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5 Most Reliable High Capacity SSDs To Buy In 2022

SSDs have become one of the most integral parts of modern gaming PCs and have essentially replaced most hard drives in the majority of computers in 2022. Although hard drives are still an essential part of many data center and server applications, they are becoming less and less common in consumer gaming PCs. A huge part of this move can be attributed to the falling price of NAND flash and the subsequent decrease in the price of Solid State Drives in the storage market. This has led most users who are building a new PC in 2022 to just pick a fast SATA or NVMe SSD for a reasonable price instead of opting for a hard drive.

There is still an area where hard drives are almost solely prevalent and that is mass storage in gaming PCs. It is considered the ideal practice to pair a smaller, faster SSD with a large, high-capacity HDD in order to get the best of both worlds. However, the falling prices of NAND flash and the improvements in SSD technologies have led to an overall price drop in the cost of high capacity SSDs as well. They are still more expensive than hard drives gig-for-gig, but they offer much faster operation while being smaller and quieter.

So with that in mind, here are the 5 best high-capacity SSDs to buy in 2022.

1. Samsung 870 QVO

The Best Value High Capacity SSD

Pros
  • Available in 8TB Capacity
  • Samsung’s MKX Controller
  • Quite Affordable for High Capacity Variants
  • Maximum SATA Speeds
Cons
  • QLC NAND

16,451 Reviews

Capacity: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB | NAND Flash Type: 3D QLC NAND | Read Speeds: 560 MB/s | Write Speeds: 530 MB/s | DRAM Cache: Yes | Form Factor: 2.5-inch

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Samsung is renowned in the storage industry for its incredible reliability and the fantastic performance of its SSDs. The Samsung 870 QVO is Samsung’s SATA SSD option that is aimed at the high-capacity market. The 870 QVO is a 2.5-inch SATA SSD that is available in 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and even 8TB capacity options. It uses 3D QLC NAND Flash and it can reach sequential read speeds of 560 MB/s while delivering write speeds of up to 530 MB/s.

The 870 QVO is ideal for those who are looking to pair a reliable high-capacity SSD with a smaller SSD to complete an all-solid-state system. Samsung has released the 870 QVO in most capacities ranging from 1TB all the way up to 8TB, and that places the 870 QVO head-to-head in terms of storage space with most hard drives. The 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB variants make the most sense for a mass storage SSD in a fairly modern gaming PC.

The 870 QVO uses a Samsung MKX controller and has a Tri-core, 8-ch, 8-CE/ch configuration. There is a DRAM cache present on the SSD as well, which is really important for the long-term endurance and sustained performance of the drive. The only drawback of the drive is the inclusion of the 3D QLC NAND Flash instead of the TLC NAND, which delivers better sustained performance. However, this trade-off is completely justified since QLC NAND allows the drive manufacturer to maximize the capacity of the drive without increasing the price too much.

The speeds of the SSD are still fantastic, as the 870 QVO can deliver sequential read speeds of up to 560 MB/s. The maximum sequential write speeds are also rated up to 530 MB/s, and these numbers are quite close to the theoretical maximum that the SATA 6Gbps protocol can handle. The QLC NAND does not hurt its performance too much in shorter, lighter workloads, however, you might experience some comparative slowdowns when writing large files to the SSD over a long period of time. This is an acceptable tradeoff, however, since this drive should not be used to install an operating system anyway.

Overall, the Samsung 870 QVO is the best value high-capacity SSD due to its wide range of capacity options, reliable internal components, and relatively modest pricing. Having QLC NAND is its only obvious weak point, but that is true for many other high-capacity SSDs on the market as well.

2. Sabrent Rocket Q 8TB

When Speed Meets Capacity

Pros
  • Variety of Capacity Options
  • Extremely Fast NVMe Speeds
  • More Affordable than other NVMe Drives
  • M.2 Form Factor
Cons
  • QLC NAND Flash Type

16,412 Reviews

Capacity: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB | NAND Flash Type: 3D QLC NAND | Read Speeds: 3300 MB/s | Write Speeds: 3000 MB/s | DRAM Cache: Yes | Form Factor: M.2

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Sabrent is a smaller manufacturer but it has quickly become a fan favorite among PC building enthusiasts due to its fantastic products and competitive prices. The Sabrent Rocket Q 8TB is another solid offering from Sabrent that is targeted at users looking for a high-capacity SSD that is also blazing fast. The Sabrent Rocket Q 8TB is an NVMe drive which means that surely satisfies the latter criteria quite well, and it can be configured in capacities of up to 8TB on a single M. 2 drive.

The Rocket Q is offered in capacities of 500 GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and even 8TB. This means that there are a lot of options to choose from that would suit different potential buyers with different needs. The Rocket Q 8TB has sequential read speeds of up to 3300 MB/s with sequential write speeds right around 3000 MB/s. The drive also has a DRAM cache of course and is offered in the M.2 form factor which eliminates cable clutter and is quite easy to install.

The only drawback of the Rocket Q 8TB, apart from its price, is its 3D QLC NAND configuration just like the Samsung 870 QVO. It is quite difficult for manufacturers to assemble an 8TB high-capacity SSD by using the TLC NAND flash while keeping it at a reasonable price. This is the reason the very high capacity SSDs such as this one use the QLC NAND type in order to get the maximum capacity. The performance of the Sabrent Rocket Q 8TB is still exceptional due to its NVMe interface, however, it would be unwise to buy this drive as your primary or only storage. QLC drives should not be used to install operating systems and should be reserved for mass storage.

The Rocket Q 8TB uses a Phison E12S controller in a Quad-core, 8-ch, 4-CE/ch configuration with a DRAM cache onboard. The controller is quite a formidable one, and the presence of a DRAM cache means that the drive would not experience slowdowns or endurance issues over extended use. The price of Rocket 8TB is quite hefty if we compare it to SATA SSDs, but it is actually quite reasonable when compared to other high-capacity NVMe SSDs.

All in all, the Sabrent Rocket Q 8TB combines the worlds of speed and high capacity in a single SSD and is ideal for people who are looking for a high-speed secondary storage device. The price-to-performance ratio is excellent if when compared to other high-capacity NVMe options.

3. Corsair MP400 8TB

Solid Corsair NVMe Offering

Pros
  • Many Capacity Options
  • Very Fast NVMe Speeds
  • M.2 Form Factor
Cons
  • QLC NAND Flash
  • Quite Pricy

9,316 Reviews

Capacity: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB | NAND Flash Type: 3D QLC NAND | Read Speeds: 3400 MB/s | Write Speeds: 3000 MB/s | DRAM Cache: Yes | Form Factor: M. 2

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Unlike Sabrent, Corsair needs no introduction to most PC builders. They have been around since forever and have curated a reputation for being ultra-reliable and for having excellent customer support. Their Corsair MP400 8TB is another high-speed, high-capacity NVMe option just like the Sabrent Rocket Q, however, it is a little bit more expensive than the latter. The MP400 also offers the massive 8TB capacity option, hence the name.

Corsair offers the MP400 in 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB capacities, which are more than enough for most gaming PC builders. The 500GB capacity is not offered by Corsair, but that is a capacity that makes more sense for an operating system drive rather than a mass storage drive. The sequential read speeds of the MP400 are up to 3400 MB/s with sequential write speeds being right around 3000 MB/s. The drive is offered in the M.2 form factor which cleans up the cable clutter and is easier to install.

Just like the Sabrent Rocket Q, however, the Corsair MP400 also contains 3D QLC NAND Flash in order to maximize the capacity of the drive while keeping it relatively affordable. The drive does not experience any massive performance issues despite having the QLC NAND, and that is due to the excellent NVMe speeds that the drive is capable of producing. The 3400 MB/s read and 3000 MB/s write speeds are quite close to the limits of what is possible with the NVMe protocol.

The Corsair MP400 uses the same fantastic Phison E12S controller as the Sabrent Rocket Q. The configuration of the drive is also Quad-core, 8-ch, 4-CE/ch which is the same as the Sabrent as well. These drives are quite similar in terms of internal components. The MP400 also contains a DRAM cache that helps with the long-term endurance and sustained performance of the drive.

The Corsair MP400 is one of the fastest NVMe options on the market that is available in a high-capacity configuration. Despite using QLC NAND, the drive delivers an exceptional performance as a mass storage drive due to its high speeds and reliable components. Its price is a bit high, however, as it is even more expensive than the Sabrent Rocket Q. The potential buyer should weigh the performance of the drive against the price premium before making a purchase decision.

4. Samsung 870 EVO

The Best All-Rounder SSD

Pros
  • 3D TLC NAND Flash
  • Fast Speeds for a SATA SSD
  • Quite Affordable
Cons
  • No 8TB Variant
  • Relatively More Expensive than Other SATA SSDs

22,420 Reviews

Capacity: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | NAND Flash Type: 3D TLC NAND | Read Speeds: 560 MB/s | Write Speeds: 530 MB/s | DRAM Cache: Yes | Form Factor: 2.5-inch

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The 870 EVO is a performance-focused SATA SSD that uses the 3D TLC NAND Flash instead of the QLC NAND of the aforementioned drives. This means that the 870 EVO has much higher sustained performance and endurance than the drives mentioned above, and can even outperform the NVMe drives in certain specific scenarios. However, the TLC NAND is more expensive to produce, and that means that Samsung is unable to offer the massive 8TB version of the 870 EVO using this NAND type.

Samsung has released the 870 EVO in most capacities ranging all the way from 250GB all the way up to 4TB. This is a good decision and allows potential buyers to choose the SSD capacity of their choice. Most people on a budget will be fine with 250GB or 500GB options and those SSDs will also make great OS drives without spending too much money. Alternatively, for people looking for the ultimate storage drives, the 2TB and 4TB options are also available which will be plenty for a large steam library and all the OS files as well. The 8TB option is missing as mentioned before.

The 870 EVO uses a Samsung MJX controller and has a Tri-core, 8-ch, 8-CE/ch configuration. The SSD does contain a DRAM cache as well, and it can hit speeds of up to 550 MB/s read and 520 MB/s writes in sequential scenarios, which is the maximum that is possible with the SATA 6 Gbps link. Overall, the 870 EVO is a performance-focused SATA SSD that offers great all-around performance due to its TLC NAND configuration, although potential buyers who are looking at more than 4TB of SSD space should look at the 870 QVO instead.

5. Western Digital Blue

Another SATA Alternative

Pros
  • 3D TLC NAND
  • Available in M.2 Form Factor as well
Cons
  • No 8TB Option
  • Reliability Concerns
  • Low TBW Rating

31,327 Reviews

Capacity: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | NAND Flash Type: 3D TLC NAND | Read Speeds: 560 MB/s | Write Speeds: 530 MB/s | DRAM Cache: Yes | Form Factor: 2.5-inch and M.2

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WD’s Blue series is the more performance-focused lineup of WD’s SATA SSDs. The WD Blue SSDs also use a 3D TLC NAND configuration just like the 870 EVO from Samsung. This means that the WD Blue drives also cannot offer an 8TB variant at a reasonable price, so WD has capped the capacity options at 4TB. Apart from this point, however, WD Blue is one of the better SATA SSDs on the market right now.

The WD Blue comes in all capacities from 250GB all the way up to 4TB so that most people can choose whatever capacity they want for their use case. The 250GB and 500GB drives are great value for an affordable OS drive for an entry-level gaming PC or even a laptop. WD also offers the 2TB and 4TB varieties which can be useful for consumers looking for a large amount of solid-state storage on the cheap. The 8TB variant is missing from this drive as well due to its TLC configuration.

WD has also gone ahead and made the WD Blue drives in the M.2 SATA form factor in addition to the 2.5 inch SATA form factor. This would make it easier to install the drive directly into the motherboard to remove cable clutter and improve the overall aesthetics of the build.

WD is using the Marvell 88SS1074 controller in the WD Blue drives with a Dual-Core, 4-ch, 8-CH/ch configuration. The WD Blue drives also contain a DRAM cache which helps in the overall durability of the drive and improves sustained performance. WD is using Sandisk’s 3D TLC NAND with 64 layers that allow more data to be written to the NAND cells. This configuration allows the WD Blue to reach read speeds of 560 MB/s sequential reads, and 530 MB/s sequential writes and that essentially saturates the SATA 6Gbps link.

The WD Blue is comparatively cheaper than the 870 EVO and the NVMe drives and should therefore be a good alternative to those drives. The only problem is that many people do not trust WD’s reliability due to their history with hard drives and while there have not been any major cases of WD Blue drives failing, it is a point that you might want to consider while making a purchase decision especially if their lower TBW rating is anything to go by.

How Long do SSDs Really Last?

Until a couple of years ago, many IT administrators and managers were concerned about the risk of losing valuable data because of a sudden failure. That’s why it took manufacturers a long time to convince the public that SSDs are safe to use, even
when handling sensitive data.

