The best SSDs can expand your desktop PC, laptop, or even game console’s storage, as well as minimize load times. Depending on your budget, you can explore a wealth of different types of SSD, storage capacities, and transfer speeds.
TL;DR – These are the Best SSDs:
- Crucial T705
- Crucial P3 Plus
- WD_BLACK SN850X
- WD_Black SN770
- Samsung 980
- Corsair MP600 Pro XT
- Samsung 980 Pro
- Samsung 870 QVO
- Corsair MP600 Pro XT Hydro X Edition
- Samsung 990 Pro
- SK hynix Gold P31
- Sabrent Rocket 2230
Although a hard drive might still have a place when you need something to store a lot of data, frankly, they are old, and loud, and there are better options available. Your gaming PC deserves the best, as do your consoles, so you should consider one of the best SSDs to speed things up a little.
1. Crucial T705
Best SSD
Pros:
- Optional heatsink
- Insanely fast speeds
Cons:
- Expensive
Compatible with Intel Core 13th-14th Gen and AMD Ryzen 7000 Series CPUs, the Crucial T705 is an absolute beast of an SSD, boasting sequential read speeds of up to 13,600MB/s! Available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities, you can easily spend over $500 on this SSD, but if you want the best of the best, money ain’t no object. Luckily, you can often nab this SSD on offer, so keep your eyes peeled for a much-needed saving.
There’s an optional passive heatsink, too, but this bump the price up. If you’re looking for the fastest SSD around, currently, and a promise of over 14GB/s of potential throughput, this is where it’s at. For computer enthusiasts, Gen 5 drives remain at the top-end, and this is one not to be missed.
2. Crucial P3 Plus
Best Budget SSD
Pros:
- Read speeds far surpass PCIe 3.0 speeds
- Budget-friendly
Cons:
- QLC NAND technology is slightly less durable than TLC
The Crucial P3 Plus may be a slightly toned-down version of our top pick, though it’s still plenty capable, delivering a lot of bang for your buck. Priced under $100 for 1TB (often on sale for much less), this SSD uses Micron QLC NAND to reach high capacities at a low cost without sacrificing much performance. You’ll get solid read speeds at 5,000MB/s, which is on the lower end for PCIe 4.0, but still blows PCIe 3.0 speeds out of the water, ensuring you enjoy limited PC lag and load times.
Given that the Crucial P3 Plus uses QLC NAND technology, it’s slightly less durable than drives using TLC, so you only get 220 total drive writes or a five-year warranty, whichever comes first. That’s still a decent amount of reliability that should last the lifetime of your PC. There’s also a dashboard available to upgrade the drive's firmware and monitor health, though you don’t get any AES hardware-based encryption.
3. WD_BLACK SN850X
Best PS5 SSD
Pros:
- Incredible performance
- Optional heatsink and RGB
Cons:
- More expensive than similar options
While the Corsair MP600 PRO is a suitable option for the PS5, if you want to squeeze the fastest read and write speeds and get a decent amount of storage for all your games, the WD_BLACK SN850X takes the crown. It does, however, come at a much higher cost, so bear this in mind. You could end up spending more if you take up the optional heatsink and RGB, too.
With a five-year warranty, you can game in comfort. You can also rest in the knowledge that this SSD was designed for the PS5, so compatibility won’t be an issue. Like the Crucial T705, you can often get a great deal on the WD_BLACK SN850X if you know where to look.
4. WD_Black SN770
Best SSD Boot Drive
Pros:
- Considerable endurance
- Super affordable
Cons:
- Slower read/write speeds
If you want to limit the time you wait for your PC to turn on and all your applications to load, a great boot drive is a must. It should be relatively fast and roomy. This makes the WD_Black SN770 with a 1TB capacity a great option. It offers compelling speeds with fast sequential reads at 5,150 MB/s and writes at 4,900 MB/s. This is 40% faster than the last-gen, WD_Black SN750 SE. Plus, during random operations, where your operating system will likely feel its speeds the most, it still keeps up a solid performance. Another perk is this drive has considerable endurance at up to 600 full drive writes, or 600TBW for the 1TB model.
The WD_Black SN770 is a bit more affordable than its faster counterpart, the WD_Black SN850, so you’ll be able to spring for the larger 1TB capacity, or if you need more space, you can grab the 2TB model. This means the drive should maintain its peak performance for longer as long as you don't fill it completely with files and media. And, where you’ve saved a bit of money on a quality boot drive, you can then spend a bit more on a dragster to handle large file transfers or your game library.
