Ssd 1tb best: Best SSDs 2022: SATA, NVMe, and Add-in Cards

WD Black SN770 1TB SSD review

Our Verdict

Western Digitals takes a knife to the memory of its entry-level PCIe 4.0, but still manages to produce a speedy SSD that comes in at a very tempting price.

For
  • Solid performance
  • In-house controller and flash
  • Five-year warranty
Against
  • Relatively small SLC cache…
  • …slow when you go over it
  • Can get toasty

No price information

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We’ve seen some incredible NVMe SSD drives released lately, from the breakneck speed of the Kingston Renegade through to the affordable Crucial P5 Plus . The latest drive to enter the market emerges from the same camp as our favourite PCIe 4.0 SSD, the WD_Black SN850 , but as the name suggests, it isn’t gunning for the top spot. No, the new WD_Black SN770 is intended to be a bit more of a value proposition compared to its speedier sibling. 

The main way it has achieved this is by being a DRAM-less SSD drive. This saves a big chunk of the manufacturer’s bill of materials, and thanks to advances in the latest controllers, it can be surprising how little impact this has on performance. Such drives are slower, don’t get me wrong, but this new SN770 still quotes read and writes of 5,150MB/s and 4,900MB/s respectively. Not bad. 

As those figures should imply, this means that you’re looking at a PCIe 4.0 SSD. You’ll need a supporting CPU and motherboard to make the most of it, although there’s nothing to stop you from sliding it into a PCIe 3.0 slot and maxing out the bandwidth there—you’re going to be limited to a peak throughput of around 3,500MB/s if you do though. 

The drive itself is a low-profile affair, with this 1TB model boasting a single NAND flash module at the back (actually a rebranded Kioxia BiCS5 112-Layer TLC chip) and the SanDisk controller towards the connector. Western Digital rarely reveals much about its controllers, and that’s the case once again here. The SN770 is available in four sizes—250GB, 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB, although there’s no 4TB option, which is a bit of a shame. 

Other than the large sticker in the middle of the drive, that’s pretty much your lot. There’s nothing of note on the backside of the drive. Given how much space is unused here, I can’t help wondering if Western Digital could make a version of this drive that would fit inside the Steam Deck . Pickings are certainly slim for the 2230 form factor as it is. But anyway…

WD Black SN770 1TB Specs

Capacity: 1TB
Form factor: M.2 2280
Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
Controller: SanDisk PCIe 4.0
Flash memory: Kioxia BiCS5 112-Layer TLC
Rated performance: 5,150MB/s read, 4,900MB/s write
Endurance: 600 TBW
Warranty: Five years
Price: $105 | £108  

The first thing we do with any new SSD is to fill it up to get a real sense of what the performance will be like once it’s actually been used, as opposed to its factory-fresh perfection. This also gives us a chance to see at what point the dynamically allocated SLC cache runs out. 

On this 1TB drive, you’re looking at around 130GB of 2GB/s transfers before dropping down to just 400MB/s after that. For reference, the Crucial P5 plus was good for 300GB before hitting the limits of the cache, so the SN770 certainly trails here. 

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Test rig

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Cooler: Zadak Spark AIO
Motherboard: Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master
RAM: 16GB Thermaltake DDR4 @3,600MHz
GPU: Nvidia RTX 3080
PSU: Ikonik Vulcan 1200W

When looking at the performance of this drive, it’s worth keeping the price in mind, which can ask for almost double what this goes for. For comparison, I’ve pitched the $105 Western Digital SN770 1TB against the similarly budget-oriented $135 Crucial P5 Plus 1TB , the DRAM-less $100 Samsung 980 1TB (a PCIe 3.0 SSD), and our favourite SSD right now, the $150 WD_Black SN850 , which has recently enjoyed some tempting price cuts.

The synthetic performance as recorded by ATTO and AS SSD show the SN770 trails the Crucial P5 in terms of reads, although the writes are much closer. The 4K performance is relatively impressive though and shows that the SN770 has something to offer in this crowded marketplace. It’s not too surprising that this drive outperforms Samsung’s DRAM-less offering, as that is a PCIe 3.0 drive, after all, but the extent to which it does is impressive.

It’s worth noting that this drive can get hot when pushed, just like the SN850 in fact. It hit 76°C after a long day of testing, although that was without any direct cooling on it at all, not even a heatsink. It should be fine in most systems, especially if your motherboard does come with some cooling solution.

It’s in the real-world tests where the SN770 really struts its stuff though, with little between it and the Crucial P5 Plus. In very real terms, you’d be hard pushed to tell the difference between the two in day to day operations, and given this is the cheaper drive right now, that counts for a lot. If you need better performance, then the SN850 is clearly the better drive, but you will pay considerably more for it.

For SSDs to reach far more people, affordability is key

In many ways, that’s the story of the WD_Black SN770. It isn’t the fastest drive around, nor is it quite the cheapest (although it is close), but it does balance the two better than most. If you’re on a tight budget but want to enjoy speedy PCIe 4.0 performance, then there’s plenty to like here. It’s closer to first-gen PCIe 4.0 performance, sure, but if you want faster than this, you’re going to have to drop considerably more cash.

It wasn’t too long ago that the very idea of a DRAM-less NVMe SSD was met with scorn. The Samsung 980 was dismissed by many before the results were even seen, even though it wasn’t that bad a performer for a PCIe 3.0 SSD. The SN770 looks to improve the lot for the DRAM-less though, and with numbers like these, it deserves to. Phison also has a PCIe 4.0 DRAM-less controller on the way, so expect more drives like this shortly.

(Image credit: Future)

The reason DRAM-less drives are important is simply that they are cheaper. For SSDs to reach far more people, affordability is key, and this is a good way of getting closer to, if not below, that $100 for a 1TB drive barrier.

With DirectStorage promising big improvements for our games, the more gamers that have fast drives in their machine, the more tempting it is for developers to actually use it. It’s going to be a long journey for sure, and it’ll probably be years before developers are really pushing SSDs, but still, it’s good to plan ahead.

The only problem here is that we don’t know for sure how fast a drive needs to be for DirectStorage. We know some developers have been targeting 5,000MB/s, which is where the SN770 sits in our testing. So it should be good, and for the money, it’s very tempting. If you’re a serious gamer though, we’d recommend going a little bit higher up the product stack, and grabbing that WD_Black SN850. 

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WD Black SN770 1TB

Western Digitals takes a knife to the memory of its entry-level PCIe 4.0, but still manages to produce a speedy SSD that comes in at a very tempting price.

Alan has been writing about PC tech since before 3D graphics cards existed, and still vividly recalls having to fight with MS-DOS just to get games to load. He fondly remembers the killer combo of a Matrox Millenium and 3dfx Voodoo, and seeing Lara Croft in 3D for the first time. He’s very glad hardware has advanced as much as it has though, and is particularly happy when putting the latest M.2 NVMe SSDs, AMD processors, and laptops through their paces. He has a long-lasting Magic: The Gathering obsession but limits this to MTG Arena these days.

WD SN850 1TB SSD review

Our Verdict

The WD SN850 is the fastest PCIe 4.0 SSD you can buy. Incredible sequential and random throughput makes for a drive that’s way ahead of the pack.

For
  • Blistering PCIe 4.0 throughput
  • Excellent real-world performance
  • Solid warranty
Against
  • Runs hot

The WD Black SN850 1TB drive is the fastest PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD you can buy right now. It may not top every test in every benchmark, but when it comes to real-world benchmarking, there’s nothing else that can touch it. Don’t get me wrong, it does well across the synthetic benchmarks, topping plenty of them, but there are a few places where the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus or the Samsung 980 Pro have the edge, but overall that doesn’t take away from the fact that this is the pinnacle of storage right now.  

WD SN850 1TB SSD specs

Capacity: 1TB
Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4
Controller: WD_Black G2
NAND: BiCS4 96-layer TLC
Rated seq. read: 7,000 MB/s
Rated seq. write: 5,300 MB/s
Endurance: 600 TBW
Warranty: 5 years
Price: $229 (£196)

Western Digital was a bit late to the PCIe SSD party but quickly made up for it with the WD SN750, which has been a solid entry in our best SSD for gaming guide for a long time. If you’re still rocking a PCIe 3.0 platform, then it’s still a great option. The point being, that WD hasn’t come out of nowhere to grab the performance crown, and that its focus on performance has paid off.

It helps that Western Digital is in a great position for building quality SSDs, in that it produces everything it needs in house, from the proprietary memory controller to the NAND flash and the RAM. It’s all in house, and that means it can push everything that little bit harder than a manufacturer using off the shelf components, and it shows.

Pushing the components hard, however, obviously manifests in one other key area—temperature. The 1TB version of the drive is single-sided, which should mean it runs a little cooler than the 2TB double-sided offering. Which might be a little alarming, because this is not a cool running drive, coming in 10°C hotter than the other PCIe 4.0 drives I’ve been testing lately. It hit 77°C in the test rig, and that’s using the motherboard’s included heatsink. 

If your motherboard doesn’t have a bundled heatsink, then you may need to look at the $20-more expensive version of the drive—it uses the shipping container aesthetic of Western Digitals external drives. Which, personally speaking, looks good, although whether you can spot it in your case is a different matter. If you can aim some active cooling at the drive, then that’ll be even better. We didn’t notice any throttling in testing, although it’s something to be aware of. 

(Image credit: Western Digital)

You can track temperatures in Western Digital’s Dashboard app. I still have a problem with Western Digital thinking it’s fine to have an advertising block in its toolbox software, as this is something that is only useful if you’ve bought one of its drives. And these things aren’t cheap. That niggle aside this is one of the better interfaces around, with plenty of information on the drive’s status, performance, tools for updating the firmware, and access to Acronis True Image for duplicating an existing drive across.  

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Any SSD is ultimately defined by its performance, and as stated in the introduction, it’s here that the WD SN850 really stands out from the crowd. The synthetic benchmarks, spearheaded by ATTO and AS SSD, show that this is very much a second-generation PCIe 4.0 drive, with peak sequential read speeds knocking on 6,750MB/s and 5,920MB/s respectively. Writes are lower than the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus, but still healthy, at either side of 5GB/s. The 4K write performance in AS SSD manage to flip this over as well, with the WD SN850 managing to outpace the Sabrent drive. 

It’s the real-world performance tests that impress the most though, with PCMark 10’s Quick and Full storage tests putting the SN850 way ahead of the field. With an overall throughput of nearly 495MB/s in the Quick test and 550MB/s in the Full benchmark, this is a drive that just keeps powering on in day to day use. 

The fact that this performance is echoed in the Final Fantasy XIV benchmark, which has the SN850 loading the five different scenes in a shade under seven seconds for the first time, impresses no end. When plenty of ‘fast’ SSDs still take 12 seconds to complete the same task, that proves what difference the latest technology can have on gaming performance.  

(Image credit: Anvil)

Western Digital has been on an impressive run of late. The WD_Black AN1500 brought stunning performance to PCIe 3.0 platforms, while it’s external next-gen SSDs , like the P50, have done well in our testing too. As we’ve said, the SN750 was a decent contender in terms of cost/performance for last-gen consideration too. 

The SN850 builds on all of that to stand head and shoulders above the others to be the performance drive you want in your gaming PC. Which brings us to the pricing. The closest drives to this in terms of performance are the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus and the Samsung 980 Pro . The Sabrent is $30 cheaper than this, at a straight $200, which gives it a slight edge in terms of value for money. 

The Samsung 980 Pro, which had the edge for a few months, is left out in the cold, especially as it costs the same as the SN850, but loses out to the newer drive in every metric (apart from operating temperatures). Neither is a bad drive, obviously, but if we had to recommend a next-gen SSD right now, there’s only one clear option, and that’s the WD SN850. It’s simply the best drive you can buy today.