A NAND Flash chip based SSD is a totally different storage media than the traditional hard disk drive which saves its data on a magnetic plate. It consists of an electronic controller and several storage chips. A hybrid drive – also called SSHD
– consists of both storage technologies: A normal magnetic hard disk drive as well as storage chips.

What are the benefits of SSDs?

The main benefit of electronic chips for storage is that they are much faster than HDD with a spindle inside. That is due to the fact that a normal HDD consists of many mechanical parts and rotating discs. Also, the re-positioning of the read/write head
takes much more time than just pushing data through electronic interfaces. Additionally, SSDs have a very short access time, which makes them perfect for being used in environments where real time access and transfer is a necessity.

What are the disadvantages of SSDs?

The downside of SSDs with the NAND Flash based chips is that they have a limited life span by default. While normal HDDs can – in theory – last forever (in reality about 10 years max.), an SSD lifespan has a built-in “time of death.”
To keep it simple: An electric effect results in the fact that data can only be written on a storage cell inside the chips between approximately 3,000 and 100,000 times during its lifetime. After that, the cells “forget” new data. Because
of this fact – and to prevent certain cells from getting used all the time while others aren’t – manufacturers use wear-leveling algorithms to distribute data evenly over all cells by the controller. As with HDDs the user can check
the current SSD status by using the S.M.A.R.T. analysis tool, which shows the remaining life span of an SSD.

Estimating terabytes written (TBW)

Usually, manufacturers give an estimate with the so-called terabyte(s) written (TBW)– especially when it comes to enterprise SSDs, but also for consumer versions. Because of the fact that by using Wear-Leveling the data will be distributed evenly
over all cells, this figure is supposed to tell how much data can be really written in total on all cells inside the storage chips and over the whole life span.

A typical TBW figure for a 250 GB SSD lies between 60 and 150 terabytes written. That means: To get over a guaranteed TBW of 70, a user would have to write 190(!) GB daily over a period of one year (in other words, to fill two thirds of the SSD with new
data every day). In a consumer environment this is highly unlikely.

Samsung example

Samsung states that their Samsung SSD 850 PRO SATA, with a capacity of 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 or 1 TB,  is “built
to handle 150 terabytes written (TBW), which equates to a 40 GB daily read/write workload over a ten-year period.”  Samsung even promises that the product is “withstanding up to 600 terabytes written (TBW).”
A normal office user writes approximately between 10 and 35 GB on a normal day. Even if one raises this amount up to 40 GB, it means that they could write (and only write) more than almost 5 years until they reach the 70 TBW limit.

SSD lifespan even longer than promised

The most recent estimates put the age limit for SSDs around 10 years – though the average SSD lifespan is shorter. A joint study between Google and the University of Toronto tested SSDs over a multi-year period. It was found that the age of the SSD was the primary determinant of when an SSD stopped working. The study also found that SSDs were replaced about 25% less often than HDDs.

Remember: In the case of data loss from SSDs, the best idea is to contact a  professional data recovery service provider. When it comes to a physical fault,
there is no possibility for a user to recover or rescue their data themselves. Also, when the controller or storage chip is malfunctioning, the attempt to recover data with a specialized data recovery software tool is even more dangerous. It can lead
to a permanent data loss with no chance of recovering the data ever again.

If they last that long, where are the dangers?

Even though the average SSD lifespan is longer than originally expected, using this storage medium still poses a serious threat: Recovering data from failed SSDs is still more challenging than HDDs for data recovery service providers because getting access
to the device is often difficult.   When the SSD controller chip is broken, access to the device and the storage chips is impossible. The solution to this problem is trying to find a functioning controller chip that is identical to the bad one
and to remove and exchange it with the identical one to get access. What sounds quite simple is a difficult task in reality. This applies also for trying to access data from faulty storage chips.  In many cases  data recovery experts like those from Ontrack are able to reset data.  In the last few years, Ontrack developed a lot of special tools and processes to master these challenges
and have successfully recovered lost data.

Remember: In case of data loss from SSDs, the best idea is to contact a professional data recovery service provider.
When it comes to a physical fault, there is no possibility for a user to recover or rescue their data themselves. Also, when the controller or storage chip is malfunctioning, the attempt to recover data with a specialized data recovery software tool
is even more dangerous. It can lead to a permanent data loss with no chance of recovering the data ever again.

To speak with a data recovery service representative, call us or submit an inquiry:

855.558.3856  Begin your recovery

SSD Lifespan: How Long do Solid-State Drives Last?

From large enterprises to small businesses to managed services providers (MSPs), storage needs across a wide range of industries are surging. In fact, an IDC report states we can expect the total size of worldwide data to grow 61% by 2025, when it will hit 175 zettabytes. As companies grapple with these daunting storage requirements, they will need to consider a diverse array of options to boost performance and use their resources as effectively as possible.

Solid-state drives and hard disk drives

In recent years, businesses have begun investing in solid-state hard drives for their data storage needs. Also known as SSDs, solid-state hard drives function in an inherently different way than hard disk drives (HDDs). Where HDDs have physically moving parts such as an actuator arm and a spinning disk, SSDs are—as the name suggests—entirely solid. They don’t contain any moving parts and therefore use entirely different methods to write and store data.

To compare these two technologies and the methods they use, first consider HDDs. HDDs use magnetically sensitive disks, an actuator arm with a read/write functionality, and a motor that spins the disks and moves the arm. When computers store data, HDDs write that information by coding it through magnetic signals between the actuator arm, disks, and circular tracks. By comparison, SSDs use flash memory chips—usually NAND flash chips. Semiconductors alter the electric charges of these arrays, storing code in the process.

Compared with traditional HDDs, SSDs offer businesses a litany of benefits—from faster performance to greater durability. However, because SSD technology is so new, many stakeholders have questions about SSD longevity and reliability. Whether you’re looking to invest in SSDs for your MSP or your customers, it’s critical you know the ins and outs of SSDs so you can make the most informed decisions possible.

How long does a SSD last?

SSDs are fairly new to the market, meaning manufacturers are still trying to figure out how long they will last. Currently, vendors use three different factors to estimate SSD lifespan: the age of the SSD, the total number of terabytes written over time (TBW), and the drive writes per day (DWPD). Based on which metric you use, the answer to the question “How long do SSDs last?” will vary.

For example, the age of an SSD has proven to be a valuable determinate in its performance and longevity. Current estimates put the age limit for SSDs around 10 years, though the average SSD lifespan is shorter. In fact, a joint study between Google and the University of Toronto tested SSDs over a multi-year period. During that study, they found the age of an SSD was the primary determinant of when it stopped working. Researchers working on the study also found SSDs were replaced about 25% less often than HDDs.

Another way of measuring how long SSDs will last is the total number of terabytes written over time (TBW). TBW estimates how many successful writes you can expect a drive to make over its lifetime. If a manufacturer says their SSD has a TBW of 150, it means the drive can write 150 terabytes of data. After the drive hits that threshold, it’s likely you’ll need to replace it.

The final of the three metrics manufacturers might use when predicting the lifespan of their drives is the drive writes per day (DWPD). DWPD measures how many times users can overwrite the amount of available storage in the drive each day of its working lifespan. If an SSD has a capacity of 200 GB and comes with a five-year warranty, for instance, users can write 200 GB onto the drive every day for the warranty period before it fails. When in doubt, you can use an online SSD lifespan calculator to estimate the SSD’s lifespan.

Do SSDs fail?

SSDs can fail, but in a different way than traditional HDDs. While the latter often fail because of mechanical issues, SSDs may fail due to the methods used to write information. To understand why and how SSDs fail, it’s important to understand more about the way they process, store, and access information in the first place.

As previously mentioned, SSDs use flash memory cells to store data. In this way, SSDs function almost like large flash drives, programming data onto these cells by changing their electric charges. However, once you fill the available memory on an SSD, the SSD can only add new information by erasing older data. This process is called a program/erase cycle, or P/E cycle for short.

Importantly, each SSD has a limited number of P/E cycles. Each P/E cycle gradually degrades the memory of an SSD’s cells until they eventually become worn down. At this point, you will no longer be able to rely on the SSD to store information. While the gradual wearing out of SSD flash cells doesn’t represent the same kind of failure as a mechanical malfunction on a HDD, it does mean the drive will no longer be usable.

While SSDs may fail with less frequency than HDDs, they do have a higher error rate that can affect the end-user experience. For example, so-called uncorrectable errors are relatively common in SSDs. Research shows that over 20% of SSDs develop uncorrectable errors over a four-year period, and 30% to 80% develop bad blocks. All of these errors can affect data retention and lead to effective failure.

Which lasts longer: SSDs or HDDs?

Whether you’re looking to invest in new storage hardware for your own MSP or your customers, it helps to understand the relative advantages and disadvantages of SSDs and HDDs. While the right option will vary depending on several variables such as your budget, the nature of the work you do, and how much wear and tear you expect to put on your drives, both can be viable options for companies in a wide range of industries.

For instance, HDDs might not be cutting-edge technology, but they have their benefits. They’ve been around for decades, meaning tech professionals are very familiar with how they work. By contrast, experts are still learning how SSDs function in the long term. Additionally, HDDs are more affordable than SSDs and tend to offer larger amounts of storage per model. These benefits mean that HDDs are cost-effective and generally a viable option for many businesses.

However, HDDs also come with their own drawbacks. Because they depend on physical moving parts, they’re susceptible to damage and malfunction in ways SSDs aren’t. Dropping a device with an HDD can cause any number of these parts to break, rendering the drive inoperable—and making any information stored on the HDD especially difficult to retrieve. Finally, HDDs are larger and use more energy as compared to SSDs. This presents design challenges, especially with mobile devices such as laptops.

Conversely, SSDs offer their own unique set of considerations for businesses. SSDs have lots of benefits—for starters, SSDs tend to deliver faster performance because of the way they process, store, and access data. This can be especially useful when it comes to complex business applications that may otherwise take a longer time to load. Beyond that, SSDs weigh less, aren’t as energy-intensive as HDDs, and are more durable because they lack the fragile moving parts associated with HDDs.

While SSDs do come with potential disadvantages, manufacturers are working to improve the technology. As discussed earlier, once SSDs are full, they can only write new information by erasing older information. Over time, this creates wear and tear on flash cells and ultimately renders them unusable. However, many SSDs are beginning to use wear-leveling algorithms to ensure space is being used as effectively as possible.

In short, the respective lifespan of SSDs and HDDs will change depending on how you use them. While HDDs may nominally offer more storage space than most SSD models, they’re more fragile because of their moving parts and are susceptible to damage. On the other hand, each P/E cycle degrades the SSDs, meaning there is a definite point when the SSD will no longer work.

If you’re looking for new storage solutions, make sure you’re equipped with the information you need to make the right decision.

For more information on SSD drives and how to use them effectively, head to our blog for articles on the topic. Also learn more about our Backup Data Archiving Solution.

The life span of an SSD – how long does it last and what can be done to take care?

In fact, the starting times of SSD drives weren’t easy: The first SSD storages suffered from firmware problems and decreases of power. However, the development of SSD technology hasn’t stagnated since then. Some years have passed and new chips and procedures have immensely improved the technology.

How long does an SSD last?

Someone who aks this question in relevant internet forums, mostly gets a variety of most diverse opinions. If you deal with the expected life span of an SSD, you first have to have a look at the variable storage types of SSD drives. Three SSD storages are available: Single Level Cell (SLC), Multi Level Cell (MLC) and Triple Level Cell (TLC). These names already adumbrate the difference. The storage type MLC saves two bits per storage cell, the TLC type three bits per cell and the SLC type only one bit. SLC flash storages haven’t become accepted yet because of their horrendous prices.

For the storage types and their life span applies the following: The more data per cell is saved, the higher the wear level is. That means, at first the life span of storage types possibly can be linked to the write cycles. Storage cells of type MLC last about 3,000 write cycles. In the first moment, that necessarily doesn’t sound much. However, in comparison to conventional HDDs, the mechanics of SSD don’t degrade when only reading data. This means, by only reading data, an SSD will not wear out, which brings us to the conclusion that it depends on the write and delete processes.

With “Wear Leveling” SSDs have made a big step towards more robustness. SSDs of the new generations apportion data on the whole storage. By this, all storage cells are treated with care as good as possible. Meanwhile, some SSDs have a so-called SLC mode. We are already familiar with the term from the storage types as explained above. Per storage cell, only one bit is written on an SLC SSD. When an MLC or TLC drive runs in SLC mode, it virtually emulates an SLC storage and writes only one bit per cell at the beginning. Once the storage space isn’t sufficient anymore, the drive switches to working in the normal storage procedure mode.

