisfactory.
Best Alternate Recipes in Satisfactory: Hard Drive Tier List
| TIER | ALTERNATE RECIPE |
|---|---|
| S | Caterium Circuit Board, Copper Alloy Ingot, Crystal Computer, Dark Matter Trap, Heavy Encased Frame, Insulated Crystal Oscillator, Oil-Based Diamonds, Pure Aluminum Ingot, Silicon Circuit Board, Sloppy Alumina |
| A | Aluminum Beam, Aluminum Rod, Automated Speed Wiring, Caterium Computer, Diluted Fuel, Electrode Aluminum Scrap, Heat-Fused Frame, Heavy Flexible Frame, Plastic AI Limiter, Recycled Plastic, Rigor Motor, Rubber Concrete, Steel Rod, Steel Screw, Super-State Computer, Turbo Diamonds, Turbo Pressure Motor, Uranium Fuel Unit, Wet Concrete |
| B | Adhered Iron Plate, Caterium Wire, Coated Cable, Coke Steel Ingot, Copper Rotor, Electric Motor, Fine Concrete, Fused Wire, Heavy Oil Residue, Infused Uranium Cell, Insulated Cable, Plastic Smart Plating, Quickwire Cable, Radio Control System, Rigor Motor, Silicon High-Speed Connector, Solid Steel Ingot, Steeled Frame, Stitched Iron Plate, Tempered Caterium Ingot |
| C | Alclad Casing, Bolted Frame, Cast Screw, Classic Battery, Coated Iron Plate, Coated Iron Canister, Cooling Device, Electromagnetic Connection Rod, Fine Black Powder, Flexible Framework, Fused Quickwire, Heat Exchanger, Iron Wire, Leached Caterium Ingot, Leached Iron Ingot, Molded Beam, Nitro Rocket Fuel, OC Supercomputer, Pure Iron Ingot, Pure Quartz Crystal, Quickwire Stator, Steamed Copper Sheet, Steel Cast Plate, Steel Rotor, Turbo Blend Fuel, Turbo Heavy Fuel |
| D | Basic Iron Ingot, Cheap Silica, Coated Steel Ingot, Distilled Silica, Electrode Circuit Board, Encased Industrial Pipe, Fused Quartz Crystal, Molded Steel Pipe, Plutonium Fuel Unit, Pure Caterium Ingot, Quartz Purification, Recycled Rubber |
| F | Cloudy Diamonds, Dark-Ion Fuel, Dark Matter Crystallization, Fertile Uranium, Instant Plutonium Cell, Instant Scrap, Iron Pipe, Leached Copper Ingot, Petroleum Diamonds, Pink Diamonds, Pure Copper Ingot, Radio Connection Unit, Tempered Copper Ingot |
Our Tiers Explained
- S Tier: Highly recommended recipes
- A Tier: Very good recipes
- B Tier: Acceptable recipes
- C Tier: Mediocre recipes
- D Tier: Poor recipes
- F Tier: Not recommended recipes
Despite Satisfactory being in Early Access for some time, its recent 1.0 launch doesn’t guarantee further new recipes. We’ll keep players informed of any changes or additions to these recipes.
This ranking evaluates the most optimized and streamlined production capabilities of these items based on findings from a Reddit user, updated for the 1.0 release. Each Alternate Recipe is assessed based on its efficiency in terms of power usage, item production, buildings required, and resource consumption.
A lower score indicates greater efficiency, while a higher score reflects inadequacy. If you’re looking for the best Alternate Recipes in Satisfactory, refer to this tier list to see which ones provide the best resource and time efficiency.
S-Tier Alternate Recipes
| Alternate Recipe | Power | Items | Buildings | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caterium Circuit Board | -1.96% | -0.69% | -2.72% | -1.78% |
| Copper Alloy Ingot | 0.55% | 0.07% | -23.37% | 0.10% |
| Crystal Computer | -1.23% | -2.01% | -2.15% | -1.42% |
| Dark Matter Trap | -0.52% | -1.53% | 0.05% | -2.26% |
| Heavy Encased Frame | -1.83% | -6.53% | -7.65% | -2.77% |
| Insulated Crystal Oscillator | -1.34% | -1.62% | -3.05% | -1.38% |
| Oil-Based Diamonds | -2.54% | -4.89% | -0.82% | -10.88% |
| Pure Aluminum Ingot | -0.66% | -1.67% | -2.16% | -2.16% |
| Silicon Circuit Board | -1.92% | -0.71% | -3.19% | -0.66% |
| Sloppy Alumina | -0.90% | -2.46% | 1.20% | -4.81% |
Any Alternate Recipe ranked S-Tier is a must-have for your factories. These recipes significantly enhance product efficiency compared to lower-tier options, making them invaluable when discovered.