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WD SN850 1TB

The WD SN850 is the fastest PCIe 4.0 SSD you can buy. Incredible sequential and random throughput makes for a drive that’s way ahead of the pack.

Alan has been writing about PC tech since before 3D graphics cards existed, and still vividly recalls having to fight with MS-DOS just to get games to load. He fondly remembers the killer combo of a Matrox Millenium and 3dfx Voodoo, and seeing Lara Croft in 3D for the first time. He’s very glad hardware has advanced as much as it has though, and is particularly happy when putting the latest M.2 NVMe SSDs, AMD processors, and laptops through their paces. He has a long-lasting Magic: The Gathering obsession but limits this to MTG Arena these days.

Fastest SSDs in 2022: Best SATA & PCIe SSDs (October)

Home » Hardware » The Fastest Solid State Drives in 2022





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Over the past few decades of PC hardware evolution, no other upgrade has delivered such a dramatic improvement to the overall user experience as the shift from hard drives to solid state drives. While the same cannot be said about upgrading from an older SSD to a more recent model, there are certainly performance gains to be had.

As of 2022, SSDs have long since saturated the SATA interface, as well as the much faster PCI Express (PCIe) 3.0 counterparts. With PCIe 5.0 SSDs on the horizon, even the PCIe 4.0 interface is also more or less maxed out by the best M.2 SSDs.

The Best SSDs in October 2022

This page is intended as a rough guide to the best SSDs on the market in the common form factors supported by consumer motherboards, i.e. 2.5″ (SATA) and M.2 (PCIe/NVMe). Of course, what is “best” in your case will depend on your use case to some extent.

To keep it simple, rankings are based on an average of read/write transfer rates, with additional weight given to drives with high random performance, as this is typically associated with the best real-world performance. For a more complete story, also check out the reviews linked to in the descriptions.

First, a quick look at the drives that we consider leaders in their respective form factors. They don’t necessarily represent the best value but are definitely some of the speediest storage devices that you can use in your PC build today.

Product

Fastest 2.5-inch SATA

Seagate FireCuda 120 SSD 1TB Internal Solid State Drive – SATA 6Gb/s 3D TLC for Gaming PC Laptop (ZA1000GM10001)

Fastest M.2 PCIe Gen4

SK hynix Platinum P41 1TB PCIe NVMe Gen4 M.2 2280 Internal SSD l Up to 7,000MB/S l Compact M.2 SSD Form Factor SK hynix SSD — Internal Solid State Drive with 176-Layer NAND Flash

Image

Sequential read (max., MB/s)

560 MB/s

7,000 MB/s

Sequential write (max. , MB/s)

530 MB/s

6,500 MB/s

Random read IOPS (4K/QD32)

100,000 IOPS

1,400,000

Random write IOPS (4K/QD32)

90,000 IOPS

1,300,000

Warranty

5 years

5 Years

Endurance rating

1,400 TBW (1 TB)

750 TBW

MSRP (1TB)

$189.99

$149.99

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Fastest 2.5-inch SATA

Product

Seagate FireCuda 120 SSD 1TB Internal Solid State Drive – SATA 6Gb/s 3D TLC for Gaming PC Laptop (ZA1000GM10001)

Image

Sequential read (max., MB/s)

560 MB/s

Sequential write (max., MB/s)

530 MB/s

Random read IOPS (4K/QD32)

100,000 IOPS

Random write IOPS (4K/QD32)

90,000 IOPS

Warranty

5 years

Endurance rating

1,400 TBW (1 TB)

MSRP (1TB)

$189.99

Check Price

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Fastest M. 2 PCIe Gen4

Product

SK hynix Platinum P41 1TB PCIe NVMe Gen4 M.2 2280 Internal SSD l Up to 7,000MB/S l Compact M.2 SSD Form Factor SK hynix SSD — Internal Solid State Drive with 176-Layer NAND Flash

Image

Sequential read (max., MB/s)

7,000 MB/s

Sequential write (max., MB/s)

6,500 MB/s

Random read IOPS (4K/QD32)

1,400,000

Random write IOPS (4K/QD32)

1,300,000

Warranty

5 Years

Endurance rating

750 TBW

MSRP (1TB)

$149.99

Check Price

View on Amazon

Last update on 2022-10-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The 2.5″ SATA market has been mostly static in recent years. One exception is Seagate’s FireCuda 120, which managed to eke out some additional gains from the bandwidth-limited interface when it arrived in 2020.

However, the fastest SSDs at this time all require a PCIe 4. 0 (Gen4) interface and an M.2 slot. As of mid-2022, drives based on the Phison E18 controllers and the latest 176-layer Micron NAND are leading the high-end market, and the SK Hynix P41 is one of the best performers in this lineup.

The latest high-end systems from 2022 are even equipped with a PCIe 5.0 (Gen5) interface. However, there are still no Gen5 SSDs on the market at the time of writing.

For our more complete list of SSDs, we will start with 2.5″ SATA drives, which are all interface-restricted compared to more modern interfaces/protocols such as PCI-express/NVMe (normally in the M.2 form factor). If your computer has an available NVMe-capable PCIe M.2 slot, this is the form factor you should be looking at first.

Quick links
Best 2.5″ SATA SSDs
Best M.2 PCIe/NVMe SSDs

Best SATA SSDs (2.5-inch)

1. Seagate FireCuda 120

Available Capacities: 500GB – 4TB
Interface: SATA 6Gbps
560 MB/s read (1TB)
540 MB/s write (1TB)
Endurance Rating (1TB): 1,200 TBW

Besides Samsung, Seagate is one of the very few manufacturers that are still actively developing new products in the high-end SATA space. Seagate was quick to take advantage of the Phison S12 controller that was released in the middle of 2020, and the result was the impressive FireCuda 120.

This drive outperforms the old performance leader Samsung 860 PRO in several key areas while being considerably less expensive since it uses TLC instead of MLC NAND. Sequential performance is at the top of the charts, as are its 100K read and 90K random write IOPS. Endurance should not be an issue either, with the 4TB model offering an endurance rating of no less than 5,600 TBW (terabytes written).

Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK

Reviews: TweakTown, StorageReview


2. Samsung 870 EVO

Available Capacities: 250GB – 4TB
Interface: SATA 6Gbps
560 MB/s read (1TB)
530 MB/s write (1TB)
Endurance Rating (1TB): 600 TBW

New releases in the high-end SATA SSD market are rare events these days. Most of the efforts recently have gone into building cheap DRAMless SATA drives based on ever more cost-effective types of NAND. One notable exception – launched in early 2021 – is the Samsung 870 EVO, which is a continuation of Samsung’s long-running and extremely popular EVO series.

Considering the bandwidth cap imposed by the SATA interface, any sort of revolutionary performance gains are no longer possible. Nevertheless, thanks to Samsung’s refined MKX controller and new high-density 128-layer 3D TLC NAND, the 870 EVO offers minor improvements over its class-leading predecessors. In most benchmarks, it is not quite on par with the FireCuda 120, but it is typically close.

Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK

Reviews: LegitReviews


3. Samsung 860 PRO

Available Capacities: 256GB – 4TB
560 MB/s read
550 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 1,200 TBW

This list has been maintained for many years now and Samsung has been at the top for most of the time, starting with the somewhat legendary 840 Pro. As of 2022, the 860 PRO is still one of the best and quite possibly one of the most reliable.

If previous Samsungs are an indication, the 300 TBW (terabytes/total bytes written) rating for the 256 GB model up to 4,800 TBW for the 4 TB model (all use durable MLC NAND), might be conservative estimates. This, coupled with a 5-year warranty and great overall performance, makes the 860 Pro look very attractive overall. Unfortunately, its MLC memory chips also make it a lot more expensive than its main rivals.

Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK

Reviews: AnandTech, Notebookcheck


4. Samsung 860 EVO

Available Capacities: 250GB – 4TB
550 MB/s read
520 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 600 TBW

The 860 EVO is the successor of Samsung’s incredibly successful 850 EVO. It’s a great alternative to the 860 PRO, as it is significantly less expensive and you will hardly notice the performance difference in real-world use.

It performs very well considering it’s a TLC-based SSD. Moreover, it offers excellent endurance numbers at precisely half those of the 860 Pro at equivalent capacities (i.e. still better than most competitors), as well as a 5-year warranty.

Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK

Reviews: TweakTown


5. SanDisk Ultra 3D

Available Capacities: 250GB – 4TB
Interface: SATA 6Gbps
560 MB/s read
530 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 400 TBW

The Ultra 3D from Flash SanDisk (now a subsidiary of Western Digital) delivers excellent performance at a reasonable price point. It has now been around for a few years but is still a popular choice due to its attractive mix of good performance and usually a lower price than the Samsung 860 EVO. Its sequential read speeds of 550 MB/s and write speeds of 530 MB/s are complemented by very good random read/write figures as well (95K/84K IOPS).

SanDisk uses a controller from Marvell 88SS1074 in the Ultra 3D SSD, in combination with 64-layer TLC NAND. This makes it identical to the WD Blue SSD in everything but the name.

Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK

Reviews: HotHardware, AnandTech


6. Crucial MX500

Available Capacities: 250GB – 2TB
Interface: SATA 3 6Gbps
560 MB/s read
510 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 360 TBW

Crucial’s MX500 uses TLC NAND and also offers great performance at an attractive price point. It’s available in capacities of up to 2 TB. Like the 860 EVO, the MX500 is backed by a 5-year warranty, but its endurance rating is lower than both the 860 EVO and the SanDisk Ultra 3D. It starts at 100 TBW for the 250 GB model and ranges up to 700 TBW for the 2 TB model, which should still be more than sufficient for the average user.

The MX500 can compete with the 860 series in many areas, but rarely (if ever) surpass it. However, the price/performance ratio is excellent so this drive is a good choice for most SATA-limited systems.

Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK

Reviews: AnandTech, Guru3D


7. Kingston KC600

Available Capacities: 256GB – 2TB
Interface: SATA 6Gbps
550 MB/s read
520 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 600 TBW

Kingston’s KC600 was launched in 2019 and comes with a Silicon Motion SM2259 controller and 96-layer 3D TLC NAND from Micron. Although it is a bit more expensive than many of its competitors, it does offer hardware-based 256-bit AES encryption, making it an interesting option for business users. The overall specs are also excellent.

Performance-wise, it’s slightly slower than the Samsung 860 series but still in the high-end SATA territory. Random performance is up to 90,000/80,000 IOPS (read/write). Another plus is that the endurance ratings are on par with the best.

Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK

Reviews: Hexus.net


8. SK Hynix Gold S31

Available Capacities: 250GB – 1TB
Interface: SATA 6GBps
560 MB/s read
525 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 600 TBW

South Korean SK Hynix is one of the world’s largest memory manufacturers but is mainly known for its DRAM, such as DDR4 modules and GDDR6 chips for graphics cards. However, the company is also an experienced supplier of NAND Flash, including complete SSDs, for OEMs.

Now, SK Hynix releases SSDs under its own brand, and this SATA drive is one of the first. The SK Hynix Gold S31 has been very well received and immediately established itself among the leaders in the segment. Like most high-end SATA SSDs, it will saturate the interface, but it also tends to compete with (and in some cases surpass) drives like the Samsung 860 EVO and Crucial MX500 in real-world tests.

Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK

Reviews: TweakTown, AnandTech


9. Mushkin Source II

Available Capacities: 120GB – 2TB
Interface: SATA 3 6GBps
560 MB/s read
515 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 400 TBW

The original Mushkin Source was and is positioned as an entry-level SATA SSD. But now that many high-end MLC-based drives have disappeared from the market in favor of cheaper alternatives, the Source has risen in the charts.