Let’s undergo an endurance test with modern SSDs, which means constantly writing on these flash storages at highest speed by using special tools. By now, SSDs achieve outstanding results in such tests. Only after years there are storage cell drop outs. However, even for these inoperable cells flash storages have a successful solution. Current SSDs have reserve capacities. These storage spaces aren’t available to the user, but are used to repair damaged cells, so to speak. The defect cells are replaced with brand-new reserve cells; this procedure is called “Bad-Block-Management”. Thus, SSD storage cells in normal operation last a lifetime.

Can I calculate the life span of an SSD drive?

The more storage cells an SSD owns, the longer it will work. By having a huge storage capacity the storage cells can be treated with care for much longer because they aren’t rewritten that often. The life span of a modern SSD can be calculated with the help of a formula:

Let’s take the Samsung 850 PRO  as an example. The 850 PRO is an MLC SSD with 3,000 write cycles. The capacity of the drive differs depending on the model, ranging from 512GB to 2TB. The SSD factor specifies the rate of the real amount of data to the actual data written. For the calculation, one chooses a high value of 5. In addition, the amount of data that is written on the drive per year is estimated. If an estimation is difficult, then we recommend to choose a value between 1,500 and 2,000GB.

The life span of a Samsung 850 PRO with 1TB then results in:

This SSD will probably last incredible 343 years. This isn’t a guarantee, but a good forecast. The warranty for the named SSD is ten years. Also, TLC drives don’t have to hide. The 1TB model of the Samsung 850 EVO series, which is equipped with the low-priced TLC storage type, can expect a life span of 114 years.

If your SSD is already in usage for a while, then you can calculate the anticipated remaining life time with the help of special tools. The tool SSDlife calculates the working time so far, the amount of data already written and gives a rating regarding the life span.

Can I do something to optimize the life span of my SSD?

Not every hard drive tool can automatically handle SSDs. There are some tools especially for SSDs, which definitely take care of your storage. However, operating system services, the ones you know from conventional hard drives like for example the defragmentation, aren’t suitable for SSDs. A defragmentation even proves to be harmful for an SSD because of its unnecessary write and delete processes. Overall, the sorting of data through defragmentation isn’t useful for an SSD: SSDs access all storage regions simultaneously. We recommend to you the following optimization software for your SSD:

Samsung Magician Software – the tool exclusively for Samsung SSDs

In CompuRAM’s online shop, you will find the latest SSDs by Samsung. For best maintenance Samsung recommends the in-house software “Samsung Magician Software”. With this tool not only the speed of your SSD can be increased, but also the life span of your Samsung SSD can be analysed and improved. The tool informs you about the state of the drive and offers various benchmark, optimisation and delete functions. With these optimisation possibilities, operating system services can be tuned for maximum performance and reliability of your SSD.

Particularly interesting is the Magician feature “Over Provisioning”. With this function, it is possible to maximise the life span of your SSD. During this procedure, a certain storage area is not made available to the user. This area is only for the SSD controller. It uses the storage to efficiently swap and administer temporary data. By doing so, Over Provisioning also supports the introduced procedures Wear Leveling and Bad-Block-Management. Primarily SSDs with small capacity benefit from Over Provisioning because in so doing space for the optimisation functions is guaranteed. Owners of a big Samsung SSD mostly have enough space for administration functions from the start.

In this video we show you, how to use the tools in practice:

Life Span of SSD test and optimize

Watch this video on YouTube

Alternatively, you can use the free analysis software “GSmart Control”, which is compatible for all SSD manufacturer. With this tool ,you virtually check the blood values of your SSD. If your SSD gets through the “Basic Health Test” will be shown to you directly in the program. In the details of the analysis, you will find all reading errors and problems concerning your SSD. Recommendable is also the gratis tool SSD Fresh. The software offers a line of tuning features to treat your SSD drive even more gentle and thus, to ensure a long life span.

Conclusion:

Modern SSDs not only go strong by their speed, meanwhile they also satisfy in the matter of life span. With newest techniques, like Wear Leveling and Bad-Block-Management, the SSDs are treated with lots of care. With the proper optimisation tools, you can look after your SSDs, so that you can enjoy the flash storage for a very long time.

  • RAM upgrade and/or SSD drive – what’s the benefit?
  • View all SAMSUNG SSDs in our web shop

03.02.16, Updated on 19.08.20

Tags: Popular Errors, Purchasing Advices, SSD, Technology

Which SSD Brand Is The Most Reliable? [Aug 2022 Article]

Table of contents

  • The Most Reliable SSD Brands
    • Samsung 970 Evo Plus: Best SSD
    • WD Black SN750 NVMe SSD: Best Gaming SSD
    • Kingston KC2500 – Best Read and Write Speeds M. 2 NVMe SSD
    • Intel Optane 905P & 665P: Reliable Performance
    • Adata XPG SX8200 PRO SSD: Best M.2 SSD
    • Crucial P1 – Mid-range NVMe
  • Conclusion

If you’re planning to upgrade from your old hard drive or need additional storage, then buying an SSD is the best option. In this article, we will talk about the most reliable SSD brands and will give you advice on how to choose one. With technological advancements and continuously dropping prices, SSDs have become the most viable data storage solution. SSDs are faster and more robust than regular spinning mechanical hard drives. These drives don’t have an actuator arm and use NAND flash memory cells. With a good solid-state drive, your operating system will load at a blazing fast speed and all applications will have quick loading times. Moreover, SSDs are less prone to damages that lead to data loss. This type of drive can be a great upgrade for your computer or gaming console but choosing the right one can be daunting though. If you just starting to make research and would like to know what is SSD and type of SSDs exist on the market then read this.

With so many brands and models available, picking the right solid-state drive that suits your needs and budget can be tricky. SSDs come in different sizes and types, so you need to consider a few things before making a buying decision. First, you should understand that there are two different types of SSDs: SATA and PCIe. SATA is the traditional type 2.5in wide drives commonly found in PCs and laptops. The PCIe also referred to as NVMe and M.2, surpasses the performance of SATA. PCIe (PCI Express) is a much faster interface but you need to make sure whether NVMe or M.2 is compatible with your laptop. However, even if your PC’s motherboard doesn’t have an M.2 slot, there’s an option to use a PCIe adapter card.

Products related to your search

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The Most Reliable SSD Brands

When looking for an SSD, you need to find a fast, durable, and reliable drive that fits your budget. When comparing different solid-state drives, tech geeks consider factors like P/E cycles, TBW (Terabytes Written), and MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures). However, if you don’t know much about the technical details, here we’ve made things easier for you. In this post, we have compiled a list of the best SSDs available in the market to help you pick the right one. So, read further to find out the best SSD for laptops, the best gaming SSD, and the best budget SSD to choose wisely.

Samsung 970 Evo Plus: Best SSD

With 970 Evo Plus, Samsung has raised the SSD quality bar. This internal SSD with PCIe NVMe interface and M.2 form factor offers top-end performance. Samsung 970 Evo Plus comes in 250GB/500GB/1TB/2TB capacity with a 5-years warranty. It is one of the fastest drives on the market available at a competitive rate. The 970 Evo Plus is an improved version of the 970 Evo and has almost everything that you might need in an SSD. With a read speed of 3,500MB/s, ample storage capacities, and an onboard thermal cooling system, the 970 Evo Plus is one of the best solid-state drives. This fast and reliable SSD is a great combination of performance and affordability. However, on the downside, the drive’s sequential write speeds may get slow under high load.  Also, if you’re not looking for a PCIe 3.0 model, then Kingston KC2500 can be more affordable.

WD Black SN750 NVMe SSD: Best Gaming SSD

When it comes to data storage devices, Western Digital is one of the most reliable brands. This PCIe Gen 3 x4 M.2 SSD is renowned for its spectacular performance. Western Digital offers some of the best SSDs and the WD Black SN750 can be remarked as the company’s best gaming SSD. With insanely high random read speeds of 412.5MB/s, this NVMe SSD is the perfect choice for gamers.  It is available in 250GB/500GB/1TB/2TB sizes with an optional heatsink. With this premium SSD, you would no longer have to deal with loading screens because it makes games load faster. This drive is a decent combination of affordable price and high performance but its hardware is the same as its predecessor. Also, the heatsink version costs higher.

Kingston KC2500 – Best Read and Write Speeds M.2 NVMe SSD

Kingston is one of the most popular brands for producing reliable data storage devices. The company offers some of the best SD cards, as well as other devices like SSDs and flash drives. The Kingston KC2500 M.2 NVMe SSD has excellent read and write speeds that owe to its superior hardware and software engineering. This internal SSD with up to 2Tb capacity combines top-tier performance at a reasonable price. However, its cost gets higher at each capacity level which makes it not the most economical option. The main attraction of this drive is its spectacular read and writes speeds (up to 3,500 MB/s read and 2,900 MB/s write). This means that whether you need to edit a 4K video or play games, the drive’s incredible speed will process everything in a blink.

Intel Optane 905P & 665P: Reliable Performance

When looking for an SSD, don’t forget to check Intel solid-state drives. This brand has some of the finest SSD models such as Intel Optane 905P, Intel 750 Series, Intel 760p Series, 665P, and more. Most of the NVMe SSDs are too expensive but the Intel 760p Series SSD comes with impressive performance and a low price tag. However, this may fall a little behind Samsung 960 Evo. So, for better performance, consider PCIe NVMe SSD 665P which is built on new QLC (quad-level cells) technology. Another great option from Intel is Optane 905P with 2.5in PCIe* x4 interface and up to 1.5TB capacity.  It boasts excellent random read but costs higher than other similar SSDs.

Adata XPG SX8200 PRO SSD: Best M.2 SSD

If you’re looking for performance within your budget, then this SSD is right for you. Adata XPG SX8200 is a PCIe Gen 3 x4 M.2 SSD with 240GB/480GB/960GB storage sizes. Whether it’s performance, efficiency, endurance, or value for money, this internal SSD has it all. The Adata XPG SX8200 Pro has sufficient storage capacity and a maximum read speed of 3,500MB/s which makes it a suitable option for gamers or video producers. The drive’s superior performance and the low price tag make it the right choice for almost every user.  Its price to performance ratio is best as compared to other drives. However, its write speeds may not be the best.

Crucial P1 – Mid-range NVMe

When it comes to SATA drive, Crucial MX500 is considered the best option because of its decent performance and reasonable price. Another reliable SSD by Crucial is P2 that can be an affordable way of upgrading to an NVMe drive. This is not the fastest SSD around but can be suitable for everyday use. It is an internal, NVMe M.2 drive with up to 2TB capacity. The drive’s sequential read speeds of 2,000MB/s and reliable performance may compete with expensive drives. However, don’t go for it if you need an SSD for intense use.

Conclusion

Most SSD manufacture offers good products, so instead of focusing on the brand, check out the following:

1. You need to understand what type of connection your computer has. It can be NVMe or SATA.
2. What kind of tasks this SSD will do. For example running the operating system and other software, gaming, video editing, or other professional needs.
3. Your budget. Different brands offer different types of pricing depending on the performance of SSD, capacity, and the quality of materials.
4. Reviews of the product. It’s always very helpful to check Amazon, eBay, and Newegg reviews and see what other user opinion about a product

Once you make a decision and buy the SSD you like, check out the article: tips to increase the life of your solid-state drive.

How Long Do Hard Drives (and SSDs) Last?

The most important thing our PCs generate is information. Sometimes that information is far more valuable to us than the PC itself.  That begs the question, how long do hard drives last? We’ll include both types of prevalent data storage devices in this discussion: the hard disk drive (HDD) and the solid-state drive (SSD).

Hard drive lifespan is understood differently for HDDs and SSDs.  As you may know, HDDs store more data than SSDs and cost less on a gigabyte per dollar basis. HDDs are comparatively slower and involve moving parts that can physically wear out. SSDs, on the other hand, are much faster and more expensive and don’t store as much information. They don’t have moving parts, but they, too, can wear out and eventually fail.

What is the best way to prevent data loss?

Implicit in this article’s title and in our discussion so far is the fact that both HDDs and SSDs can eventually fail. In fact, they can fail very quickly if they’re inherently flawed. Therefore, the first order of business is to make sure that your information is backed up.

There are a number of backup options available to you. The simplest is to purchase an external drive that’s larger than all of your storage devices combined — after all, your PC can have more than one drive — and back up your data there. You can also subscribe to an online backup service, although that can get expensive if you have terabytes of data.

However you back up, it’s best to keep your backed-up information physically separate from your PC. An online service is separate by definition, whereas if you’re using an external drive then you’ll want to store it somewhere other than where your PC is located. You don’t want a disaster taking out both the original data on your PC and your backup at the same time.

What are some best practices for data backups?

