If you're looking for the ultimate in storage performance and speed, the best SSDs on the market will ensure you never experience any lag or shortage of space. Among these, NVMe SSDs stand out as top performers, offering unparalleled speed and reliability. These drives are the pinnacle of SSD technology, and thus, our primary focus is on highlighting the best NVMe options available.
However, our recommendations aren't limited to just NVMe SSDs. We've meticulously selected five exceptional Solid State Drives across various categories, ensuring there's something for every need and budget. By evaluating factors such as price, storage capacity, and user reviews, we've curated a list of SSDs that promise to elevate your PC's performance. Let's explore our top picks and find the perfect SSD upgrade for you.
Best SSDs
- Samsung 990 Pro - a well-rounded option for most PCs
- Kingston KC3000 - top pick if you're all about speed
- WD Black SN850 - the best choice for gaming
- Corsair Force Series MP510 - a great budget option to consider
- WD Black AN1500 - best PCle SSD around
1. Samsung 990 Pro
Best SSD overall
Where to buy *
* prices are accurate at the time of last update
Samsung's 990 Pro SSD is a significant upgrade from the 980 Pro, offering a performance improvement of up to 65%, resulting in faster game-loading speeds on both PS5 and PC. Boasting Gen 4.0 PCIe performance, this SSD achieves sequential read/write speeds of up to 7,450 MB/s, approaching the maximum potential of Gen 4.0 drives.
The 990 Pro is also more power-efficient than its predecessor, delivering a 50% improvement in performance per watt. Samsung Magician Software provides advanced optimization tools too, allowing users to monitor drive health, safeguard data, and receive essential updates.
Additionally, this SSD features a smart thermal management system, ensuring it stays cool and maintains consistent performance without overheating. All this considered, the Samsung 990 Pro is an excellent choice for those seeking top-tier Gen 4.0 performance.
Reasons to buy:
- Boasts Gen 4.0 PCle speed
- The accompanying software makes monitoring its performance easy
Read More: Best SSD deals
2. Kingston KC3000
Best SSD for speed
Where to buy *
* prices are accurate at the time of last update
If you're on the hunt for the fastest SSD around, the Kingston KC3000 is certainly up there with the best when it comes to providing high-performance capabilities.
It's a PCle 4.0 NVMe SSD that offers lighting-fast write/read speeds of up to 7GBps, as well as up to one million IOPS - also known as input/output operations per second. In other words, this drive will be able to access your files almost instantaneously, so you don't have to wait around for games or other software to load.
To provide these kinds of speeds and bring you high-end performance and endurance, it's powered by the Phison PS5018-E18 and comes with Micron's 176-layer flash. Due to its compact M.2 2280 form factor as well, it's compatible with both laptop and desktop devices and, given its performance stats, we'd recommend using it for gaming purposes, as it should quickly boot and load even the most demanding games out there.
If it's a lighting-quick SSD you're after for high-end performance, this will definitely do the trick.
Reasons to buy:
- Lighting-fast write/read speeds
- It features a compact M.2 2280 form factor
Read more: Best PCIe SSDs
3. WD Black SN850
Best SSD for gaming
Where to buy *
* prices are accurate at the time of last update
The WD Black SN850 is an officially licensed M.2 4.0 NVMe PS5 drive, so if you're looking for an SSD specifically for your gaming console, this might be the right option for you.
It has a heatsink design, which allows it to easily slide into your PS5's M.2 expansion slot and, when you buy the 2TB capacity drive, you can store up to 50 games on it if you were to presume that the file size for each game was 36GB.
The PCle Gen 4 technology will allow this SSD to reach speeds of up to 7,000MB/s, which is near the top end of the scale in terms of how quick the latest SSDs can be. You certainly won't have to worry about files or games taking too long to load, as they will open almost instantaneously - depending on how big they are, of course.
All in all, this SSD should give a big performance boost when it comes to loading games on your PS5.
Reasons to buy:
- It's compatible with the PS5
- It's very fast, so loading up games won't take long
Read more: Best SSDs for gaming
4. Corsair Force Series MP510
Best budget SSD
Where to buy *
- Amazon - $161.76 (960GB) / £59.99 (480GB)
* prices are accurate at the time of last update
Available to buy in four different capacities up to 4TB, this budget pick certainly doesn't hold back despite its price tag, and it still offers Gen 3.0 NVMe performance as well.
Being a Gen 3 SSD instead of Gen 4 is ultimately what drives the price down on Corsair's MP510. But, at the end of the day, it still provides you with far faster loading speeds than any HDD would, and it also features a PCle interface, offering better performance than the older SATA interface.
It also has the newer M.2 2280 form factor, so is compatible with desktop devices and will fit directly into your PC's motherboard. Moreover, the high-density 3D TLC NAND gives you the ideal combination of performance and endurance, meaning it's built to last for years without its performance faltering.
It's a great drive, all things considered, and is one that is fast enough while also being good value for money.
Reasons to buy:
- It's available in multiple storage options
- It's pretty cheap compared to other SSDs
Read More: Best DDR5 RAM
5. WD Black AN1500
Best PCle SSD
Where to buy *
- Amazon - $231.79 / £86.96 (1TB)
* prices are accurate at the time of last update
The WD AN1500 is a clever solution for those seeking NVMe performance without an M.2 slot. Utilizing the older PCI form factor, this NVMe SSD delivers impressive PCIe 3.0 x4 performance, with read/write speeds of up to 6,500MB/s, nearly matching the speed of the latest Gen 4.0 drives.
Offering capacities up to 4TB, the AN1500 provides ample storage for files and large game libraries too. This makes it an ideal choice for gamers and professionals who need significant storage space and high-speed performance.
A fun feature of the AN1500 is its fully customizable RGB lighting, perfect for creating an atmospheric gaming setup. This SSD can complement the aesthetics of a top-tier gaming keyboard or one of the best gaming mice, enhancing the overall gaming experience in a dark room. If your motherboard lacks an M.2 slot, the WD AN1500 is an excellent alternative to consider.
Reasons to buy:
- It comes with a ton of storage space
- It delivers PCle performance with impressive read/write speeds
Read More: Best cheap external multiple hard drive enclosures
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
SSDs can be quite a confusing topic, so we've answered some of the most frequently asked questions on the web below so you can learn a bit more about them.
What is the difference between an SSD and a hard drive?
Both an SSD and an HDD (hard drive) have the same function: they store files and data, essentially acting as your device's long-term memory. However, the key difference here is that SSDs are a newer technology and provide a speed and performance that is so fast it can't really be compared to a traditional HDD.
In technical terms, SSDs use memory chips to store and access data, whereas HDDs use mechanical spinning disks and a moving read-and-write head. Essentially, the memory chips used by SSDs are instantly accessible, providing your device with the data it requires much faster.
So, if you're looking for faster loading speeds and something that can handle more demanding files, like large games or complex operating systems, an SSD is without a doubt the way forward.
Is SSD recommended for gaming?
Yes, SSDs are recommended for gaming because they're probably the best option around when it comes to minimizing loading times and launching games faster. This is particularly important nowadays since games have become increasingly more demanding in terms of file size and bandwidth.
For gaming, we would recommend that the SSD you get is at least a Gen 3.0 drive, which can deliver rates of up to 3,500 MB/s. However, if you're looking for the fastest experience possible, you can't get any better than an NVMe Gen 4.0 drive, so it's worth investing in if your budget allows it.
In fact, some of the newest Gen 4.0 drives around at the minute can even exceed 7,000 MB/s, offering super-fast reading and writing speeds. That's something to keep in mind when it comes to upgrading and investing in one.
What types of SSDs are available?
The most commonly used SSDs today include:
- SATA SSDs: These SSDs connect to the system via SATA cables and are commonly used in laptops and desktop computers.
- NVMe SSDs: Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) SSDs connect directly to the motherboard via PCIe slots, offering faster data transfer speeds compared to SATA SSDs.
- M.2 SSDs: These SSDs use the M.2 form factor and can connect via SATA or PCIe interfaces.
- PCIe SSDs: These SSDs connect directly to the motherboard via PCIe slots and offer high-speed data transfer rates suitable for demanding applications such as gaming and content creation.
Are SSDs reliable?
Generally speaking, SSDs are considered to be highly reliable storage devices due to their lack of moving parts, which reduces the risk of mechanical failure common in traditional HDDs. The absence of spinning disks and read/write heads in SSDs means they are less susceptible to physical damage from drops or shocks, making them a more robust choice for laptops and other portable devices. Additionally, SSDs tend to operate silently and generate less heat, contributing to a longer lifespan and greater overall reliability in various operating environments.
However, SSDs do have a finite number of write cycles, which means they can wear out over time with extensive use. This is measured in Terabytes Written (TBW), which indicates how much data can be written to the drive before it starts to degrade. Despite this limitation, modern SSDs have advanced significantly in terms of endurance and longevity.
For most users, the write limits are rarely reached within the typical lifespan of the device. Moreover, features like wear leveling, error correction, and TRIM support further enhance the reliability of SSDs by managing data writes efficiently and maintaining performance over time. Regular firmware updates and monitoring tools also help ensure the long-term health and reliability of SSDs.
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