More recently, the Source was replaced by the Source-II, which is similar but based on the updated Silicon Motion SM2259XT (originally SM2258XT) controller and TLC NAND. Its sequential performance remains more than adequate compared to the competition. Random performance is 75K/75K read/write (1TB model).

Check prices: Amazon, Newegg


10. Crucial BX500

Available Capacities: 240 GB –  2 TB
540 MB/s read
500 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 360 TBW

There is a wide variety of entry-level, DRAMless SATA SSDs on the market. Some of the cheapest models are not particularly attractive even from a price/performance perspective, but the popular Crucial BX500 performs better than many of its competitors. Although it can’t quite compete with the high-end alternatives, the affordable BX500 is fast enough to be sufficient for most SATA use cases.

Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK


M.2 NVMe Drives

See also: our new, up-to-date listing of the fastest M.2 SSDs.

1. SK Hynix Platinum P41

Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Available Capacities: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
7,000 MB/s read (1TB)
6,500 MB/s write (1TB)

The SK Hynix Platinum P41 was introduced in May 2022 and availability is still limited at the time of writing. It has however already made an impression on hardware editors and there seems to be no doubt that it is among the fastest SSDs yet in the consumer space. SK Hynix is the second-largest memory manufacturer on the planet but has mostly been supplying chips in an OEM capacity until quite recently. The Platinum P41 is entirely based on SK Hynix parts, including the controller, and this is apparently enough to outpace the Phison E18 lineup and other competitors in several real-world benchmarks.

Check prices (1TB): Amazon, Amazon UK


2. WD Black SN850X

Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Available Capacities: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
7,300 MB/s read (1TB)
6,300 MB/s write (1TB)

Launched in 2020,

When it arrived in 2020, the WD Black SN850 was quite possibly the fastest SSD on the market for some time. And to be fair it is still among the best, although several competitors have caught up with and surpassed it. To remedy this situation, Western Digital has now released a successor known as the WD Black SN850X. The main difference with this updated version is that it ships with higher-density memory chips in the form of 112-layer BiCS 5 NAND. This has boosted random read/write performance from 1M/720K IOPS with the original SN850 to 1. 2M/1.1M IOPS in the 2 TB SN850X.

As a result, the SN850X is (again) one of the best SSDs, as evidenced in real-world benchmarks such as PC Mark 10 and 3DMark.

Check prices (1TB): Amazon, Newegg

Reviews: TweakTown


3. Kingston KC3000

Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Available Capacities: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
7,300 MB/s read (1TB)
6,000 MB/s write (1TB)

Phison’s E18 controller and Micron’s new 176-layer TLC NAND emerged as a winning combination in late 2021. The Seagate FireCuda 530 was first to top the charts using this combo, and now Kingston is doing the same with its brand new KC3000 SSD. On paper, the FireCuda 530 and KC3000 (unsurprisingly) come with nearly identical specs, but the KC3000 is slightly ahead in most benchmarks.

In other words, if you are looking to pair your PCIe Gen4-compatible system with the fastest possible SSD, this is a strong contender for most use cases. This drive and the FireCuda 530 appear to perform particularly well in gaming loads. The only disadvantage of choosing the Kingston over the Seagate model is the KC3000’s lower endurance rating, at 800 TBW versus the FireCuda’s 1,275 TBW (1 TB capacity).

Check prices (1TB): Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK

Reviews: Tom’s Hardware, StorageReview


4. Seagate FireCuda 530

Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Available Capacities: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
7,300 MB/s read (1TB)
6,000 MB/s write (1TB)

As previously mentioned, the Seagate FireCuda 530 uses the same Phison E18 controller and 176-layer TLC NAND combo but falls ever-so-slightly behind Kingston’s KC3000 in most benchmarks. This does not change the fact that the FireCuda 530 is an exceptionally fast SSD, and it also comes with excellent endurance ratings: 1,275 TBW with the 1 TB model and 2,550 TBW with the 2 TB capacity.

Check prices (1TB): Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK

Reviews: StorageReview, TweakTown


5.

Corsair MP600 PRO XT

Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Available Capacities: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
7,100 MB/s read (1TB)
5,800 MB/s write (1TB)

As its name implies, the Corsair MP600 PRO XT is an updated version of the MP600 PRO (non-XT). The main difference is that this model has been updated with the same high-density memory chips as the first two drives mentioned above. Consequently, it offers about the same performance, with sequential transfer rates of up to 7,100 MB/s (read) and 5,800 MB/s (write) for the 1TB version. Much like its main competitors, however, the 2TB and 4TB capacities are a bit faster in terms of sequential write performance (6,800 MB/s) and up to 1,000,000 IOPS random reads.

Check prices (1TB): Amazon, Newegg


6. WD Black SN850

Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Available Capacities: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
7,000 MB/s read (1TB)
5,300 MB/s write (1TB)

Western Digital’s SN850 offers sequential transfer rates of up to 7,000 MB/s (read) and 5,000 MB/s (write), while 4K random performance is up to 1,000,000 IOPS. This is enough to outperform the Seagate FireCuda 530 in some synthetic benchmarks, and it’s also slightly ahead of the Samsung 980 PRO overall.

Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK

Reviews: AnandTech


7. HP FX900 Pro

Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Available Capacities: 512B, 1TB, 2TB
7,400 MB/s read (1TB)
6,400 MB/s write (1TB)

The HP FX900 Pro arrived in March 2022 and is based on the IG5236 Rainier controller from InnoGrit. This makes it similar to the Acer Predator GM7000 and XPG Gammix S70 (see below), but the HP FX900 Pro uses high-density 176-layer Micron NAND memory, resulting in improved performance. It particularly outshines its competitors in the random read/write area, where the 2TB capacity offers well over a million IOPS.

Check prices: Amazon

Reviews: AnandTech


8. Acer Predator GM7000

Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Available Capacities: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
7,400 MB/s read (1TB)
6,400 MB/s write (1TB)

Launched in 2021, the Acer Predator GM7000 was one of the first M. 2 SSDs to use the InnoGrit IG5236 Rainier controller. However, the GM7000 uses lower-density 96-layer NAND and is therefore not quite on par with its HP counterpart.

This doesn’t change the fact that the Predator GM7000 is a very fast SSD. It offers extremely high sequential transfer rates, as well as random reads/writes at 400/1K IOPS and 700K/700K for the 1TB and 2TB capacities, respectively.

Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK


9. Adata XPG Gammix S70

Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Available Capacities: 1TB, 2TB
7,400 MB/s read (1TB)
5,500 MB/s write (1TB)

The XPG Gammix S70uses mostly the same hardware as the Acer Predator GM7000, i.e. an InnoGrit IG5236 Rainier controller and 96-layer NAND. In other words, it’s not surprising that it performs about the same, though there are clearly some firmware differences. Notably, the Gammix S70 random transfer rates are different (1TB model: 350/720K IOPS, 2TB: 650K/740K read/write).

This was nevertheless enough to make it one of the fastest SSDs on the consumer market in 2021. One detail to keep in mind with the S70 is to ensure that your motherboard can accommodate its large (and apparently non-removable) heatsink.

Check prices (1TB): Amazon, Newegg

Reviews: TechPowerup


10.

Samsung 970 EVO Plus (Best Gen3 SSD)

Interface: PCIe Gen3 x4 NVMe
Available Capacities: 250 GB, 500 GB, 1 TB
3500MB/s read
3300MB/s write

Instead of launching an entirely new model, Samsung updated its popular 970 EVO lineup with the 970 EVO in 2019. As the name implies, it is basically an improved version of the same SSD, using the same controller but denser, 96-layer TLC NAND, and some additional tweaks. The improvements are particularly noticeable in terms of write performance. Sequential transfer rates are up from 2,500 MB/s to 3,300 MB/s, meaning that it outperforms the 970 PRO in some cases.

According to Samsung, random write performance with the 970 EVO Plus has been improved by as much as 57% compared to the previous EVO.

Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK


Summary and Clarifications

We’ve tried our best to compile the most comprehensive list of SSDs available and used this to create the lists you see above. Since there are new drives launched each month, we will update our list and ratings regularly. Also, if you think we’ve omitted something or need correction, don’t hesitate to leave a comment!

Lots of abbreviations and technical terms are used on product pages and SSD discussions. If you are new to them they will, needless to say, be totally incomprehensible. We will attempt to explain some of them here.

What Does SLC, MLC, TLC, and QLC Mean?

An SSDs performance, as well as its life span, is to a large extent determined by the quality of the memory cells. Higher-quality memory not only performs better but can also be erased and written to a larger number of times before it wears out.

SLC (single-level cell) NAND Flash memory is more durable than MLC (multi-level cell, two bits per cell), which in turn is more durable than TLC (triple-level cell) NAND.

Over the past few years, QLC (quad-level cell) drives such as the Samsung QVO have also become available. Additional bits per cell affect performance negatively because it makes the cells considerably more error-prone. There are clever technologies that compensate for this, but in the end, there is no substitute for higher-quality NAND.

As is often the case, high-end memory chips are more expensive to produce. There are no SSDs based on SLC memory in the market today (it has always been prohibitively expensive), and very few that use MLC. Samsung’s PRO lineup is an exception, excluding the 980 PRO, which is a TLC drive.

SSD endurance: What is MTBF and TBW?

MTBF is short for “mean time before failure” and is more relevant for conventional hard drives than SSDs, which have no mechanical parts that are prone to failure over time. TBW (terabytes written or total bytes written) is much more useful. This will give you is an indication of how much data can be written to the drive before it wears out. This is affected by the drive’s capacity, spare capacity (so-called overprovisioning), and the quality of the NAND memory chips.

For a drive with a 300 TBW rating, 300 TB is the amount of data that the manufacturer guarantees can be written to it (usually in a mutually exclusive number of years). This is not to say that an SSD will necessarily fail after this amount of data has been written. It is part of the warranty terms and an indication of its relative endurance.

Production Processes

Unlike other parts such as a CPU/GPU, a smaller production process as measured in nanometers (nm), is not a strong selling point, as this results in lower durability, all else being equal. For the average home or office user, durability is rarely an issue, since most SSDs are likely to outlive the rest of the computer by a fair margin. Just don’t rely on low-cost drives with cheap NAND in a server or other environment with a high continuous workload.

Top 10 SSD drives for 2022

Popular

open sources, as well as reviews on popular sites, we will rank solid state drives according to such characteristics as: speed, ?reliability, price and other indicators. SSD drives allow you to comfortably play any games, work with highly loaded programs and just work comfortably. Read our review and find your SSD drive for your computer or laptop ⭐️

Finding the best SSD for your specific system and needs is key if you want a fast PC or laptop to use for gaming or even if you just want fast system performance. A slow drive like a regular HDD will cause a big bottleneck in your system, causing your processor to spend clock cycles waiting for data to be processed. To speed up writing and reading, you need a fast SSD. To find out which SSD is the best for your computer, we will now break down 10 drives and pick a winner.

How to choose the best SSD?

Before choosing an SSD drive, you need to know that they come in different types and types of connections. MB/s to write.

  • M.2 SATA is still the same SATA drive, only it has a different form factor
  • NVMe — this interface allows the drive to reach speeds of 5000 MB / s and 4400 MB / s with PCI-E 4.0 × 4 version.
  • The next important point is the size of the drive, everyone basically takes from 120-256 gigabytes, I advise taking at least 512 gigabytes, this is a good balance between price and capacity if you have a limited budget. But 1TB drives are getting significantly cheaper and will last much longer. If you are assembling a gaming computer, you will be interested in reading articles on the same topic from my previous publications:

    • which gaming processor to choose in 2022?
    • review of the best gaming graphics cards for 2022
    • review of gaming keyboards for 2022

    Rating of the best SSD drives you can buy today 2022

    1.