  • 5 Ways to Backup a Home Office
  • 5 Ways Device Improves Your Home Office
  • NAS Buying Guide

What is the expected hard disk drive (HDD) lifespan?

As mentioned earlier, HDDs have moving parts. Specifically, and simply put, there’s a set of spinning disks inside with read/write heads that move in and out as the disks spin. Those parts are under a great deal of stress while the drive is working, and that stress can cause parts to wear out and break.

Some of the telltale signs of an HDD failing include distinct noises such as clicking and grinding sounds. You may also get errors accessing files or notifications about bad sectors and corrupted data. Modern HDDs include S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) capabilities that can sometimes predict that a drive may fail, and it’s worth using any utility provided by your drive’s manufacturer to keep up with its health.

Why do HDDs fail?

According to a 2013 study by Backblaze, consumer HDDs typically last for three to five years. The study is a bit dated at this point, but the data is still relevant. According to Backblaze, which tested 25,000 drives as part of the study, HDDs fail in one of three ways. They fail very soon after installation due to factory defects, they randomly fail at any point in time for unknown reasons, and they fail after a period due to wear and tear. If your drive doesn’t fail immediately, then, you can expect it to last the three- to five-year estimate.

Note that these numbers apply to all HDDs whether they’re internal, that is, installed directly in a PC, or installed in an external enclosure. The only caveat to that is if an external drive is carried around — or installed in a laptop that’s constantly on the move — then the chance of failure is higher.

What is MTBF?

Technically speaking, a HDD’s expected lifespan is defined by its mean time between failures (MTBF). The challenge is finding the information. Not all manufacturers report the number or make it easy to find. Some use different measurements, such as Seagate’s Annualized Failure Rate (AFR). The Seagate BarraCuda, for example, has an AFR of less than 1.0% over a five-year service life under a “typical” workload and running 2,400 hours a year. Western Digital (WD) reports the number of load/unload cycles expected, which comes in at 300,000 for its WD Black performance drives. Note that Seagate offers a 2-year warranty on the BarraCuda while WD offers a 5-year warranty on the WD Black — an important consideration when buying an HDD.

It’s safest, then, to go by the three- to five-year estimated lifespan. Your drive might fail immediately or it might last for much longer, but if you need to estimate when you might need to replace it, then that’s a fair estimate. Enterprise-level drives, which are engineered for higher and more sustained workloads, might last longer. And if you’re buying an HDD to put into a network-attached storage (NAS) device, then you’ll want to pick one made specifically for that purpose. An example is the WD Red, a drive that’s engineered to handle a NAS-specific workload.

What is the expected solid-state drive lifespan?

SSDs, as the name implies, are solid-state devices with no moving parts. They’re typically made up of flash memory that’s similar to that used in USB memory sticks but much faster and more reliable. They have no moving parts to wear out, but that doesn’t mean they’ll last forever.

To begin with, SSDs, like HDDs and every other component in a PC, can be defective straight from the factory. Such an SSD is likely to fail rather quickly. SSDs don’t suffer from carrying them around because they don’t have moving parts that are affected by shocks and vibrations, and that’s what makes portable SSD drives such a great idea.

Note that because they have no moving parts that might fail and make noise — and in fact, SSDs run completely silently — your first sign that an SSD is failing will be lost and corrupted data. You can also use a drive’s S.M.A.R.T. utility to determine its current health and identify any emerging problems.

What is TBW?

SSDs have their own measurement of expected lifespan, most often expressed as Terabytes Written (TBW). That’s the most meaningful metric because reading data from an SSD doesn’t affect its lifespan but writing data to it does. SSDs vary as to their TBW ratings, with consumer drives having lower TBW ratings than commercial drives. The typical consumer 1TB SSD has a TBW of 600, while more robust drives have higher TBW ratings — the Corsair Force 2TB MP600, for example, has a TBW of 3600. Of course, we don’t track how much data we’re writing and so knowing the TBW for a given drive isn’t that helpful — it’s better as a tool for comparing drives.

As with HDDs, it might be difficult to find the TBW rating. Some manufacturers report different information. For example, WD reports the mean time to failure (MTTF) for its SSDs like the WD Black NVMe SSD, which for has a rating of 1.75M hours.

In addition, there’s not as much information on how long SSDs will last simply because they’re newer devices. However, some estimates say that the typical SSD will last for 10 years under normal workloads. That’s an increase from the five to six years that was once used as an estimate.

TL;DR – All drives fail so back up your data regularly

We can’t stress it enough: no matter how long you expect your HDD or SSD to last, make sure to back up your data on a regular basis. Even when we have a good handle about what to expect in regards to hard drive lifespan, the recommended frequency of backup depends on the kind of data you’re storing and how often it changes. But estimating that your drive will last three years doesn’t help much if it fails six months into its lifespan and you haven’t backed up the data that was stored on it.

It’s unfortunate that manufacturers aren’t more consistent in reporting expected failure rates and lifespans. But if you do your research carefully, you can get a good idea of which drive will best meet your needs.

Best SSD drives of 2022


SSD upgrades.

One of
the easiest, most affordable and noticeable ways to update your computer — no matter
whether you have a desktop PC, a gaming PC or a laptop in general — the best solid-state
drives are a great choice, always. If you are still using hard drives,
Any SSD will speed up everything you do on your computer. And an important difference
solid-state memory, it has no moving parts, which automatically makes
your computer is more reliable.

Solid state
the memory also has a high read/write speed, which makes an SSD
excellent choice
for creative professionals who need quick access to work data.

If
If you think an SSD is the upgrade you need, check out our
guide below. We have selected the best SSDs on the market because
many of them work in our editorial office every day. We also provide a convenient
price comparison tool so you can find a good price tag on an SSD
in your stores
cities.

  • SSD vs HDD: which is better for your needs?
  • Best External SSD 2022: Best Portable Memory;

Thanks to the speed and reliability of solid state memory, the best solid state drives remain a popular choice among professionals who need unlimited access to important data at any time. Users who don’t deal with large files on a regular basis, which is common for video editors and content creators, will find SSDs to be a time saver. In addition, drives take up much less space than classic hard drives, making it easy to install them in a computer, whether we are discussing one of the best gaming PCs or an ultrabook.

If you’re upgrading from a top PC or a budget PC, you’ll get a speed advantage with one of these drives. So check out our ranking of the best SSDs to find the SSD that best suits your needs, from the fastest M.2 SSDs to the best gaming SSDs.

1. Samsung 980 Pro


Samsung’s hot entry into the PCIe 4.0 scene.

Capacity : 250 GB — 1 TB | Interface : PCIe Gen 4.0 x4, NVMe 1.3c | Warranty : Limited, 5 years.

Pros :

  • Monstrous performance;
  • Competitive price;
  • High endurance;

Cons :

  • PCIe 3.0 users will find drives significantly cheaper;

If
your financial well-being allows you to buy the fastest solid state drive
on the planet then Samsung 980 Pro becomes an excellent choice. At the time of update
of this ranking, the 980 remains the fastest SSD ever
tested in our editorial office, the perfect choice for a build that doesn’t have to
update the next few years, especially if the selected capacity is at least
one terabyte. And while this is not the most affordable drive on the market, considering
its speed, it offers a reasonable price without the high markup of «new» devices
generations. Just remember, to unleash the potential of this SSD, you need
build with PCIe 4.0 support.

Details in the full Samsung 980 Pro review.

2. Samsung 970 Evo Plus


Samsung goes further.

Capacity : 250 GB / 500 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB | Interface : PCIe Gen 3 x4 M.2 | Warranty : 5 years.

  • Pros of : Inexpensive | The highest performance;
  • Cons : Sequential write slows down under load;

which
Samsung has been proving to be the fastest solid-state drives (SSDs) out there, so
we are accustomed to seeing the manufacturer’s SSD in the first place, thanks to high
speeds and new chips. It’s simple, the new Samsung 970 Evo Plus
one of the most
fastest drives on the market, but the real achievement is the low price of SSDs. Most
a simple solution to the first ranking position in our memory, the best SSD
for all.

Read more : Samsung 970 Evo Plus

review

3. Corsair MP400


Say goodbye to boot screens.

Capacity : 1TB / 2TB / 4TB / 8TB | Interface : PCIe Gen 3 x4 M.2 | Warranty : 5 years.

Pros :

  • Excellent value for money;
  • High speed and high capacity;

Cons :

  • Average endurance;

The Corsair MP400 is a real gem for every gamer. With the price drop of SATA SSDs, the Corsair MP400 offers massive storage capacities so you can get the most bang for your buck. But it’s not a SATA SSD. This is a PCIe NVMe SSD which is much faster. It rivals the speed of most other PCIe 3.0 SSDs while being much cheaper. The only downside is the low endurance which won’t be a problem for most typical users who don’t need to overwrite tons of data on a daily basis.

4. Intel Optane 905P

Ridiculously fast SSD.

Capacity : 1.5 TB | Interface : 2.5″ PCIe x4 | Warranty : 5 years.

  • Pros : High read/write speed | LED backlight;
  • Cons : Expensive;

The Optane 905P SSD is far from new to the market, but a random read of 575,000 IOPs and a random write of 555,000 IOPs make Intel one of the fastest drives on the market. Of course, the 2600MB/s sequential read and 2200MB/s write speed might seem slow compared to the Samsung 9 monsters.70 Evo and WD Black NVMe, but that doesn’t stop it from being a fast SSD, let alone one of the best SSDs of 2022.

5. SK Hynix Gold P31

The most flexible member of the SSD world.

Capacity : 500 GB / 1 TB | Interface : PCIe Gen 3 x4 M.2 | Warranty : 5 years.

Pros:

  • Amazing read/write speeds;
  • Reasonable cost;

Cons :

  • The very existence of PCIe 4.0;

SK
Hynix Gold P31 — Stunning solid state SSD, especially considering the latter
price cuts. You get remarkable speeds over the PCIe 3.0 interface, performance
This SSD comes close to some PCIe 4.0 based drives. At the same time we get
the main disadvantage of the SK solid state drive: the market is filling up with faster
discs of the new standard. In most cases the P31 will be an excellent choice, but
if you have a PCIe 4.0 slot, it would be much wiser to purchase the appropriate
disc standard.

6. Samsung 980


An unexpected participant in this position.

Capacity : 250 GB, 500 GB, 1 TB | Interface : PCIe Gen 3.0 x4, NVMe 1.4 | Warranty : 5 years.

Pros :

  • Competitive price;
  • Very capable performance;
  • Black PCB;

Cons:

  • Not the fastest SSD on the market;
  • Not the cheapest SSD on the market;

Despite
that this is one of the relatively modern SSD models
PCIe 3. 0, its speeds are far from Samsung 980 Pro, Samsung 980 is powerful and
high-performance storage that can offer its users
favorable price tag, especially for 1 TB capacity. It offers reading speed and
records up to 3500 Mb/s and 3000 Mb/s, respectively, and thanks to the black base
printed base, it will easily fit into the style of each build. If you want to
fill the PCIe 4.0 slot on a new motherboard, you should look in
another place. Otherwise, you can count on good returns and
efficiency of Samsung SSD.

7. Silicon Power US70


High speed and easy storage.

Capacity : 1TB / 2TB / 4TB / 8TB | Interface : PCIe Gen 4 x4 M.2 | Warranty : 5 years.

Pros :

  • Available at a great price;
  • High data rates;

Cons:

  • There are worthy competitors;

Outlet
Silicon Power US70 marked the first wave of SSD price cuts
PCIe 4. 0, making them a little more affordable. He’s fast enough for the first
generation PCIe 4.0, offers excellent endurance, but is met with active
competition that can quickly undermine its pricing while
thus exceeding the high-speed indicators of SSD. It doesn’t help him that
The drive is built on a strange blue circuit board that
will hardly fit into most motherboards.

Read full review : Silicon Power US70.

8. Samsung 860 Pro


SATA 3 is still in service.

Capacity : 250 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB / 4 TB | Interface : SATA 3 | Warranty : 5 years.

  • Pros : 4 GB model | Increased security;
  • Cons : SATA 3 limits performance;

SATA 3 may not be the hottest technology in the SSD world, but the Samsung 860 Pro shows there’s more potential in this form factor. Offering up to 4TB of memory and transfer speeds that approach the theoretical maximum of a SATA 3 connection, with overall reliability and security, the Samsung 860 Pro may be the best SSD for those still sitting on SATA 3.

Read more : Samsung 860 Pro review

9. Corsair MP600 Pro LPX


Fast and cold.

Capacity : 500 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB / 4 TB | Interface : PCIe Gen 4×4 M.2 | Warranty : 5 years.

