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Investing in the best NVMe SSDs is paramount for a seamless gaming experience. These high-performance storage solutions ensure that you’re not stuck waiting on loading screens whether you’re booting up Windows or immersing yourself in visually stunning games like Elden Ring or Forspoken. A dependable NVMe SSD is your ticket to swift data access, efficiently launching applications, and quickly retrieving your files. It’s not just a cost-effective upgrade for your PC; it stands out as one of the most impactful enhancements you can introduce to your system.
The WD Black SN850X is the best NVMe SSD that is currently on the market. This SSD works very well and is very reliable, which makes it a top suggestion for gamers. It’s important to note that NVMe SSDs aren’t just good for PC gamers; mobile gamers can also benefit from them. For example, users of the PlayStation 5 (PS5) can easily upgrade their storage, and the Xbox Series X uses DirectStorage technology, which reduces load times by moving graphics data straight to the GPU’s VRAM and away from the CPU.
What is an NVMe SSD?
NVMe solid-state drives use the NVMe protocol to connect directly to a computer’s PCI Express (PCIe) bus. Compared to HDDs and SATA-based SSDs, it offers quicker data transfer speeds and lower latency. Gaming, content creation, and professional workloads benefit from NVMe SSDs’ high-bandwidth PCIe capabilities. Flash memory ensures non-volatile storage.
NVMe SSDs have advantages than SATA SSDs. They allow faster read and write rates, improving system performance. NVMe SSDs feature decreased latency, reducing data retrieval and response times. NVMe SSDs also use less power and heat. NVMe SSDs speed up boot times, application loading, and data transfer. For systems that need fast data processing and minimal latency, they are the go-to storage solution.
Benefits of NVMe SSDs over traditional storage
NVMe SSDs are better than traditional storage choices like hard disc drives (HDDs) and SATA-based SSDs in a number of important ways. Here are some key advantages:
- Faster Speeds: NVMe SSDs take advantage of the high-bandwidth features of the PCIe interface. This lets them move data much faster than HDDs and SATA SSDs. They can read and write at speeds of several gigabytes per second in a straight line. This makes boot times shorter, application loading times faster, and the general responsiveness of the system better.
- Lower delay: Compared to other types of storage, NVMe SSDs have much lower delay. The NVMe protocol and direct PCIe connection cut down on the time it takes to access data, making read and write processes almost instantaneous. This makes NVMe SSDs great for jobs that need quick access to data, like gaming, real-time rendering, and applications that use a lot of data.
- Better I/O Performance: Because NVMe SSDs can handle data in parallel, they have better I/O (Input/Output) performance. They can handle a bigger number of I/O operations at once, which makes it easier to switch between tasks and run multiple programs at once. This benefit is especially useful for workers who work with big files or run software that uses a lot of resources.
Best NVMe SSDs Comparison Table
Microsoft says that DirectStorage can make games start up to 200% faster and cut CPU usage by up to 85%. At the moment, only a few games, like Forespoken, use this technology. In 2023, however, more games are expected to use it. So, buying a good NVMe SSD like the WD Black SN850X will make sure you’re ready to take full advantage of these improvements and enjoy faster load times and smoother games on multiple platforms.
| Product | Interface | Read Speed | Write Speed | Storage Capacity | NAND Flash Technology | Endurance | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WD Black SN850X | PCIe Gen4 x4 | Up to 7000MB/s | Up to 5300MB/s | Varies | 3D NAND | Varies | Varies |
| SK Hynix Platinum P41 | PCIe Gen3 x4 | Up to 3500MB/s | Up to 3200MB/s | Varies | 3D NAND | Varies | Varies |
| Samsung 990 Pro | PCIe Gen4 x4 | Up to 7000MB/s | Up to 5000MB/s | Varies | 3D NAND | Varies | Varies |
| Crucial T700 | PCIe Gen3 x4 | Up to 3470MB/s | Up to 3000MB/s | Varies | 3D NAND | Varies | Varies |
| Intel SSD 670p | PCIe Gen3 x4 | Up to 3500MB/s | Up to 2700MB/s | Varies | QLC NAND | Varies | Varies |
List of the Best NVMe SSDs
There are a number of high-quality NVMe SSDs (Non-Volatile Memory Express Solid State Drives) on the market today. These drives are among the best in the industry for speed, reliability, and overall performance. When compared to standard SATA-based SSDs, these NVMe-based drives offer increased transfer speeds and decreased latency. Some of the top NVMe SSDs are listed below.