5. Samsung 980
Best NVMe SSD
Pros:
- Serious PCIe 3.0 speeds
- Improved power efficiency
Cons:
- No heatsink
If your system isn't able to take advantage of the latest PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives, then you don't need to sink the extra cash it takes to get one of them. Instead, you can pick up the Samsung 980 SSD. This is the PCIe 3.0 counterpart to the PCIe 4.0-based Samsung 980 Pro SSD.
What you get from this drive is more or less a continuation of what Samsung had already been offering in this market segment with the Samsung 970 Evo and 970 Pro. You'll find serious speeds around every corner with 3,500MB/s sequential reads and 3,000MB/s sequential writes. Random read and write operations are also cruising along at a fast clip. And, though it's not a major leap up compared to the 970 Evo, Samsung claims it has improved power efficiency by 32% and reduced heat by 50%.
6. Corsair MP600 Pro XT
Best M.2 SSD
Pros:
- Impressive speeds
- Capable of using RTX IO with Microsoft’s DirectStorage
Cons:
- Bulky design
The Corsair MP600 Pro XT provides you with a bunch of storage thanks to its 1TB capacity, and it’ll let you access any of your files or games incredibly fast. This drive can reach a peak sequential read speed of 7,100MB/s when you insert it into a PCIe 4.0 x4 slot on your motherboard, so you’ll want to make sure you find an open slot for it to take full advantage of its impressive speeds. Though it’s not leading the class, it also offers remarkable write speeds, so you can move your files to it quickly and make them more accessible.
This’ll be a solid drive if you want your game library to launch quicker and deliver assets to your graphics card faster, especially if you have an RTX card capable of using RTX IO with Microsoft’s DirectStorage. If you’re shuffling content onto and off of the drive a lot or using it as a scratch disk, you’ll also benefit from the drives extensive durability, which can see it completely rewritten 700 times.
7. Samsung 980 Pro
Best PCIe 4.0 SSD
Pros:
- Budget price for fast read speeds
- Support for Microsoft’s DirectStorage
Cons:
- No built-in heatsink
The champ has finally done it. Samsung often leads the field when it comes to SSDs, particularly since it designs its own NAND flash and DRAM cache. And, now the Samsung 980 Pro is here to push things even further forward as Samsung's big foray into the PCIe 4.0 space. This PCIe SSD tops our previous pick by offering a drive that can offer a whopping 1TB of storage and deliver read speeds up to 7,000MB/s and write speeds up to 5,000MB/s.
The best part? The Samsung 980 Pro is offering all that at just under $100. It's not the cheapest price per GB, but cheaper drives aren't going to be nearly as fast. This'll be the drive you want for future PC games that can take advantage of Microsoft's DirectStorage API for super-fast transfers of game assets directly over to your graphic card's memory or as additional storage for your PS5.
8. Samsung 870 QVO
Best SATA SSD
Pros:
- Massive 4TB storage capacity
- Hits max SATA speeds
Cons:
- Speeds nowhere near PCIe NVMe SSDs
Samsung already had a strong value proposition for SATA SSDs with its 860 QVO, which offered up fairly substantial storage at a lower price thanks to its use of QLC flash storage. Now, Samsung is continuing that offering with the 870 QVO. These SSDs muster a little bit of extra speed, reaching for the maximum throughput SATA can even handle. While speeds are definitely not as impressive as those found on even budget PCIe NVMe SSDs, the price-per-gigabyte of the Samsung 870 QVO is compelling. If you want a lot of storage on an SSD, this is the way to go.
Samsung's 4TB 870 QVO costs around $250. While it's usually true that the more you get of something the less you pay for each one, that hasn't held true for capacious SSDs, but this time Samsung is making it economical to go for the bigger option. That means you can readily fit a massive amount of fast storage in a tiny space without breaking a budget. Samsung also has a 1TB, 2TB, and 8TB version available. The specs vary slightly between models, with different warranties and DRAM cache sizes being most notable. In any case, there are few more compelling options for switching away from SATA hard drives than these SSDs.
