When it comes to gaming, the right SSD can make all the difference, enhancing your experience by reducing load times and allowing you to install more of your favorite titles simultaneously. The latest SSDs have made incredible strides in both capacity and speed, providing a significant boost to gaming performance. With speeds reaching 2,000 MB/s or more these days, these drives not only cut down installation times but also help games run more smoothly, eliminating those frustrating loading screens.
To help you find the perfect upgrade, we've compiled a list of the best SSDs for gaming. We've considered everything from raw speed and capacity to physical size, price, and additional features like built-in heatsinks to keep your system cool. Let's dive into the list and find the SSD that will take your gaming setup to the next level.
Best gaming SSDs - Quick list
- Samsung 990 Pro Heatsink - best SSD for gaming overall
- WD Black SN770 - best alternative to the Samsung 990 Pro
- Crucial P5 - a top-tier budget SSD
- Sabrent Rocket 2230 - an excellent choice to expand the Steam Deck's storage
- Adata SE800 - the best external SSD for gaming
Samsung 990 Pro Heatsink
Best SSD for gaming overall
* prices are accurate as of the latest update, but may change over time
Why we chose the Samsung 990 Pro Heatsink
The Samsung 9900 Pro with a heatsink is an exceptional choice for gamers seeking top-tier SSD performance. With lightning-fast speeds of up to 7,450MB/s, this SSD delivers some of the quickest load times around, all while being surprisingly affordable. Additionally, its heatsink ensures stable performance by effectively managing temperature fluctuations, providing a consistent and reliable gaming experience.
Available in capacities of up to 2TB, the 9900 Pro offers ample storage space for all your games and more. Plus, it's compatible with the PlayStation 5, making it a versatile option if you want to use it across different devices. Ultimately, it is hard to deny this SSD is one of the top picks for anyone looking to elevate their gaming setup.
TL;DR - Reasons to buy
- Blazing Fast Speeds: Delivers up to 7,450MB/s, offering ultra-quick load times.
- Enhanced Performance Stability: Includes a heatsink for optimal temperature management, ensuring consistent gaming performance.
- Versatile Compatibility: Available up to 2TB and compatible with PlayStation 5, perfect for multi-device use.
Read More: Best SSD deals
Western Digital Black SN770
Best alternative SSD for gaming
* prices are accurate as of the latest update, but may change over time
Why we chose the Western Digital Black SN770
If you don't like Samsung for some reason, then we've got an alternative to the 990 Pro for you in the form of the WD_BLACK SN770 - a mighty device that boasts very similar specs.
This SSD has a big old 2TB capacity, which is more than enough for a huge slew of modern games, including the likes of Call of Duty. It also boasts speeds up to 5,150MB/s. This means that you can pump it full of your favorite games and access them almost an instant.
If you've got this SSD in your PC, you'll be able to enjoy almost non-existent loading times, a nice boost in general smoothness in your games, and a big boost in how many games you can have installed at once, which is really the dream for a lot of us.
TL;DR - Reasons to buy
- Large Storage Capacity: Offers 2TB of space, ideal for storing a large collection of modern games.
- Fast Performance: Delivers speeds up to 5,150MB/s for quick loading times and smoother gameplay.
- Improved Gaming Experience: Enhances overall game performance with minimal load times and room for more installed games.
Read More: Best PCIe SSDs
Crucial P5
Best budget SSD for gaming
* prices are accurate as of the latest update, but may change over time
Why we chose the Crucial P5
You don't actually have to spend a huge amount of money to get a good amount of storage, and the Crucial P5 proves it in spades.
With speeds of up to 3,400MB/s and a 1TB capacity, this thing can handle a large volume of games comfortably, and deliver a smooth gaming experience when using it. It's not the most powerful on the market, but it costs substantially less, and that's exactly why it makes our list.
Adding to that though, it optimizes performance and durability with dynamic write acceleration, error correction, and adaptive thermal protection, adding another reason to the long list of reasons why this is a great budget SSD.
TL;DR - Reasons to buy
- Affordable Storage: Offers 1TB of capacity at a lower price, providing excellent value for gamers.
- Decent Speeds: Delivers up to 3,400MB/s, ensuring smooth gaming performance despite being more budget-friendly.
- Enhanced Durability: Features dynamic write acceleration, error correction, and adaptive thermal protection for optimized performance and longevity.
Read More: Best NVMe SSDs
Sabrent Rocket 2230
Best SSD for Steam Deck gaming
* prices are accurate as of the latest update, but may change over time
Why we chose the Sabrent Rocket 2230
The wave of handheld gaming PCs we've had in the last handful of years, mostly fronted by the Steam Deck and ASUS Rog Ally, is truly wonderful. However, it comes with a new storage issue. Thankfully, with any gaming issue, there's always a fix worth investing in, and the Sabrent Rocket 2230 is just that fix.
This SSD is built to be incredibly small, which means that it can easily be installed into the likes of both of these handheld gaming PCs, but also any mini PC builds you might have in mind.
Furthermore, it's got a good capacity, and fairly impressive speeds up to 5,000MB/s as well. It's also surprisingly power efficient, which is a big win when the Steam Deck et al. already eat through their battery power quickly.
TL;DR - Reasons to buy
- Compact Design: Built for easy installation in handheld gaming PCs like the Steam Deck and ASUS Rog Ally, as well as mini PC builds.
- Solid Performance: Offers speeds up to 5,000MB/s, delivering fast load times and smooth gaming experiences.
- Power Efficient: Designed to use less power, making it ideal for devices with limited battery life.
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Adata SE880
Best external SSD for gaming
* prices are accurate as of the latest update, but may change over time
Why we chose the Adata SE880
Some people just don't want to mess around with the internals of their consoles or PC. We respect that a lot because it can be kind of uncomfortable to try and do if you're new to the whole thing. That's where a good external SSD comes in, like the ADATA SE880.
This SSD has speeds of up to 2,000 MB/s, which isn't the best on this list, but is still an impressive speed given that it's all going through USB ports instead of through all of the components themselves. That's still fast enough that you'll be enjoying good speeds though, and that's the main thing when gaming.
Along with that, the capacity can go up to 4TB, which is great if you've got a larger budget and need the extra storage. And it's incredibly small, making the most of the external and portable factors of an SSD. This is a great choice for those who don't want to open up their gaming rig, Xbox, or PlayStation 5 and tinker with its pre-existing storage.
TL;DR - Reasons to buy
- User-Friendly External SSD: Ideal for those who prefer not to modify their console or PC, connecting easily via USB.
- Decent Performance: Offers speeds up to 2,000MB/s, providing solid gaming performance despite not being the fastest.
- Ample Storage: Available in capacities up to 4TB, and compact in size, making it a portable and convenient option for external storage needs.
Read More: Best gaming laptop deals
That's it! We hope you found the perfect SSD for your gaming needs with our guide. Stay tuned for more like this right here at Stealth Optional.