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Solid-state storage is one of the most affordable ways to upgrade a computer or console. Your desktop or laptop will feel faster because the software and the operating system will start up faster with faster flash drives. The best thing is that modern Best SSDs are fast and have a lot of space, so you don’t have to choose between the two.
This guide will help you determine how to buy a modern flash drive, whether you want to increase the storage space on your SSD or replace an old hard drive. Find the best SSDs, or solid-state drives, for your system and needs if you want the best laptop or PC for gaming or even just a fast machine for work.
Every year, we test dozens of SSDs to find the best ones for work and gaming. Here, we highlight the best ones. We now have a category for the best SSD for NAS to help you choose the best drive for your needs in bulk storage. The price of the best SSDs for gaming keeps going down.
Best SSDs
WD Black SN850X
WD turned the volume up to 11 on their popular Black SN850 best SSDs. In order to get the most out of PCIe 4.0, the Black SN850X uses a newer controller and flash. Overall performance has gone up, and the drive is now similar to the Platinum P41 in many ways. Unlike the Platinum P41, it lets you choose a heatsink with RGB at 1TB and 2TB.
But the Black SN850X’s MSRP when it came out was a bit high. In our tests, the much-praised Game Mode 2.0 felt like it was missing something, but WD says this will change with future firmware updates. We like the idea of a hard drive made just for the PlayStation 5 and one that is very fast for PC gaming, especially since DirectStorage is coming soon.
SK Hynix Platinum P41
SK Hynix’s HYPERWRITE cache technology makes it possible to read at up to 7,000 MB/s and write at up to 6,500 MB/s. Pioneering power efficiency gives you the next generation of power efficiency that keeps your system running better than ever. Premium SSD-powered devices are more stable and reliable and come with a 5-year warranty.
Backwards compatible with PCIe 3.0 systems, but the maximum read and write speeds are capped at 3,500 MB/s and 3,200 MB/s, respectively. Depending on the hardware and how the machine is set up, its performance may be different.
Samsung 870 EVO
If you want to add storage with a standard 2.5-inch SATA drive instead of a tiny M.2 “gumstick,” the best choice is the Samsung 870 EVO. It’s the fastest SATA SSD we’ve tested, comes in sizes up to 4TB, and costs a lot less than other fast best SSDs considering how fast it is.
But you could also choose the SK Hynix Gold S31. In tests, it does a little worse than the 870 EVO, and its 1TB version ($98) costs $12 less than the 870 EVO. But the 870 EVO comes in different sizes, from 250GB for $60 to a huge 4TB for $450, while the SK drive only comes in 1TB. The 1TB model from Samsung costs $110.
Silicon Power US70
With SSD technology, you don’t have to work with the best SSDs biggest companies or pay the most to get fast read and write speeds. Due to its more modest performance goals of 5,000 MB/s read and 4,400 MB/s write, the Silicon Power US70 will be one of the more affordable Gen 4.0 NVMe drives.
With a score of 16,591.33 on AnvilPro, the Silicon Power US70 is in the same league as some of the best Gen 4.0 SSDs that are more affordable. The US70’s thermal performance was especially good. When it was put on a bench and put through long file transfers, it only got as hot as 40 to 44 degrees.
Seagate FireCuda 530
If you use a heatsink, the FireCuda 530 is one of the best SSDs. It has great speed, a very long life, and good thermal management, which are all things an SSD should have. Even better, there is a unique guarantee that includes three years of data recovery if the disc breaks, which is something that is usually only offered with enterprise-class hardware.
PC and gaming console owners who want the best PCIe 4.0 drive should consider this one. You might not be able to afford one, especially if it can hold 4TB. The FireCuda 530 SSD changes the way we think about speed. Its performance is exciting, with speeds of up to 7300MB/s and full use of PCIe Gen4.
Crucial MX500
Crucial’s MX500 has been a mainstay in this market for years, and that kind of loyalty doesn’t happen by accident. The Crucial MX500 SSD is an upgrade drive that combines quality, speed, security, and helpful service and support. This is a good choice if you want reliable speed at a fair price. Even though it’s not a brand-new chicken, it’s still a great deal.
Your computer will start up in seconds, you can store up to 2TB of data on it, and you can upgrade with a reliable best SSDs. Join the growing number of people who save their family movies, vacation photos, music, and important documents on an SSD to take advantage of its speed and durability.
Intel Optane SSD 905P 480GB
If you want speed, the best SSDs from Intel are the ones with Optane. This model with about 500GB of space and an NVMe PCI 3.0 x4 connection is the best the company offers. This drive is a great upgrade for a business laptop or computer you use for a lot of work projects, including major design and development work, because it is made to get rid of heat quickly and is made for workstations.
But if you decide to swap it out for a powerful SSD, we won’t tell anyone. It can handle up to 10 DWPD with sequential read speeds of up to 2.6GBps and write speeds of up to 2.2GBps. At first glance, the high price of the Intel Optane SSD 905P may be a turnoff. But that price tag is a good indicator for serious computer builders who want the best parts to beat their peers.
Final Words
Since games are getting bigger, we often recommend a 1TB or 2TB NVMe device over anything smaller. As best SSDs keep getting bigger and needing more bandwidth, the best SSDs are the best way to cut down on loading times and start up times. On a Gen 4.0 SSD, modern games with bigger game worlds and HD graphics can be loaded in a flash.