Pros:

  • Incredibly fast SSD;
  • Cooler included;

Cons :

  • Relatively expensive drive;

Corsair MP600 Pro LPX
demonstrated incredible
high speeds for a consumer SSD. In consecutive
in speeds, it surpassed even the Samsung 980 Pro and WD Black SN850. And while he has not managed to take a leading position in the tests of random
read and write, the drive is not much inferior to high-performance
competitors. The fact that an SSD can offer similar performance
while maintaining a reasonable price tag per gigabyte, as well as enclosing a low-profile
cooler for memory cooling, optimization for PS5 and much more, it does everything
drive one of the best on the market, Corsair’s offer will be beaten
difficult. You will also find drives in this series with large heatsinks,
the cost is slightly lower.

Read the full review: Corsair MP600 Pro LPX

10. Team T-Force Delta Max


Stylish SATA-limited RGB lighting.

Capacity : 250 GB / 500 GB / 1 TB | Interface : SATA III | Warranty : 3 years.

Pros :

  • Stylish design and bright backlight;
  • High performance;

Cons :

  • May be overkill for most;

Team’s T-Force Delta Max SSD looks as stylish as a drive can, with subtle RGB lighting that syncs seamlessly with motherboard lighting. It’s actually still the same SATA SSD, but Team only adds a little to the price for the backlit gaming aesthetic. However, it doesn’t really compete if you compare it to PCIe SSDs, which easily outperform SATA III in terms of speed and price.

SSD Reliability: Which Drive Will Last Longer

Solid State Drives or SSDs are faster than conventional spinning mechanical hard drives — HDDs. But how reliable are they when it comes to long-term use? How much load can you give an SSD and how long will it last?

If you’re going to use an SSD, there are some useful metrics to help measure the reliability of the SSD that you should be aware of, such as P/E cycles, TBW (terabytes written), and MTBF (mean time between failures).

What is an SSD

If you look inside an SSD, you will see that it is no different from a flash drive. It has several memory chips on the board and an I/O port, which is usually in the form of PCIe or SATA, and is responsible for power supply and data transfer.

Unlike a traditional hard disk drive (HDD), it does not have a drive lever for reading and writing data. Since you are not dependent on the speed of movement of a physical element, SSDs can read and write data much faster . It’s hard to point out the exact difference as there are different types of SSD form factors and NAND cell types (more on that below), but SSDs are several times faster than s. The lack of a read/write head also means that the SSDs don’t generate noise, unlike the HDDs.

We won’t go too deep into the differences between HDDs and SSDs, but the last important factor that almost everyone should consider when purchasing an SSD is that is much more expensive for GB storage capacity of .

Nearly all types of SSDs today store data in cells of the NAND flash. Unlike most computer part names, NAND is not an acronym, but a name that comes from logic gates called «NOT AND».

Another name for NAND Flash is Non-Volatile Solid State Memory that retains data even when the power source is removed. However, flash memory cells can be reprogram only a certain number of times, measured in P/E cycles (writes and deletes).

The number of P/E cycles that an SSD can tolerate depends on the technology used and ranges from 500 to 100,000 P/E cycles.

Various SSD Form Factors

Currently 4 SSD Form Factors :

  • 2.5”
  • mSATA
  • M.2
  • PCI-E

2.5” SSD

2.5″ SSDs are the most popular and most affordable. Outwardly, it resembles a traditional 3.5-inch hard drive — but smaller. They are lightweight because they have no moving parts inside and will require a SATA connector for data transfer and power.

They also use sequential write and read speeds that can range from 325 MB/s to 600 MB/s, respectively. This may seem like a weak result compared to the PCIe SSDs below, but it’s more than enough to give the user a fast experience.

mSATA SSDs

mSATA (Mini-SATA) SSDs are small in size, hence the name «Mini» SATA SSD. It is smaller than 2.5-inch drives and is mainly used for small computers such as netbooks, laptops, small PCs. They are just as fast as 2.5-inch SSDs, only different in size.

M.2 SSDs

M.2 SSDs, like mSATA drives, are blank PCBs, but they come in various combinations of width and length. This makes it more flexible than mSATA and ideal for ultrabooks and tablets.

They also support NVMe, a host controller interface and a storage protocol that improves the transfer speed between the system and the SSD.

PCI-E SSD

PCI-E SSDs offer the best performance but are also the most expensive. They use PCI-E slots as an interface. Even though PCI-E lanes are fast, SSDs will be limited to the selected lane, so try to use the fastest slot available, at least an x8 slot. Refer to your motherboard manual to find out the speed of each of your PCI-E slots.

Either way, PCI-E SSDs and m.2 SSDs are up to 4 times faster than conventional SSDs. For these SSDs, sequential reads and writes can range from 2500MB/s (read) to 1300MB/s (write), respectively. In addition, these devices can also have over 500MB of high-speed DDR3 cache.

Types of NAND Flash

In addition to different shapes and sizes, SSDs are also based on 4 different NAND cell technologies:

  • SLC (single level cell)
  • MLC (multilevel cell)
  • TLC (three-level cell)
  • QLC (Quad Level Cell)
NAND Flash Type Data (bits) per NAND cell P/E cycles Cost per GB
SLC 1 50000 to 100000 ₽₽₽₽
eMLC (Enterprise Multi-Level Cell) 2 10000 to 30000 ₽₽₽
MLC (multilevel cell) 2 3000 to 10000 ₽₽₽
TLC (tri-level cell) 3 500 to 2000 ₽₽
QLC (Quad Level Cell) 4 No official data yet

There is a general trend among these technologies. Each successive technology means that each NAND cell can store an extra bit. The fewer bits per NAND cell, the faster, more reliable, and more power efficient the technology is, but it also means it’s more expensive. So the SLC SSD will technically be the most reliable, while the QLC is the least reliable (at least assuming trends continue as they are; QLC is still relatively «new»).

3D NAND vs. V-NAND

3D NAND was originally developed by Intel and Micron. This type of NAND stacks 32 layers of memory cells while V-NAND or vertical NAND stacks 48 layers of memory cells.

These new technological advances have increased storage capacity without changing manufacturing costs, while cutting power consumption in half and increasing the longevity of flat NAND.

Reliability and Understanding SSD Life

«Do SSD drives fail?» of course yes, like any other drive. Rather, we should ask: «How fast do SSD drives fail?» And the answer to this question is a bit more complicated.

What’s more, SSDs are more reliable when it comes to harsh environments because they don’t have any moving parts. Therefore, SSDs can better withstand accidental drops and extreme temperatures than traditional HDDs.

But that doesn’t mean all SSDs are the same. Fortunately, there are several measurements that are commonly used to determine the reliability of an SSD. They can often be seen in the description of the SSD.

We have already talked a lot about P/E cycles, but there are 4 more characteristics (don’t worry, they are not too complicated):

  • TBW — the number of terabytes written
  • GB/day — Recommended recording volume per day
  • DWPD — how many times a disc can be overwritten in a day
  • MTBF — mean time between failures

It is also worth noting that when they are listed on the packaging, they are used as a guarantee. They are usually higher than what you will actually use, but also often lower than what an SSD will actually give you.

Think of it like a car tire, it’s guaranteed not to blow up when driving on the freeway for 5 years or 50,000 km, but chances are it will last much longer.

TBW

TBW is simply an indication of the number of terabytes you can write in the lifetime of an SSD. In many cases, TBW is actually a fairly large number that you will never get close to; rather the disk will suffer from old age.

GB per day

The name speaks for itself. This is an indicator of how many gigabytes per day it is recommended to save / overwrite. Since most SSDs are built on the idea that you’ll use a few gigabytes a day if your computer isn’t a workstation, your drive should be fine.

DWPD

This is also quite simple, although the name is somewhat misleading. You might think that this is a measure of how many times you can write data per day, but, in fact, this is how many times you can overwrite all SSD per day.

Let’s explain this feature using the Samsung SSD 850 Pro SATA with 10-year warranty in capacities of 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB and up to 1 TB. It is designed to handle 150 terabytes. But according to Samsung, these SSDs can handle up to 600TB.

Now, if you do some simple calculations with the life of this SSD, this drive can read and write 40 GB of data per day. Comparing this to a real world situation where a typical office user writes between 10GB and 35GB per day, the warranty will expire by the time you hit the 150TB limit.

MTBF — mean time between failures

The reliability of SSD and HDD is determined by the MTBF value ( mean time between failures ). This is one of the more complex and less obvious measurements of reliability. It is important that you understand the MTBF and failure rate of SSDs before making any purchases.

Take Intel SSD 335 Series (240GB, 2.5″ SATA 6Gb/s, 20nm, MLC) and SAMSUNG 830 Series 2.5 256GB SATA III MLC. The Intel SSD has an MTBF specification of 1.2 million hours while the Samsung SSD has an MTBF of 1.5 million hours, but that doesn’t mean the Samsung drive is guaranteed to last more hours — MTBF doesn’t work that way.

MTBF, as defined by Wikipedia: «… device mean time between failures, i.e. shows how much time is on average per failure »

its service life . This does not mean that a 1.2 million hour MTBF will last 1.2 million hours and a 1.5 million hour MTBF will last 1.5 million hours (that’s between 136 and 171 years, by the way) .

In the case of the Intel 335, an MTBF of 1.2 million hours means that if the drive is used for an average of 8 hours per day, a sample size of 1000 SSDs can be expected to have one failure every 150 days, or twice every day for a year.

Math MTBF

1000 SSD * 8 hours per day = 8000 accumulated hours per day

8000 cumulative hours per day * 150 days = 1.2 million cumulative hours before failure occurs.

Samsung 830 is expected to have one failure every 187.5 days. However, not all drives are tested to the same standards.

For HDDs, use AFR or annual failure rate as unit of error. The average AFR of hard drives ranges from .55% to .90%. However, this number is misleading because hard drive manufacturers do not necessarily indicate when a drive will fail. This can be anything from overheating to accidental falls or even natural disasters. When it comes to faulty drives i.e. only those that failed during normal operation, the rates vary from 0.5% to 13.5%.

So what does SSD MTBF mean to me?

Unfortunately, it’s hard to determine SSD failure rates by brand; in most cases we just have TBW. When it comes to buying, most consumers should find any MTBF over 1 million hours acceptable.

This typically means about 3 failures per year for 1000 drives used 8 hours a day. In other words, you will have a 0.3% chance of a write failure under the drive warranty if you use the SSD for 8 hours a day.

In other words, if we look at SSD reliability versus HDD reliability, the failure rate of SSDs is not too different from that of HDDs.

Is there a way to check the lifespan of an SSD

If you already own an SSD or plan to purchase one, it’s important to keep the lifespan of your SSD in mind. All you have to do is count how many… I’m kidding. Fortunately, there are several different software solutions that help with this:

  • Samsung Magician
  • Intel Solid State Drive Toolbox
  • SSD Manager (Kingston)
  • SSD Life
  • SSD Ready

Each of these programs has its own way of checking the life of an SSD, but they are simple and pretty much the same. It should also be noted that the software works no matter what brand of SSD you use. So if you have an Intel SSD, you can use the Samsung Magician without any worries.

An SSD that’s perfect for you

It’s definitely worth it to upgrade your HDD to an SSD. A solid state drive will allow your computer to boot faster and make programs more responsive. If you really need that speed boost for better performance or faster game loading, the then the SSD will definitely be worth the .

SSDs are compact, consume less power and take up less space, making them ideal for laptops.

Note . It’s worth noting that you will need an SSD with more capacity than your HDD if you want to transfer or clone files from your HDD to an SSD. In this case, you will probably pay a large amount, since SSDs are more expensive.


Installing an SSD will have a positive effect on your system’s response and boot speed. It will likely take you anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute before the system boots from the hard drive, and up to 8 seconds or less when using an SSD.

You will also notice that files load much faster and there is no noise… at all.

When it comes to SSD reliability, it depends on how often you use the SSD and how many P/E cycles it can handle. But, personally, I would say that getting an SSD will always be worth your investment. After all, time is money.

2022 rating in price-quality ratio and which SATA drive to choose for a PC that heats up less

M. 2 SSD is a solid state drive with a connector that allows you to install it on the motherboard.

The M.2 connector is gradually replacing the most commonly used SATA 3 interface.

This is due to its higher bandwidth, excellent speed and increased durability.

