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When it comes to solid-state drives (SSDs) for gaming, the terrain is dynamic and the landscape is always changing. In recent times, there has been a discernible change in prices, which signifies the conclusion of the period in which high-performance drives were constantly available at affordable prices. This increase can be attributed to a number of different factors, including disturbances in the supply chain, such as shortages of chips, as well as the expectation that surrounds the introduction of Gen 5 drives. Despite the fact that it is depressing to see this development, the investment in high-quality solid-state drives (SSDs) is still worthwhile.
When it comes to gaming, the present solutions have a significant edge over traditional hard disc drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SATAs), despite the fact that Gen 5 PCIe solid-state drives (SSDs) are on the verge of being released and promise to deliver speeds that have never been seen before. The advantage of M.2 PCIe solid-state drives (SSDs) becomes obvious when one delves into the technical area.
These SSDs tout much improved read and write speeds in comparison to their HDD counterparts for the same purpose. This is mostly attributable to the fact that they differ from traditional spinning discs in that they provide a storage option that is greater in efficiency. This benefit is further amplified by the arrival of Gen 4.0 NVMe solid-state drives (SSDs), which enable a greater rate of input/output operations per second (IOPS) by means of an extraordinarily simplified motherboard interface.
Best SSD for Gaming Comparison Table
Only a fraction of the time that it takes for your central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU) to process it or for your random-access memory (RAM) to load it is the amount of time that the storage drive takes to transfer bits. It is common for a storage device that does not function well to provide a significant bottleneck, which causes your processor to waste clock cycles while it waits for data to arrive at its destination.
Feature | WD Black SN850X | Crucial T500 | Samsung 980 Pro | Seagate Firecuda 530 | Samsung 990 Pro |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type | Internal NVMe PCIe Gen4 | External USB-C | Internal NVMe PCIe Gen3 | Internal NVMe PCIe Gen4 | Internal NVMe PCIe Gen5 |
Interface | M.2 2280 | USB 3.2 Gen2 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 |
Capacity | 250GB – 4TB | 500GB – 4TB | 250GB – 2TB | 500GB – 4TB | 1TB – 4TB |
Sequential Read Speed | Up to 7,400 MB/s | Up to 1,050 MB/s | Up to 7,000 MB/s | Up to 7,300 MB/s | Up to 14,000 MB/s |
Sequential Write Speed | Up to 6,800 MB/s | Up to 1,050 MB/s | Up to 5,000 MB/s | Up to 6,900 MB/s | Up to 12,000 MB/s |
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Best SSD for Gaming
Your personal computer is deserving of the best solid-state drive (SSD) for gaming. If you have a larger solid-state drive (SSD), you will be able to save all of your gameplay highlights without having to delete them in order to make room for new games. A faster SSD will allow you to transfer files and load game textures more quickly. One cannot overestimate the importance of having adequate storage for your personal computer gaming experience.
WD Black SN850X

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Storage Capacity | Up to 2TB |
Interface | PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe |
Read Speed | Up to 7,000 MB/s |
Write Speed | Up to 5,300 MB/s |
NAND Flash | 3D NAND |
Form Factor | M.2 2280 |
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Beginning with the WD Black SN850X, this powerhouse solid-state drive (SSD) boasts blazing-fast read speeds of up to 7,300 MB/s and write speeds of up to 6,300 MB/s, therefore establishing a new benchmark for performance.
Through the implementation of features like as Game Mode and Predictive Loading, it is specifically designed to provide the best possible gaming experience, ensuring that gameplay is fluid and load times are minimised.
The Good
- Blazing-fast read and write speeds
- High storage capacity options
- PCIe Gen4 interface for ultra-fast performance
The Bad
- May be relatively expensive compared to other options
- Requires compatible hardware to fully utilize Gen4 speeds
Crucial T500

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Storage Capacity | Up to 2TB |
Interface | PCIe Gen3 x4 NVMe |
Read Speed | Up to 3,500 MB/s |
Write Speed | Up to 3,000 MB/s |
NAND Flash | 3D NAND |
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Those who are looking for a product that strikes a mix between performance and cost-effectiveness may find the Crucial T500 to be an appealing alternative. Although its read speeds can reach up to 4,800 MB/s and its write speeds can reach up to 4,000 MB/s, it still delivers a powerful punch and is an excellent choice for gaming and other jobs that require a lot of processing power.
Its sturdy construction makes it an excellent choice for customers who are constantly on the move, as it provides up to 4 terabytes of portable storage in a package that is resistant to dust, water, and shock.
The Good
- Competitive read and write speeds
- Affordable pricing for the performance offered
- Reliable 3D NAND flash technology
The Bad
- Limited to PCIe Gen3 interface, not as fast as Gen4 options
- May not appeal to users seeking top-tier performance
Samsung 980 Pro

