What is best ssd: Best SSDs 2022: SATA, NVMe, and Add-in Cards

Best SSD for gaming 2023: The best performing drives for your PC

(Image credit: Future)

The best SSDs for gaming are continuing to drop in price. 2022 was a great year for bringing these top-performing storage drives into an affordable price range, and if costs since Black Friday are anything to go by, that isn’t going to change any time soon. Speedy SSDs have fully asserted their dominance over the market in the last few years, and it’s easy to see why. Gone are the days when finishing a level meant you had time to check your phone. No matter which platform you play on now, solid state drives are king.

What puts the best SSDs for gaming way ahead of HDDs though? Without getting too technical, SSDs offer much faster read and write speeds — with some offering over 7,000 MB/s — as they don’t rely on the traditional spinning discs of HDDs. Thanks to the extremely efficient motherboard interface of Gen 4.0 NVMe SSDs, a higher rate of input/output operations per second (IOPS) is possible. These SSDs are also smaller than SATAs, which means they fit neatly into place — and now act as some of the best PS5 SSDs too. SATAs and Gen 3.0 NVMes are still good-value options to go for in 2023, especially if you’re looking for larger capacities. For reference, even some of the HDDs on our best external hard drive list would be lucky to clock 200 MB/s. 

We are getting ever closer to PCle Gen 5.0 drives, which will surely shake up the best SSD for gaming market. These might be the catalyst for SSD prices levelling out or, heaven forbid, increasing again. At least for now, though, these amazing forms of storage are a lot more affordable than they were this time last year. We’d recommend making the most of it with one of our top picks on the list below.

The best SSD for gaming in 2023

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1.

WD Black SN850

The best SSD for gaming overall

Specifications

Capacities: up to 4TB

Interface: AIC PCIe 4.0 x4

Read/write speed: 7000 / 5300 MB/s

Random read/write speed: 1M / 720K IOPS

DRAM cache: 1GB DDR4

SLC cache: 300GB dynamic

Write endurance: 600TB

Warranty: 5 years

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Excellent all-round performance

+

Exceptional 4K QD1 write speed

+

Large SLC cache

Reasons to avoid

Can get hot under sustained loads

Lacks the Phison E18 controller

Right now, the WD Black SN850 is our favourite SSD for gaming. 

Tested here in 1TB form and also available in 500GB and 2TB capacities, the SN850 is an absolute screamer thanks to its quad-lane PCIe Gen 4 interface, shiny new controller chipset, and a large 300GB chunk of its SanDisk 96L 3D TLC flash memory running in super-fast SLC cache mode. WD claimed that the SN850 can push 7,000 MB/s and 5,000 MB/s read and write respectively; our testing found that the WD Black SN850 lived up to the claimed figures with 6,996 MB/s read and 5,205 MB/s write — actually surpassing the quoted figures! 

Where it really scores, however, is in 4K random performance, which is arguably more important in terms of how responsive your PC feels. At 250MB/s, it’s the fastest flash drive we’ve seen for 4K random writes at queue depth one. Impressive.

As you’d expect given the SLC cache provisioning, sustained performance is excellent, too, maintaining peak performance right up to that 300GB marker, which should be plenty for most people. WD’s confidence in the SN850’s broader longevity is likewise indicated by the five-year warranty and 6TB write rating. All of which means our only reservations with this excellent SSD involve cooling and pricing. For the former, there is none as standard, which is a slight concern given this SSD can run hot.  

  • Read more: WD Black SN850 review

(Image credit: Silicon Power)

2. Silicon Power US70

The best budget Gen 4.0 NVMe SSD

Specifications

Capacities: 1TB — 2TB

Interface: AIC PCIe 4.0 x4

Read/write speed: 5,000 / 4,400 MB/s

Random read/write speed: 750,000 / 750,000 IOPS

Warranty : 5 years

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Great price-to-performance ratio

+

Affordable for its capacity 

+

Easy to install and setup

Reasons to avoid

Gets hot under stress 

The great thing about SSD technology is that you don’t have to go to the biggest brands and most expensive manufacturers for great read and write speeds. The Silicon Power US70 is one of the more affordable Gen 4. 0 NVMe drives that you can get your hands on in 2022, and this is due to the more modest targeted figures of 5,000 MB/s read and 4,400 MB/s write. In our testing, we found that the drive yielded respectable figures of around 3 GB/s read and 3.3 GB/s write respectively which is solid considering the quoted numbers, but a little away from what was possible. 

AnvilPro gave us the score of 16,591.33 which positions the Silicon Power US70 in league with some of the humbler Gen 4.0 SSDs on the market right now. Thermal performance was particularly impressive, as the hottest the US70 got when being benched and enduring lengthy file transfers hovered between the 40 and 44-degree mark. This means that the drive ran nice and cool, which is something we cannot say for every Gen 4.0 SSD that passes by our test rigs.

The Silicon Power US70 is unlikely to set the world of gaming PCs ablaze with its lightning fast rates, however, if you’re after a strong performer at prices starting from around the $100 / £100 mark then there’s little more you could ask for. That price-to-performance ratio is the all important factor here. 