Ranking of the TOP 15 best M.2 SSDs of 2022

Place Designation Price
TOP 3 best M.2 SSD drives for PC and laptop
1 Samsung MZ-V7S500BW Ask for price
2 ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 Pro 512GB Ask for price
3 Samsung MZ-V7S1T0BW Ask for price
Top 3 Best M.2 SSDs for Gaming
1 Patriot Memory VPN100-512GM28H Ask for price
2 Samsung MZ-N6E250BW Ask for price
3 Samsung MZ-N6E500BW Ask for price
TOP 3 best 250GB M. 2 SSDs
1 Samsung MZ-V7S250BW Ask for price
2 Western Digital WD Black SN750 250 GB Ask for price
3 Western Digital WD BLUE 3D NAND SATA SSD 250 GB Ask for price
TOP 3 best 500GB M.2 SSDs
1 Samsung MZ-V7P512BW Ask for price
2 ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro 512GB Ask for price
3 Intel SSDPEKKW512G8XT Ask for price
TOP 3 Best 1TB M.2 SSDs
1 Western Digital WD BLUE 3D NAND SATA SSD 1 TB Ask for price
2 Samsung MZ-N6E1T0BW Ask for price
3 Western Digital WD GREEN PC SSD 1 TB Ask for price

Contents

  • Top 15 Best M. 2 SSDs of 2022
  • What is an M.2 SSD?
  • Best M.2 SSDs for PC and Notebook
  • Useful video

What is an M.2 SSD?

SSD M.2 — differ from the standard SATA 3 in more compact dimensions . At the same time, you can use a disk with this type of connection not only as an additional one, but also as a main one.

M.2 SSD can significantly increase the speed and performance of the PC.

In addition, using a drive with M.2 connectivity will save you a lot of wires.

Best M.2 SSDs for PC and laptop

This category contains M.2 SSDs that can be installed in any device. They are able to significantly increase the speed of the laptop and PC, they are distinguished by increased reliability and durability.

Samsung MZ-V7S500BW

The extra-class model will significantly increase the performance of your computer and notebook .

The 2280 form factor drive is capable of connecting to any modern device that supports NVMe technology and has an M. 2 connector.

The device has a very high sequential write and read speed of 3200/3500 MB/s, respectively.

The disk resource is also quite high and reaches 300 TBW . Low power consumption allows significant savings on energy costs.

It is worth noting that this is one of the best models of 2022.

Specifications :

  • Memory — Samsung 3D V-NAND 3bit MLC;
  • chip layout — one-sided;
  • resource — 320 TBW;
  • optional — TRIM support.

Pros

  • does not heat up;
  • is very fast;
  • good performance;
  • excellent build quality;
  • long warranty period.

Cons

  • high cost.

ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 Pro 512GB

NVMe 1.3-enabled model with PCIe Gen3x4 interface capable of exorbitant read and write speeds of 2350/3350 MB/s, respectively .

Built-in heatsink reliably protects the device from overheating. Comprehensive data protection will reliably protect the device from hacking and information theft.

The presence of 3D NAND flash memory will allow you to store all the necessary files on your computer, including rather resource-intensive .

For diagnostics, viewing SMART attributes and parameters and information, the manufacturer has installed a proprietary SSD ToolBox utility.

Specifications :

  • memory — TLC 3D NAND;
  • chip layout — double-sided;
  • resource — 320 TBW;
  • optional — support for TRIM, SMART, comprehensive data protection.

Pros

  • excellent performance;
  • interesting design;
  • has a cooling system;
  • large memory;
  • moderate cost.

Cons

  • is only suitable for Windows 10.

Samsung MZ-V7S1T0BW

An improved model capable of providing extremely high performance to the computer.

This is due to the presence of optimized firmware and innovative V-NAND technology. Large capacity provides a write resource up to 1200 TBW.

The use of NVMe technology will make the system and applications boot almost instantly .

Also, the device easily withstands loads of varying complexity, including when working on a PC for IT professionals or completing complex missions by gamers.

Specifications :

  • Memory — Samsung 3D V-NAND 3bit MLC;
  • chip layout — one-sided;
  • resource — 600 TBW;
  • optional — TRIM support.

Pros

  • high volume;
  • excellent speed;
  • reliable;
  • durable;
  • does not heat up.

Cons

  • high cost.

Best M.2 SSDs for gaming

The new generation of M.2 SSDs can greatly expand your storage space, improve device performance, and increase write and read speeds.

Patriot Memory VPN100-512GM28H

One of the fastest models that is equipped with eight channels of flash memory and a Phison E12 controller with two ARM architecture cores.

High read and write speed up to 2200/3300 MB/s respectively. A 1 cm thick aluminum finned heatsink will reliably protect the device from overheating.

A large amount of memory allows you to store a fairly large amount of information on your computer, including rather resource-intensive files .

Rugged housing and no moving parts significantly increase drive life.

Specifications :

  • Memory — TLC 3D NAND;
  • chip layout — one-sided;
  • resource — 800 TBW;
  • optional — TRIM support.

Pros

  • fast loading;
  • does not heat up;
  • great resource;
  • quality assembly;
  • easy installation.

Cons

  • not found.

Samsung MZ-N6E250BW

Without case model with 250 GB capacity and M.2 interface . High-speed SLC-

caching is supported by innovative Intelligent TurboWrite technology.

Large memory capacity allows you to store all the necessary amount of data on your computer.

High write and read speeds of 520/550 MB/s, respectively, ensure fast launch of the operating system, applications and games .

The compact dimensions make it possible to install this disk even in very small devices.

Specifications :

  • Memory — Samsung 3D V-NAND 3bit MLC;
  • chip layout — one-sided;
  • resource — 150 TBW;
  • optional — TRIM, S.M.A.R.T, WWN support, Garbage Collection technology.

Pros

  • huge recording resource;
  • decent speed;
  • large memory;
  • does not heat up;
  • quality.

Cons

  • high cost.

Samsung MZ-N6E500BW

One of the most popular models compatible with all motherboards with M.2 output .

The drive is equipped with 3D MLC V-NAND flash memory, 512 MB DRAM buffer and high performance Samsung MJX controller. This allows you to make the download of even very large files as dynamic as possible.

AES encryption will reliably protect your computer from hacking and data theft .

Quite a large recording resource of 300 TB makes it possible to record more than 80 GB of necessary information for 10 years.

Specifications :

  • memory — Samsung 3D V-NAND 3bit MLC;
  • chip layout — one-sided;
  • resource — 300 TBW;
  • optional — TRIM, S.M.A.R.T, WWN support, Garbage Collection technology.

Pros

  • long warranty period;
  • high speed;
  • large memory;
  • data protection;
  • easy installation and connection.

Cons

  • gets hot during operation.

Best 250GB M.2 SSDs

250GB M.2 SSDs are great for home use. Their volume is quite enough to store not only work files, but also games and video content.

Samsung MZ-V7S250BW

An excellent model with high speed performance reaching 3500 MB/s sequential read and 2300 MB/s write .

2280 form factor drive with TLC 3D NAND memory type and Samsung Phoenix controller.

Excellent performance thanks to innovative NVMe technology.

A V-NAND technology is classified as low power consumption and excellent performance. Robust shockproof housing and the absence of moving parts significantly increases the service life of the device.

Specifications :

  • Memory — Samsung 3D V-NAND 3bit MLC;
  • chip layout — one-sided;
  • resource — 150 TBW;
  • optional — TRIM support.

Pros

  • excellent performance;
  • good compatibility;
  • high speed;
  • long warranty period;
  • quality assembly.

Cons

  • not found.

Western Digital WD Black SN750 250 GB

Without case model capable of significantly improving computer performance .

Communication uses a PCI-E 3.0 x4 interface. The drive is equipped with a TLC 3D NAND memory chip, SanDisk controller 20-82-007011, and conforms to the 2280 form factor.

High write and read speeds of 1600/3100 MB/s, respectively, allow you to quickly load the operating system and files, even quite resource-intensive ones.

Specifications :

  • memory — TLC 3D NAND;
  • chip layout — one-sided;
  • resource — 200 TBW;
  • optional — TRIM support.

Pros

  • extended warranty period;
  • does not heat up;
  • high speed;
  • excellent performance;
  • large memory.

Cons

  • is only suitable for new PC models.

Western Digital WD BLUE 3D NAND SATA SSD 250 GB

A compact model that gives your computer speed and performance .

This is due to the presence of the Marvell 88SS1074 controller, which, among other things, has energy-saving functions. Innovative data encryption technology will reliably protect your PC from hacking and data theft.

250 GB of memory allows you to store files of any size, including resource-intensive games .

High read and write speed makes starting the operating system and files almost instantaneous.

Specifications :

  • memory — TLC;
  • chip layout — one-sided;
  • resource — 100 TBW;
  • optional — TRIM support.

Pros

  • have error correction technology;
  • does not heat up;
  • excellent speed;
  • quality performance;
  • compact.

Cons

  • brittle plastic body.

Top 500GB M.2 SSDs

Top 500GB M.2 SSDs feature a shockproof design, excellent read and write speeds, high resource capacity and large memory. They can be used both in a home PC and for complex professional tasks.

Samsung MZ-V7P512BW

The chassisless model is ideal for upgrading SATA SSDs and hard drives.

The latest PCI-E 3.0 x4 interface provides a high level of processing speed. Due to its compact size, this drive can be installed even in small devices. Compliance with the 2280 form factor ensures compatibility with computers of any generation.

PC performance provides high write and read speeds of 2300/3500 MB/s .

It allows you to almost instantly boot the system and files of any size. The device is equipped with an MLC memory chip and a Samsung Phoenix controller.

Specifications :

  • Memory — Samsung V-NAND 2-bit MLC;
  • chip layout — one-sided;
  • resource — 600 TBW;
  • optional — TRIM support.

Pros

  • high speed;
  • excellent performance;
  • reliability;
  • large memory;
  • quality assembly.

Cons

  • gets hot;
  • high cost.

ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro 512GB

High-end mini model SM2262EN handles the typical load perfectly. Thanks to the

PCI-E 3.0 x4 bus, this drive greatly improves the performance of your computer.

The device is equipped with a Silicon Motion SM2262EN controller, which is currently the only one with support for dual-channel RAM.

Maximum bandwidth is PCI-E 3.0 x4 .

Sequential read speed is 3500 MB/s. Innovative data protection technologies LDPC ECC and E2E will protect your PC from hacking and information theft.

Specifications :

  • Memory — TLC 3D NAND;
  • chip layout — double-sided;
  • resource — 320 TBW;
  • optional — TRIM support.

Pros

  • stable operation;
  • reliability;
  • high speed;
  • has a heatsink included;
  • long warranty period.

Cons

  • performance is lower than stated by the manufacturer.

Intel SSDPEKKW512G8XT

Compact model for maximum performance in laptops and computers .

It makes working with files convenient, and launching applications and OS is almost instantaneous. Excellent write and read rates are 1625/3230 MB/s, respectively.

Robust housing and no moving parts greatly extend the life of the drive.

512 GB capacity allows you to store any information on your PC, including even very resource-intensive files. Drive time between failures is 1.6 million/hour.

Specifications :

  • memory — TLC 3D NAND;
  • chip layout — one-sided;
  • resource — 288 TBW;
  • optional — TRIM support.

Pros

  • excellent speed;
  • long warranty period;
  • does not heat up;
  • sufficient memory;
  • impact resistance.

Cons

  • not found.

Best 1TB M.2 SSDs

This category includes 1 TB M.2 SSDs, which are characterized by excellent performance, exorbitant speed, reliability and the ability to launch even very large files almost instantly.

Western Digital WD BLUE 3D NAND SATA SSD 1 TB

This shockproof model can quickly improve the performance of the .

The disc specifications will satisfy even the most fastidious user. It is equipped with a TLC 3D NAND memory chip and reduced cell interference.

A huge 500 GB memory allows you to store not only work files, but also video games of a sufficiently large size .

High write and read speeds of 530\560 MB/s, respectively, provide the fastest possible downloads.

Specifications :

  • Memory — TLC 3D NAND;
  • chip layout — one-sided;
  • resource — 200 TBW;
  • optional — TRIM support.

Pros

  • reasonable cost;
  • excellent speed;
  • low power consumption;
  • resource intensity;
  • large memory.

Cons

  • not found.

Samsung MZ-N6E1T0BW

The high-capacity model can be used as a secondary or main drive . This

drive is equipped with a TLC 3D V-NAND memory chip, Samsung MJX controller, and conforms to the 2280 form factor.

Using the SATA 3 physical interface provides 6 Gb/s throughput.

High read and write speeds of 550 and 520 MB/s, respectively, provide instant download of any files .

Impact-resistant casing and no moving parts significantly increase drive life.

This model has proven itself in 2022.

Specifications :

  • Memory — Samsung 3D V-NAND 3bit MLC;
  • chip layout — one-sided;
  • resource — 600 TBW;
  • optional — TRIM, S.M.A.R.T, WWN support, Garbage Collection technology.

Pros

  • high volume;
  • high speed;
  • compact size;
  • quality assembly;
  • convenient installation.

Cons

  • not found.

Western Digital WD GREEN PC SSD 1 TB

Fast and reliable model . With its help

you can significantly increase the performance of your computer.

SATA III connection method provides high responsiveness.

Excellent read and write speeds provide near-instantaneous OS and file loading.

With a large 1TB of memory, the drive can be used as a secondary or primary storage source .