9. Corsair MP600 Pro XT Hydro X Edition
Best Liquid-Cooled SSD
Pros:
- Unique and effective liquid cooling
- High capacity with extreme endurance
Cons:
- Clunky design
What's better than a fast SSD? An extra-fast SSD that has extreme cooling to ensure heat never slows it down. That's what Corsair aims to offer with the Corsair MP600 Pro XT Hydro X Edition. This takes Corsair's MP600 XT Pro SSD, which is already a fast drive, and attaches a water block rather than a heatsink so it's ready for your liquid-cooled gaming rig.
This 3D TLC NAND drive itself delivers high speeds thanks to its use of the PCIe 4.0 x4 interface. It can offer sequential read and write speeds of up to 7,000MB/s and 6,800MB/s respectively. Since this drive comes in a spacious 2TB capacity, you won't have to worry about needing to upgrade it anytime soon. And this drive is sure to last a long while thanks to its extreme endurance, which has it rated for a total of 1,400 TBW.
10. Samsung 990 Pro
Fastest SSD
Pros:
- Fast read/write speeds
- MLC V-NAND technology increases endurance and power efficiency
Cons:
- No heatsink
One of the main reasons for snagging an SSD over other storage options is the insane speeds offered, so why not grab one of the fastest ones out there? The Samsung 990 Pro is costly, but it takes advantage of PCIe Gen4, bringing you 7,450MB/s read speeds to make all your apps run smoother and quicker, with games, video editing, and even 3D rendering included. Plus, with 6,900MB/s write speeds, saves will be a breeze.
The Samsung 990 Pro offers a 2TB capacity and is a speed demon thanks to unique MLC V-NAND technology, which increases endurance and power efficiency. That, combined with a built-in heat spreader, ensures speeds are maintained even when working overtime. And what’s more, Samsung includes its Magician Software to upgrade firmware, optimize the drive, and monitor health, while also including 256-bit AES encryption to maintain a top-notch performance throughout its lifespan.
11. SK hynix Gold P31
Best M.2 SSD for Laptops
Pros:
- Affordable
- High power efficiency
Cons:
- 2TB is slower than the 500GB model
With 128-Layer flash, the SK hynix Gold P31 is an incredibly good value for money SSD suitable for upgrading your laptop’s storage. With higher efficiency, you can eek out more power from your laptop without needing to charge it so often. So, really, you’re lengthening the life of your laptop and getting better storage overall.
With strong read and write performance, the SK hynix Gold P31 is a real game changer. Even for desktop PCs in need of an upgrade, it’s a worthy choice. It’s frustrating that the 2TB option is slower than the 500GB model, but it’s a small price to pay in the long-run.
12. Sabrent Rocket 2230
Best SSD for Steam Deck
Pros:
- Decent performance
- Efficient
Cons:
- 1TB is the largest storage option
If you’re in search of a powerful M.2 SSD for your device that holds smaller PCIe SSDs, you’re onto a winner with the Sabrent Rocket 2230. For example, if you own a Steam Deck or Microsoft Surface Pro, you might want to upgrade to a faster and more efficient SSD.
Here you can expect good all-round performance, and reasonably high read and write speeds (especially considering its small size). It’s also very efficient, too, which is a valuable feature if you want to extend your device’s battery life.
When not on offer, the Sabrent Rocket 2230 is a little pricey for what it is. Though, there are options to lower the price - 256GB or 512GB storage capacities are available, making it a little more reasonable.
NAND Types
Almost all SSDs are made up of NAND flash memory, but they don't necessarily use the same type. in fact, the market is currently made up of four types of NAND memory—with SLC, MLC TLC, and QLC variants—and the big thing that separates them all is how their underlying cells store the 1's and 0's that make up your data. Let's take a quick look at what makes each type of NAND memory tick
- SLC: short for single-level cells, this is the original form of NAND memory and arguably the best. SLC is designed to only accept one bit per memory cell, which makes them the fastest, most durable and reliable, and often also the most expensive.
- MLC: Multi-Layer Cell store one more bit to every cell, bringing the number to two. It's a bit slower than SLC, because two bits are being written to every cell, which in turn makes this type of NAND slower and less reliable. The shortcomings of MLC aren't too bad though and that's why you see a lot of flagship SSDs utilize this type of NAND memory.
- TLC: Now we're starting to get into the budget spectrum with Triple-Layer Cell. As its name might suggest, TLC has three bits written to every cell and all its detriments.
