The best ssd for the money: Best SSDs 2023: From Budget SATA to Blazing-Fast NVMe

9 Best SSDs in 2023 (Fast Solid State Drives)

The best SSD (Solid State Drive) provides you with an instant improvement in performance. Upgrading a mechanical Hard Disk Drive (HDD) to an SSD is a reliable way of boosting your computer’s capacity and speed. Choosing the best SSD can be a bewildering experience. There are lots of factors that determine whether a new SSD will work with your computer.

To make it easier for you, we’ve put together a list of the best SSDs. If you’re not completely sure what you’re looking for, then our buyer’s guide will help. Our top pick is the Samsung 850 EVO SSD 1 TB. It’s quick, reliable, and comes from one of the most respected manufacturers in the business.

Our Top Pick

Samsung 850 EVO SSD 1 TB

Upgrade your computer’s performance with the SSD all-star recommended by experts. Enjoy professional-level performance and industry-defining reliability with up to 600 TBW under a 5-year limited warranty.

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What Is the Best SSD in 2023?

We’ve collected both SATA and PCIe SSDs for you to consider. All the main links are for the 1 TB versions. But you will find links to other sizes in the text as well. Before we look at them in detail, here is a summary of the ones we’ve chosen.

Our Top Pick

SAMSUNG 870 EVO SATA III SSD 1TB 2.5”

Blazing-fast read/write speeds
Large 1 TB capacity
Low power consumption
Durable and reliable
5-year warranty

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Best PCIe 3. 0 SSD

Crucial P3 1TB SSD

High-capacity storage
Fast speeds up to 3400 MB/s
Low latency
Durable and reliable design
Improved system responsiveness

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Best Software Support

Western Digital Blue SN570 1 TB

Blazing-fast speeds
Reliable and durable
1 TB of storage
Stylish design
Easy setup and installation

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Best Shock Resistance

SanDisk SSD PLUS 1TB

High-speed storage solution
Read speeds up to 560 MBb/s
Reliable and shock resistant
1 TB of storage capacity
Ideal for everyday computing tasks

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Best Value 2 TB SSD Option

Corsair MP600 PRO LPX 1TB

Blazing-fast PCIe 4. 0 NVMe speeds
Low-profile heatsink for improved cooling
1 TB of storage capacity for large files
Stylish design with RGB lighting
5-year limited warranty

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Best Cloning Solution

SK hynix Gold P31 SSD 1 TB

1 TB capacity for large file storage
Blazing-fast read/write speeds
Easy to install and setup
Low power consumption
Reliable and durable for everyday use

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Best Endurance Rating

Corsair Force Series MP510 SSD 1 TB

High performance NVMe SSD
Fastest speeds up to 3,480MB/s
Capacities up to 4 TB
Low latency for gaming and streaming
Reliable and durable

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Best-Looking SSD

Patriot Viper VPR400 SSD 1 TB

High-speed sequential read/write performance
Durable aluminum construction for heat dissipation
Enhanced endurance and reliability
NVMe PCIe 3. 0 interface for maximum performance
5-year limited warranty

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Best Value 1 TB SSD

SABRENT Rocket SSD 1 TB

Fast read/write speeds
High-capacity storage
Durable and reliable
Lightweight and portable
Compatible with most devices

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Now let’s discuss why we picked these products for our list. Here are all the products in more detail.

1. Samsung 850 EVO SSD 1TB

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Brand	Samsung
HD Interface	SATA III
Maximum Sequential Speed (Read/Write)	560/530 Mb/s
Key Features	RAPID mode for increased read/write speed
Best For	Anyone looking to upgrade an old mechanical HD

The Samsung 850 EVO SSD is a high-performing SATA III hard drive. It has the impressive speeds that go along with its SATA III rating. It also uses RAPID mode. This uses your computer’s processing power to boost drive performance. You have to install Samsung’s software to use this feature.

The 850 EVO scores very highly on tests. It obviously outperforms HDDs. But it’s one of the fastest SSDs you can buy.

It is available in a range of sizes from 250 GB up to 4 TB. We recommend the largest you can afford that your computer can handle.

2. Crucial P3 1 TB

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Brand	Crucial
HD Interface	PCIe 3.0
Maximum Sequential Speed (Read/Write)	3,500/3,000 Mb/s
Key Features	Fast, cheap drive with up to 4 TB capacity
Best For	Cost-effective computer upgrades

The Crucial P3 is available in 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB versions. But the 500 GB doesn’t offer the highest sequential read/write speeds the larger versions do.

But the Crucial P3 is an excellent choice if you want to replace your HDD or older SSD. As capacity doubles, so does the price until you reach the 4 TB drive. Then you start paying a considerable premium for the extra terabytes.

The Crucial P3 is worth looking at as a cost-effective replacement drive for your computer.