Drive equipped with TLC memory chip and controller.

Specifications:

  • memory — TLC;
  • chip layout — one-sided;
  • resource — 600 TBW;
  • optional — TRIM, S.M.A.R.T, WWN support, Garbage Collection technology.

Pros

  • excellent speed;
  • quality assembly;
  • reasonable cost;
  • large memory;
  • easy installation.

Cons

  • gets hot.

What are the benefits of an M.2 SSD?

PCI-Express M.2 SSDs offer several distinct advantages over other drive types.

Even low-end models are capable of speeds up to 2-3 GB/s, and premium devices can go even higher.

Also a big plus of the M.2 SSD is its compact size and lack of wires.

This allows them to be used in all models of computers and laptops, including very small ones.

SSD M2 or SATA 3 which is better?

To determine which is better SSD M2 or SATA 3, you need to carefully study the features of each interface.

The SATA 3 connection is made by connecting power and data cables to the drive and motherboard. The speed of writing and reading in this case is no more than 550 MB / s.

M.2 drive is basically a term for a physical form factor that uses the NVMe protocol.

It is much faster than the SATA 3 protocol and therefore much better.

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Useful video

From the video you will learn how to choose an M. 2 SSD:

10 best SSD drives for 120-128 GB

SSD is not a luxury, but a means of acceleration. Such a flash drive can make any laptop or PC “more energetic”, whether it is a home or server assembly. The response of the software, the process of starting / shutting down the OS and other everyday tasks will be performed almost instantly. Such drives are an excellent alternative to «classic» HDDs, if only because they do not make noise and work ten times faster.

In order to choose the right SSD and not be disappointed with the purchase, a rating of the best models for 120-128 GB has been created. This volume is just enough to store the operating system and important programs on the disk. The article talks about the key features and parameters of each top option.

KINGSTON UV400 120GB 2.5 SATA III

A worthy representative, released by a popular company, pleasantly surprises with its speed and durability. A noticeable increase in the performance of a laptop or PC, whether it be games, professional software, or the launch of the operating system — the drive will cope with such tasks with a bang. However, not only this SSD is able to please the owner. He also has other attractive qualities, thanks to which the disc entered the rating of the best.

Note : classic — 2.5 inch — the format of the model allows it to fit perfectly into both a stationary system unit and a laptop configuration.

Why the SSD drive made it to the top:

  • Reliable — a flash drive can work for a thousand hours before it fizzles out.
  • Shock and vibration resistant design ensures stable operation of the 120 GB drive.
  • Comfortable unaided installation — 120 GB UV400 can be supplied as part of a kit.
  • Fast — SSD writes 350 megabits per second, and counts 550 megabits in the same time.

WD GREEN 120GB 2.5 SATA III

Games, Internet surfing, «heavy» software, PC / laptop startup, system shutdown and other daily tasks that users have to face will now be performed much faster. With this drive, even not the most modern PCs and laptops will have a second wind. The model weighs only 32 grams, so it won’t weigh down even an ultrabook too much.

Note: the device belongs to a series of environmentally friendly and energy-saving SSD — GREEN.

Four compelling features of the drive:

  1. Supports Trim development, designed to maintain peak performance levels throughout the life of the drive. This technology checks the writes and tells the controller which blocks it shouldn’t touch, thereby reducing wear on the flash drive.
  2. Like the previous 120 GB SSD from this rating, the presented option is able to last a thousand hours. In addition, it has a very pleasant impact resistance during operation — 1500 G.
  3. The WD GREEN 120GB 2.5 SATA III has a low energy consumption, which is especially important when working with laptops. Due to energy efficiency, the laptop battery lasts longer on a single charge.
  4. Convenience and ease of installation, and compatibility with most motherboards give the owner of the SSD the opportunity to do without the help of computer wizards.

Fans of bigger volumes: TOP 10 best 1 TB SSD drives — Rating of 1000 GB SSD drives work much faster. However, almost all SSDs are pleased with this — that’s why such flash drives are popular. But this disc got into the rating for other reasons.

Product highlights:

  • The thin 7mm 128GB device fits perfectly even in ultrabooks.
  • DevSleep is available — a mode for optimizing energy consumption. It significantly extends the battery life of a laptop on a single charge.
  • The performance is on top — the model reads 560 megabits of information per second, and writes a little less — 460 megabits in the same time. In addition, thanks to the fast SATA III, the device received excellent throughput — 6 Gb / s.
  • 370 128GB supports Trim — an option that optimizes resource consumption, and therefore adds durability to the disk.

SILICON POWER 2.5″ S55 120GB SATA

This option is an all-in-one solution for laptops, home computers and server computers. The budget category SSD model with impressive technical characteristics will make the system fly like a jet plane.

Why the flash drive is in the ranking of the best models for 120-128 GB:

  • NCQ — responsible for the priority of command execution. This approach is used to improve the performance of SATA devices.
  • Trim — to reduce device wear. Thanks to this feature, the performance of the device is kept at a maximum throughout its life.
  • Performance — The 2.5″ S55 120GB reads at 550 MB/s and writes at 440 MB/s. Its throughput is also good, thanks to the ability to connect the drive via SATA III.

Minus — there is no possibility of data encryption.

Instructions: How to properly install an SSD on a computer and laptop: 3 ways

AMD 2.5 RADEON 120GB 2.5 SATA (R5SL120G)

Nimble and reliable model from AMD will be a great alternative to a classic hard drive. The device is intended for internal use. Compatible with desktop assemblies and laptops, durable and very nimble SSD is not without reason included in the rating of the best drives with a memory capacity of 120-128 gigabytes.

Five nice qualities of a flash device:

  1. Hardy long-liver — able to work one and a half million hours.
  2. Like the previous models on the list, this SSD does not reject Trim technology. This development ensures the maximum level of performance of the device throughout its life.
  3. SATA III guarantees maximum speed of 6 Gbps (bandwidth). As for the recording of information, it is carried out at a speed of 349megabit in an instant. The disk also reads data very quickly — it will read 544 megabits of information per second.
  4. Very good shock resistance (1500 G) adds reliability points to this RADEON.
  5. SMART support is also a nice touch. Thanks to this function, the user has the ability to monitor the status of the drive. The number of write cycles per cell, the percentage of wear, the approximate time the device failed and other important information will allow you to transfer data in time if necessary.

SANDISK 2.5″ SATA 3.0 PLUS 120GB

The speed of the indoor model is provided by TLC NAND memory.

Main features of the top drive:

  • Consistent resource consumption and maximum performance throughout the life of the 120 GB version is ensured by the Trim command.
  • SSD is able to serve its owner for quite a long time. The time between failures of this drive is 1.75 thousand hours, and the shock resistance index during operation is 1500G.
  • SATA 3.0 PLUS 120GB fast read and write information. So, in an instant, the device reads 530 megabits of information, and writes — 310.

Despite all the advantages of this SANDISK, the disk still has a drawback, namely, the lack of hardware encryption.

Read also: TOP 10 best SSD drives

TRANSCEND SSD220S PREMIUM 120GB 2.5 SATA III (TS120GSSD220S)

Reliability and speed are not the only, although weighty reasons to buy a premium option released by TRANSCEND «memory masters. Equipped with fast NAND memory, which belongs to the TLC type, the flash device will be able to please its owner with other qualities.

KINGSTON A400 120GB 2.5 SATA III

A reliable and durable SSD with an optimal capacity for installing the system and programs — 120 GB — and a pleasant price tag pleases with performance indicators. The compact device is easy to install even in a computer, even in a laptop. The disk is equipped with NAND TLC memory and a 2 CH controller.

How to earn a place in the ranking of the best — three main pluses:

  1. High performance. A flash drive from KINGSTON writes and reads data at a very serious speed — 450/500 megabits per second, respectively.
  2. Like other devices on the list of decent 120-128 GB drives, it supports Trim. This technology is able to keep productivity at the maximum level and optimize the wear of the cells of the model for stable and long-term operation.
  3. Long lasting — this A400 must run for over a thousand hours for the drive to retire.

Helpful: How to Check SSD Drive Status in Windows and Mac — 10 Monitoring Software

SAMSUNG 2.5″ 850 120GB SATA

High performance and secure storage of information, reliability and durability, easy installation in a PC or laptop without the help of professionals — with a drive from SAMSUNG, all this is quite real. One of the significant, but far from the only advantage model is low cost combined with chic features.However, otherwise, the drive simply would not have made it to the rating reflecting the best SSD models with a flash memory capacity of 120-128 GB.0008

Top six features:

1. TurboWrite’s proprietary development improves the speed at which data is written to the disk in sequential mode. The write and read speeds are also impressive — 520 and 540 megabits per second, respectively.

2. AES 256 bit hardware encryption is responsible for the security of file storage.

3. Trim and NCQ are developments whose main task is to ensure that the drive lives as long as possible without losing performance in the future.

4. Able to serve for a very long time — 1.5 million hours.

5. The drive will also please with excellent bandwidth: if you use SATA III, then the figure will be 6 Gb / s, and if SATA second generation — 3 Gb / s. Not even the newest laptop configuration will gain a second wind.

6. Magician will automatically update the firmware of the 850 120GB SATA 2.5 inch drive. In addition, the program serves as a tool for performance optimization.

TRANSCEND 360 128GB 2.5 SATA

Reliability and durability are significant, but not the only strengths of the model, otherwise it would simply not be included in the list of top flash drives. How did the device deserve a place in the ranking of the best options for 120-128 GB?

Reasons why SSD made it to the top:

  • The compact device is equipped with a controller that is famous for its responsiveness. Making the laptop “fly” is quite simple: data is written at 340 Mb / s, and read at 540 Mb / s. The model is connected via fast SATA III, but the drive is also compatible with SATA II.
  • Encryption protects information.
  • DevSleep mode makes this drive one of the best solutions for laptops: it extends the life of the laptop battery on a single charge.
  • Lasts a long time. First, it supports Trim, a development designed to optimize drive wear. It also improves its performance. Secondly, 360 128GB 2.5 SATA is capable of plowing for a thousand hours before running out of steam.
  • Quick response is another advantage of the device. It responds in as little as 20 milliseconds, making system restarts almost instantaneous.

Life hacks: Features of working with SSD drives — answers to 9 important questions to make the SSD last longer

Each model of 120-128 GB SSD drive that got into the rating will make the computer run faster. Each flash drive from the list will please with durability, as well as high performance. You can choose any option and not miscalculate, but if you need to store a lot of data and close it from outsiders, it is better to look at models with hardware encryption. And if you need storage for a laptop so that the battery does not run out, it makes sense to take something from WD or TRANSCEND.

10 best 1000 GB SSD drives — 1 TB SSD rating very resource-intensive programs, like photo or video editors.

But to choose a good drive, you need to spend a lot of time: manufacturers create a lot of capacious and worthy drives. In this collection — 10 of the best of them. The article talks about the key features of each 1000 GB option.

SAMSUNG 2.5″ 850 EVO 1TB SATA

A decent model of a fast and reliable drive. The device was created with 3D V-NAND. Due to the fact that the cells are in the shape of a cylinder, they practically do not affect each other. Because of this structure, the SSD works better and longer. to which he entered the ranking of the best devices for 1000 GB.0008

Attractive features of the flash drive:

  • Works really fast with information. TurboWrite technology is responsible for this. In comparison with the predecessors provided by the company, it adds 13% to the speed.
  • RAPID Mode — Samsung Magician software allows you to speed up your drive with 25% free space. The memory resource involved makes it possible to almost double the figure.
  • Cool TBW — compared to older models, the indicator has changed for the better, which confirms the five-year warranty period. In addition, the performance of the 850 EVO 1TB SATA is up to 30% faster than its predecessors.

SANDISK EXTREME 500 1TB

Stylish, fast, durable and extremely easy to use — perfect for transporting/storing important information or your favorite video games. This flash drive is the perfect addition to a PC or laptop.

Interesting : in 2018, the company introduced the smallest 1000 GB flash drive. The device is connected via USB-C, and therefore it can be connected not only to a computer, but also to an Android smartphone.

Compatibility with most popular operating systems, energy efficiency and dimensions that are almost half the size of modern smartphones are the nice qualities of an SSD. And the disc weighs only 79 grams. However, these qualities do not make the model one of the best. But those below are the reasons why he deserved a place in the top.

What is good:

  • Protection — the device is ready for extreme conditions: heat and cold, shock and vibration are not afraid of it.
  • Proprietary software will help hide secret files from strangers thanks to 128-bit encryption.
  • Plug & Play Technology — No driver installation required when connecting EXTREME 500 1TB to a new device. The system recognizes the drive itself in a matter of seconds.