For instance, acquiring the Copper Alloy Ingot recipe allows players to produce 10 Copper Ingots every 100 minutes, compared to the standard recipe yielding one Copper Ingot every 30 minutes. Copper is essential in Satisfactory, so this recipe is critical.
If you’re keen on crafting the Hover Pack quickly, the Heavy Encased Frame Alternate Recipe offers more production efficiency than creating Heavy Modular Frames using the base recipe. This item is also integral for various structures, such as the Manufacturer and Freight Car for train systems.
A-Tier Alternate Recipes
| Alternate Recipe | Power | Items | Buildings | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum Beam | -0.64% | -1.11% | -2.30% | -0.66% |
| Aluminum Rod | -0.33% | -0.54% | -3.06% | -0.71% |
| Automated Speed Wiring | -0.06% | -0.57% | -1.01% | -0.06% |
| Caterium Computer | -1.01% | -1.16% | -1.25% | -0.85% |
| Diluted Fuel | -0.96% | 0.17% | -1.67% | 1.32% |
| Electrode Aluminum Scrap | 0.23% | -1.27% | 1.23% | -5.41% |
| Heat-Fused Frame | -0.35% | -2.77% | -2.57% | -1.00% |
| Heavy Flexible Frame | -1.02% | -3.62% | -3.84% | -2.19% |
| Plastic AI Limiter | -0.42% | -1.02% | -1.57% | -1.20% |
| Recycled Plastic | 0.11% | 0.42% | 0.10% | -0.03% |
| Rigor Motor | -0.02% | -1.17% | -1.12% | -0.68% |
| Rubber Concrete | -0.27% | -1.56% | -3.80% | -4.03% |
| Steel Rod | -0.30% | -0.71% | -3.05% | -0.83% |
| Steel Screw | -0.42% | -0.51% | -5.15% | -0.14% |
| Super-State Computer | -0.83% | -0.97% | -2.77% | -0.40% |
| Turbo Diamonds | -3.09% | -1.73% | 0.71% | -6.00% |
| Turbo Pressure Motor | -0.58% | -0.74% | -0.94% | -0.61% |
| Uranium Fuel Unit | -1.64% | -1.63% | -1.55% | -1.94% |
| Wet Concrete | 0.08% | -0.23% | -4.00% | -0.56% |
A-Tier Alternate Recipes are still highly valuable, and you should definitely opt for them when available. Although they are not as potent as S-Tier games, they should still be prioritized when collecting Hard Drives.
For instance, the Steel Screw Alternate Recipe produces 52 Screws within 260 minutes, whereas the standard recipe yields just 24 Screws in that same time. If you’re facing a Concrete shortage for Platforms, the Rubber Concrete Alternate Recipe will allow you to generate nine Concrete within 90 minutes, unlike the base recipe that only produces one every 15 minutes.
