This upgraded PCIe Gen 5 SSD is designed to eliminate storage concerns without the performance compromises associated with SATA drives. The M.2 NVMe form factor delivers sequential read and write speeds in the 14GB/s range, alongside random performance of up to 2.2 million IOPS.

Naturally, that level of performance comes at a premium. The question is whether the cost justifies the gains. To find out, I tested the Fury Renegade G5 8TB against a range of competing NVMe SSDs to see how it really stacks up.

Specs and design

The newest 8TB addition achieves double the capacity of its predecessor by utilizing a double-sided design, with both the front and back of the chip used. This is a great way to add extra capacity without compromising the size or weight too much, with thermals also remaining relatively unscathed.

Utilizing that second side means the drive is now 3.65mm thick, and an increase of 1.35mm or 58.7% compared to the 2.3mm that the other capacities take up. This is something you should consider when it comes to installation in your PC - when I was installing it on a motherboard with a heatsink and thermal pads on both sides, it did take a bit of pushing to ensure it was properly in place.

Given the Gen 5 connector lets these drives reach incredible speeds, you do definitely need to keep the thermals in check, so it's a good idea to have strong thermal protection in the form of heatsinks and thermal pads. After testing these SSDs and uninstalling them quite soon after, I can tell you that they do in fact get very hot, even in the top-end mobos. Still, as long as the operating temp stays below 70°C, it will keep up the performance.

Along with the greater capacity and thickness, the 8TB model increases the endurance of the drive to 8PB, following the trend of increasing endurance for each capacity. As for the speed, it matches the 4TB sequential speeds with up to 14.8 and 14GB/s read and writes, respectively. Whereas the random speeds match the rest of the lineup, apart from the 1TB, which is slower, with up to 2.2 million IOPS read and writes.

Price

Now, the biggest sticking point of the G5 8TB is, of course, the price. Being the latest PCIe Gen 5, it already has a premium price tag due to using the newest consumer tech; 8TB of capacity, plus fast read and write speeds, only adds to this. At the time of writing, the drive has been listed on Amazon US but has no price attached to it. In the US, there is a wild listing on CDW that places it at $1,035.99 at a discount from $1,533. Whilst in the UK it can be found at Amazon for £936, Scan for £887.99, or Overclockers for £1,049.99.

That being said, you do save some money on a dollar per Terabyte basis by going for this bigger capacity option, with the 1TB model going for $195.99, the 2TB model going for $401.31, and the 4TB for $624.63 on Amazon at the time of writing.

Tests

In our testing lab, we put the SSD through a range of tests to see how it performs in various scenarios. Along with pitting it against various other drives, including the WD_BLACK SN850X and Corsair MP600 Pro XT on PCIe Gen 4, and the WD_BLACK SN8100 on Gen 5. These were tested on the same bench, which was made up of the following hardware.

CrystalDiskMark

Firstly, I put the Fury Renegade through CrystalDiskMark in NVMe mode. Testing both the default and real-world performance modes as a comparison to see how they vary. Running five tests in 1GiB sizes, you can find the results of the four drives in the graphs below.

Starting with the default profile, this gives us the full sequential and random speeds the NVMe's can reach. The first tests the queue of 8 and 32, where the drive surpasses 14,700 MB/s reads and 14,100 MB/s writes. The random queue of 32 and 1 instead drops to 4,300 MB/s and just 95MB/s. The G5 is comparable to the SN8100 in the sequentials, with both being Gen 5.

A similar situation is found in the real-world performance scenario, which tests the sequential speed, but with a queue of just one, and the random IOPS and the time it takes. In these, the G5 gets a sequential 1MB read speed of over 8,700MB/s (the SN8100 gets over 9,100) and the sequential 128KB quickly drops, with three of the 4 below 100MB/s. The random IOPS hit over 23,000, and the access time of around 43 microseconds.

On the write side of things, the G5 gets quite a bit quicker with over 10,600 MB/s SEQ1M, 305MB/s SEQ128K, the RND4K reaches 74,500 IOPS, and the RND4K just over 13 microseconds. The drive holds up well against the other PCIe Gen 5 drives and better than the Gen 4, as you might expect, although they do get a lot closer in real-world performance.

3DMark

Finally, I put the drive through the two storage tests from 3DMark. The first is the general storage benchmark, while the second is the DirectStorage feature test.

In the 3DMark storage test, the Renegade G5 totals 4,648 compared to the 4,120 of the SN8100 and 3,356 of the SN850X, leading the pack as the best of the lot in this scenario. The drive averages a bandwidth of over 780MB/s and an average access time of 38μs. All this means it's the quickest drive to actually boot into the games.

The DirectStorage test showed even quicker loading times, G5, with it improving bandwidth by over 220% - increasing from 9.14GB/s up to 29.58GB, bringing it up to par with the SN8100.

Conclusion

The Kingston Fury Renegade G5 8TB expands very nicely on what the previous iterations of the drive already excelled at. With enormous capacity and even higher top speeds, it is a one-stop solution for never having to worry about your storage ever again, and getting excellent performance.

The sequential speeds of the drive have rocketed up, maxing out its potential in this area, though we would have liked to have seen better random speed performance, which just about matches many other NVMes. With the high price, this drive can be an expensive investment, but for those looking for premium performance, its very much worth considering.

As an offering for high-speed storage, the SN8100 does well to accommodate the temperature it generates, as I found in testing this drive, while still achieving high-end speeds. However, that random performance does, at times, suffer and vary quite a lot.

Discover how it performs and what this drive is capable of in our full review, as well as whether it is a worthwhile SSD for gaming.

Specs and design

SanDisk's WD_Black SN8100 comes in four capacities. Like most NVMe SSDs, it offers options for 1, 2, and 4 terabytes. Providing a range of capacities and price points, they vary slightly in promised performance, so you may want to consider this.

For its controller, the SN8100 utilizes the Silicon Motion SM2508, which is branded under SanDisk's name. The same is observed on the TLC NAND Flash it uses for storage, which consists of two chips that contribute to the 2TB of capacity. Additionally, the cache features a 2GB DDR4 memory chip on board.

Combined, these provide the fast speeds the drive is rated for. The controller provides PCIe Gen 5 interface speeds, with the cache capable of preventing storage overload and organizing incoming data. With the TLC NAND flash, a rapid solution.

This design is all on just one side of the drive. Partially hidden under a sticker, the underside is left blank apart from all the electronics' warnings and recycling information. That should make it easier to cool and maintain its performance, as its vital components will be kept under a heatsink, provided your motherboard comes with one and you don't opt for the heatsink model instead.

The M.2 drive is a 2280 size option, measuring 80 x 22 x 2.38mm in dimensions. A standard offering for most computers, laptops, and some consoles, but not the best choice for handhelds like the Steam Deck, which run on a smaller 2230 drive. Instead, this one offers incredible speed for the ports that support it.

For those that do, you can expect sequential read speeds of up to 14,900 MB/s and write speeds of up to 14,000 MB/s. When that becomes random, however, the performance drops to 2.3 million IOPS for reads and 2.4 million for writes. SanDisk claims these will last for 1,200 terabytes of writing data, with the mean time to failure taking 1,700,00 hours.

The drive's power consumption is rated between 6.5 and 7W during this period, with a 5-year warranty. That means it should last you quite some time yet. During which it uses TCG Opal 2.02 security to keep its contents secure.

Software

On the software side, SanDisk offers a dashboard that allows you to control the device. Whether it's checking the firmware is up to date, ensuring drivers are installed for it, or monitoring performance and lifespan, the app is a simple and easy-to-use tool. With the health, performance, and temps right there, you can ensure it's performing as well as it can be.

In the tools section, there are also optimizations you can utilize, including TRIM capability and enabling write cache, both of which aim to improve performance and free up storage space.

SanDisk also offers Acronis True Image as a storage management solution for this NVMe. You can use it to back up the operating systems, files, settings, recover files, or even clone your drives. It's a handy management software you can get alongside the drive.

Price

At the time of this review, the SanDisk WD_BLACK SN8100 is available at various retailers and in multiple countries, with prices varying depending on the storage capacity. For the 2TB model I've been reviewing, it's the middle-of-the-pack choice and can be found for $279.99/£229.99.

While the 1TB model is available for $179.99/£149.99, the 4TB capacity costs $499.99/£419.99. That is slightly cheaper than the previous PCIe Gen 5 driver I reviewed, the Kingston Fury Renegade Gen 5. As that is priced at $50/£70 more than the SN8100, making the PCIe Gen 5 NVMe drive slightly more affordable. While that is still above the usual pricing of PCIe Gen 4 drives, it is making the faster drives a bit more affordable.

Tests

I then put the NVMe to the test in the PC Guide testing lab. Loading it up on a motherboard with a PCIe Gen 5 NVMe slot and a heatsink that screws onto the storage, moving the heat away. With fans pointed at it as well, it should replicate the kind of environment it would see in a gaming PC. I also compared the results with those of other drives.

The test bench consists of the following components:

CrystalDiskMark

The first test I put it through was CrystalDiskMark. Using the NVMe mode and checking both the default profile and real-world performance with one-gigabyte loads, it provides a look at both the pure and more realistic performance capabilities of the drive.

In these benchmarks, the default performance delivers as you might expect. Actually, it even jumps ahead of the Renegade G5, the other PCIe Gen 5 drive in our graphs. Not by a lot, but by a small margin, as they both load up the extent of the port. With most results within tens to hundreds of Megabytes per Second.

As for the real-world performance profile, all the drives fall short in speed. The Kingston and WD_Black models stay neck and neck, and even the MP600 Pro XT, that's Gen 4, has a chance to catch up and fight for the lead. Yet for the most part, the SN8100 does still lead ever so slightly.

3DMark storage

For a more standard benchmark, I turned to 3DMark, which uses a range of games to test the speed of a drive. Putting it to real-world performance, it checks the bandwidth speeds and access times to give it a score and a comparative look at what the NVMe can do.

Looking at the total score, the SN8100 outperforms the Fury Renegade by approximately 250 points, or about 5%. Whereas the MP600 Pro XT on PCIe Gen 4 gets a score of 2,949, 38% lower than the WD_Black drive.

As for the bandwidth, the SN8100 achieves an average of 804.32MB/s in seven games, with the G5 averaging 761.10MB/s and the Pro XT getting 506.16MB/s. The average access time in the same seven games was 37, 39, and 61 microseconds for each of the NVMes, respectively.

Thermals

I next put the drive through a stress test, using IOMeter to run a 15-minute load split across 66% read and 33% write, which simulates a similar scenario to a workload it might experience.

Measuring the driver temperature and activity using HWInfo gives us a breakdown of the temperature over this time period. Graphed out, we see the temperature slowly rise under the load, reaching a peak of 60°C and jumping between that and 59°C. That seems to happen after around seven minutes, when the loads fluctuate as the read and write activity alternates and temperatures fluctuate.

This does make the drive rather hot, but doesn't require substantial cooling. In my test bench, all it takes is the motherboard provided heatsink and one fan blowing over it. That might change with a setup contained in an enclosed case, but it shouldn't be a problem, as it does have an operating temperature up to 85°C.

Conclusion

Overall, the WD_Black SN8100 is an excellent and fast NVMe SSD. Combining superfast speeds at a relatively decent price, the drive is a great competitor in the market. Beating out some of the other Gen 5 drives and, as you might expect, Gen 4 offerings, it is a great option to go for.