Best Overall: WD Black SN850X #Top3
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | Varies (e.g., 500GB, 1TB, 2TB) |
| Interface | PCIe Gen4 x4 |
| Read Speed | Up to 7000 MB/s |
| Write Speed | Up to 5300 MB/s |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 |
| NAND Flash Technology | 3D NAND |
| Endurance | Varies (e.g., 300TBW, 600TBW, 1200TBW) |
| Warranty | Varies (e.g., 5 years, limited) |
| Encryption | AES 256-bit |
PCIe Gen 5 is now available on both AMD and Intel systems thanks to the Ryzen Zen 4 CPU family. But, let’s face it. Almost likely, your current computer doesn’t have a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot. So, here comes the new WD Black SN850X, which is sort of a farewell to Gen 4 SSDs. And right now, it’s the best one out there.
The Platinum P41 from SK Hynix might be a little faster, but the difference is so small that the SN850X, which costs less, is our favourite SSD right now.
Our review model is covered from head to toe in WD’s signature armor-style cooling, but it didn’t need to be. Even its predecessor, the WD Black SN850, runs a lot cooler than this SSD.
The Good
- High-performance PCIe Gen4 interface
- Impressive read and write speeds
- Multiple storage capacity options available
- Advanced power management features
The Bad
- Relatively higher price compared to some other SSDs
- Limited compatibility with older systems lacking PCIe Gen4 support
SK Hynix Platinum P41 #Top3
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | Varies (e.g., 500GB, 1TB, 2TB) |
| Interface | PCIe Gen3 x4 |
| Read Speed | Up to 3500 MB/s |
| Write Speed | Up to 3200 MB/s |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 |
| NAND Flash Technology | 3D NAND |
| Endurance | Varies (e.g., 300TBW, 600TBW, 1200TBW) |
| Warranty | Varies (e.g., 5 years, limited) |
| Encryption | AES 256-bit |
Put it aside in favour of the brand-new SK Hynix Platinum P41 2TB. If it doesn’t exactly flow off the tongue, it doesn’t help since SK Hynix isn’t the most well-known name when it comes to the kind of consumer-focused hardware that is geared towards gamers. This includes solid-state drives (SSDs). Although SK Hynix is not new to the market for M.2 drives, the new P41 is likely the company’s first attempt at a really high-end model for this form factor.
The old SK Hynix Gold P31 was a bit of a cumbersome old thing, being restricted to the PCIe 3.0 interface and having a controller chip with just four memory channels. Because of these limitations, the device was a bit of a clumsy old thing. What’s up with the new Platinum P41? It is complete in every way.
The Good
- Good performance with PCIe Gen3 interface
- Various storage capacity options
- Reliable endurance ratings
- AES 256-bit encryption for enhanced security
The Bad
- Read and write speeds are lower compared to PCIe Gen4 SSDs
- May not match the top-tier performance of some competitors
Samsung 990 Pro #Top3
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | Varies (e.g., 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB) |
| Interface | PCIe Gen4 x4 |
| Read Speed | Up to 7000 MB/s |
| Write Speed | Up to 5000 MB/s |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 |
| NAND Flash Technology | 3D NAND |
| Endurance | Varies (e.g., 300TBW, 600TBW, 1200TBW) |
| Warranty | Varies (e.g., 5 years, limited) |
| Encryption | AES 256-bit |
With this great update to the 980 Pro, Samsung hit back at its rivals. Samsung is back on top of the M.2 SSD market thanks to new hardware and choices, such as a heatsink with RGB lighting and a 4TB version. Overall performance is great, and a few new performance records have been set, such as for 4K random read performance. During our tests, the drive was reliable, used little power, and stayed cool.
Samsung has also updated the software for this drive, making it the best SSD toolbox available. The drive comes with a good warranty and good support. $20 more for a heatsink and RGB is a good deal, and prices are at or near all-time lows for all sellers right now. This drive is expected to go on sale soon from Samsung. On the market, there are also alternative PCIe 5.0 drives that work faster, but they still cost more.