ADATA DURABLE SD700 BLACK 1TB

This external solid-state device is compact and rugged, yet works without the “dust and noise” like its counterparts designed for indoor installation. However, this terabyte drive was included in the rating of cool models not only for these reasons. He has something to brag about.

Four of the best features:

  1. Super-fast: Connects to high-speed USB 3. 1 Gen 1 ports.
  2. 3D TLC NAND flash and DRAM cache add another weight to an already great speed. In addition, such memory extends the life of the SSD and increases its energy efficiency.
  3. DURABLE SD700 BLACK 1TB IP68 protected. Thanks to this, he is not afraid of moisture and dust. Military-grade shock resistance makes it fearless in the face of falls. Thanks to these qualities, the device will serve as a real information «safe», where the files are safe.
  4. Easy to transport. The weight of the drive is slightly more than 70 grams, and its small dimensions allow you to comfortably carry an impressive amount of information even in a jacket pocket.

Read also: TOP 10 best SSD drives

SAMSUNG 850 PRO 1TB

Compact device with high performance. Reliable storage of information, simplicity and comfort in work — it’s all about him. The model for internal connection is made in a standard 2.5” format and is equipped with a SATA 3 interface, and therefore will fit both in a desktop and in a laptop.

Six main advantages of a 1000 GB drive:

  1. Mega performance: the device reads 540 megabits of information per second, and writes a little less — 520.
  2. Energy efficiency is another advantage of this flash device: in active mode, it spends only 0.24 W.
  3. Durability — more than one million hours of service life.
  4. The Samsung 850 PRO 1TB is also shock and vibration resistant.
  5. Hardware-based encryption keeps files safe and secure.
  6. RAPID mode support — the ability to increase performance due to the unused RAM resource (used no more than 25%).

Note : the drive is also compatible with SATA 2, but please note that this connection method reduces performance. On the positive side, even when connected via SATA 2, SSDs outperform classic hard drives in terms of speed.

INTEL M.2 2280 1TB TLC/600P

The perfect storage solution for work and play. High quality and 17 times better performance than standard HDDs, stable performance and long service life are just a few of the reasons why the internal SSD is ranked among the best.

Note : The option is compatible with most motherboards with an M2 connector.

SAMSUNG M.2 1TB 960 PRO NVME PCLE 3.0 4X 2280 V-NAND

An energy efficient, durable drive with solid performance, perfect for high-end PC builds, including professional workstations.

Interesting: TOP 10 best manufacturers of external hard drives

SANDISK X400 1TB M.2 2280 SATAIII TLC

ultrabooks. The device can withstand high loads: processing / video, multitasking — there are practically no limits for this device.

Qualities for which this drive was ranked the best:

  • nCache 2.0 — sophisticated algorithms comprehensively analyze the load on the SSD. Their goal is to increase productivity and optimize processes, as well as reduce energy consumption.
  • Reliability. A five-year warranty is one of the essential indicators of reliability, but not the only one. The encryption system, error correction, makes it possible to prevent the sudden failure of a flash drive and protect information properly from strangers.
  • X400 1TB M.2 2280 SATAIII TLC lives long. MTBF — 1.75 million hours.
  • Supports TCG Opal 2.0, and therefore will appreciate the compatibility with a bunch of software platforms that increase the level of security.

SAMSUNG M.2 850 EVO 1TB SATA

The model is perfect for desktop assemblies, laptops and ultrabooks. Endurance, high performance and long life are the three main reasons why the SSD made it to the list of the best 1000 GB models. But the disc also has other, no less attractive, features.

3 good qualities of the drive:

  1. The user has the opportunity to double its performance. This can be done with an unused RAM resource, which in this case increases the cache.
  2. The 1TB device pleasantly surprises with its responsiveness: it can write up to 520 megabits of information in an instant, thanks to TurboWrite technology. The drive also reads data quickly: up to 540 Mb / s.
  3. M.2 850 EVO 1TB supports Trim. This technology is responsible for the uniform wear of the device and increases the speed of working with data.

To the topic: How to properly install an SSD on a computer and laptop: 3 ways

WD BLUE 1TB M.2 SATAIII

Reliability and high performance make this flash drive popular. It consumes little energy, so it is great for laptops, as it hardly drains their batteries. However, this solid-state device is quite suitable for desktop assemblies. It can be used as storage for the operating system, software or computer games and important information.

Speeding up the OS boot process, minimizing application response times and a significant increase in the speed of receiving / transmitting data are not all the reasons why the flash memory option was included in the rating of the best SSD models, whose volume is 1 TB.

CRUCIAL MX500 1TB 2.

5 SATA

The 2.5″ internal drive is equipped with SATA with a maximum throughput of 6Gb/s. The shock resistance index during operation is 1500 G. However, not only these features made the model worthy of the rating of the best solid-state flash drives with a volume of a thousand gigabytes.

What is remarkable about the CRUCIAL version:

  • Supports trimming technology, which is responsible for uniform wear of the device and increases the speed of working with data.
  • Reliable himself and saves information. For these qualities, it is worth thanking the hardware encryption of information implemented for reliable storage of AES 256 bit data, as well as the Silicon Motion SM2258 controller, which is designed for stable operation of the SSD.
  • Long-liver — device MTBF is 1.8 thousand hours.
  • The owner of the MX500 1TB 2.5 SATA has the opportunity to increase the performance of the model. To do this, you can use part of the RAM resource. And all thanks to 3D NAND memory type TLC.

Useful: Features of working with SSD drives — answers to 9 important questions to make the SSD last longer For those who want to add memory to a laptop or computer, any internal drive from the rating will come in handy. A good example is the 850 PRO 1TB: powerful, durable and secure. For those who are looking for a portable model, it is better to choose from external options. Fortunately, there are also enough of them in the top selection. For example, DURABLE SD700 BLACK 1TB is just what the doctor ordered. Especially if you need a fast, well-protected and super-light model.

Top SSD manufacturers

Drive speed is critical to any computer. We will figure out how to choose an SSD drive and identify the best manufacturers.

On average, read and write speeds of solid state drives (SSDs) are 500 MB/s, while “classic” hard drives (HDDs) offer no more than 150-200 MB/s. To feel the speed boost, the user needs to know the rules for choosing SSD drives and get acquainted with the list of the best manufacturers of solid state memory.

Content

  • 1 How to choose SSD
    • 1.1 Interface and form-factor
    • 1.2 type Flash memory and controllers
    • 1.3 Controller, Memory and additional functions
    • 1.4 Limited service life
  • 2 Best manufacturers SSD
    • 2.1 Samsung
    • 2.2 Kingston
    • 2.3 Transcend
    • 2.4 ADATA
    • 2.5 Toshiba
    • 2.6 GOODRAM
    • Power6 2.6 GOODRAM

      Power6 2.60016 2.8 Intel

    • 2.9 Seagate
    • 2.10 Gigabyte
    • 2.11 Crucial
    • 2.12 Western Digital

Interface and form factor

Solid state drives are connected using interface:

  1. SATA/mSATA — SATA III recommended with maximum speed up to 6 Gb/s, can connect to SATA II, but with reduced read performance and records. Such drives are sharpened into the case and look like a 2.5-inch HDD.
  2. M.2 SATA (up to 6 Gb / s) — looks like a stick, mounted in special slots on the motherboard, which differ in size. How to determine the size of the drive — the following numbers are added to the M.2 name: 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 and 22110. The first 22 indicate the width of the device, and the remaining indicate the length.
  3. M.2 NVMe (up to 31.5Gb/s) — uses a PCI-Express 3.0 4x slot, similar to video cards, capture cards. When overheated, they throttling, reducing performance.
  4. AIC NVMe (up to 31.5 Gb / s) — similar to the previous version, but in a package that resembles a video card.

M.2 SATA drives differ in the arrangement of contacts — they come with M or B + M connection.

Flash memory type and controllers

There are 3 types of memory in total, but since Planar NAND / 2D NAND is considered obsolete and practically not used, we will mention about:

3D NAND / V-NAND — such drives use a multilayer cell structure. It is divided into 4 subtypes:

  • SLC — the fastest, most expensive and reliable memory with cells containing 1 bit of information, found in server and professional solutions;
  • MLC — second cost memory with 2 bits of information per cell;
  • TLC — common memory in the consumer segment with 3-bit cells;
  • QLC is a cheap and unreliable memory with 4 bits of information.

3D XPOINT is a faster and more expensive alternative to 3D NAND.

Controller, memory capacity and additional features

The controllers built into the drives determine how efficient memory handling will be. They are produced by both disk manufacturers and third-party companies, so it is impossible to single out the best solutions — a lot depends on the price segment of SSDs.

1 GB solid state drive costs less than 1 GB hard drive. At the same time, in the SSD environment they sell solutions with 240, 480, 960 GB of space. This method of counting free space comes from pre-allocating memory to improve performance and reduce space wear.

There are also 2 additional technologies found in the SSD:

  • TRIM — provides high write speed and efficient data deletion;
  • NCQ — Optimizes commands for faster access to personal files.

Limited life

The life of any disk is measured in:

  1. TBW is the total number of file write and delete cycles. For example, a value of 200 TBW indicates a read/write resource of 200 TB. After overcoming this resource, the drive will become unstable.
  2. MTBF is the mean time to failure, measured in millions of hours. The values ​​are approximate and cannot be interpreted in the real life of the purchased model.

Some manufacturers indicate the maximum memory overload — it is also shock resistance.

The best SSD manufacturers

Companies that have established themselves in the solid state drive market.

Samsung

The South Korean giant is manufacturing SSDs using MLC/TLC 3D V-NAND. Against the background of competitors, the brand stands out for the service life of proprietary solutions and the use of an advanced Phoenix controller. The warranty period (up to 64 months) and the EVO series deserve special attention.

You have to pay extra for reliability, and 1 GB of memory from Samsung costs an order of magnitude more expensive than other vendors.

Kingston

A vendor that makes drives affordable and affordable. TLC is used as the main type of memory, and in terms of memory, there are disks from 120 to 2000 GB. Top options with PCI-E connectivity provide read speeds up to 3500 Mb/s and write speeds up to 2900 Mb/s.

Some users are critical of the quality of the 2.5-inch cases, which does not affect the performance of the drives.

Transcend

The company specializes in creating drives of various formats and still produces competitive SSDs with 2D NAND architecture. However, there are models with 3D NAND and MLC memory type — they work longer and are more reliable than TLC.

Demand for the manufacturer’s equipment has made it possible to gradually reduce the prices of NVMe drives and make them available to ordinary customers.

ADATA

The vendor produces drives from different price segments: products are based on 3D NAND technology, including offerings based on QLC, TLC and MLC. Otherwise, the company produces “traditional solutions” with SATA, M.2 and PCIe interfaces.

Among the shortcomings — not always a good price-quality ratio. The 1920TB QLC models are priced like the more reliable 1000TB MLC drives from the competition.

Toshiba

In addition to manufacturing electronics, the company has its own facilities for the production of solid state drives, which are then sold to other manufacturers. The range includes SATA, M.2 storage and NVM Express-enabled solutions that deliver 3400MB/s read and 3200MB/s write speeds.

In line with the latest trends, Toshiba is phasing out budget solutions in favor of professional options.

GOODRAM

Since its foundation in 1991, the company has been producing permanent and random access memory for computers. Of the drives offered by the vendor, budget and premium TLC options with 3D NAND architecture stand out. The main lines of the manufacturer are the initial CX, medium S25 and M.2 PX modifications.

According to user feedback, solutions from the budget segment are not distinguished by high speed and reliability.

Silicon Power

The company attracts users with affordable prices, high read/write speed, support for 2D/3D NAND compatible with MLC/TLC type of memory. By volume, choose from a minimum of 128 GB or a maximum of 2 TB in the M.2 NVM form factor.

Despite the low cost of the presented models, customers note the long service life, reliability and speed of individual drives.

Intel

The company established itself in the CPU market and introduced the world to 3D XPOINT-based SSDs using 1-bit SLC cells. Such devices do not differ in high speed (2600 MB / s read and 2200 MB / s), but are notable for their service life and TWB reserve.

Similar to solutions from other well-known companies, the buyer of an SSD from Intel will have to overpay for the brand.

Seagate

A vendor from America has proven itself in the production of high-performance HDDs for gamers. SDD was no exception, including affordable QLC solutions and more common TLC. In addition to the consumer segment, Seagate produces server SSDs.

The company supports 3 main lines: affordable BarraCuda, medium IronWolf, top FireCuda.

Gigabyte

The company manufactures 2 main types of SSDs. The first includes 2.5-inch drives with a SATA interface. They are sold at affordable prices and are highly reliable (in terms of TWB and runtime). The second direction was made by options with connection to the PCI-E port. The standout drive was the Gigabyte AORUS RAID, with a read speed of 6000 MB/s and a write speed of 6300 MB/s.