- QLC: You guessed it, QLC is short for Quad-Level Cell and you probably also surmised that it writes four bits to each cell. At this point, speed isn't a concern and storage space becomes the priority here. That said, reliability and endurance become a concern here, but at least SSDs of this type are usually very cheap.
- PLC: Penta-Level Cell SSDs, which write five bits to every cell, are still on the horizon but it'll be interesting to see how low it will make the prices of SSDs go.
SSD vs HDD
What’s the best type of PC storage for you? Here we explore SSDs vs HDDs.
An HDD or hard drive is packing an actual hard disc and an actuator arm that moves across the disc when reading or writing and often comes in a 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch drive size with a SATA data connector and power connector. On the other hand, SSDs or solid-state drives contain electrons moving around with no moving parts. These drives also come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with some resembling HDDs and others which come in much smaller form factors, slotting directly into motherboards. That means you won’t need to worry about running more SATA and power cables.
If you’re looking for speed, an SSD runs laps around HDDs. Even the slowest SATA SSDs beat out the fastest HDDs, and you can find PCIe SSDs with read speeds that clock in above 7,000MB/s. So, SSDs are the clear winner for storing your most used applications and especially shine in games. However, though HDDs are slow, they offer a ton of storage for a low price, making them ideal candidates to house large files or documents you don’t access frequently and applications that don’t require speed.
SSDs are the winner when it comes to durability, as you don’t have the moving parts of an HDD that can get easily damaged when dropped or bumped. But in terms of longevity—if you aren’t dropping it—a hard drive saves data more safely. The flash memory cells in an SSD are stored using an electrical charge that can leak, making a hard drive's written disk a better choice for long-term storage.
Upcoming SSDs
With PCIe 5.0 in full swing, we can expect more PCIe 5.0 SSDs taking the stage, offering the fastest read/write speeds available. For users who handle 4K or 8K video files, or want the best available for AAA games, PCIe 5.0 is the way forward.
How To Pick the Best SSD
Picking the best SSD can make a world of difference when it comes to speeding up your computer and enhancing overall performance. The first thing to think about is how much storage space you'll need. Are you a digital hoarder with tons of files, photos, and videos? Or are you more of a minimalist? SSDs come in various sizes, from 120GB to a whopping 8TB or more. Choose a capacity that suits your needs without overpaying for space you won't use.
One of the main advantages of SSDs is their blazing-fast speed compared to traditional HDDs. Look for SSDs with high read and write speeds for snappy performance, quick boot times, and speedy file transfers. If you have a PC or laptop that can handle the latest generation of SSDs (PCIe 5.0), then you’ll notice a huge leap in read/write speeds compared to PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 3.0. Remember, however, if you purchase an M.2 PCIe 5.0 SSD and only have a PCIe 4.0-capable PC, it won’t work.
On that note, you’ll also need to consider the form factor of the SSD and make sure it's compatible with your computer or laptop. Common form factors include 2.5-inch, M.2, and NVMe. Check your device's specifications or consult the manufacturer's guidelines to ensure a proper fit.
If you plan on giving your SSD a run for its money, take a look at the SSD's endurance rating, often measured in TBW. This can give you an idea of how long the drive is expected to last under typical usage conditions. A higher TBW generally indicates a longer lifespan.
If you’re a gamer or professional, you could take into account any additional features that might be important to you, such as built-in encryption, data migration software, or RGB lighting (if you're into that sort of thing!). These extras can add to the overall appeal and functionality of the SSD.
FAQs
Is SSD a Hard Drive or RAM?
While speed is a factor when choosing an SSD, it shouldn’t be mistaken for RAM. SSDs are used to store data; read/write speeds denote how fast the SSD performs in various tasks.
Which SSD Is Fastest?
The Crucial T705 is currently the fastest PCIe 5.0 NVMe M.2 SSD on the market, offering sequential read/write speeds of up to 14,500/12,700MB/s.
Is a Built-In SSD Better Than an External SSD?
Internal SSDs generally are better than external SSDs as they tend to offer faster read/write speeds. That said, you can still find external SSDs that perform well, especially if it uses a USB 3.0 interface.
That’s everything you need to know about SSDs for now and there has never been a better time to ever buy one. The SSD market is so vibrant right now with manufacturers trying to top each other with increasingly faster and cheaper options
Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam
