Best SSD for gaming 2024

The WD Black SN850X is the quickest SSD you should purchase, totally making use of its PCIe 4.0 interface with lightning-fast sequential learn and write speeds of seven,300MB/s and 6,600MB/s, respectively.

This degree of efficiency not solely improves recreation loading occasions, however you must discover your gaming PC boots quicker and extra rapidly handles common duties. You’ll at all times get probably the most out of the drive whereas taking part in video games, due to its Sport Mode 2.0 toggle within the included software program.

In case you’re anxious about potential thermal throttling impacting the WD Black SN850X, you possibly can choose it up with an non-compulsory heatsink for peace of thoughts. Higher nonetheless, the heatsink comes with a splash of RGB, so it could actually look cool whereas staying cool.

Learn our WD Black SN850X evaluation.

The Samsung 980 is the proper match for anybody trying to improve their getting older SATA laborious drives or SSDs with one thing a bit nippier. The South Korean tech big’s storage parts have remained among the many most fascinating out there for years, and it’s not laborious to see why.

Utilizing a PCIe 3.0 interface, the Samsung 980 delivers sequential learn and write speeds that remodel any sluggish gaming PC right into a nippy machine. The SSD could be additional enhanced via using Samsung Magician software program, making it straightforward to get probably the most out of your new drive.

Velocity above all else is the precedence of the T705, because the Essential SSD barrels forward of its competitors with energy to ship the quickest speeds we’ve seen but from PCIe 5.0 storage. Whereas it’s fast, although, it does include some caveats.

The T705 is staggeringly speedy, with learn and write efficiency of as much as 14,500MB/s (14.5GB/s) and 12,700MB/s (12.7GB/s), respectively. Whereas it could actually hit these speeds briefly bursts, extended stress can see the passive heatsink falter, bringing the Essential SSD’s sky-high ambitions crashing down in an Icarus-like trend.

These issues don’t have an effect on gaming efficiency, which is of course of a excessive commonplace. That stated, the T705 suffers from the identical downside as all different PCIe 5.0 SSDs, in that greater speeds don’t have any tangible profit in video games relative to PCIe 4.0 drives (not less than for now).

Class-leading efficiency naturally comes with a better worth too, and the T705 isn’t any exception, with its worth coming in a lot greater than slower PCIe 5.0 SSDs. You may knock off a couple of dollars by choosing a mannequin with out a heatsink, however this drive wants some type of cooling to be thought of value utilizing.

Learn our Essential T705 evaluation.

NVMe SSDs will undoubtedly change their SATA brethren, however there’s nonetheless loads of worth available in drives that use the ageing interface just like the Samsung 870 EVO. Whereas its sequential learn and write speeds could appear paltry within the face of PCIe storage, it’s nonetheless a lot quick for many video games and is undeniably quicker than any laborious drive.

In case you prioritize capability over pace, choosing the Samsung 870 EVO may very well be a sensible transfer. You may choose it up in sizes that go all the way in which as much as 4TB, which means you gained’t have to fret about rehoming your Steam library and it prices a lot lower than any M.2 SSD with the identical quantity of house.

PCIe 5.0 SSDs just like the MP700 Professional push storage speeds nicely above PCIe 4.0 however, for the second, their efficiency typically comes with added value and thermal concerns. Corsair’s MP700 Professional makes coping with these difficulties the best of any drive we’ve examined, with lively cooling instead of an unlimited passive heatsink and a worth that doesn’t break the financial institution.

That includes respective learn and write speeds of as much as 12,400MB/s (12.4GB/s) and 11,800MB/s (11.8GB/s), the MP700 Professional is likely one of the quickest SSDs you possibly can slot into your system. These specs naturally make the drive a superb alternative for gaming, however enhancements in comparison with cheaper, competing PCIe 4.0 drives are minimal, even in video games that assist DirectStorage.

For people who require a dual-purpose drive, although, notably for eventualities the place extended learn and write speeds are a precedence, the MP700 Professional emerges a minimize above all different PCIe 5.0 SSDs due to its lively heatsink. Whereas its fan curve sadly can’t be configured, the out-of-the-box efficiency ensured the temperature of Corsair’s drive peaked at simply 65°C in our testing.

Corsair additionally presents the MP700 Professional with a Hydro X Collection water block, for fanatic builders rocking a customized water-cooling loop. Whereas there may be sadly no passive heatsink accessible for the SSD, you possibly can seize it with none heatsink by any means and place your speeds on the mercy of your motherboard heatsinks if you want. Nonetheless, given how sizzling PCIe 5.0 storage will get, we strongly suggest choosing the mannequin with the lively cooler, particularly because it solely prices $10-20 additional.

Learn our Corsair MP700 Professional evaluation.

WD is right here to indicate that you would be able to (nearly) have all of it, because the Blue SN570 NVMe SSD boasts as much as 2TB of storage, a strong 900TBW endurance, and respectable learn and write speeds for one of many lowest costs in the marketplace.

Throughout testing, our reviewer discovered that the random 4K efficiency noticed learn and write speeds of 1,890MB/s and 1,723MB/sec respectively, that are quicker than the outcomes from the Samsung 980. After all, it’s not the quickest drive on the market, but it surely’s the very best you may get below $100 with out sacrificing capability, pace, or each. It’s the proper possibility for constructing a gaming PC on a funds.

Learn our WD Blue SN570 evaluation.

Even the greatest gaming laptop computer advantages from extra storage, and the SK Hynix Platinum P41 SSD is ideal for rising your on-the-go storage with out compromising on spec. That includes an in-house Aries controller, this drive is able to learn speeds as much as 7,000MB/s, which means it’ll run rings round SATA SSDs and lots of NVMe choices.

Regardless of its spectacular speeds, the Platinum P41 options an equally spectacular energy effectivity ranking, one thing that helps keep peak efficiency inside a toasty laptop computer atmosphere. Naturally, this additionally means it’ll be kinder to your moveable powerhouse’s battery, which might aid you spend much less time gaming subsequent to an influence outlet.

In case you’ve already had a peek inside Valve’s handheld, you’ll already know that a typical M.2 SSD isn’t going to suit. Fortunately, the Sabrent Rocket 2230 is precisely the appropriate measurement, so that you gained’t need to make any bizarre modifications to increase your on-the-go storage.

The Sabrent Rocket 2230 is perhaps dinky sufficient to suit contained in the Steam Deck, but it surely nonetheless packs a solid-state punch. The PCIe 4.0 drive boasts as much as 4,750MB/s learn speeds, and also you’ll have the ability to write as much as 4,300MB/s to the compact SSD. Regardless of its measurement, 1TB fashions are additionally accessible, which means you possibly can deliver an excellent larger chunk of your Steam library with you in your travels. It’s one of many greatest Steam Deck equipment listing to enhance the storage on your handheld gaming PC.