    Samsung 980 Pro

    SSD — M.2 NVMe (PCIe)
  • Total memory — 500 GB
  • Maximum write speed — 2700 MB/s
  • Maximum read speed — 6400 MB/s
  • Hard Disk Protocol — NVMe
  • Durability — High-end
  • IOPS — 60000
  • TBW — 150TB
    Pros and cons of buying a Samsung 980 Pro:

    The 980 Pro’s read speed is 6400MB/s, so you can run your computer and applications very quickly.

    With a 512MB cache, you can also open frequently used files and programs faster.

    This SSD comes with a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty from Samsung.

    Price, very expensive today

    Description of Samsung 980 Pro:

    With Samsung 980 Pro 500GB you can transfer files very quickly. This M.2 SSD adopts the PCIe 4.0 interface for a fast read speed of 6400MB/s. As a result, your computer boots quickly, files open instantly, and games take less time to load. 5000MB/s write speed delivers 10x faster file uploads and transfers 980 Pro than on a standard 2. 5″ SATA SSD. For example, you can save a 100 GB game to an SSD in 30 seconds. With a 512MB cache, you can open frequently used files even faster. The volume of TBW Samsung 980 Pro is 150 TB. That is, on average, you write 150 TB of data before the SSD gives up. This SSD comes with a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty from Samsung.

    2. WD Black SN850

    Specifications WD Black SN850:
    • Total storage capacity — 500 GB
    • Maximum write speed — 4100 MB/s
    • Maximum read speed — 7000 MB/s
    • Hard disk protocol — NVMe
    • Durability class — Medium class IOPS) — 680000
    • Terabytes written — 300TB
    • Memory type (SSD) — 3D NAND

    Western Digital WD Black NVMe 500GB M.2 SSD SN850 WDS500G1X0E-00AFY0

    Pros and cons of buying a WD Black SN850:

    At 7 GB/s read and 4.1 GB/s write, you’ll transfer a 4K movie in about 30 seconds

    The WD Black SN850 has a heatsink so the SSD stays cool for demanding tasks and applications

    Western Digital provides a 5-year warranty on this solid state drive.

    The M key does not allow this M.2 SSD to be compatible with any motherboard.

    WD Black SN850 Gaming SSD Description:

    Note: This M.2 SSD is PCI Express (NVMe) compatible and will only work if your system supports PCIe/NVMe. Be sure to check this in your laptop or motherboard manual.

    The WD Black SN850 500GB is one of the next generation WD Black M.2 NVMe SSDs. At 7 GB/s read and 4.1 GB/s write, this M.2 SSD is up to 2x faster than its predecessor. Your desktop loads in seconds and demanding applications like games or CAD programs run faster. 3D NAND technology makes this SSD more energy efficient than comparable models. Keep track of everything with the WD SSD Dashboard. It displays the speed of your drive and has a game mode that maximizes the speed of your SSD while playing games. RGB LED lighting will give your gaming configuration an extra touch.

    3. Samsung 970 Evo Plus

    970 Evo Plus Specifications:
    • SSD Type — M. 2 NVMe (PCIe)
    • Total Memory — 500 GB
    • Maximum Write Speed ​​- 320
    • Maximum read speed — 3500 MB/s
    • Hard drive protocol — NVMe
    • Durability class — Basic
    • Input operations per second — (IOPS) 550000
    • Terabytes written — 300 TB

    Samsung 970 EVO Plus 500 GB M.2 SSD MZ-V7S500BW

    Fast 970 Evo Plus SSD pros and cons

    With 3500 MB/s read speed and 3300 MB/s write speed, this SSD is much faster than its predecessor .

    Magician — Drive status management using the included Magician software.

    5 years manufacturer’s warranty.

    The M key does not allow this M.2 SSD to be compatible with any motherboard.

    970 Evo Plus Speed ​​SSD Description

    Note : This M.2 SSD is PCI Express (NVMe) and will only work if your system supports PCIe/NVMe. Be sure to check this in your laptop or motherboard manual.

    The Samsung 970 Evo PLUS 500GB is an internal NVMe SSD suitable for very demanding users. With extremely fast read speeds of 3500MB/s and write speeds of 3300MB/s, you can process data within seconds. With this SSD, your laptop will boot up in less than 15 seconds. Plus, this SSD will last for years with the TBW 300. AES 256-bit encryption ensures your data is protected. You can update the SSD firmware and manage its performance using the Samsung Magician program.

    4. KingSton Kc3000

    Technical characteristics of Kingston Kc3000:
    • Type of solid -state drive — M.2 NVME (PCIE)
    • Total capacity of the storage — 512 GB
    • Maximum recording speed — 3900 MB/sec
    • 9001 Reads — 7000MB/s

    • Hard Drive Protocol — NVMe
    • Wearable Grade — High-End
    • Inputs Per Second (IOPS) —

      0

    • Terabytes Written — 400TB

    Kingston 512GB M.2 SSD SKC3000S/512G

    Pros and cons of Kingston’s most reliable KC3000 SSD:

    7000MB/s high read speed

    The SSD’s energy-efficient design ensures you can keep your laptop cool for longer .

    The M.2 NVMe drive is 2280

    Description of Kingston KC3000:

    The Kingston KC3000 512GB SSD with PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 switch provides the highest level of performance. The SSD card uses the latest Gen 4×4 NVMe controller and 3D TLC NAND. Upgrade your storage system and increase the reliability of your computer so it can handle heavy workloads. The 512 GB storage capacity allows you to store more than 50,000 photos or 50 two-hour Full HD videos. You’ll get better performance in applications like 3D rendering and 4K+ content creation. With read and write speeds up to 7000MB/s, Kingston KC3000 SSDs enhance your workflow on powerful laptops and desktops. An SSD card is ideal if you need the highest speeds for your PC. And the design of the M.2 2280 fits seamlessly into motherboards. With this SSD card, you will be able to enjoy fast response times and fast boot times on your PC or laptop.

    5.Crucial P5 Plus

    Crucial P5 Plus 500GB specifications:
    • SSD type — M. 2 NVMe (PCIe)
    • Total memory — 500 GB
    • Maximum write speed — 60
    • Maximum read speed — 6600 MB/s
    • Hard drive protocol — NVMe
    • Durability — Basic
    • Input operations per second — (IOPS) 700
    • Terabytes written — 1200 TB

    rucial P5 Plus

    Crucial P5 Plus 500GB pros and cons

    6600MB/s read and 6600MB/s write speeds, this SSD is about 15 times faster than a regular SSD.

    Thanks to the 3D NAND structure, this drive consumes relatively little power.

    5-year manufacturer’s warranty

    This SSD is 8 cm long and may not fit every motherboard.

    Description SSD Crucial P5 Plus 500GB

    Note: This M.2 SSD is a PCI Express (NVMe) interface and will only work if your system supports PCIe/NVMe. Be sure to check this in your laptop or motherboard manual.

    Choose the fastest boot time with the Crucial P5 Plus 500GB ultra-fast internal NVMe SSD. With 6600MB/s read and 6600MB/s write speeds, you can process a multi-gigabyte file in seconds. This SSD also boots up your laptop or PC in less than 15 seconds. Install this M.2 SSD in your laptop or PC and start using it right away.

    6. Seagate Firecuda 530

    Technical characteristics Seagate Firecuda 530:
    • Type of solid -state drive — M.2 NVME (PCIE)
    • Memory — 500 GB
    • Maximum recording speed — 6900 MB/C 900 MB/S 900 MB/S 900 MB/C 9
    • Maximum read speed — 7300 MB/s
    • Hard disk protocol — NVMe
    • Durability class — Medium class
    • Input operations per second — (IOPS) 1000000
    • recorded terabytes-640 TB

    SEAGATE Firecuda 530 500 500 500 GB M.2 ZP500GM3A023

    Plus and minuses Seagate Firecuda 530:

    compliance and record

    5-year-old 5-year-old 5-year-old 5-year-old 5-year-old 5-year PS5

    Seagate FireCuda 530 SSD description:

    Store games, movies, updates and more with the Seagate FireCuda 530 Heatsink SSD 500GB. You can install this ultra-fast internal SSD in the PlayStation 5’s optional M.2 SSD slot and store up to 12 games. With a fast read speed of 7300MB/s and a write speed of 6900 MB/s, your games load within 15 seconds. This internal SSD is also energy efficient, so it consumes less power. In addition, this NVMe SSD comes with a 5-year warranty from Seagate. Thus, you can use this SSD safely for a long time.

    7.Crucial MX500

    Crucial MX500 specifications:
    • 250 GB total memory
    • Solid State Drive Type — 2.5″ SATA
    • Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) — 1800000 h
    • Memory Type (SSD) — Tri-Level Cells (TLC)
    • SSD Controller — Silicon
    • Cache — 0 MB
    • Maximum Read Speed ​​- 560 MB/s
    • Maximum Write Speed ​​- 510 MB/s
    • 2.5″ SSD Speed ​​Class — Medium Range
    • Operations Per Second (IOPS) — 95000
    • Recorded telaits — 100 TB
    • Input operations per second (IPS) —

    • Durability Grade — Basic
    • hard drive — AHCI
    • HASE DISK Interface — SATA

    CRUCIAL MX 500 GB SAT5 SAT5 SAT5M

    Crucial MX500 pros and cons:

    3D NAND technology makes these internal 2. 5″ SSDs very power efficient

    With 256-bit AES hardware encryption, you can protect your data

    Description of the Crucial MX500 SSD:

    With the Crucial MX500 250GB 2.5″ Duo Pack, you can expand the memory capacity of your laptop or PC. Since you get 2 SSDs of 250 GB each, you provide your computer with space for 2 M.2 SSDs of 500 GB at once. This is enough for 50,000 photos. With 3D NAND flash, these SSDs are more energy efficient than the MX300 series. This means your laptop lasts longer on a single charge. The drive’s read speed is 560MB/s, allowing you to quickly open large files such as movies and graphic design projects. You can download a 2GB video in 4 seconds. With AES 256-bit hardware encryption, you can protect your movie collection, vacation photos or work documents from hackers and information theft. In addition, automatic correction and crash recovery ensures that your data is not corrupted in the event of a power loss. Thanks to this, you know that with this package you will save your valuable information in the event of a power outage.

    8. WD Blue SN570

    WD Blue SN570 specifications:
    • Total memory — 250GB
    • SSD type — M.2 NVMe (PCIe)
    • 9BFMT — MTBF 1700000 h

    • Memory type (SSD) — 3D NAND
    • SSD controller — WD Black
    • Cache — 0 MB
    • Maximum read speed — 2400 MB/s
    • Maximum write speed — 950 MB/s0020
    • Output Operations Per Second (IOPS) — 410000
    • Terabytes Written — 200 TB
    • Input Operations Per Second (IOPS) — 405000
    • Durability Class — Medium Class
    • Hard Disk Drive Protocol 90 — 2019 PCIe

    Western Digital WD Blue SN570 500GB M.2 SSD WDS500G3B0C

    WD Blue SN570 pros and cons:

    2.4Gb/s high read and write speeds 1950MB/s

    This SSD comes with a 5-year warranty

    With a capacity of 200 TBW, WD Blue lasts longer on average than WD Green

    This M.2 NVMe SSD is sized 2280 and keyed M, so check whether your device supports it.

    Small 250 GB

    Best Buy Description WD Blue SN570:

    Note: This M. 2 SSD is PCI Express (NVMe) and will only work if your system supports PCIe/NVMe. Be sure to check this in your laptop or motherboard manual

    The WD Blue SN550 NVMe 250GB SSD is a super-fast SSD with ultra-fast read speeds of up to 2.4GB/s and write speeds of 950MB/s. This way, your computer boots up much faster than with a hard drive, and you never have to wait long for a file or game to open. You can transfer a 5 GB movie in about 5 seconds. Are you burning it from a disc to another device? It takes even less time. This SSD is energy efficient so your computer doesn’t get as hot and your laptop doesn’t draw as much battery power. With the included WD software, you can clone your data, create backups, and keep track of free space. This SSD comes with a 5-year warranty.

    9. KingSton A400 SSD 240GB

    Technical characteristics Kingston A400 SSD 240GB:
    • The total memory 240 GB
    • Type of solid-state drive 2.5-inch SATA
    • Average time of operating time (MTBF) 10000 H
    • Memory type (SSD) Tri-level cells (TLC)
    • SSD controller Native
    • Cache 0 MB
    • Maximum read speed 500 MB/s
    • Maximum write speed 350 MB/s
    • Speed ​​grade 2. 5-inch solid-state drive Basic
    • The number of output operations per second (IOPS)

    • Recorded terabytes 80 TB
    • Input per second (IPS) 15000

    STARTIC A400 240 240 GB SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATA SATAS /240G

    Pros and cons of Kingston A400 SSD 240GB:

    Windows fast boot 15 seconds

    2.5″ internal SSD suitable for laptops and desktops

    3-year warranty

    Desktop mounting plate for SSD not included

    Description of Kingston A400 SSD 240GB:

    Kingston A400 SSD 240GB is an internal SSD suitable for simple and everyday tasks. With 500MB/s read and 350MB/s write speeds, you can save a long HD movie in about 10 seconds and a large collection of vacation photos in 15-20 seconds. Long boot times are also a thing of the past as the Kingston A400 boots up your laptop or PC in just 15 seconds. With a height of 7mm, you’ll be sure it will fit in your laptop, console or desktop PC. In addition, you connect the SSD through a regular SATA connector.

    10. WD Blue 3D Nand 2.5 Inches 500GB

    Technical characteristics WD Blue 3D Nand 2.5 Inches 500GB:
    • Type of solid-state drive SATA
    • total memory 500 900
    • Maximum recording speed 530 MB/s
    • Maximum read speed 560 MB/s
    • HDD protocol AHCI
    • Durability class Basic
    • Input operations per second (IOPS) 84000
    • Terabytes written 200TB

    Western Digital WD Blue SATA 500GB SATA WDS500G2B0A SSD

    WD Blue 3D pros and cons:

    2.5″ SSD fits desktops and laptops with standard 2.5″ slot and SATA connector.

    The

    SSD is energy efficient, so your laptop can last a little longer on a single battery charge.

    Western Digital 5 year warranty

    Description WD Blue 3D NAND 2.5 inches 500GB

    WD Blue 3D NAND 2.5″ 500GB is an internal solid state drive suitable for gamers and creative professionals. The regular 2.5″ size makes it easy to boost the speed of your PC or laptop with the 2.5″ slot. The SATA connection provides fast data transfer, allowing you to transfer photo libraries, video collections and game files at 525 MB/s. For example, a full 5 GB movie transfers to an SSD in about 10 seconds. Thanks to 3D NAND memory, an SSD is 50% more energy efficient than an SSD with conventional flash memory. This allows the laptop to work even longer on a single battery charge. Before installing, download a full backup of your old drive using the free WD Clone Software. The program also allows you to monitor the health of your WD Blue, so you can be sure that your SSD will last a long time.

    More articles

    Most read

    Best SSDs for gaming PCs

    Which SSD is the best choice for a gamer right now? To help you make your choice, we’ve rounded up the best SSDs available today, from the top SATA to the fastest NVMe.

    But first, let’s talk about whether a gaming PC needs an SSD? A few years ago, we would have said that an SSD is not a must-have gadget: it will help speed up downloads, but in general it will not significantly affect gaming performance, unlike everyday PC use and work with documents, where an SSD shows a noticeable increase.

    However, the situation has now changed. Firstly, new consoles have entered the market, where the SSD is the basic drive, and new projects are being sharpened to work with it, which are also coming to the PC. This means that a player who uses an HDD for games runs the risk of slow loading saves, slow loading objects and other problems that arise due to slow hard drives.

    Secondly, NVIDIA’s new RTX IO technology is breaking into the PC gaming field. It works on GeForce RTX 20xx and 30xx graphics cards and provides data loading from the drive directly to the video card memory, bypassing the CPU and RAM. This significantly reduces game loading times, increases fps and improves the detail of game worlds.

    Therefore, by installing a high-speed NVMe SSD, you will have a richer video game experience than users whose PCs are equipped with conventional HDDs.

    Yes, comfortable gaming requires investment, but it also pays back no less — a stable frame rate per second, a high range of drawing objects, the ability to join the game without waiting. Well, now let’s move on to reviewing the best deals on the SSD market for gaming.

    Fastest M.2 (NVMe) SSD

    XPG Gammix S70 Blade

    Controller: Innogrit IG5236 | Memory: TLC 3D NAND | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    XPG Gammix S70 Blade SSD is suitable for PC and PlayStation 5 console: thanks to the high read and write speed (6800/7400 MB/s), the drive has been certified by Sony and can be used with the platform of the new generations. Included with the device is a metal plate-radiator, which is attached to the memory modules to prevent overheating.

    As we said, XPG Gammix S70 Blade is characterized by high read and write performance. This makes an SSD a good solution for handling large amounts of data on a PC, and once installed in a PS5, you’ll expand the console’s internal storage by a whole terabyte and be able to offload the base drive.

    Crucial P5 Plus

    Controller: Micron DM01B2 | Memory: TLC 3D NAND | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    Crucial is a subsidiary of microcontroller manufacturer Micron, which is known for its stability and reliability. Therefore, there is no doubt about the quality of the Crucial P5 Plus: this drive will work out its resource and even beyond it.

    With 6600MB/s read and 5000MB/s write speeds, this SSD can be installed in a PS5 or used in a high-end gaming PC, as well as used for workloads like image and video processing. This is one of the most affordable drives with PCI-E 4. 0 x4 support, which will definitely please budget users.

    Seagate Firecuda 530

    Memory: TLC 3D NAND | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    Seagate Firecuda 530 boasts high speed (7300/6900 MB/s read/write), so you can install this drive in PlayStation 5 besides PC. The manufacturer puts a metal radiator in the kit that removes heat from the microcircuits, and we strongly recommend that you do not neglect it.

    The

    SSD will only unleash its full power when used with a motherboard that supports PCI-E 4.0 x4, and you will be impressed with its capabilities. Seagate claims that this model is capable of nearly two million hours of trouble-free operation — that’s over two hundred years of continuous operation!

    Kingston Fury Renegade

    Controller: Phison | Memory: TLC 3D NAND | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    Kingston Fury Renegade looks very attractive, although you are unlikely to look at the drive that is under the lid of the PS5 console or hidden behind the video card. And, to be honest, the technical characteristics of the device are much more important than its appearance. And everything is in order with them: a very high read speed and a slightly more modest write speed, modest heating rates and, like a cherry on a cake, a five-year warranty.

    Silicon Power US70

    Memory: TLC 3D NAND | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    Silicon Power US70 has all the data for comfortable work with current systems: high write and read speed (4400/5000 MB / s), large volume (1 and 2 TB), an impressive working range temperatures (from 0 to 70 degrees Celsius), as well as an impressive service life (1.7 million hours). At the same time, the device is accompanied by a five-year warranty, so you can be calm about its functionality throughout its entire service life.

    Corsair MP600 Pro XT

    Memory: TLC 3D NAND | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    When buying a Corsair MP600 Pro XT SSD, please note that it is equipped with a massive heatsink that removes heat from the performance hardware, providing impressive read / write performance — 7100/6800 MB / s. You probably don’t need such a great drive, but if you want the best of the best gadgets, without compromise, then this model is what you need.

    Addlink AddGame A95

    Memory: TLC 3D NAND | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    Addlink The AddGame A95 is available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB, operates at temperatures from 0 to 70 degrees Celsius, and comes with a five-year manufacturer’s warranty.

    Due to its high speed (7300/6000 MB / s read / write), it is suitable for installation in PS5, and Addlink has prepared special software for working with a PC, which allows you to receive real-time data on the status of the drive and carry out diagnostics. Finally, the bundled heatsink will reliably cool the chips and memory modules of the device.

    Patriot Viper VP4300

    Memory: TLC 3D NAND | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    The Patriot Viper VP4300 SSD is as fast as most of our selection of PCI-E 4.0 x4 capable devices and can be used in both PC and PS5 console. The model is available with different radiator options, and we advise you to choose a double-sided one, which gives you the most efficient cooling — you can’t go wrong.

    PNY XLR8 CS3030

    Memory: TLC 3D NAND | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    PNY XLR8 CS3030 achieves 7500 MB/s read speed, making it suitable for PlayStation 5. It’s overkill for PC gaming (at least for now), but it’s great for large arrays data and «heavy» files. If you’re looking for the ultimate in cooling performance, check out the PNY XLR8 CS3140 with a massive heatsink.

    Acer Predator GM7000

    Memory: TLC 3D NAND | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    The performance of the Acer Predator GM7000 is as the name suggests, with impressive read/write speeds of 7400/6700 MB/s, making it suitable for PS5 consoles or workstations where a fast SSD is essential. In any case, this device will not disappoint you, and the free Acronis True Image software will be a nice addition to it.

    Samsung 980 PRO

    Controller: Samsung Elpis Controller | Memory: V-NAND 3-bit MLC | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    Samsung is used to making flagship drives, and the 980 PRO is no exception. This is a very fast MLC SSD that can write at 5000MB/s and read at 6900MB/s.

    On the one hand, high write and read speeds will suit those who do not accept compromises. On the other hand, in most tasks, including gaming, such performance will be excessive. Until NVIDIA brings RTX IO technology to the masses, on a PC you simply won’t experience the speed boost from such an SSD. But feel how empty your wallet — Samsung devices are not distinguished by a democratic approach to pricing.

    Gigabyte Aorus NVMe Gen4 SSD

    Controller: Phison PS5016-E16 | Memory: 3D TLC | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    If you have already purchased a motherboard with PCIe 4.0, installed the appropriate processor and powerful graphics card, and are looking for something else to pump your system, then this SSD will fit perfectly into the composition.

    Supporting a fast interface, it provides high data transfer rates of up to 4400MB/s write and up to 5000MB/s read. These figures, for example, are more than the SSD installed in the Xbox Series X, and slightly lose to the PlayStation 5 drive.

    WD Black SN850

    Memory: 3D TLC | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    Whether you need an exceptionally fast SSD or are already looking for an option to expand your PS5 memory, the Western Digital SN850 is a drive that will satisfy even the most demanding gamers.

    It delivers an impressive 5300MB/s write and 7000MB/s read and is therefore certified for use in the PlayStation 5. In addition, the SSD comes with a backlit heatsink, making it an eye-catcher for any gaming setup.

    Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus

    Controller: Phison E18 | Memory: 3D TLC | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    Sabrent’s Rocket 4 Plus is one of the fastest on our list. It will provide 6850 MB/s write speed and 7000 MB/s read speed with the right PC components, and is offered in three versions – 500 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB. In the case of the maximum volume version, it’s better not to even ask the price — the cost of one Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus will cover the purchase of a good pack of more modest SSDs.

    ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro

    Controller: Silicon Motion SM2262EN | Memory: 3D TLC | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    This drive is almost on par with Samsung’s options in terms of speed and performance in typical tasks, while being much cheaper. It provides a read / write speed of 3500/3000 MB / s and is capable of working for 2 million hours.

    You can buy the ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro now and it will last you for several years until PCIe 4.0 drives become cheaper.

    Gigabyte Aorus RGB SSD

    Memory: 3D TLC | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    At the first glance at this SSD, its belonging becomes obvious: the logo of the gaming brand Aorus and the bright backlight give out a gaming device in it.

    And he justifies his appointment with good performance: write — up to 2000 MB / s, read — up to 3480 MB / s. It also uses a metal heatsink that effectively removes heat from hot microcircuits.

    ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 Pro

    Memory: 3D TLC | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    ADATA releases individual devices under the XPG brand aimed at gamers. The Gammix S11 Pro model is one of the best in the manufacturer’s SSD line: made in the M.2 form factor, equipped with a heatsink and providing a read/write speed of 3500/2300 MB/s.

    In terms of price, this drive will satisfy frugal users. In general, a good option for your money, and of the minuses, only the lack of support for PCIe 4.0 can be noted.

    WD Black SN750

    Controller: SanDisk 20-82-007011 | Memory: 3D TLC | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    Western Digital has made a name for itself in the PC storage industry, and the introduction of SSDs is a natural evolution of its product line. The Black series belongs to gaming, and the SN750 model proves it with impressive write / read rates — 2600/3470 MB / s.

    The only drawback of this gadget is its price, which is rather high. Nevertheless, it is still cheaper than competitive devices from Samsung, and in terms of speed it approaches them, so it can become a worthy alternative.

    Samsung 970 Pro

    Controller: Samsung Phoenix | Memory: Samsung 2-bit MLC | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    If the Samsung 970 EVO is able to give a result almost equal to the 970 Pro in synthetic tests, why pay more? Most users, to be honest, do not need a professional-level drive at all, but if you suddenly still need the absolute speed leader among SSDs, then there is nothing better than the 970 Pro yet. Yes, the EVO is almost as fast in synthetics, but it uses a few tricks to get it right, and the Pro’s more powerful MLC memory holds its own without any magical software tricks.

    It is believed that professional specifications will fully reveal themselves only in a couple of years, while the difference between Pro and EVO is too small to talk about it. Both models have the same five-year warranty, the Pro has a TBW of 1200 terabytes, the 1TB EVO has 600 terabytes, and the 500GB version has only 300. opt for the more enduring 970 Pro.

    Available M.2 (NVMe) SSD

    Goodram PX500

    Controller: Silicon Motion SM2263XT | Memory: TLC 3D NAND | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    Goodram PX500 is based on the Silicon Motion controller — not the most advanced, but powerful enough to recommend the drive for use as a system drive, for work and games.

    Not having your own buffer won’t hinder day-to-day efficiency, but will affect speed if you move large amounts of data. However, given the affordable price tag, the model can be forgiven for this small flaw.

    XPG Gammix S50 Lite

    Controller: SMI SM2267G | Memory: TLC 3D NAND | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    XPG Gammix S50 Lite is one of the cheapest SSDs with PCIe 4.0 x4 support, and the device is more affordable than many PCIe 3. 0 x4 models! It uses the new SMI SM2267 controller, which is not very productive, but capable of operating at an increased frequency.

    If these technical details mean nothing to you, just know that the drive is fast, cool and equipped with support for the latest connection interface. In real tasks, it performs at the level of Samsung 970 EVO Plus, which is quite worthy considering its price.

    Kingston NV1

    Controller: Phison PS5013-E13-31 | Memory: TLC 3D NAND | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    Despite the rather modest reading and writing speeds, according to which Kingston NV1 loses to drives supporting PCIe 4.0 x4, we recommend this model for purchase. In most tasks, including games, you will not notice the difference between this and a more productive device. At the same time, the device boasts an affordable price tag. However, due to the lack of its own heatsink, we advise you to purchase a cooling system in addition to the drive.

    ADATA ASWORDFISH

    Memory: TLC 3D NAND | Interface: M. 2 (NVMe)

    ADATA ASWORDFISH is an average drive in all respects. With a read/write speed of 1800/1200 MB/s and a resource of 1.8 million hours or 960 TB, it will become a reliable workhorse that will perform equally well in games and applications. The owners of the device complain about strong heating, so if possible, it is worth replacing the complete metal plate with a more efficient radiator. Other than that, it’s a fast and reliable SSD.

    Kingston KC2500

    Controller: Silicon Motion | Memory: TLC 3D NAND | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    For a PCI-E 3.0 x4 drive, the Kingston KC2500 has pretty good performance: 3500 MB/s read and 1200 MB/s write. In terms of gaming performance, the device performs well, and it doesn’t get too hot even without a heatsink (although we would recommend getting the latter). And it’s inexpensive.

    SK Hynix Gold P31

    Controller: SK Hynix Cepheus | Memory: TLC 4D NAND | Interface: M. 2 (NVMe)

    The SK Hynix Gold P31 uses 128-layer TLC 4D NAND memory, which gives the drive one of the highest bit densities: in other words, engineers fit more bits of data on a small chip, compared to 96-layer memory, which is used in other drives. Slim and compact, the SSD is compatible with PCs and the thinnest laptops, and what it lacks in speed it makes up for in low cost and a five-year warranty.

    XPG Spectrix S40G

    Memory: TLC 3D NAND | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    The XPG Spectrix S40G looks a little gaudy, with backlit zones on the case, although there will certainly be fans of this style, and it’s not to be denied that the drive will attract attention when installed in a PC case. According to the characteristics, this is an “average”, but confident, demonstrating good performance and high stability. What you need for a gaming system.

    WD Blue SN550

    Memory: 3D TLC NAND| Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    The Western Digital device runs on 96-layer 3D NAND BiCS4 3D flash. In tests, the drive shows speeds that are significantly higher than those declared by the manufacturer.

    Fast, reliable, the SN550 excels in demanding applications, and its low price makes it an affordable choice for gamers looking to save some money without losing anything.

    Patriot Viper VPN100

    Controller: Phison PS5012-E12 | Memory: 3D TLC NAND | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    Patriot has been a successful manufacturer of memory modules for PCs for a long time, so you don’t have to worry about the quality and reliability of its SSD.

    The hero of our selection, the Patriot Viper VPN100 model, is made in the M.2 form factor, allows you to write data at a speed of 2200 MB / s and read at a speed of 3300 MB / s, and is also equipped with its own heatsink that cools the chips under load.

    Kingston SA2000

    Controller: Silicon Motion SM2263ENG | Memory: 3D TLC | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    If you need a cheap and cheerful SSD, then the Kingston SA2000 is what you are looking for. This is a model in the minimum configuration (without a heatsink), providing modest performance compared to competitors (up to 2000 MB / s for reading and up to 1100 MB / s for writing), but it will be more than enough for modern work scenarios. And most importantly — this drive is very cheap, as for a device from its class.

    Maybe in a couple of years you’ll consider upgrading, move to a platform with PCIe 4.0 support and decide to change the drive. Well, by that time, more productive SSDs will be available on the market at reasonable prices, but for now, this will be enough. At a minimum, it is faster than a regular SATA SSD.

    WD BLUE SN500

    Controller: WD | Memory: WD / SanDisk TLC | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    This drive integrates M.2 socket, TLC 3D NAND memory, and proprietary controller technology. This creates a unique combination and delivers incredible speed for the same price as regular 2.5″ SATA.

    WD Blue is only 1700MB/s read and 1450MB/s write. These numbers are not overly impressive compared to today’s NVMe drives. However, the device is much faster than even the best, fastest SATA SSDs, three times the performance of the Samsung 860 Evo at 550MB/s read and 520MB/s write.

    Samsung 970 EVO

    Controller: Samsung Phoenix | Memory: Samsung 3-bit MLC | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    The Samsung 970 EVO PCIe drive is nothing more than an evolution of the excellent Korean 960 EVO. Moreover, the evolution is both in speed and in the TBW resource. The increase, of course, is not too great, but given the fact that the previous model was the fastest, another raise of the bar is respectable.

    In addition, Samsung offers a full five-year warranty on the EVO series, which will be a real test for the three-bit MLC (essentially TLC). Such memory has traditionally been characterized by lower bandwidth and lifespan, but Samsung seems to be confident in its products.

    And that’s great news for us gamers, because this ultra-fast and surprisingly affordable NVMe SSD is great for gaming. The temperature during use rises a little higher than its predecessor, but there is really nothing to worry about.

    Intel SSD 600p

    Controller: Silicon Motion SM2260| Memory: Intel 3D TLC | Interface: M.2 PCIe

    The SSD 600P from Intel somehow doesn’t look like their typical drive. They usually focus on producing high quality, high performance components with a price tag to match, with the 600P designed for the mainstream market.

    It has both a cheaper controller and TLC memory, which makes this drive one of the most affordable on the PCIe bus. It may not be the fastest, but it noticeably surpasses equivalent SATA drives in this and has a greater technological reserve. Great entry-level NVMe SSD.

    ADDLINK S70 512GB

    Controller: Phison PS5012-E12 | Memory: Toshiba 64-layer 3D TLC | Interface: M.2 (NVMe)

    The Addlink came out of nowhere to become the dominant force on the list of best gaming SSDs, and the 512GB version of the S70 is the best in the budget range.

    The drive uses the same Toshiba 3D TLC NAND and Phison PS5012-E12 memory controller, but this version has Nanya DRAM cache instead of the SK Hynix that the 1TB version uses. It’s also built on a slightly different PCB, but still delivers superior performance, and with a full x4 PCIe connection, it easily outperforms the slightly more expensive WD Blue drive.

    Best SATA SSD

    Goodram CX400

    Memory: TLC 3D NAND | Interface: SATA

    Goodram CX400 is a good option for an entry-level gaming system. This is an inexpensive drive that connects via SATA interface and provides read / write speeds up to 550/490 MB / s. Such indicators are enough for fast operation of the operating system, instant loading of game saves and acceptable performance in work applications. While there are faster SSDs on the market, in day-to-day use you won’t see much of a difference, but you can save some money.

    Patriot Memory Burst Elite

    Controller: Phison PS3111-S11 Interface: SATA

    Cheap and cheerful: Patriot Memory Burst Elite produces decent read/write performance for a SATA drive — 560/540 MB/s, installs without problems into a desktop PC and laptop if space is available, and will last so long that you decide to replace it long before it fails. The device is presented in versions with a memory capacity from 120 GB to 1.92 TB, which allows you to choose a model for any need — from a system SSD to storage for files and games.

    Kingston KC600

    Memory: TLC | Interface: SATA

    A series of excellent SATA solid state drives from Kingston with very good performance and record high download speed. The devices are equipped with an SMI SM2259 controller, 3D NAND flash memory and a hardware self-encrypting mechanism.

    As part of the Kingston series, drives range in size from 250 gigabytes to 2 terabytes. The device will perfectly show itself both as a system drive and as a game drive. Read more in our KC600 review.

    Patriot P210

    Memory: 3D NAND| Interface: SATA

    A low-cost SATA-SSD with TRIM, which allows the system to deallocate flash memory blocks in the background without performance degradation. The device supports the S.M.A.R.T reporting system, which allows you to predict the failure of the device and scan the disk for problems.

    In tests, the P210 showed very good results, especially considering its low price. If you are looking for something inexpensive and high-quality for budget gaming, we recommend that you take a closer look.

    Kingston A400

    Memory: TLC | Interface: SATA

    The Kingston A400 SATA drive is what you need for budget gaming. It is inexpensive, and allows you to comfortably play all modern projects. You’ll get acceptable game loading speeds and higher reliability than with an HDD, but after a couple of years you might want to upgrade to NVMe.

    Kingston A400 uses TLC memory. Some consider it not the best choice, but let’s be honest — the layman does not care what type of memory is soldered on the board of his SSD drive, as long as it works. And it will work — according to the manufacturer, you can record at least 80 TB of data.

    Transcend SSD230S

    Memory: 3D TLC | Interface: SATA

    The Transcend SSD230S is a reliable, high performance and cool SATA form factor that will give you a good performance in your daily work and play.

    With 520 MB/s write and 560 MB/s read, it’s good enough for casual gamers. And certainly better than HDD and SSHD. If you’re just migrating from HDDs to SSDs, you’ll be surprised at the performance gains.

    Silicon Power A56

    Controller: Phison | Memory: 3D TLC | Interface: SATA

    Another SATA drive, and it’s great for work and play. For a modest sum, you will get 530/560 MB/s write/read speed, good reliability, a three-year warranty, and a stylish design. And nothing else is needed

    Samsung 860 EVO

    Controller: Samsung MJX | Memory: Samsung 3-bit MLC | Interface: SATA

    The latest Samsung SATA drives clearly convey the manufacturer’s idea: if you cannot significantly increase performance, you need to increase resource intensity and fault tolerance, since NAND memory manufacturing technologies allow.

    The Korean giant is now offering a full five-year warranty on its three-bit MLC SATA drives. It’s also one of the fastest SSDs in its format, though a little faster than the old 850 EVO. And its only competitor can be called a drive from Crucial.

    Crucial MX500

    Controller: Silicon Motion CM2258 | Memory: Micron TLC | Interface: SATA

    The throne at the top of the SSD technology tree is firmly occupied by Samsung, but at the SATA SSD level, Crucial is able to compete for leadership. As you know, Crucial is a subsidiary of Micron, which gives them the opportunity to offer the market their own high-quality memory at a great price.

    Following on the heels of the 860 EVO, the MX500 offers nearly identical performance, which is not surprising given the limitations of the legacy SATA interface. The only reason the 860 EVO has taken the lead is because of its longevity. The MX500 only boasts a three-year warranty.

    SanDisk Extreme Pro

    Controller: Marvell 9187 | Memory: SanDisk MLC | Interface: SATA

    Despite its advanced age, the SanDisk Extreme Pro remains one of the best SATA SSDs available on the market. It has a good level of performance, slightly less than that of the Samsung 850 Pro, and the ability to consistently work with huge amounts of data without losing speed makes it an excellent choice for workstations.

    Ever notice how your system slows down when Steam starts uploading its files to your system drive? If you have Extreme Pro, then it is unlikely. And its price is not the worst, as for a reliable SSD.

    HyperX Savage

    Controller: Phison S10 | Memory: Toshiba MLC | Interface: SATA

    The HyperX Savage is another great drive at this end of the market, under $100 offering impressive performance in both sequential and random 4K tests.

    Due to the nature of the Phison controller, you will lose a little more space from the base 256GB NAND memory, but what is the 10 gigabyte difference between Samsung and Kingston? So, a couple of indie games on your Steam account.

    INTEL OPTANE SSD 905P

    Controller: Intel | Memory: Intel / Micron 3D XPoint | Interface: U. 2 with M.2 adapter (NVMe)

    The Intel Optane SSD 905P is currently too expensive to be on this list. But we’d like to credit the device for at least the fact that Intel tried something different, resulting in some serious performance. This drive uses the latest version of 3D XPoint memory, a new type of NAND flash memory that delivers high-end performance.

    The drive isn’t quite on the same level as the Samsung NVMe, but it’s far from the last word in the SSD world. 3D XPoint memory on Optane delivers the fastest 4K read/write speeds we’ve ever seen on a device of this kind. But it is precisely the endurance factor that the device offers that is absolutely unparalleled. Given that the lifespan of most drives is measured in terabytes, the Optane SSD 905P is measured in petabytes (8.76). The 970 Pro, in contrast, has a 1.2PB endurance factor.

    Best PCI-E SSD

    WD Black AN1500

    Controller: SanDisk | Memory: TLC 3D NAND | Interface: PCIe

    WD Black AN1500 is a rare type of SSD that connects via PCIe interface as an expansion board. The heatsink that covers the microcircuits and memory modules reliably cools them, and customizable backlighting will give the gadget individuality. The model is available in 1, 2 and 4 TB versions, and will be a great help for those who are looking for something to occupy the free PCIe slots under the video card.

    Gigabyte Aorus RGB AIC

    Memory: 3D TLC | Interface: PCI-Express

    Drives that are inserted into the computer’s PCIe slots are rare guests of home PCs, but in general they deserve attention. One of these SSDs was the Gigabyte Aorus RGB AIC: it will not only provide good performance (read / write performance — 3480/2100 MB / s), but will also please with a bright backlight, which is clearly visible through the side window of the case (if there is one).

    If you do not take into account the form factor, then we have a regular SSD with a PCIe 3.0 interface. In fact, this is an option in case your PC does not have M.2 connectors.

    Plextor M9PeY

    Controller: Marvell 88SS1093 | Memory: 3D TLC | Interface: PCI-Express

    Another SSD with PCIe interface. In addition, it is no different from similar NVMe devices, providing a read speed of 3200 MB / s and a write of about 2000 MB / s.

    However, it is undeniable that the form factor and design of the gadget attract attention: if you are building a PC, starting from not only the performance of the components, then this is a good option that will decorate your system unit.

    Best SATA & NVMe Drives

    Best SSDs for Gaming PCs: A catalog of fast, fully tested SSDs that are more than worthy of replacing your decrepit hard drive in your PC. Or become the basis of a new storage system for an entirely new PC build. Or to back up your most popular games as a secondary drive or external SSD. Choose!

    While mechanical HDDs provide more capacity for less money, SSDs load Windows, apps, and games so much faster that they’re worth paying for even in a budget build. Here are some numbers: the hard drive will provide a maximum file transfer rate of about 160 MB/s. A relatively cheap PCIe 3.0 SSD that isn’t even the newest or fastest can be 21x faster. Pay a little extra for a PCIe 4.0 model and that advantage is potentially doubled again. Even the best graphics cards and the best gaming processors don’t provide these generation-to-generation improvements.

    Only new processors and motherboards support PCIe 4.0 SSDs, so before you buy anything, check what your computer can accept — even if it’s just an old 2.5″ SATA SSD, it’s still would be a huge upgrade for any hard drive. Then return to this list, where we have selected the best SSDs of all types. Our testing includes both synthetic benchmarks and real game load times, so we will never recommend a drive that doesn’t meet the requirements.

    Below you’ll find all of our best SSDs, and if you’ve never set up your PC’s storage before, check out our SSD installation guide.

    Best SSD for Gaming in 2022

    • WD Blue SN570 — Best NVMe SSD for Gaming
    • WD Black SN850 — Best PCIe 4. 0 NVMe SSD for Gaming
    • Crucial P3 Plus — Best Cheap PCIe 4.0 SSD for Gaming
    • PNY XLR8 CS3140 is the best NVMe PCIe 4.0 drive for faster boot times
    • Crucial P3 is the best SSD for pure PCIe 3.0 speed
    • Samsung 870 Evo — Best SATA SSD for Gaming
    • Samsung 870 Qvo — Best Large SATA SSD for Gaming
    • WD Black P40 — Best external SSD for gaming
    • Samsung T7 Shield — Best Durable External SSD for Gaming
    • Kingston XS2000 — Best USB 3.2 2×2 External SSD for Gaming

    WD Blue SN570

    Best NVMe SSD for Gaming

    Specifications WD Blue SN570:

    • Volumes: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
    • Form factor: M.2 (2280)
    • Interface: PCIe 3.0×4
    • Read speed: up to 3500 MB/s
    • Write speed: up to 3000 Mbps
    • Price: 3.790 ₽ / 6.650 ₽ / 12.990 ₽ / 21.190 ₽

    It can also be called the best cheap NVMe SSD for gaming, as the WD Blue SN570 follows its predecessors — SN500 and SN550 — is aimed at a price below the average. Performance-wise, however, you wouldn’t guess that this is an affordable model: the 1TB model I tested easily reached its official maximum sequential read speed, and random read speed (most important for gaming performance) can even surpass high-end SSDs from Samsung and WD. Including the (former) flagship WD Black SN750.

    Not that it’s the absolute fastest NVMe SSD we’ve ever tested, but that doesn’t change the fact that the SN570 is surprisingly nimble by both budget and general PCIe 3.0 standards. Its write speed holds up particularly well under intense workloads, making it a great all-round drive, and its single-sided design will fit into tight laptops and desktops alike.

    What we like:

    • High speed, both read and write
    • Very affordable price
    • Decent selection of containers

    View 3.790 ₽

    SSD WD Blue SN570 WDS250G3B0C 250GB, M.2 2280, PCI-e x4, NVMe

    • Form factor: 2280
    • Capacity: 250 GB
    • Read/write speed: 3300 MB/s / 1200 MB/s
    • Interfaces: PCI-e 3. 0x4
    • All features of

    WD Black SN850

    Best PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD for Gaming

    Specifications WD Black SN850:

    • Volumes: 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
    • Form factor: M.2 (2280)
    • Interface: PCIe 4.0×4
    • Read speed: up to 7000 MB/s
    • Write speed: up to 5100 Mbps
    • Price: 12.890 ₽ / 25.990 ₽ / 38.770 ₽

    PCIe 4.0 SSDs are still relatively new and quite expensive, but if you’re looking for the best, the WD Black SN850 is the one for you. If you think the speed jump from SATA to PCIe 3.0 NVMe drives was significant, the Black SN850 delivers a similar jump over PCIe 3.0 drives, offering significantly faster read and write speeds across the board.

    In truth, its random read time is almost the same as the equally fast Samsung 980 Pro, and the newer Kingston Fury Renegade is even faster under certain conditions. But the write times and transfer rates of the SN850 are still fantastically fast, and because it’s so much cheaper than the Fury Renegade, it’s a better value SSD overall.

    What we like:

    • Latest technology
    • Lightning speed
    • Cheaper than its main competitors

    View 12.890 ₽

    SSD WD Black SN850 WDS500G1X0E 500GB, M.2 2280, PCI-e 4.0×4, NVMe

    • Form factor: 2280
    • Capacity: 500 GB
    • Read/write speed: up to 7000 MB/s / up to 4100 MB/s
    • Interfaces: PCI-e 4.0×4
    • All features of

    Crucial P3 Plus

    Best Cheap PCIe 4.0 SSD for Gaming

    Specifications Crucial P3 Plus:

    • Capacity: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
    • Form factor: M.2 (2280)
    • Interface: PCIe 4.0×4
    • Read speed: up to 5000 Mb/s
    • Write speed: up to 4200 Mbps
    • Price: 9. 499 ₽ / 18.999 ₽ / Out of stock / Out of stock

    Of course, «cheap» is relative, and the WD Black SN850’s occasional sales often make it much more affordable than usual. But the Crucial P3 Plus is a bargain all year round, especially when it so clearly outperforms the previous place holder, the WD Black SN750 SE. He downloaded Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 10.4 seconds; P3 Plus took just 7.3 seconds. In our CrystalDiskMark test, the WD SSD showed a read speed of 1622 MB / s, and Crucial — 1689.5 Mbps.

    It’s not that read speed is as important to gaming performance as read speed, but the P3 Plus is also a write speed monster. Its result of 3118.1 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark and 336.8 MB/s in the 4K AS SSD test shows that it doesn’t skimp when writing data, even if it’s a more expensive option. Relatively.