(Image credit: Future/Jeremy Laird)

3. Seagate FireCuda 530

The best SSD for PS5

Specifications

Capacities: up to 4TB

Interface: AIC PCIe 4.0 x4

Read/write speed: 7,300 / 6,900 MB/s

Random read/write speed: 1M / 1M IOPS

DRAM cache: 2GB DDR4

SLC cache: up to 450GB (model dependent)

Write endurance: 2550TB

Warranty: 5 years

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Super all-round performance

+

Epic endurance

+

PS5 compatible

Reasons to avoid

Good rather than great 4K throughput

One of the most expensive on the market

Seagate is one of the biggest names in storage and the Seagate Firecuda 530 2TB is absolutely up there with the big boys. This is partly due to the use of its excellent Phison E18 controller.

We found in our testing that the Firecuda 530 2TB lived up to the claimed figures of 7,300 MB/s and 6,900 MB/s read, making this drive one of the faster Phison E18-based SSDs around. We clocked just over 7GB/s and just shy of the 6.9GB/s read figures. 

The random performance of the Firecuda 530 2TB isn’t quite as strong as its sequential offerings, though. Simply put, this drive offers good rates but doesn’t quite excel in the same fashion as other Phison E18 units. We clocked 83 MB/s 4K reads and 251 MB/s writes, which still offers a great experience, however, doesn’t quite hit that 300 MB/s figure that the WD Black SN850 can.

If you can say all that of most drives based on the Phison E18 controller, the Firecuda’s epic 2,550TB write endurance rating is something really exceptional. It’s also worth noting that this drive is fully compatible with the Sony PS5 and is optionally available with a PS5-optimised heatsink. All told, it’s one heck of an SSD that also happens to be one of our favourite PS5 SSDs.

  • Read more: Seagate FireCuda 530 review

(Image credit: Kingston)

4. Kingston Fury Renegade 2TB

The best SSD for seriously fast sequential performance

Specifications

Capacities: up to 4TB

Interface: PCIe 4.0 NVMe

Read/write speed: 7,300 / 7,000 MB/s

Random read/write speed: 1,000,000 / 1,000,000 IOPS

Warranty: 5 years

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Stellar built-in heat spreader 

+

Amazing sequential read speeds 

+

Double-sided

Reasons to avoid

Pricey in higher configurations

The Kingston Fury Renegade impresses across the board as one of the best SSDs for gaming on the market right now. With its stated speeds reaching upwards of 7,000 MBS, we’re happy to report that this drive really is the real deal when it comes to blazing-fast performance perfect for DirectStorage. 

Our benchmarks don’t lie, and neither did Kingston. The Fury Renegade achieved read and write speeds of 7,344.99MB/s and 6,873.21MB/s respectively through CrystalDiskMark, and a stellar Anvil score of 21,649.35 for some seriously impressive performance. Of course, raw numbers mean nothing if the in-game performance can’t back it up. Fortunately, loading and transfer times were as close to instant as you would hope for from a drive of this caliber. 

Briefing touching on transfer times, we noted that CyberPunk2077, a 64.88GB game, took only 22.66 seconds being written from one NVMe drive to the Kingston. It’s a similar story with Destiny 2, and its 73.5GB of content, which made the jump between drives in just 28 seconds. Loading times were all but non-existent as well, as we were able to jump into Halo Infinite’s main campaign in a mere 18 seconds — straight into gameplay.

  • Read more: Kingston Fury Renegade SSD review

(Image credit: Crucial)

5. Crucial MX500

A top-performing SATA type SSD

Specifications

Capacities: 250GB — 2TB

Interface: SATA 6Gbps

Seq. read (1MB): 561 MB/s (1TB)

Seq. write (1MB): 468 MB/s (1TB)

Seq. read (4MB): 524 MB/s (1TB)

Seq. write (4MB): 482 MB/s (1TB)

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

The best SATA SSD available

+

Cheap compared to M2 SSDs

Reasons to avoid

SATA is much slower than other formats

SATA-type drives are the oldest form of SSDs on the market. And while they can’t quite compare against the M.2 form storage devices, they are still worthy of their place in the best SSD for gaming conversation — almost purely on value alone.

Simply put, nowadays, they are remarkably cheap. And you can have multiple SATA drives in your PC, provided you have the cables and setup, and for a bargain price. These drives can really shine as great backup drives for games and storing files on and the Crucial MX500 is the best of the lot, so you can’t go far wrong. Especially since it costs considerably less than other SATA SSD models at just $50 or £40 for 250GB, or around $225/£200 for a 2TB bad boy.

On the benchmarking front, the Crucial MX500 doesn’t ‘impress’ much compared to the other SSDs in this guide, but as explained above, that’s due to the SATA connection — everything is relative, after all. In the sequential 1MB test, it provides 561 MB/s read and 468 MB/s write – almost identical to the 4MB test with 524 MB/s and 482 MB/s respectively.

If you’re looking for a main SSD, then, budget-dependent, one of the above SSDs are likely your best bet, but if you’re looking for a secondary drive, or are building a budget rig, then the Crucial MX500 is certainly one of the best of the rest. I currently use it for all the games I can’t fit on my other drives and while the loading speeds aren’t quite the same, it’s still far better and faster than any HDD would be (and most other SATA SSDs, for that matter).

(Image credit: Western Digital)

6. WD Black SN770 1TB

The best affordable Gen 4.0 NVMe SSD

Specifications

Capacities: up to 2TB

Interface: PCIe 4.0 NVMe

Read/write speed: 5,150 / 4,900 MB/s

Random write / read speed: 740K / 800K IOPS

Warranty: 5 years

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Achieves targeted read and write speeds

+

Decent sequential performance 

+

Competitively priced for a 1TB drive

Reasons to avoid

Random read speeds are average

The WD Black SN770 is the successor to the hugely popular mid-tier WD Black SN750 SE model. It features a vastly improved sequential and random performance but at a similar price point. While you’re unlikely to be blown away by the raw numbers that the WD Black SN770 outputs, it is one of the best SSDs for gaming for those after an affordable, and consistent, Gen 4.0 drive in 2022. 

In our testing, we found that the WD Black SN770 achieved its respectable claimed sequential speeds, with CrystalDiskMark read and write benchmarks of 5,227.53 and 4,980.83 respectively. What’s more, the Anvil Pro score was equally solid at 20,024.98, which is a figure normally reserved for more upmarket NVMe drives. 

With its aggressive asking price MSRP of $129.99 / £142.99 for a 1TB model, the WD Black SN770 certainly positions itself as one of the more competitive offerings from the storage brand. If you’re after a drive with a terrific price-to-performance ratio that’ll do everything from quick OS boot times to lightning-fast in-game loading, then the WD Black SN770 is a hard proposition to beat for the money.  

(Image credit: Western Digital)

7. WD Black SN750

A familiar name and model is a go-to NVMe SSD

Specifications

Capacities: 250GB — 4TB

Interface: M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4

Seq. read (1MB): 3,108 MB/s (250GB)

Seq. write (1MB): 1,575 MB/s (250GB)

Seq. read (4MB): 2,474 MB/s (250GB)

Seq. write (4MB): 1,488 MB/s (250GB)

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Fairly priced

+

One of the best performing M.2 SSDs on the market

+

Range of capacities available

Reasons to avoid

More expensive than SATA

One of the best performing M.2 SSDs on the market is the WD Black SN750. It doesn’t innovate much over its predecessor – it’s still on the same hardware, after all – but the performance tests prove that you don’t need to fix what ain’t broke. It’s worth noting that we’ve only tested the 250GB variant of the SN750 – the increased sizes seem to offer better performance, peaking at 1TB, before the 2TB option starts to decrease again. However, at just £45/$55 for the 250GB model, you’re not breaking the bank for an SSD that can hold a good few games.

In AnvilPro, the 250GB SN750 came back with 2,474 MB/s and 1,488 MB/s read and write scores in the sequential 4MB category, but improved upon them slightly – as expected – in CrystalDiskMark’s 1MB test, with 3108 MB/s and 1575 MB/s. These are incredibly hearty numbers and show that the drive has the chops to handle whatever you throw at it.

I’ve been mainly using the SN750 for my single-player games – Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Cyberpunk 2077, etc. – and the loading is impressively quick, to the point where this SSD – especially at this price – would easily take the number one spot in this buying guide were it not for the incredible speeds of the AN1500.

Best SSD for gaming: Frequently asked questions

Is SSD recommended for gaming?

With PC games continuing to become more demanding in terms of bandwidth and file sizes, SSDs are the way to go to minimize loading times and have faster boot-up speeds. A Gen 4.0 SSD especially is fast enough to load in HD textures and the larger game worlds that modern titles utilize in a flash. Like we mentioned earlier, when compared to HDDs, the read and write speeds aren’t even close or remotely comparable.

What is a good SSD speed for gaming?

While there’s no hard and fast rule as to the quickness of an SSD, we would strongly recommend a minimum of a Gen 3.0 drive in your gaming PC as it has rates of up to 3,500 MB/s read and write respectively. However, should you want the best of the best, then we’re seeing sequential performance exceeding 7,000 MB/s from flagship Gen 4.0 drives at the moment. Our advice is to go with the fastest drive that your budget allows, but ideally, you’ll want to go NVMe over the slower SATA and HDD models online. 

What is a good size for a gaming SSD?

As games continue to get larger, we generally recommend either a 1TB or 2TB  model over anything smaller in the NVMe form factor. This is to give you enough headroom to load up titles from your virtual game libraries (such as Steam, Epic, or Origin) without having to constantly make room for new releases. Also, 1TB / 2TB drives tend to run slightly faster than their smaller siblings in the same product line. 

What brand of SSD is best for gaming?

From the list above, two brands stand out to us as the go-to SSD manufacturers. Seagate and Western Digital.

WD (which owns SanDisk, if you didn’t know), was founded back in 1986 and is now one of the most trusted names in all of storage. Their WD Black products in both SSD and HDD are stellar, and their popularity speaks for them. 

Seagate, which is perhaps more of a household name than WD, has always been at the peak of the storage mountain. Their FireCuda 530 was the first SSD confirmed for the PS5, and it’s easy to see why.

With that in mind, we stand by what we said earlier on in our list. You don’t have to go to big brand names to find exceptional read and write speeds. When it comes to SSD, you can trust the technology.


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Ever since playing Journey at the age of 15, I’ve been desperate to cover video games for a living. After graduating from Edinburgh Napier University with a degree in Journalism, I contributed to the Scottish Games Network and completed an Editorial Internship over at Expert Reviews. Besides that, I’ve been managing my own YouTube channel and Podcast for the last 7 years. It’s been a long road, but all that experience somehow landed me a dream job covering gaming hardware. I’m a self-confessing PlayStation fanboy, but my experience covering the larger business and developer side of the whole industry has given me a strong knowledge of all platforms. When I’m not testing out every peripheral I can get my hands on, I’m probably either playing tennis or dissecting game design for an upcoming video essay. Now, I better stop myself here before I get talking about my favourite games like HUNT: Showdown, Dishonored, and Towerfall Ascension.
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Best SSDs 2023: super-speedy storage to upgrade computers and consoles

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The best SSDs of 2023 will store your data, speed up your device and keep your computer or console in the best possible condition. There’s now no reason why your desktop, laptop or video game console shouldn’t feature one of the best SSDs, as they offer faster speeds and bigger capacities at better prices than ever before.

SSDs come in various forms, too, ranging from M.2 NVMe SSDs to different size SATA units. Don’t worry though if you’re not up on the techy terminology, which can be a bit of a minefield to navigate – this buying guide and our SSD technology explainer will take you through everything you need to know.

Which SSD you choose will depend on how you intend to connect it to your device. Most come with external drivers that connect via USB, but you can also get internal models that come as cards or sticks. You’ll need to check your device and/or motherboard to know which SSDs can be supported.

This guide below will give you some of the best SSD options in 2023, but we also have guides to the best external drives for Mac and the best PS5 SSDs that are worth a read if you need a storage device for a specific make or model.

The best internal SSDs

The number one internal SSD in 2023

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(Image credit: Kingston)

1. Kingston Fury Renegade SSD

The best internal SSD for most people

Specifications

Internal/external: Internal

Connection: PCIe M.2

Capacities: 500GB / 1TB / 2TB / 4TB

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Top-tier speeds

+

Stays cool and reliable

+

Ideal for gamers

Reasons to avoid

On the expensive side

Kingston markets this SSD drive as being for «gamers, enthusiasts and high-power users», and it certainly isn’t messing around: we’re talking up to 7,300 MB/s read and 7,000 MB/s write speeds at the highest 4TB capacity, though if you’ve not got quite so much to spend then you can opt for one of the smaller (and obviously cheaper) variations on this SSD.

Without going too deep into the technical aspects of the KIngston Fury Renegade SSD, suffice to say that it packs in some of the most promising and best performing tech currently available on NVMe solid-state drives, and that translates into winning performance no matter how you end up putting this to use – as long as you can afford it.

The other best internal SSDs in 2023

(Image credit: Samsung)

2. Samsung 970 Evo Plus

The best all-round internal SSD

Specifications

Internal/external: Internal

Connection: PCIe M.2

Capacities: 250GB / 500GB / 1TB / 2TB

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Excellent performance

+

Impressive endurance

+

Advanced heat dissipation

Reasons to avoid

One of the older options

The Samsung 970 Evo Plus is a fantastic internal SSD in just about every respect: with read and write speeds of up to 3,500 MB/s and 3,300 MB/s respectively, you can see the difference that NVMe technology can make. Samsung also promises an SSD that can last, with advanced heat dissipation used to prolong the life of your shiny new SSD.

Assuming you’ve got a computer with a motherboard that can take it, the Samsung 970 Evo Plus should guarantee you years of speedy performance (and note that the drive comes with a generous warranty as well). You get some great SSD management software included with your purchase too, making it an appealing package from any angle.

(Image credit: Crucial)

3. Crucial P5 Plus

The best value internal SSD

Specifications

Internal/external: Internal

Connection: PCIe M.2

Capacities: 500GB / 1TB / 2TB

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Won’t cost you too much

+

A brand you can trust

+

Longevity

Reasons to avoid

Not the fastest performer

Good value can be hard to find when it comes to M. 2 SSD drives, but the Crucial P5 Plus manages to provide it. After all, SSDs are similar to smartphones or laptops in some ways – not everyone needs the very best specs of the day or wants to pay top dollar for their hardware, and for many buyers the mid-range is where the more appealing products are.

In terms of specs we’ve got maximum read speeds of 6,600 MB/s and maximum write speeds of 5,000 MB/s, and the SSD stick is impressive in terms of its longevity too: Crucial says it’s rated for ultra-long life, and it comes with a 5-year warranty. It’s perfect for gaming, editing video and other content, and coping with any demanding applications.

(Image credit: Western Digital)

4. WD Black SN850

The best SSD for gaming consoles

Specifications

Internal/external: Internal

Connection: PCIe M.2

Capacities: 500GB / 1TB / 2TB

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Rapid transfer speeds

+

Competitive price point

+

Top choice for gaming consoles

Reasons to avoid

Uses plenty of power

The WD Black SN850 has the distinction of being the SSD that one Sony executive recommends if you want to upgrade the storage in your PlayStation 5 – and to us that suggests this is a high-performance solid-state drive that you can rely on (and the fact that it comes from industry veterans Western Digital makes us even more confident in it).

You’re looking at up to 7,000 MB/s read and 5,300 MB/s write speeds, depending on the capacity you go for – and those capacities are 500GB, 1TB and 2TB. You do miss out on some added extras like  hardware encryption, but you can pick up the WD Black SN850 for a competitive price, and overall we’d say this is clearly one of the best SSDs around.

(Image credit: SK Hynix)

5. SK Hynix Gold P31

The best SSD for power and price efficiency

Specifications

Internal/external: Internal

Connection: PCIe M.2

Capacities: 500GB / 1TB / 2TB

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Impressive performance

+

Great power efficiency

+

Competitively priced

Reasons to avoid

Some other SSDs are faster

The SK Hynix Gold P31 immediately impresses with its reliable performance, its high speeds (up 3,500 MB/s read and 3,200 MB/s write), and its large capacities – and that’s before you get to the price, which is on the very reasonable side. If you’re looking for an M.2 SSD that’s affordable but that will still serve you very well, this could be it.

Behind the scenes the SK Hynix Gold P31 uses plenty of impressive tricks to ensure reliability and longevity, and on the technical side it’s worth noting that this is the first stick from the company with 128-Layer 4D TLC NAND flash – basically the latest generation of flash memory that should ensure better performance with a lower power draw.

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The best internal SSDs

The number one internal SSD in 2023

(Image credit: Samsung)

1. Samsung T7 SSD

The best external SSD for most people

Specifications

Internal/external: External

Connection: USB-C

Capacities: 500GB / 1TB / 2TB

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Speed transfer rates

+

Premium enclosure

+

Reliable brand

Reasons to avoid

On the expensive side

From the moment you pick up the Samsung T7 SSD it feels like a solid bit of kit, with its matte texture finish, rounded edges, and impressively small size – this external SSD is actually available in black, red and blue, so in terms of its aesthetics it has a bit more pop than a lot of the comparable devices on the market (in the red and blue shades at least).

When it comes down to the key specs, the capacity options go up to 2TB (with the price rising accordingly), and you get 1,050 MB/s read and 1,000 MB/s write speeds across USB 3.2 Gen 2 (less over older USB standards). Plus, this is an SSD drive that can switch between different devices and indeed different operating systems quite easily as well.

The other best external SSDs in 2023

(Image credit: SanDisk)

2. SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD

The best rugged external SSD

Specifications

Internal/external: External

Connection: USB-C

Capacities: 500GB / 1TB / 2TB / 4TB

Reasons to buy

+

Very well protected

+

Reliable in operation

+

Petite size

Reasons to avoid

No indicator light

The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is well worth considering if you need an external drive that you can take just about everywhere. It’s built to be well protected against the elements (especially dust and rain), it’s just about small enough to attach to a keyring, and the available capacity goes up to a huge 4GB – which is plenty of storage for anyone.

On top of all that, the performance is impressive too, with USB 3.2 Gen 2 support, 1,050 MB/s read and 1,000 MB/s write speeds, and the added bonus of 256‐bit AES hardware encryption for extra peace of mind as well. You pay a little extra for the added IP55-rated protection, but we think a lot of SSD shoppers will be happy to make the investment.

(Image credit: Western Digital)

3. WD Black P50

The best external SSD for gamers

Specifications

Internal/external: External

Connection: USB-C

Capacities: 500GB / 1TB / 2TB / 4TB

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Hard, ridged case

+

Speedy in operation

+

Large capacity

Reasons to avoid

Aesthetics not for everyone

Gamers are going to be particularly keen on the WD Black P50 external SSD, what with its impressive data speeds, its large capacities, and its rugged good looks – although the stylishness of this solid-state drive really is in the eye of the beholder. The hard, ridged casing outside the SSD does at least keep it well protected against bumps and scrapes.

Transfer rates top out at a very impressive 2,000MB/s, though you’re going to need a very specific hardware setup to reach that – in particular, USB 3.2 Gen 2 on the device you attach the drive to (this is an SSD that will work with just about anything). With the Western Digital branding on the drive as well, you can rely on long-lasting reliability.

(Image credit: Crucial)

4. Crucial X8 Portable SSD

The best budget SSD drive

Specifications

Internal/external: External

Connection: USB-C

Capacities: 1TB / 2TB

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Affordable price point

+

Stays cool

+

Covers the basics well

Reasons to avoid

No built-in encryption

You get a lot in return for your money with the Crucial X8 Portable SSD: up to 2TB in terms of capacity and read speeds up to 1,050MB/s for example, and it’s all wrapped up in a compact, robust shell. If you shop around you should find that prices are on the very reasonable side for this particular solid-state drive as well, which is definitely a bonus.

While the Crucial X8 Portable SSD doesn’t offer too much in the way of bells and whistles – there’s no integrated data encryption here, for example – it will suit those who want something that covers the basics well and doesn’t cost too much. It’s certainly competitive in terms of its performance, and its size means it can be taken just about anywhere.

(Image credit: Seagate)

5. Seagate One Touch SSD

The best external SSD for multiple platforms

Specifications

Internal/external: External

Connection: USB-C

Capacities: 500GB / 1TB / 2TB

Reasons to buy

+

Compact form factor

+

Bundled software

+

Multiple platform capabilities

Reasons to avoid

Short USB cable

The pictures don’t really do justice to how compact and lightweight this external SSD drive is: the Seagate One Touch SSD is no bigger than a stack of credit cards and can easily fit in your pocket, making it an ideal choice for an external drive that you need to carry around with you – maybe one that you want to take travelling, alongside a laptop, for example.

With a maximum transfer speed of 1,030 MB/s and support for USB 3.2 Gen 2, you’re certainly not going to be waiting long for files to get from one place to another. We also like the support for multiple platforms that the Seagate One Touch SSD offers: you can use this equally well with a Windows computer, a Mac computer, or even a mobile Android device.

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Dave has over 20 years’ experience in the tech journalism industry, covering hardware and software across mobile, computing, smart home, home entertainment, wearables, gaming and the web – you can find his writing online, in print, and even in the occasional scientific paper, across major tech titles like T3, TechRadar, Gizmodo and Wired. Outside of work, he enjoys long walks in the countryside, skiing down mountains, watching football matches (as long as his team is winning) and keeping up with the latest movies.

is it worth it to change HDD to SSD at all and which SSD model to choose

This material was written by a site visitor and rewarded for it.

Progress does not stand still and traditional hard drives (HDD) are giving way to solid state drives (SSD) in home computers and laptops. Someone has long been familiar with them and understands all the intricacies of choosing an SSD. Others are looking to purchase their first SSD or upgrade an existing one, but have not taken the time or inclination to delve into all the technical aspects of these drives. And they face the notorious problem of choice. I propose to look into this issue together in a little more detail. nine0004

1. Do I need to change HDD to SSD, how do they differ and what are their advantages?

recommendations

The traditional hard disk drive (HDD) is a storage device (computer component) based on the principle of magnetic recording. With the help of magnetic heads, information is recorded (read) on rotating round plates. Its main advantages are a lower price per volume, as well as a much longer period of storage of information in the off state. Their disadvantages are annoying noise, low speed compared to SSDs, and less shock resistance. nine0004

SSDs do not have mechanically moving parts and consist of several chips and small electronic components soldered on the board. They are quieter, more shock-resistant and much faster than HDDs. But a 1 terabyte SSD costs significantly more than a 1 terabyte hard drive. And storing information on them in the off state is not so long-term. Therefore, if you decide to buy an SSD and, having thrown a family archive on it, put it away for storage, then rethink doing it. nine0004

Of course, you’ve heard about all this, but it doesn’t sound very convincing. Why pay more for less. There is an expression: “Whoever moved to an SSD will never return to an HDD.” It is absolutely correct! You will experience the same «Wow-effect». I’m not talking about faster Windows boot. Although many people talk about it, I don’t see much difference in loading the system in 15 seconds or in a minute. After all, I turn on the computer not to call the fire department. I’m talking about the overall response of the system and a much more comfortable use of the computer. When using an SSD, programs open instantly, the computer stops “thinking” or, in other words, slowing down. Of course, provided that there are no other «bottlenecks» in the system. But many will confirm that if you install an SSD on an old weak laptop, then it takes on a new breath. As far as the difference in reliability between SSDs and HDDs, there are no winners. Both of them can fail instantly or gradually for various reasons. Yes, unlike SSD, recovering information from a failed HDD is more likely, but it costs crazy money and has little to do with the home sector. SSDs that have exhausted their flash memory resource but continue to work, as a rule, go into read mode and allow you to save information before they leave for the digital afterlife. But you should not say goodbye to your HDD and throw it away or sell it. The ideal option for him would be to buy an external container for him with a separate power button. You can connect it to your computer and put it next to your desk in a convenient place. On it you can store the so-called «backup» — these are copies of your videos, photos, documents, program images and operating system. But don’t forget to make sure your HDD is in perfect health. You can do this quickly, offhand, using the Crystaldiskinfo program. nine0004

2. Which SSD is suitable for my computer or laptop?

That’s it, we figured out the need for an SSD in the computer! What kind of SSD is right for your computer or laptop? In order not to run to the store and ask to exchange a freshly purchased drive, let’s figure out what types they are. Let’s discard the information we don’t need and focus on real practice. There are three types of SSD currently in use in home systems:

1. SATA SSD in 2.5″ case; nine0004

2. M.2 SATA SSD;

3. M.2 NVME SSD.

The first two are completely identical in their technical characteristics and filling (the same models in different formats), but they have a different shape. The 2.5-inch drive is connected by wires to the motherboard, and SATA in M.2 format is inserted into the connector on the motherboard without any wires, which is undoubtedly more convenient. Both SATA SSDs tend to run cool and don’t need additional cooling. NVMEs are more «ardent» and sometimes require a heatsink. The NVME SSD is also installed in the M.2 slot on the motherboard. This is where the main pitfall lies. The fact is that the M.2 connector does not always support both SATA M.2 SSD and NVME M.2 SSD. nine0004

What to do? This issue is easily resolved. Find out the exact name of your motherboard or laptop and look it up on the manufacturer’s website. Then go to the technical specifications section and find the necessary information there about which M.2 connector supports which type of drive. In order not to look for boxes from the motherboard or not to get into the computer’s system unit, download the CPU-Z program. On the third tab you will find the name of your motherboard. Be aware that some laptops may not support drive replacement at all, or access to the case may be difficult. Then you need to seek advice or help from other people if you are having difficulty. And if access to the drive bay is available, then you can take the laptop with you to the store. For remote advice, you can always contact the appropriate branch of the Overclockers.ru conference. nine0004

3. What’s the difference between SATA SSD and NVME?

NVME drives use a different protocol and have higher speed characteristics. But they also have a higher price. The price of both of them strongly depends on the «stuffing». Faster products are equipped with more efficient controllers. Controllers are also available bufferless and DRAM buffered. In simple terms, the latter, as a rule, have faster write speeds and are less prone to use such a moment as the system “sticking” for a few seconds in some scenarios (Windows stops responding to your mouse or keyboard manipulations). But this is an infrequent and hardly noticeable phenomenon in everyday use and you should not be afraid of it. I promise that I will not scare you away from using SSDs anymore, because I have been describing their advantages here for a whole page. nine0004