The Good
- Excellent performance with PCIe Gen4 interface
- High read and write speeds for quick data transfers
- Available in various storage capacities
- Reliable endurance ratings
The Bad
- Relatively higher price compared to some other SSD options
- May require a motherboard with PCIe Gen4 support for optimal performance
Best NVMe SSDs: Must Try Products
NVMe SSDs (Non-Volatile Memory Express Solid State Drives) include a few must-try items for performance, reliability, and affordability. These SSDs are durable, quick, and responsive. Recommended NVMe SSDs:
Crucial T700
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | Varies (e.g., 500GB, 1TB, 2TB) |
| Interface | PCIe Gen3 x4 |
| Read Speed | Up to 3470 MB/s |
| Write Speed | Up to 3000 MB/s |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 |
| NAND Flash Technology | 3D NAND |
| Endurance | Varies (e.g., 300TBW, 600TBW, 1200TBW) |
| Warranty | Varies (e.g., 5 years, limited) |
| Encryption | AES 256-bit |
The T700 from Crucial is the world’s fastest SSD. It beats all other SSDs in every performance area. The drive’s PCIe 5.0 x4 connection, which allows for up to twice the throughput of PCIe 4.0 SSDs, and the Phison E26 SSD driver, which is paired with Micron’s cutting-edge 232-Layer 3D TLC flash, make this speed possible. This powerful combination makes an SSD that loads PC games faster than anything else on the market.
Yes, faster drives will be on the market by the end of the year, but for now, the T700 is the fastest drive on the market, with a speed of 12.4 / 11.8 GB/s and up to 1.5 million random read/write IOPS, which no other SSD on the market can beat. The Crucial T700 can also take a hit. When working hard for a long time, the T700 doesn’t lose as much power as other drives do. This makes it a good choice for even the most demanding tasks, like workstation-class video editing.
The Good
- Solid performance with PCIe Gen3 interface
- Multiple storage capacity options
- Good endurance ratings
- AES 256-bit encryption for data security
The Bad
- Read and write speeds are lower compared to PCIe Gen4 SSDs
- May not offer top-tier performance for demanding workloads
Intel SSD 670p
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | Varies (e.g., 512GB, 1TB, 2TB) |
| Interface | PCIe Gen3 x4 |
| Read Speed | Up to 3500 MB/s |
| Write Speed | Up to 2700 MB/s |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 |
| NAND Flash Technology | QLC NAND |
| Endurance | Varies (e.g., 185TBW, 370TBW, 740TBW) |
| Warranty | Varies (e.g., 5 years, limited) |
| Encryption | AES 256-bit |
That’s the Intel SSD 670p. The 670p, which starts at $89.99 for 512GB and was tested at $329.99 for 2TB, is tuned to be faster than other SSDs at things like starting up operating systems and launching key programs. It works the same way we do with our SSDs. It improves performance in everyday situations while keeping up with PCIe 3.0’s maximum sequential speed.]
The Intel SSD 670p is a four-lane PCI Express 3.0 drive, but after seeing our tests, you might not remember that. It’s an M.2 Type-2280 design (80mm long) that uses the NVMe protocol on the PCI Express (PCIe) 3.0 bus and a new Silicon Motion SM2265 driver. It is based on 144-layer triple-level-cell (TLC) NAND flash and comes in 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB storage sizes. Check out our SSD dejargonizer if you need help making sense of all those acronyms.
The Good
- Good performance with PCIe Gen3 interface
- Available in various storage capacities
- Energy-efficient with power management features
- AES 256-bit encryption ensures data security
- Decent endurance ratings for everyday use
The Bad
- Read and write speeds are lower compared to high-end NVMe SSDs
- Uses QLC NAND, which may affect sustained performance under heavy workloads
Tips for installing and optimizing NVMe SSDs
Here are some tips for setting and optimizing an NVMe SSD to make sure the process goes smoothly and to get the most out of its performance:
- Check motherboard compatibility: Before you buy an NVMe SSD, make sure that your hardware supports NVMe technology and has an M.2 slot or PCIe expansion slot available for installation. Check the motherboard’s specs or the manufacturer’s website to find out if the computer will work with it.
- Install the latest firmware: Before you install the NVMe SSD, check the website of the maker to see if there are any firmware updates for the drive. By installing the most up-to-date firmware, compatibility, stability, and speed can all be improved.
- Ensure proper physical installation: Make sure the NVMe SSD is installed properly by carefully following the manufacturer’s directions. Make sure that the card, whether it’s an M.2 or PCIe card, is properly installed and locked in the right slot. If heatsinks or thermal pads are included, use them to help get rid of the heat.
Questions and Answers
Answer: NVMe SSDs use a system called NVMe and an interface called PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express), while SATA SSDs use an interface called SATA. NVMe SSDs move data faster and have less latency, which makes them perfect for high-performance apps.
Answer: An NVMe SSD needs a processor with an NVMe-compatible M.2 or PCIe slot. Before buying an NVMe SSD, you should check your computer’s specs to make sure it’s compatible.
Yes, you can use an NVMe SSD as a start drive. But your motherboard and BIOS must be able to start from NVMe for this to work.