3. Western Digital Blue SN570 1 TB

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Brand	Western Digital
HD Interface	PCIe 3.0
Maximum Sequential Speed (Read/Write)	3,300/1,200 Mb/s
Key Features	Upgraded sequential read speeds and software dashboard to monitor SSD performance and health
Best For	Good value hardware upgrades with real-time monitoring

The Western Digital Blue SN570 offers four sizes between 250 GB and 2 TB. The smallest is by far the least cost-effective. But it is still remarkably cheap for a 250 GB drive. The 1 TB drive and its larger cousin offer about the same price-to-gigabyte value.

Even the 2 TB version is a single-sided chip, so it will fit in the smallest of compatible spaces. The SSD comes with software support and a five-year warranty. It is a tempting consideration. Especially if you’re looking for a good value upgrade from a reputable manufacturer.

4. SanDisk SSD PLUS 1TB

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Brand	San Disk
HD Interface	SATA III
Maximum Sequential Speed (Read/Write)	535/350 Mb/s
Key Features	Shock resistant up to 1,500G
Best For	Simple replacement of a 2. 5-inch HDD

The SanDisk SSD PLUS is a simple solution to upgrading an old HDD. It offers plug-and-play swap-out for an existing SATA drive. The 1 TB size and fast speeds will make an incredible difference to an older laptop desktop computer.

It has vibration and shock protection. This makes the SDD’s inherent advantages over mechanical drives even more clear.

You can even buy a cheap SATA external HD enclosure to turn your new SDD into an external drive. It really is remarkable how affordable 1 TB drives are with products like this.

5. Corsair MP600 PRO LPX 1TB

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Brand	Corsair
HD Interface	PCIe 4
Maximum Sequential Speed (Read/Write)	7,100/6,800 Mb/s
Key Features	Works with PS5 as well as other computers
Best For	Those looking for extra speed and power

The Corsair MP600 PRO LPX comes in four sizes. They start at 500 GB and increase to 1 TB, 2 TB, or 4 TB. Of these, the 2 TB SSD hits the sweet spot of bytes-per-buck. As is often the case, there’s a premium to pay for the biggest version.

One of the talked about features of this SSD is that it was adapted after launch to fit the PS5 games console. That not might be what you run your photo or video editing software on. But it is relevant. It demonstrates that it’s a disk geared to handle the demanding uses of the gaming community.

Other than that, this is one of the more expensive SSDs in our list. But it is also one of the fastest running. And it has the benefit of PCIe 4 connectivity. It’s a good choice if speed is one of your greatest needs.

6. SK hynix Gold P31 SSD 1 TB

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Brand	SK hynix
HD Interface	PCIe 3. 0
Maximum Sequential Speed (Read/Write)	3,500/3,200 Mb/s
Key Features	Five-year warranty and cloning software for ease of installation
Best For	Using all day in your laptop without draining the battery

It’s possible that SK hynix is an unfamiliar brand for you. But their Gold P3 SSD has won multiple awards for its performance. One of the reasons for this is its class-leading energy efficiency. It also has a five-year guarantee.

That energy efficiency is a vital consideration if your SSD is going in a laptop. We don’t hear an SSD working, but it is one of the biggest energy users in a computer.

And there’s good news if you are anxious about replacing your hard drive. SK hynix Easy Kit software helps you clone your old drive before installing the new one. It also helps you monitor the performance of the new drive when it is up and running.

Although it won’t fit a PS5, it’s an attractive proposition for your laptop. It comes in 500 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB versions.

7. Corsair Force Series MP510

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Brand	Corsair
HD Interface	PCIe 3.0
Maximum Sequential Speed (Read/Write)	3,480/3,000 Mb/2
Key Features	Exceptional endurance ratings and high speed
Best For	Heavy-duty use

The Corsair Force Series MP510 has won many fans with its impressive performance speeds. These are safely in the higher reaches of the class of SSD. And the Corsair has high ratings for endurance. The ability to healthily withstand the almost incessant writing and rewriting.

There are currently four sizes available. Rather eccentrically, the smallest is 480 GB. It is joined by 1 TB, 2 TB and 4 TB versions. The 1 and 2 TB versions are the best value per GB. And the 4 TB carries a premium as we have come to expect.

8. Patriot Viper VPR400 SSD 1 TB

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Brand	Patriot
HD Interface	PCIe 4.0
Maximum Sequential Speed (Read/Write)	4,600/4,400 Mb/s
Key Features	Multi-colored heatsink lighting
Best For	Style-conscious users with exposed PC interiors

The Patriot Viper VPR400 is more geared to the gaming community, but it’s still worth considering. One of its notable features, the RGB lighting, would be invisible in most computers. But the performance will be welcomed by all.

The Patriot makes good use of the capabilities of the PCIe 4.0 interface. Its sequential read/write speeds are excellent. There are two sizes available—512 GB and 1 TB. The cost/capacity ratio is roughly the same for both. So getting the larger one would seem wise if you can afford it.

The Patriot is an interesting choice if you like the look of it.

9. SABRENT Rocket SSD 1 TB

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The Sabrent Rocket 4 SSD offers a great value 1 TB PCIe 4.0 upgrade. There are also 500 GB and 2 TB verions. The 1 TB offers the best byte-for-buck ration by far.

The performance is impressive and you get decent speeds even on an old PCIe 3. 0 interface. When you upgrade your computer, you can take your new, fast SSD with you. Replacing your old HD is also simple. It comes with a free copy of Acronis cloning software.

The Sabrent is also highly rated for endurance. So if you’re a heavy-end user, you should feel confident in the drive’s longevity. It is backed up by a five-year warranty if you register your purchase.

How to Choose the Best SSD

There are many confusing groups of letters and numbers out there in the SSD world. Here are some of the frequent questions you might have.

What’s the Difference Between HDD and SSD?

In technology terms the hard disk drive (HDD) has a long history. The first production HDD was developed by IBM. It was huge—60″ x 68″ x 29″ (152 x 172 x 74 cm). But by modern standards, its memory was not huge. It was 3.75 MB.

But its operating principle was the same as today. A disk (or platter) covered in magnetic material rotates on a spindle. A recording head travels across the platter, changing the polarity of the individual bits of storage. This is why computers still rely on binary.

The bit can only be positive or negative—1 or 0. In many ways, the mechanics are like a vinyl turntable. Except the head does not touch the platter, and it writes as well as reads.

A Solid State Drive (SSD) is a type of flash memory. It uses floating gate MOSFET to store data on transistors. There are no moving parts, so the risk of mechanical failure is significantly reduced.

There is a theoretical upper limit to the number of times data can be written to flash memory. In reality, most modern SSDs are reliable. Especially if you stick to reputable manufacturers.

What Are the Benefits of Using an SSD?

First of all, SSDs are fast. They outperform any mechanical drive for speed. They also are less susceptible to mechanical damage. That’s because a mechanical drive is spinning a disc at extremely high speed. And it changes its magnetic properties millions of times.

This is fine when everything works well. But a knock or bump that causes the head to touch the disc can be a problem. It also requires sturdy mechanical parts. With an SSD, there are no moving parts. This reduces the risk of failure.

On the other hand, SSDs are expensive per GB/TB. Apple has deployed one solution to this in their Fusion Drive. This is a merged SDD and mechanical drive. Data are stored to the relevant section based on usage. Frequently used files are on the SSD for faster access. Less used data are stored on the magnetic drive.

If you’re looking to replace the drive on your computer, swapping a magnetic drive for an SSD will give you one of the easiest speed upgrades.

How Do I Know if an SSD Will Fit my Computer?

Research. There’s no shortcut for this. There are so many different manufacturers and configurations. For example, take a single manufacturer like Apple. You will have to research if your iMac or Macbook can even have its hard drive replaced.

Many SSDs will be traditional 2.5-inch SATA drives. More modern ones will be either M.2 or PCIe 4. 0. So you’ll have to do your homework. Some PCIe 4.0 drives will work on an older computer with PCIe 3.0 slots. But you won’t get the full speed benefits of the modern interface. Again, research is everything.

Conclusion: The Best SSDs

The difference in speed is the main advantage an SSD has over a mechanical one. The best SSDs have lightning-fast speeds. So much so, that even if you already have an SSD, an upgrade can still bring great benefits. Especially as mammoth sizes like 2 TB and 4 TB are financially viable for many people.

But you don’t always need 4 TB of storage. The Samsung 850 EVO 1 TB will be enough for most people.

Our Top Pick

Samsung 850 EVO SSD 1 TB

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Expand your PC storage the speedy way

Adding extra storage to your PC is a great way to get a bit more space, and this doesn’t necessarily require a big financial outlay.

Some of the simplest and quickest options out there are SATA-powered 2.5-inch internal SSDs, which have the advantage of being significantly faster than traditional hard drives, as well as being silent and more reliable. These SATA SSDs are really easy to install (see our guide for help) and only need a couple of connections in order to work. They’re also compact and so will fit in most PC cases with ease. These sorts of SSDs are generally more affordable than NVMe options and offer a lot of storage space for your money as well.

Testing these 2.5-inch drives is an involved task that involves slotting them into our team’s PCs and testing their raw speed and transfer mettle, as well as working out which represents the best value in relation to their quality, and it’s a process that we undertake carefully.

We’ve gathered some of the very best SSD options on the market for you, including options at various price points.

Which parts of your gaming PC should you upgrade first?

Our Top Pick: Best 2.

5-inch SSD

Pocket-lint

Samsung 870 EVO

1. Best overall SSD

A solid and reliable SDD

$49.99 $89.99 Save $40

For speed and value, it’s hard to beat this Samsung option. An excellent option for most users.

Pros

Great speeds
Reliable lifespan

Cons

Not the cheapest

$50 at Amazon $49.99 at Best Buy $49.99 at Samsung

Samsung is one of the most well-respected names in the SSD business and has been putting out superb internal SATA drives for years now.

One of our most highly recommended 2.5-inch SSDs is the superb 870 EVO, which boasts impressive read and write speeds that both exceed 500MB/s.

It’s a great option regardless of what use you’re planning for it, gaming, professional or otherwise, and also represents really solid value, which is impressive given its freshness on the market.

The Samsung 870 EVO SSD is available in sizes up to 4TB so you’ll have plenty of storage space for your favourite PC games, video files, photos or whatever else you’re planning on storing on it. Samsung’s Magician SSD management software is also superb for monitoring the drive and ensuring it’s in top-notch shape throughout its lifespan. It comes with a five-year warranty too, so that should give you peace of mind.

Crucial

Crucial MX500

2. Runner Up SSD

An affordable SATA SSD option

$27 $30 Save $3

A long-term classic, and for good reason. This SSD provides superb speed and is a solid alternative for those on a budget.

Pros

Outstanding value
Solid speeds

Cons

Slightly ageing now

$27 at Amazon $34.99 at Best Buy $29.99 at Crucial

Crucial’s MX500 SSD has been a mainstay in this industry for years, and that sort of loyalty doesn’t just come out of nowhere. It’s a well-made, well-performing 2.5-inch SATA drive that doesn’t cost the earth and will get the job done.

If you’re looking for solid speed and a reasonable price, this SSD is a great bet. It might not be a spring chicken, but it’s still a great value option.

This Crucial 2.5-inch SSD is one of the faster drives around with read/write speeds up to 560MB/s but it’s also reliable and energy efficient. You can also rely on it too as it’s backed by a five-year warranty. The smallest capacity versions of this drive cost less than a modern AAA game, though we’d recommend opting for a larger 1TB, 2TB or 4TB model to avoid filling it up too quickly and even at the top end these drives are remarkably affordable.

Sandisk

SanDisk SSD Plus

3. A top SSD option

Superb value SSD

$42 $110 Save $68

Another superb low-cost option, which can offer an instant upgrade to your PC without the typical outlay.

Pros

Again superb value
Fast enough for the average user

Cons

Not the quickest

$42 at Amazon $49.99 at Western Digital $49.99 at NewEgg

If finding value is your absolute top priority, you might want to go straight for this great drive from SanDisk, which is super affordable and an easy way to upgrade your PC without spending too much.

That doesn’t make it a slouch, though — this is a drive that can still reach very impressive speeds, and it’s more than enough to impress if you’re moving from older HDD tech.

Unlike some of the other 2.5-inch SSDs on this list, it’s only available in sizes up to 2TB but with an affordable price tag and up to 545MB/s read speed it’s still worth a look.

Kingston

Kingston A400

4. Strong SSD contender

Simple upgrade for your system

$40 $65 Save $25

If you need something basic to boost the storage size of your computer, this is a good option to consider.

Pros

Small-size options are available
Can be super cheap

Cons

Limited speeds

$40 at Amazon $48.31 at NewEgg $39.99 at B&H Photo

If you’re looking for a cut-price way to get more storage, this might be the ultimate option. The cost of this version of the drive is almost bafflingly low, meaning you could get it to move your OS files onto and hugely speed up your PC while spending a really small amount.

That’s a powerful option, and it’s one that’s really unlocked by the pricing. Still, performance is also really solid, so it’s a potent combination all around.

The Kingston a400 SSD comes in a surprisingly compact frame and is easy to install in most cases. This storage option tops out at a maximum of 960GB but the smallest model 120GB version is perfect if you want something cheap or a drive just for installing Windows 11 and nothing else.

HP S700 Pro

5. An SSD worth considering

Ultimate longevity

$45 $45 Save $0

A great option if you want an SSD for the long term.

Pros

Huge longevity
Reliable for longer storage

Cons

Pricier than most

$45 at Amazon

If you’re getting more into the detail of comparisons between drives you might start to notice that they’re rated to last through certain amounts of use. All of the numbers touted are generally sky-high, but still — if you want a drive that’s going to last for years and years, through multiple computers, this option from HP is a potent one.

It’s rated to last for 2 million hours of use, which is a couple of centuries, so we don’t see it failing any time soon. That means you can pick it up in confidence that it’ll stand the test of time.

How to choose a 2.5-inch SSD

There are a fair few questions you’ll want to consider before you commit to buying a particular SATA SSD for your PC — here are some of the key ones.

How fast do you need your internal storage to be?

One of the key determinants of how expensive an SSD drive becomes is down to how fast it is — both for reading and writing files. This is what you’ll actually notice as you drag and drop files between drives, or transfer things off external memory, so it plays a big role in your usage.

You’ll want to work out what speeds will work for you, perhaps in comparison to what your computer or laptop’s current drive can manage, to get a sense of where to pitch yourself.

How many can you fit in your system?

Another consideration when buying an SSD might be how many you can actually fit in your PC. Many modern PC cases have room for several drives. You might find it’s possible to install as many as six or more 2.5-inch SSDs in a mid-tower PC case, but you also need to think about whether your PSU can handle the extra drives and if you have enough SATA connections on your motherboard.

If you can fit more than one drive though, you could buy several and use them for different things — one for your Windows installation, another for games and another for backing up important files. It might be cheaper to buy two smaller drives and a single large-capacity drive.

Can you buy a faster NVMe drive instead?

If you have a modern PC then the chances are that you might be able to use NVMe storage in your system instead. These sorts of drives are actually a lot easier to install than 2.5-inch SSDs as they connect straight to your motherboard without any cables or fuss. These drives are also a lot faster as well, with the newest models running at well over 10,000 MB/s. They are more expensive, but the benefits are definitely worth considering.

How much storage space do you need?

Another big question, and also important on the value front, is how much space you need. Are you looking to install chunky games to your SSD? Or is it really just for some extra folders of spreadsheets? Whether you need 128GB or 2TB will have a huge impact on your purchase.

What are you happy to spend?

On the flip side of the two questions above, and related to them as we’ve pointed out, is your budget. If you want to spend less than £50 or $50, you’re going to be constrained by what you can find in that price range, but if you’re happy to stretch the budget a bit more you should find that things open up and there are more options.

Rating of the best SSD drives in Ukraine — Top 10 M2 NVMe models

SSD drives are one of the most important components of modern computers and laptops. They affect the speed of loading the operating system, programs and files. The M2 has become the most popular modern SSD form factor. Over the past year, this type of storage has almost halved in price, so now is a good time to add some memory to your computer / laptop.

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I need the best

In this article, we will look at the rating of the best 1TB M2 NVMe SSDs that you can buy in Ukraine. Of course, savings lovers can take a chance and buy something on Chinese online sites, but you should not rely on the high quality of cheap SSDs from Aliexpress.

Parameters such as maximum possible capacity, interface, read and write speed, working life and price have been added to the table. All presented models have 3D TLC NAND memory type and warranty from 3 to 5 years.

Rating of the best SSD drives in Ukraine
Model/Parameter	Interface	Max volume, TB	Write, MB/s	Read MB/s	Resource TBW, TB	Resource, million hours	Price for 1 TB, UAH
GOODRAM PX500 GEN. 2	PCI-E 3.0 4x	1	1650	2050	660	2.0	1900
Apacer AS2280P4X M.2	PCI-E 3.0 4x	2	2000	3000	800	1.5	1900
Kingston NV2 SNV2S	PCI-E 4.0 4x	4	2100	3500	320	1.5	2000
Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8	PCI-E 4.0 4x	4	3600	5000	220	1.5	2400
WD Blue SN570 WDS100T3B0C	PCI-E 3.0 4x	2	3000	3500	600	1.5	2600
Samsung 980 V8V1T0BW	PCI-E 3. 0 4x	1	3000	3500	600	1.5	2800
HP FX900 Pro M.2 4A3U0AA	PCI-E 4.0 4x	2	5600	7000	600	2.0	3000
Kingston SKC3000S	PCI-E 4.0 4x	4	6000	7000	800	1.8	3500
Samsung 980 PRO V8P1T0BW	PCI-E 4.0 4x	2	5000	7000	600	1.5	3500
MSI SPATIUM M470 PCIe 4.0	PCI-E 4.0 4x	2	4400	5000	1600	1.7	3600

A little explanation for those who don’t understand what «work resource» means. TBW is the amount of information, such as the data limit, that can be overwritten on an SSD drive. The larger the volume of the drive and the higher the quality of performance, the greater the TBW resource it has.

Contents

1 GOODRAM PX500 GEN.2
2 Apacer AS2280P4X M.2
3 Kingston NV2 SNV2S
4 Crucial P3 Plus CT10 00P3PSSD8
5 WD Blue SN570 WDS100T3B0C
6 Samsung 980 V8V1T0BW
7 HP FX900 Pro M.2 4A3U0AA
8 Samsung 980 PRO V8P1T0BW
9 MSI SPATIUM M470 PCIe 4.0

9 0275 10 Kingston SKC3000S

Affordable model with good working life and medium speed . GOODRAM PX500 GEN.2 is suitable for economical users who do not pursue top performance. This drive is in great demand among budget computer assemblies in Ukraine.

If you already have the best SSD drive for your operating system, this drive can be used for video games and other files. Its price is close to SATA models, and the performance is much better.

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Another low cost PCI-E 3.0, which is sold in configurations from 0.5 to 2 TB. It was the low cost, and not the characteristics, that made it popular among Ukrainians. The working resource is 800 TB, and the reading speed reaches 3000 MB / s.

In real conditions, the user is unlikely to notice a serious difference between the top models and this state employee. The Apacer AS2280P4X M.2 will meet the needs of most PC users and is a breath of fresh air for laptops with small storage drives.

One of the cheapest models with PCI-E 4.0. It is not clear why the manufacturer used such a fast interface when the maximum speed reaches 3500 MB / s. The working resource is not too large (320 TB), but this is enough for 10-15 years of active operation.

The Kingston NV2 SNV2S drive attracts with its price and relatively balanced parameters. Like most of the models in this list, it does not have a heatsink, which owners of cheap motherboards (who do not have heatsinks on the M2) should take into account.

This drive from a well-known manufacturer has good performance and looks worthy among numerous competitors. The read speed can reach 5000 MB/s, and for writing 3600 MB/s.

This drive is available in configurations ranging from 500 GB to 4 TB. The disadvantage of the Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8 is only a relatively small working resource of 220 TB (for the 1 TB model). Such a PCI — E 4.0 drive is not a shame to put in a modern gaming computer or an elite laptop.

A typical representative of the middle class, one of the fastest PCI-E 3.0 drives, popular among Ukrainians. The WD brand has earned a good reputation, so it is not surprising that it is chosen among strong competitors.

WD Blue SN570 WDS100T3B0C equipped with SanDisk controller 20-82-01008-A1. The manufacturer claims a working resource of up to 1.5 million hours or 600 TB. Speed indicators are also good — 3000 MB / s for writing and 3500 MB / s for reading.

The legendary model, which was never heard of except by those who have never been interested in computer topics. Samsung has built a reputation as a maker of NVMe exemplary drives. Even the high cost does not prevent their SSD from selling well.

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The Samsung 980 V8V1T0BW is the benchmark for performance and quality. Good performance and maximum reliability have made this SSD one of the best PCI-E 3.0 drives. Unfortunately, only configurations up to 1 TB are available on the Ukrainian market.

Although this is not a very common model, its characteristics will definitely interest lovers of top components. The read speed reaches 7000 MB / s, and for writing 5000 MB / s. The working resource of the 1 TB model is 600 TB or 2 million hours.

Available in 512 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB versions. Prices for HP FX900 Pro M.2 4A3U0AA are quite pleasant, you can easily meet 3000 UAH. You will also have to take care of cooling if the motherboard does not have radiators.

Top SSD for modern computers and laptops, which has an excellent reputation and needs no introduction. Excellent speeds (up to 7000 MB / s), a working resource of 600 TB and a reliable Samsung Elpis controller. This is one of the most popular PCI — E 4.0 drives not only in Ukraine, but also abroad.

Stores offer versions of Samsung 980 PRO V8P1T0BW with and without a heatsink. The average price of this flagship drive is UAH 3500, but you can find better deals.

A luxury hard drive that will satisfy demanding PC or laptop users. A feature of this model is an incredibly large resource. 1600 TBW for the 1 TB version is an impressive figure that not all 4 TB drives can boast of. The read speed reaches 5000 MB / s, and for writing 4400 MB / s.

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MSI SPATIUM M470 PCIe 4.0 is sold in Ukraine only in two configurations: 1 TB and 2 TB. The 2TB version is better to bypass, it is too expensive, and the 1TB model is quite competitive. This is an expensive, but eternal (literally) drive that is not at all afraid of round-the-clock operation and hyperactive use of the swap file.

One of the best modern SSD drives with excellent performance. Balanced and strong in everything, he has no technical flaws. The only obstacle may be a considerable cost. Over the past year, it has fallen in price by UAH 1,000, but is still expensive.

The Kingston SKC3000S drive is sold in 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB configurations. The working resource of the 1 TB model is 600 TBW or 1.8 million hours. Read speed up to 7000 MB/s, and write speed up to 6000 MB/s.

It is interesting that on modern motherboards even this speed is not the limit. ITC has tested this drive with the MSI MPG B 650 CARBON WIFI board. At 80% full (fullness affects speed, especially in cheap models), it showed an incredible 7400 MB / s when installed in an M2 PCI-E 5.0 slot.

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the best SATA and NVMe drives

SSDs for gaming PCs are only getting better, especially if your processor and motherboard support the faster PCIe 4. 0 interface. Even with PCIe 5.0 SSDs on the way, drive manufacturers are still finding ways to extract significant speed gains from 4.0 hardware, even when compared to other high-speed SSDs released earlier in 2022. When it comes to games, that means more time to play and less time to sit through loading screens.

With all that, you don’t need an expensive, cutting-edge SSD to get your PC up to speed. Models using PCIe 3.0 or even SATA will be significantly faster than any mechanical hard drive. And prices in the lower end of the SSD market have dropped so much that you can get a fast and roomy SSD on a tight budget.

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To be clear, these SSDs will not improve FPS performance like the best graphics cards or the best gaming processors would. But they’re perfect for reducing boot times and making Windows boot up faster, so you’ll still see improvements when moving from a hard drive. Our SSD installation guide will help you get ready to go.

Below you’ll find the best SSDs we’ve tested across price points, motherboard compatibility, and form factors. These are mostly internal drives that can be installed as the main or secondary drive of the computer, but I also included a few external SSDs if you need quick storage for game backups or other important files.

So, the best SSDs for gaming in 2023 are:

WD Blue SN570

Best NVMe SSD for Gaming

WD Blue SN570 Specifications:

Choices: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB
Form factor: M.2 (2280)
Interface: PCIe 3.0 x4
Read: up to 3500 MB/s
Write: Up to 3000 Mbps

It could also be called the best cheap NVMe SSD for gaming, as the WD Blue SN570, following its predecessors the SN500 and SN550, is priced below average. Performance-wise, though, you’d never guess it’s 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 outperform high-end SSDs from Samsung and WD. Including the (former) flagship WD Black SN750.

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

What we like:

✔️ Fast read and write speed
✔️ Very affordable price
✔️ Decent selection of containers.

WD Black SN850X

Best PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD for Gaming

WD Black SN850X Specifications:

Choices: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB.
Form factor: M.2 (2280)
Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
Read: up to 7300 MB/s
Write: up to 6300 Mbps

That small «X» makes the WD Black SN850X just an upgrade from the Black SN850. But it’s actually a bigger upgrade than meets the eye: faster sequential read/write speeds, higher I/O performance (IOPS), an improved controller, and even a new 4TB model.

Most importantly, the SN850X is much faster in games, faster than every other SSD we’ve tried except the Samsung 990 Pro below. Loading a Shadow of the Tomb Raider save takes just 6.7 seconds, nearly three seconds faster than the Black SN850 and clearly outperforms other premium PCIe 4.0 SSDs such as the Kingston Fury Renegade (9.6 seconds) and PNY XLR8 CS3140 (7.3 seconds). In the CrystalDiskMark benchmark, its results of 3187 MB/s random read and 4261 MB/s random write demonstrate exceptional suitability for both gaming and general PC use.

It’s a pity there isn’t a cheaper 500GB option like there was with the Black SN850, but the 1TB and 2TB are at least cheaper than the 990 Pro counterparts.

What we love:

✔️ Incredibly fast
✔️ Not too expensive (by high-end standards)
✔️ 4TB fit

Crucial P3 Plus

Best cheap PCIe 4 SSD. 0 for games

Technical specifications Crucial P3 Plus:

Choices: 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB.
Form factor: M.2 (2280)
Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
Read: up to 5000 Mbps
Write: up to 4200 Mbps

Of course, «cheap» is a relative term, and occasional sales on the WD Black SN850 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 loaded Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 10.4 seconds; The P3 Plus took just 7.3 seconds. In our CrystalDiskMark test, the WD SSD showed a read speed of 1622 MB / s, while the Crucial — 1689.5 Mbps.

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 3118.1MB/s in CrystalDiskMark and 336.8MB/s in the 4K AS SSD test shows it’s not semi-serious when writing data, even if it’s a more expensive option. Relatively.

What we love:

✔️ Great value for speed 4.0
✔️ Faster than the closest competitor
✔️ Up to 4TB capacity

Samsung 990 Pro

Best PCIe 4. 0 NVMe SSD for faster boot times

Samsung 990 Pro Specifications:

Choice of 1TB, 2TB 90 276
Form factor: M.2 (2280)
Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
Read: up to 7450 MB/s
Write: up to 6900 Mbps

The Samsung 990 Pro is very close to being the best PCIe 4.0 SSD, but its high starting price makes the WD Black SN850X a better deal. However, here’s what you get for your money if you choose Samsung: exceptional read speeds for both light and heavy download/copy tasks, and record-breaking gaming performance.

In CrystalDiskMark’s random read/write test, which reflects real speeds more than sequential performance, the 990 Pro achieved 3647 MB/s read and 4090 MB/s write. The former, in particular, is about 2,000 MB/s faster than the very best PCIe 3.0 drives, not to mention over 1,100 MB/s than the old Samsung 980 Pro. And since best read speed equals best load time, the 990 Pro launches a Shadow of the Tomb Raider save in 6. 6 seconds, making it the fastest on our roster.