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Storage Capacity | Up to 2TB |
Interface | PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe |
Read Speed | Up to 7,000 MB/s |
Write Speed | Up to 5,100 MB/s |
NAND Flash | 3D NAND |
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The Samsung 980 Pro is yet another formidable competitor in the NVMe solid-state drive (SSD) market. In order to cater to the requirements of even the most demanding users, it is designed to have read speeds of up to 7,000 MB/s and write speeds of up to 5,000 MB/s.
Both Intelligent Turbo Write and Game Drive Mode contribute to the overall improvement of its gaming performance, guaranteeing that gameplay is uninterrupted and that load times are lightning fast.
The Good
- Exceptional read and write speeds with Gen4 interface
- High-quality 3D NAND flash for reliability
- Wide range of storage capacities available
The Bad
- Premium pricing compared to Gen3 alternatives
- May require firmware updates for optimal performance
Seagate Firecuda 530

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Storage Capacity | Up to 4TB |
Interface | PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe |
Read Speed | Up to 7,300 MB/s |
Write Speed | Up to 6,900 MB/s |
NAND Flash | 3D TLC NAND |
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It is with read rates of up to 7,300 MB/s and write speeds of up to 6,000 MB/s that the Seagate Firecuda 530 enters the fray, giving performance that is competitive for both gamers and power users alike.
Featuring Seagate Scorch technology and Dynamic Thermal Throttling, it is designed to give consistent performance regardless of the circumstances, ensuring that your gaming sessions remain uninterrupted and smooth.
The Good
- Outstanding read and write speeds, especially for large files
- Massive storage capacity options up to 4TB
- Advanced 3D TLC NAND technology for durability
The Bad
- Higher price point compared to some competitors
- Requires Gen4-compatible hardware for full performance benefits
Samsung 990 Pro

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Storage Capacity | Up to 2TB |
Interface | PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe |
Read Speed | Up to 7,000 MB/s |
Write Speed | Up to 5,000 MB/s |
NAND Flash | V-NAND |
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As the most advanced NVMe solid-state drive (SSD) technology, we have the Samsung 990 Pro. Utilising mind-boggling read rates of up to 7,400 MB/s and write speeds of up to 6,800 MB/s, it pushes the limits of performance to new heights, hence achieving unprecedented levels of performance.
After being combined with Intelligent Turbo Write and Game Drive Mode, it guarantees an unrivalled gaming performance by delivering load times that are incredibly quick and gameplay that is completely seamless.
The Good
- Blistering read and write speeds with Gen4 interface
- Samsung’s renowned V-NAND technology for reliability
- Available in various capacities to suit different needs
The Bad
- Premium pricing compared to Gen3 alternatives
- May not offer significant performance gains for all users
Benefits of Using an SSD for Gaming Performance
Using a Solid State Drive (SSD) for games can make the experience much better in a number of ways, including:
- Faster Loading Times: One of the most obvious advantages of using an SSD for gaming is that it speeds up the loading process. When you put games on an SSD, they load a lot faster than on a regular Hard Disc Drive (HDD). This means you won’t have to wait as long to start game levels, maps, or switch between scenes.
- Better Game Performance: SSDs can also make games run faster generally, especially big or open-world games where assets need to be loaded on the fly as the player moves around the world. When you use an SSD, you can access and load game files faster. This makes the gameplay smoother, with less texture pop-in and stuttering or lag.
- More quickly set up games and download updates: Because an SSD reads and writes data more quickly, it makes these tasks go more quickly. Gamers will have to wait less for games to install or update, which means they can get to their favourite games faster.
- Lessened Loading Screen Judder: In online or shared games, SSDs can lessen or get rid of loading screen judder, which happens when players with slower storage devices have to wait for other players to load into the game. With an SSD, people can get into the game faster, so no one has to wait as long.
- Better Streaming of Textures: Solid-state drives (SSDs) can make game texture streaming better by letting higher-resolution textures load and show up more quickly as the player goes through the game world. This makes the graphics better and makes you feel more immersed, especially in games with detailed landscapes and high-quality textures.
- More quickly save and load game progress: An SSD makes saving and loading game progress faster, which can be especially helpful in games with a lot of save points or where quick saving and loading is a regular part of the gameplay. This makes it faster for players to save and load their progress, which lets them try out new methods or play through difficult parts of the game again.
- Better Overall System Performance: Using an SSD can improve overall system performance, which includes faster boot times, faster application starts, and smoother multitasking. This can improve the general gaming experience by making the system faster and less sluggish.
Questions and Answers
In gaming personal computers, solid-state drives (SSDs) that support the Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) standard are favoured because of the high data transfer speeds they offer over the PCIe interface. When compared to SATA solid-state drives (SSDs), they provide faster load times and faster data access.
When it comes to gaming, how much solid-state drive (SSD) storage do I require? We recommend purchasing a solid-state drive (SSD) with a storage capacity of at least 500 gigabytes because the size of game installations is taking up more storage space than ever before. It goes without saying that this is contingent on the budget, but if you go with a higher capacity, you will reduce the likelihood that you will need to upgrade in the future.