So which SSD to take, SATA or NVME? If you switched from an HDD to a SATA SSD, then you will experience a “wow effect”, but when you switch from a SATA SSD to a NVME SSD, you most likely will not feel the difference. The thing is that the difference in them is by and large visible only at linear speeds. And they are not used so often, for example, when transferring large files from one SSD to another. With professional use of a computer, the difference can already be very noticeable, for example, when writing large files inside the program. If we talk about downloading games from the Internet, then first you should announce the maximum speed for your tariff. And if the tariff is 100 Mbps, then the game will download for the same time on any SSD. The difference between drives in small-block operations already depends on the very “stuffing”. nine0004

It is worth mentioning the size of the drive and the type of flash installed in it. There is never too much volume! On larger drives, the write speed is proportionally higher. Therefore, always aim for the maximum volume that you can afford, taking into account the price. Flash memory today in the consumer segment is represented by three types: MLC, TLC and QLC. The first two-bit memory has a longer resource, but it is expensive. Three-bit TLC is the best option for today. I recommend avoiding drives with a four-bit QLC memory type, since they do not have significant price advantages, and otherwise they contain only disadvantages (low resource and write speed). nine0004

4. I’m already in the store, what should I buy?

Any components should be bought in a large chain store with the best attitude towards the customer in terms of warranty service. Buying on Chinese sites is appropriate only when you are not afraid to lose your money and know exactly what you want.

Option one.

If technical specifications are not important to you, you generally do not want to understand all these subtleties and you just want to buy the cheapest SSD that is in the store, then everything is simple. Contact the sales assistant and he will sell you something. If you are at a loss for what you then read all this, then let’s move on to the option with your participation. Decide how much you are going to spend. Then ask the seller to show you an SSD with TLC memory, the volume you need and with the maximum warranty period provided, “fitting” into the amount you specified. The best low-cost option would be the KIOXIA (Toshiba) 2.5″ Exceria SATA III 3D BiCS TLC SSD with a three-year warranty. It does not have outstanding speeds, but it is a quality drive with minimal heat and an original Toshiba flash, not a reject.

Option two.

If you want to save as much as possible and not go to the financial razing, but do not agree to buy anything, then there are options for good SSDs with a DRAM buffer for you. This is what is called «the best for its price.» Most often, it is better to take a “weaker” drive, but a larger one.

SATA 2.5”:

— PLEXTOR PX-512M8VC

— Western Digital Blue

— SAMSUNG 860 EVO (not recommended for older AM3 systems)

— Crucial MX500

SATA M.2:

— Western Digital Blue M.2

— Samsung 860 Evo M.2

9000 4000 — Crucial MXILA MXIL M.2:

— KINGSTON SA2000 M.2

— WD Blue SN550 (unbuffered, but good quality)

Option three.

When you want something more serious, but still without losing your mind and not wasting money. These are definitely buffered NVME drives with a capacity of 480 GB or more. nine0004

A-Data XPG SX8200 Pro

— A-Data XPG GAMMIX S11 Pro

— PNY CS3030

— Smartbuy Impact E12

— Samsung 970 EVO

— Samsung 970 EVO Plus

— Western Digital Black SN750

Fourth option.

Walk, walk! I want the fastest and most powerful and without any compromises. In this case, it is better to look at drives with a capacity of 1 TB or more. nine0001

February 13, 2018

Likbez

Devices

Everything you need to know before buying a desktop or laptop SSD.

If you are building a powerful computer or want to speed up an old one, then you will need an SSD. Finally, the cost of these drives has dropped enough that they can be considered as a reasonable alternative to hard disk drives (HDDs).

The following SSD features will help you choose the best drive that is compatible with your computer and meets your needs. nine0004

1. Which form factor to choose: SSD 2.5″, SSD M.2 or other

SSD 2.5″

This form factor is the most common. An SSD looks like a small box that resembles an ordinary hard drive. 2.5″ SSDs are the cheapest, but at the same time, their speed is enough for most users.

SSD 2. 5 Samsung 850 EVO

2.5″ SSD Compatibility with Computers

This form factor SSD can be installed in any desktop or laptop computer that has a free 2.5-inch drive bay in the case. If your system only has room for an old 3.5″ hard drive, you can put a 2.5″ SSD in that too. But in this case, look for an SSD model that comes with a special lock. nine0004

Like modern HDDs, 2.5″ SSDs are connected to the motherboard using the SATA3 interface. This connection provides throughput up to 600 MB/s. If you have an older motherboard with a SATA2 connector, you can still connect a 2.5″ SSD, but the drive’s bandwidth will be limited by the old version of the interface.

M.2 SSD

Smaller form factor, making it suitable for even thinner laptops that don’t have room for a 2.5″ SSD. It looks like an oblong stick, it is installed not in a separate compartment of the case, but directly on the motherboard. nine0004 ADATA SU800 M.2 SSD

Each M.2 drive uses one of two interfaces to connect to the board: SATA3 or PCIe.

PCIe is several times faster than SATA3. If you choose the first one, then there are a few more things to consider: the version of the interface and the number of data lines connected to the connector.

  • The newer the PCIe version, the higher the throughput (data rate) of the interface. Two versions are common: PCIe 2.0 (up to 1.6 GB/s) and PCIe 3.0 (up to 3.2 GB/s). nine0223
  • The more data lines connected to the SSD connector, the higher its bandwidth again. The maximum number of lines in an M.2 SSD is four, in this case, in the description of the drive, its interface is designated as PCIe x4. If there are only two lines, then — PCIe x2.
Compatibility of M.2 SSD with Computers

Before purchasing an M.2 SSD, you must make sure it will fit your motherboard. To do this, first check the physical, and then the software compatibility of the connector on the drive with the slot on the board. Then you need to find out the length of the drive and compare it with the allowable length of the slot allocated for M. 2 in your system. nine0004

1. Physical compatibility of interfaces

Each connector on the motherboard designed for connecting M.2 drives has a special cutout (key) of one of two types: B or M. At the same time, the connector on each M.2 drive .2 has two cutouts B + M at once, less often only one of two keys: B or M.

An SSD with a B-connector can be connected to the B-connector on the board. To the M-connector, respectively, a drive with an M type connector. SSDs, the connectors of which have two M + B cutouts, are compatible with any M.2 slots, regardless of the keys in the latter. nine0004 M.2 SSD B + M key (upper) and M.2 SSD key M (lower) / www.wdc.com . Then find out the key of your connector and select a drive whose connector is compatible with this key. Key types are usually indicated on connectors and slots. In addition, you can find all the necessary information in the documents for the motherboard and drive.

2. Logical interface compatibility

In order for an SSD to fit your motherboard, taking into account the physical compatibility of its connector with the connector is not enough. The fact is that the drive connector may not support the logical interface (protocol) that is used in the slot of your board.

Therefore, when you figure out the keys, find out which protocol is implemented in the M.2 connector on your board. It can be SATA3 and/or PCIe x2 and/or PCIe x4. Then choose an M.2 SSD with the same interface. See the device documentation for information about supported protocols. nine0004

3. Compatibility of dimensions

Another nuance that determines the compatibility of the drive with the motherboard is its length.

Most boards list the numbers 2260, 2280, and 22110. The first two digits in each of them indicate the supported drive width. It is the same for all M.2 SSDs and is 22mm. The next two digits are the length. Thus, most boards are compatible with 60, 80 and 110 mm drives. nine0004 Three different lengths of M.2 SSDs / www.forbes.com

Before buying an M.2, be sure to check the supported length of the drive, which is listed in the motherboard documents. Then choose an SSD that matches that length.

As you can see, the issue of M.2 compatibility is very confusing. Therefore, just in case, consult on this matter with the sellers.

Less popular form factors

Your computer case may not have a 2.5” SSD bay and your motherboard may not have an M.2 slot. The owner of a thin laptop may encounter such an atypical situation. Then for your system you need to choose a 1.8 ″ or mSATA SSD — check in the documents for your computer. These are rare form factors that are smaller than 2.5” SSDs, but are inferior in data transfer speed to M.2 drives. nine0004 Kingston SSDNow V+180 Compact 1.8″

In addition, Apple’s thin laptops may not support traditional form factors either. In them, the manufacturer installs a proprietary SSD format, the characteristics of which are comparable to M.2. So, if you have a thin laptop with an apple on the lid, check the supported type of SSD in the documentation for the computer.

Proprietary Transcend JetDrive 725 for MacBook Pro 15

External SSDs

In addition to internal drives, there are also external drives. They vary greatly in shape and size — choose the one that will be more convenient for you. nine0004

In terms of interface, external SSDs are connected to computers via a USB port. For full compatibility, make sure the port on your computer and the drive connector support the same USB standard. USB 3 and USB Type-C provide the highest data transfer speeds.

External SSD SanDisk Extreme 900

2. Which memory is better: MLC or TLC

According to the number of bits of information that can be stored in one cell of flash memory, the latter is divided into three types: SLC (one bit), MLC (two bits) and TLC (three bits). The first type is relevant for servers, the other two are widely used in consumer drives, so you have to choose from them. nine0004

MLC memory is faster and more durable, but more expensive. TLC is correspondingly slower and endures fewer write cycles, although the average user is unlikely to notice the difference.

TLC memory is cheaper. Choose it if economy is more important for you than speed.

The description of the drive may also indicate the type of mutual arrangement of memory cells: NAND or 3D V-NAND (or simply V-NAND). The first type implies that the cells are arranged in one layer, the second — in several layers, which allows you to create high-capacity SSDs. According to the developers, the reliability and performance of 3D V-NAND flash memory is higher than that of NAND. nine0004

3. Which SSD is faster

In addition to the type of memory, other characteristics, such as the model of the controller installed in the drive and its firmware, also affect the performance of the SSD. But these details are often not even indicated in the description. Instead, they feature final read and write speed indicators, which are easier for the buyer to navigate. So, when choosing between two SSDs, other things being equal, take the drive whose declared speeds are higher.

Remember that the manufacturer only indicates the theoretically possible speeds. In practice, they are always lower than stated. nine0004

4. Which drive size is right for you

Of course, one of the most important characteristics when choosing a drive is its capacity. If you’re buying an SSD to use as a bootable drive for running your operating system quickly, a 64GB device is enough. If you are going to install games on the SSD or store large files on it, then choose the amount that suits your needs.

But do not forget that the capacity of the drive greatly affects its cost. nine0004

Buyer’s Checklist

  • If you need a drive for office work or watching movies, choose a 2.5″ or M.2 SSD with SATA3 interface and TLC memory. Even such a budget SSD will work much faster than a regular hard drive.
  • If you’re into video editing or other performance-critical applications, choose an M.2 SSD with PCIe 3.0 x4 interface and MLC memory.
  • Please check the compatibility of the drive with your computer before purchasing.