So it definitely deserves a spot on this list and might be worth spending a lot of money on if you’re looking to get a high-end gaming PC. The sale doesn’t hurt either.

What we love:

✔️ Best-in-class boot times
✔️ Superb read/write speeds for general use
✔️ Optional heatsink (tested without)

Crucial P3

Best solid state drive for pure PCIe 3.0 9 speed0022

Crucial P3 specifications:

Choices: 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB.

Form factor: M.2 (2280)

Interface: PCIe 3.0 x4

Read: up to 3500 MB/s

Write: Up to 3000 Mbps

Even if the WD Blue SN570 doesn’t match it overall, there’s still a good reason to choose the Crucial P3 over it: 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 3022MB/s. But it’s also impressively efficient at the demanding reading tasks games are geared towards, as evidenced by its superb 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 to date.

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

What we like:

✔️ High speeds for its interface
✔️ Wide compatibility
✔️ Not too expensive.

Samsung 870 Evo

Best SATA SSD for Gaming

Specifications Samsung 870 Evo:

Choice of 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB

Form factor: 2.5″

Interface: SATA

Read: up to 550 Mbps

Recording: Up to 520MB/s

When it comes to buying an SSD for gaming, many people still choose a 2. 5″ SATA drive over a super-fast NVMe SSD, if only because the latter tend to be quite expensive and you need a motherboard with their support. For SATA SSD hunters, the Samsung 870 Evo is the best SSD right now. Its day-to-day speeds aren’t much faster than its predecessor, the 860 Evo, but as the drive gets harder to come by, the 870 Evo became 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 find it with a significant discount. What’s more, the 870 Evo has a much higher durability rating than the MX500, with 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 yet to be beaten for overall value.

What we like:

✔️ The fastest SATA drive you can buy today
✔️ High endurance
✔️ Best value for money compared to the competition

Samsung 870 Qvo

Best big hard drive Solid SATA Gaming Drive

Specifications Samsung 870 Qvo:

Choices: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB

Form factor: 2. 5″

Interface: SATA

Read: up to 560 Mb/s

Write: Up to 530 Mbps

Actually, there is one SSD with higher write speed than the Samsung 860 Evo and that is the Samsung 870 Qvo. Made from 4-bit MLC V-NAND rather than 3-bit MLC like its Evo counterparts, the 870 Qvo is a lot more value for money 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 a 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 practically 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
✔️ Great value for money
✔️ As fast as Samsung’s Evo SSD.

WD Black P40

Best External SSD for Gaming

WD Black P40 Specifications:

Choices: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB .

Form factor: External

Interface: USB-C 3.2 Gen 2

Read: up to 2000 MB/s

Write: up to 2000 MB/s

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 using the USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface, 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 it takes to transfer copies of various files to disk, such as backing up installed games. This benchmark has a dedicated Gaming section, and the Black P40’s 435.2 MB/s beat the X8’s 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-quite-unintentional drops to the floor.

What we love:

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

Samsung T7 Shield

Best rugged external SSD for gaming 900 22

Specifications Samsung T7 Shield:

Choices: 1TB, 2TB

Form factor: External

Interface: USB-C 3.2 Gen 2

Read: up to 1050 MB/s

Write: Up to 1000 Mbps

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 SSDs: 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 T7 Shield’s extra toughness is still worth paying for if you need something that you’ll be cramming into your backpack on a regular basis. 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.

What we love:

✔️ Fast speed
✔️ Rugged yet lightweight design
✔️ Includes USB-A and USB-C cables.

Kingston XS2000

Best USB 3.2 2×2 External Solid State Drive for Gaming

Kingston XS2000 Specifications:

Options to choose from: 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB.

Form factor: External

Interface: USB-C 3.2 2×2

Read: up to 2000 MB/s

Write: Up to 2000 Mbps

Portable SSDs are bound by a lot of silly USB naming conventions, eg «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 USB4 is introduced.

Of course mobile boards even with USB 3.2 2×2 are still pretty 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 you’re in for a treat as this surprisingly pocket-friendly, the SSD more than lives up to its advertised sequential write speed and can handle more complex read and write tasks. In the AS SSD copy benchmark, it finished copying the game in 1.21 seconds, or 1138 MB/s; 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
✔️ Protective case included.

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 simplest 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 stick) and mount directly to the motherboard in an M. 2 slot, so you no longer need to run SATA and power cables through the case. 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.

NVMe SSDs require an M.2 slot (see above) on the motherboard.

What is the difference between PCIe 3.0 and PCIe 4.0?

Like many other technologies, the PCI Express interface (PCIe for short) has had many different generations over the years. Nowadays, most new CPUs 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 to transfer data back and forth between different parts of the computer.

Throughput doubles with every generation. PCIe 3.0 currently has a bandwidth of 32 GB/s and a bit or data transfer rate of 8 gigatransfers per second (GT/s).