B-Tier Alternate Recipes
| Alternate Recipe | Power | Items | Buildings | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adhered Iron Plate | -0.01% | -0.94% | -0.20% | -0.13% |
| Bolted Iron Plate | -0.11% | 0.25% | -0.44% | 0.00% |
| Caterium Wire | -0.06% | -0.28% | -1.03% | -0.33% |
| Coated Cable | 0.04% | -0.38% | -0.62% | -0.07% |
| Coke Steel Ingot | -0.08% | -0.07% | -0.15% | -2.94% |
| Copper Rotor | -0.01% | -0.27% | -0.51% | 0.17% |
| Electric Motor | -0.07% | 0.68% | -0.50% | -0.53% |
| Fine Concrete | -0.25% | -1.32% | -2.92% | -3.79% |
| Fused Wire | -0.03% | -0.34% | -1.07% | -0.42% |
| Heavy Oil Residue | 0.05% | 0.08% | -0.08% | -0.14% |
| Infused Uranium Cell | -0.03% | 0.51% | 1.31% | -0.25% |
| Insulated Cable | -0.04% | -0.43% | -0.74% | -0.06% |
| Plastic Smart Plating | 0.00% | -0.17% | -0.54% | -0.05% |
| Polymer Resin | 0.00% | -0.01% | -0.01% | 0.01% |
| Quickwire Cable | 0.04% | -0.50% | -0.25% | -0.08% |
| Radio Control System | -0.95% | 0.75% | -1.22% | 0.33% |
| Rigor Motor | -0.02% | -1.17% | -1.12% | -0.68% |
| Silicon High-Speed Connector | -0.06% | -0.59% | -0.71% | -0.15% |
| Solid Steel Ingot | -0.14% | -0.27% | 0.27% | -2.46% |
| Steeled Frame | -0.42% | -0.02% | -1.85% | 0.17% |
| Stitched Iron Plate | -0.03% | -0.51% | -0.24% | -0.04% |
| Tempered Caterium Ingot | -0.04% | -0.87% | 1.39% | -1.48% |
| Turbo Electric Motor | -0.33% | -0.19% | -0.32% | -0.39% |
B-Tier Alternate Recipes can yield reasonable results, but you shouldn’t depend upon them if you seek maximum efficiency. While these can produce acceptable products without excessive power use, they don’t represent the most optimal choices available.
For example, the Adhered Iron Plate Alternate Recipe produces a Reinforced Iron Plate every 3.75 minutes, a marginal improvement over the standard recipe that takes five minutes. These recipes might only slightly enhance your outputs, making it worthwhile to consult other options if they’re weighed against less favorable alternatives.
C-Tier Alternate Recipes
| Alternate Recipe | Power | Items | Buildings | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alclad Casing | 0.10% | 0.15% | -0.53% | 0.58% |
| Bolted Frame | -0.39% | 1.39% | -1.60% | -0.12% |
| Cast Screw | -0.01% | -0.05% | -1.51% | 0.65% |
| Classic Battery | 0.03% | 0.19% | 0.54% | -0.45% |
| Coated Iron Canister | 0.01% | 0.06% | 0.06% | 0.06% |
| Coated Iron Plate | 0.01% | 0.06% | 0.06% | 0.06% |
| Cooling Device | 0.08% | 0.01% | 0.24% | -0.23% |
| Electromagnetic Connection Rod | 0.01% | -0.21% | -0.36% | -0.01% |
| Fine Black Powder | -0.04% | -0.03% | -0.12% | -0.03% |
| Flexible Framework | 0.04% | -0.14% | -0.15% | -0.06% |
| Fused Quickwire | 0.22% | 0.93% | -1.53% | 1.07% |
| Heat Exchanger | -0.19% | -0.41% | -0.57% | -0.40% |
| Iron Alloy Ingot | 0.01% | -0.06% | -0.28% | -0.14% |
| Iron Wire | 0.04% | -0.04% | 0.61% | -0.17% |
| Leached Caterium Ingot | 0.31% | 0.27% | -0.34% | 0.15% |
| Leached Iron Ingot | 0.04% | -0.03% | -0.29% | -0.12% |
| Molded Beam | 0.02% | 0.03% | -0.34% | 0.24% |
| Nitro Rocket Fuel | -1.39% | 0.03% | -2.35% | 2.23% |
| OC Supercomputer | -0.73% | 0.95% | -1.76% | 0.64% |
| Pure Iron Ingot | 0.06% | -0.02% | -0.23% | -0.05% |
| Pure Quartz Crystal | 0.36% | 0.27% | -1.21% | 0.61% |
| Quickwire Stator | -0.14% | -0.21% | -0.34% | 0.01% |
| Steamed Copper Sheet | 0.47% | -0.43% | -2.36% | 0.08% |
| Steel Canister | -0.01% | 0.17% | 0.11% | 0.12% |
| Steel Cast Plate | 0.00% | -0.33% | -0.97% | -0.40% |
| Steel Rotor | 0.04% | -0.51% | -0.14% | 0.13% |
| Turbo Blend Fuel | -0.53% | -0.02% | -1.13% | 0.60% |
| Turbo Heavy Fuel | -0.31% | -0.20% | -0.44% | -0.21% |
The C-Tier Alternate Recipes provide limited advantages. While they can be useful in critical situations, they do not yield the best efficiency compared to higher tiers.
For instance, the Classic Battery Alternate Recipe requires a more costly setup and additional resources, often making it less appealing than the base recipe. Moreover, the Classic Battery recipe lacks the base recipe’s Water output.
Although some C-Tier recipes might appear to improve production, they are generally less beneficial over the long term. The Iron Wire Alternate Recipe might generate more Wire, but it consumes a significant amount of power and requires more Iron Ingots than desired.
D-Tier Alternate Recipes
| Alternate Recipe | Power | Items | Buildings | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Iron Ingot | 0.05% | 0.06% | -0.17% | 0.14% |
| Cheap Silica | 0.30% | 0.53% | -0.47% | 1.25% |
| Compacted Steel Ingot | 0.15% | 1.58% | 0.48% | -0.85% |
| Distilled Silica | 0.24% | 0.72% | -0.85% | 0.25% |
| Electrode Circuit Board | -0.20% | -0.24% | 0.23% | -1.05% |
| Encased Industrial Pipe | 0.43% | 0.60% | 1.83% | 0.24% |
| Fused Quartz Crystal | 0.15% | 0.28% | -1.29% | 0.66% |
| Molded Steel Pipe | 0.10% | 0.00% | -1.55% | 0.49% |
| Plutonium Fuel Unit | 0.19% | 0.95% | 0.74% | 0.91% |
| Pure Caterium Ingot | 0.68% | 0.32% | 0.47% | 0.68% |
| Quartz Purification | 0.73% | 1.13% | -2.74% | 1.04% |
| Recycled Rubber | 0.96% | 2.06% | 2.81% | 1.41% |
Recipes in the D-Tier are generally not advisable when compared to other Alternate Recipes from Hard Drives. These should only be pursued in rare circumstances, as they often offer poor returns on investment.
For example, the Recycled Rubber recipe demands six Plastic and Fuel to produce merely 12 Rubber in 60 minutes, while the standard recipe requires just three Crude Oils to provide both Rubber and Heavy Oil Residue.
All D-Tier recipes tend to consume excessive power and resources, making them unappealing for use.
F-Tier Alternate Recipes
| Alternate Recipe | Power | Items | Buildings | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudy Diamonds | 4.19% | 5.40% | 1.43% | 11.85% |
| Dark-Ion Fuel | -0.23% | 4.33% | 2.59% | 3.75% |
| Dark Matter Crystallization | 4.62% | 3.00% | 3.19% | 3.38% |
| Fertile Uranium | 2.76% | 2.25% | 2.19% | 2.45% |
| Instant Plutonium Cell | 1.04% | 0.62% | 0.53% | 0.56% |
| Instant Scrap | 1.48% | -2.71% | 1.04% | -0.73% |
| Iron Pipe | 0.24% | 1.46% | 0.60% | 2.02% |
| Leached Copper Ingot | 5.20% | 2.18% | -18.87% | -4.65% |
| Petroleum Diamonds | 3.73% | 6.85% | 11.75% | -9.73% |
| Pink Diamonds | 0.27% | -0.88% | 2.31% | -4.14% |
| Pure Copper Ingot | 12.56% | -4.06% | -4.44% | -11.41% |
| Radio Connection Unit | 0.62% | 2.71% | 3.92% | 2.19% |
| Tempered Copper Ingot | 7.99% | 9.95% | -3.63% | -16.70% |
F-Tier Alternate Recipes are highly discouraged for use in your factories. They require the most resources and power, making them the least viable options available.
For example, the recipe for Cloudy Diamonds is a poor choice. The base recipe utilizes 20 Coal to create one Diamond in 30 minutes, but the Cloudy Diamonds recipe requires 12 Coal and 24 Limestone, yielding just one Diamond every 20 minutes.
These recipes represent the absolute worst options for your factories, and should never be utilized due to their inefficiency and resource waste compared to superior alternatives.
How to Unlock Hard Drives and Alternate Recipes
Players can locate Hard Drives at random Crash Sites scattered throughout the game world. Utilize your Scanner to pinpoint these Crash Sites. After researching a Hard Drive in the MAM, you will choose one Alternate Recipe from two or three available options.
Make your selection carefully, as one recipe may significantly outperform another. Fortunately, with nearly 100 Crash Sites to explore, you’ll have ample opportunities to find hard-to-get Alternate Recipes, providing blueprints for various products.
That concludes our comprehensive Hard Drive tier list for Satisfactory 1.0.
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