    What we like:

    • Aggressive price for speed 4.0
    • Faster than closest competitor
    • Capacity up to 4 TB

    Crucial P3 Plus CT500P3PSSD8 500GB M. 2 2280 PCI-e 4.0×4 NVMe SSD

    • Form factor: 2280
    • Capacity: 500 GB
    • Read/write speed: up to 4700 MB/s / up to 1900 MB/s
    • Interfaces: NVMe (PCI-e 4.0×4)
    • All features of

    PNY XLR8 CS3140

    Best PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD for Fast Boot Time

    Specifications PNY XLR8 CS3140:

    • Volumes: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
    • Form factor: M.2 (2280)
    • Interface: PCIe 4.0×4
    • Read speed: up to 7500 MB/s
    • Write speed: up to 5650 Mbps
    • Price: 16.610 ₽ / 36.490 ₽ / Out of stock

    The PNY XLR8 CS3140 has a very specific talent: of all the PCIe 4.0 SSDs we tested, it loads games the fastest. For example, in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, it went from the main menu to entering the game in just 7.3 seconds, which is two seconds faster than the WD Black SN850 and even the more expensive Kingston Fury Renegade.

    The write speed of the CS3140 is also faster than that of the SN850, and the AS SSD 4K test read speed result of 99.6MB/s is another excellent result among the SSDs we used. Unfortunately, the PNY drive is so much more expensive than Samsung that most people find the latter a better deal, although since boot time reduction is half the attraction of having a high-end SSD in a gaming system, the CS3140 is still a viable choice for those with free budget.

    What we like:

    • Excellent boot time reduction
    • Good read/write speed for general use
    • Additional radiator

    Crucial P3

    The best high -speed firm drive for PCIe 3.0

    Technical characteristics Crucial P3:

    • Volumes: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
    • Form factor: M.2 (2280)
    • Interface: PCIe 3.0×4
    • Read speed: up to 3500 MB/s
    • Write speed: up to 3000 Mbps
    • Price: Out of stock

    Even if it doesn’t compare to the WD Blue SN570 in total cost, there’s still a good reason to choose the Crucial P3 instead: in certain scenarios, it’s the fastest PCIe 3. 0 SSD we’ve tested.

    Like its PCIe 4.0 cousin, the P3 Plus, the P3 boasts fast write speeds, even outperforming some SSD 4.0 drives in a CrystalDiskMark write speed of 3021.6 MB/s. But it’s also impressively effective at the complex reading tasks games are geared towards, as evidenced by its excellent AS SSD 4K read speed of 57.9MB/s When it came time to load Shadow of the Tomb Raider, it did so in just 7.5 seconds, just a fraction of a second slower than the P3 Plus and faster than any other PCIe 3.0 SSD in our reports.

    If you haven’t upgraded to a PCIe 4.0 capable system yet, the Crucial P3 is practically the best option.

    What we like:

    • High speeds for their interface
    • Wide compatibility
    • Price not too high 5.890 ₽ / 7.990 ₽ / 14.990 ₽ / 22.990 ₽ / 48.990 ₽

    When it comes to buying an SSD for gaming, many people still choose 2.5″ SATA drives over ultra-fast NVMe SSDs, if only because the latter tend to be quite expensive and require a motherboard that supports them. For SATA SSD hunters, the Samsung 870 Evo is the best drive available today. Its day-to-day speeds aren’t much faster than its predecessor, the 860 Evo, but as the drive is getting harder to come by, the 870 Evo has become our choice for these SATA SSDs.

    To be fair, Crucial’s MX500 is another good budget option for SATA buyers, but when the 870 Evo’s price is only a few percent higher these days, there’s no point in picking the MX500 unless you can find it with a significant discount. What’s more, the 870 Evo has a much higher durability rating than the MX500: 300 terabytes of written data (TBW) for the 500 GB model compared to 180 TBW for the 500 GB MX500. It’s a fast, reliable, and durable drive that’s unbeatable in terms of overall value.

    What we love:

    • The fastest SATA drive you can buy today
    • High Endurance
    • Best value for money compared to competitors

    View 5.890 ₽

    SSD Samsung 870 EVO MZ-77E250BW 250GB, 2. 5’, SATA III, SATA

    • Form factor: 2.5’; thickness 6.8 mm; SATA connector;
    • Capacity: 250 GB
    • Read/write speed: up to 560 MB/s / up to 530 MB/s
    • Interfaces: SATA III
    • All features of

    Samsung 870 qvo

    The best large solid -state Sata drive for games

    Technical characteristics Samsung 870 QVO:

    • Volumes: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB
    • Form factor: 2.5″
    • Interface: SATA
    • Read speed: up to 560 MB/s
    • Write speed: to 530 Mbps
    • Price: 9.590 ₽ / 20.990 ₽ / 35.990 ₽ / 71.990 ₽

    Actually, there is one SSD with higher write speed than Samsung 860 Evo and that is Samsung 870 Qvo. Made from 4-bit MLC V-NAND rather than 3-bit MLC like its Evo counterparts, the 870 Qvo is much more cost effective than similar Evo drives from Samsung. Its performance is more or less identical, plus it’s much cheaper. So if you’re looking to get at least 1TB SSD but don’t want to spend a lot of money (either on an expensive NVMe SSD or a high capacity SATA drive), the 870 Qvo is the way to go.

    Like the rest of Samsung drives, the 870 Qvo has exceptional durability and warranties, with random read and write times on par with the best. Also, if you have enough money, you can buy an 8TB drive, which is almost unheard of in SATA circles. It’s still not as cheap as buying a large hard drive, but it’s the best you can get from an SSD.

    What we love:

    • Great everyday performance
    • Excellent value for money
    • As fast as Samsung’s Evo SSD

    View 20.990 ₽

    SSD drive Samsung 870 QVO MZ-77Q2T0BW 2TB, 2.5’, SATA III, SATA

    • Form factor: 2.5’; thickness 6.8 mm; SATA connector;
    • Capacity: 2 TB
    • Read/write speed: up to 560 MB/s / up to 530 MB/s
    • Interfaces: SATA III
    • All features of

    WD Black P40

    Best External SSD for Gaming

    WD Black P40 Specifications:

    • Volumes: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
    • Form factor: External
    • Interface: USB-C 3. 2 Gen 2
    • Read speed: up to 2000 MB/s
    • Write speed: up to 2000 MB/s
    • Price: Not yet on sale in Russia. Abroad the price starts from $120

    Between us readers, I’ve been thinking for a long time whether to replace the Crucial X8 on this list with the WD Black P40. Both of these drives are exceptionally fast external SSDs, especially when connected via a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port, and in some tests the older X8 does have the read speed advantage. However, the Black P40 has earned its place here, in part thanks to consistently faster write speeds and noticeably better results in the AS SSD file copy test.

    This test simulates the time required to transfer copies of various files to the drive, for example, to back up installed games. This benchmark has a dedicated Gaming section, and the Black P40’s score of 435.2 MB/s outperformed the X8’s score of 278.2 MB/s.

    In addition, the WD drive is slightly smaller, albeit only a few millimeters, and has a few extra design touches in the form of RGB lighting strips on the underside. Thankfully, this doesn’t compromise durability, as the Black P40 has withstood several not-so-unintentional drops to the floor.

    What we like:

    • Very fast
    • Practical design, with or without RGB
    • Includes USB-A adapter

    Samsung T7 Shield

    Best Rugged External SSD for Gaming

    Specifications Samsung T7 Shield:

    • Volumes: TB 90.02
    • Form factor: External
    • Interface: USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
    • Read speed: up to 1050 MB/s
    • Write speed: up to 1000 Mbps
    • Price: 12.699 ₽ / 22.999 ₽ (Only available on Ozon at the time of writing)

    It would be unfair to call the Samsung T7 Shield just a more rugged version of the T7 Touch without a fingerprint sensor. Aside from being more reasonably (though still relatively high) priced, the T7 Shield outperforms the T7 Touch in all of our usual performance tests. Including in the AS SSD benchmark tests for copying ISOs and applications that are especially relevant for external drives: here is just one of them: in the test for copying games, the T7 Shield showed a speed of 332 MB / s, easily beating the T7 Touch by 249MB/s The

    WD Black P40 is faster and the Kingston XS2000 is more compact, but the extra toughness of the T7 Shield is still worth paying for if you need something you’ll be cramming into your backpack regularly. Its rubberized outer surface provides drop protection, and even with a detachable cable, the T7 Shield is IP65 water and dust resistant: just enough to completely block out dust and dirt or to withstand accidental spills of drinks.

    USB-C 3.2 2×2

  • Read speed: up to 2000 MB/s
  • Write speed: up to 2000 Mbps
  • Price: 6.690 ₽ / 11.990 ₽ / 24.990 ₽
  • Portable SSDs are bound by a lot of silly USB naming conventions, for example «USB 3.2 Gen 1» is basically just USB 3. 1. All you need to know about USB 3.2 2×2 is that it is the fastest USB standard currently supported by gaming motherboards, at least until the introduction of USB4 begins.

    Of course mobile boards even with USB 3.2 2×2 are still quite rare and I don’t recommend the Kingston XS2000 if you’re going to be limited to lower USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds. But if you have 2×2 hardware then you enjoy as this surprisingly pocket-friendly SSD more than matches its advertised sequential write speed and handles more complex read and write tasks. In the AS SSD copy benchmark, he completed copying the game in 1.21 seconds, or at a speed of 1138 Mbps; Crucial X8’s best USB 3.2 Gen 2 score is 3.3s/420MB/s.

    What we love:

    • Exceptionally fast USB 3.2 2×2 transfer rates
    • Very small and light
    • Complete with protective case

    FAQ

    SATA SSD vs NVMe: What’s the difference?

    There are currently two main types of SSDs: SATA drives and NVMe drives. 2.5″ SATA SSDs are the easiest replacement for a standard hard drive. They plug into a SATA 3 port on the motherboard, and most modern PC cases have mounting points for 2.5″ SSDs on the back of the motherboard. If your case doesn’t have them, you can use a cheap adapter (actually just a 3.5″ wide metal plate with screw holes) to mount the SSD in a regular 3.5″ hard drive bay. SATA 3 interface exists since 2009of the year. It’s several times faster than a mechanical hard drive, but it’s also not fast enough to keep up with the fastest SSDs out there today.

    If you want a super-fast SSD that won’t be burdened by its interface, you need to move from SATA to NVMe (also called PCI Express, PCIe NVMe, or just NVMe). Most NVMe SSDs are 22mm wide by 80mm long (about a third shorter than a RAM bar) and mount directly to the motherboard in an M.2 slot, so you no longer need to run SATA and power cables through the chassis. If your motherboard doesn’t have such a slot, there’s only one way to get up to speed: an optional PCIe card (AIC). These add-on cards fit into a free PCIe x4 or x16 slot and are monstrously fast and also monstrously expensive.

    What is the difference between PCIe 3.0 and PCIe 4.0 SSDs?

    Like many other technologies, the PCI Express interface (PCIe for short) has had many different generations over the years. Nowadays, most new processors and motherboards support PCIe 4.0, although PCIe 3.0 is still very widely used, so 3.0 SSDs are still being released. The main difference between the two is the bandwidth they have to move data back and forth between different parts of your PC.

    Throughput doubles with each generation. Currently, PCIe 3.0 has a bandwidth of 32 GB/s and a bit or data transfer rate of 8 gigatransfers per second (GT/s). However, PCIe 4.0 doubles that to 64 GB/s bandwidth and 16 GT/s data transfer speeds, making moving large amounts of data much faster.

    What size SSD should I buy?

    The minimum SSD size I recommend today is 500 GB, as it has enough space to install Windows (about 20 GB), a few large games, as well as music, photos, and any other programs you might need.