The PCIe Gen 5 SSD is another fast option that can be an upgrade to an older, slower drive, but is unlikely to see much benefit directly from a Gen 4 drive. However, on its own, the Kingston Fury offers great performance with some strong thermal performance while doing so. That privilege does cost a bit more than the competition out there, though.

So, with that in mind, I checked out what it has to offer, going over its design and specifications, along with putting its performance to the test.

Specs and design

The Fury Renegade G5 comes in four capacities: one, two, and four terabyte models. A decent range of options to pick from while cutting back on the 500GB version, which was available in the PCIe Gen 4 range. Quite likely due to it not being a popular size, as even looking at prebuilt gaming PCs, you can see most carrying a 1TB model at least.

For the controller, the G5 opts for the SM2508 for the Gen 5 capability as well as combining that with a 3D TLC NAND flash and a 2GB DDR4 DRAM cache to make it a rapid-fire storage. Utilizing that sort of buffer allows it to run optimally for big transfers and ensures optimal performance in the long run.

Combined, the hardware provides a range of promised read and write speeds depending on the capacity. In the case of the 2TB model I was testing, that came to around 14,700 and 14,000MB/s sequential read and write speeds, while the random 4K reaches 2.2 million IOPS.

Each drive is rated with an endurance of up to a thousand times its capacity, so two petabytes for the two terabyte drive with a mean time before failure of 2 million hours.

The physical dimensions stay relatively standard for an M.2 drive, specifically being 80mm x 22mm x 2.3mm and weighing in at 7.7 grams. It doesn't offer a heatsink either, just a simple sticker on top, so it's probably best to use it with a motherboard that has some integrated into the slot.

Software

Kingston does offer up some free software for its storage, with the SSD manager being a rather basic programme, really. It, in fact, looks like something from 20 years ago, but it at least has the essentials, with the option to check on the drive's health and temperature. With the ability to update your firmware and check the events of the SSD.

There is also Acronis True Image that is offered with the SSD manager, which brings about some more value for it. As it offers back-ups for your disk drivers, partition, cloning, and a decent amount of control for your drive and data.

Price

The pricing of the Rengade G5 is rather steep, even for the PCIe Gen 5 drive, compared to the competition. The 2TB option costs $329.99 on Amazon or £299.99 on Overclockers. While a top pick, such as the Samsung 9100 Pro 2TB, is available for $299.99 or £245.99.

That does make the G5 a more expensive option, and a tougher sell for a better value. It comes down to the performance and how much it can provide for the price, so maybe it is worth the extra tens of dollars on top. Or you can always look out for a deal on it to make it even more worth it.

Tests

Lastly, I put the NVMe to the test, using various abilities of the drive to check out its actual speed and benchmark what it's capable of. At the same time, I tested out Corsair's MP600 Pro XT, which uses a PCIe Gen 4 interface as a comparison to see the improvements of the new generation.

My test bench for these consists of:

CrystalDiskMark

I benchmarked both of the NVMe drives by setting up CrystalDiskMark in NVMe mode and then running five tests at 1 GiB sizing. Below are the results of these tests, which show the kind of difference you can have from the PCIe Gen 5 drive.

When it comes to sequential read and write speeds, with queues of eight and 32 and threads of one each, the difference between the drives really shows. The Fury Rengade doubled the speeds over the MP600, achieving speeds around 14,000 MB/s compared to the 7,000 MB/s of the Corsair drive.

In random 4K tests, it's a bit of a mixed bag, as loading up a queue of 32 with 16 threads, the G5 achieves nearly 8,000 MB/s in reads with a 6,600 MB/s in writes. That doubles up the Corsairs at 3,500 in both. It's in the queue thread of one that punishes the two, as the read speed drops below 100MB/s and the writes hover around 300, meaning neither is exactly great, but still the best out of the lot.

Changing up the CrystalDiskMark to a real-world performance profile changes the results quite significantly. Now the sequential reads and writes for the Renegade drop to 8,700 and 10,400 MB/s for a queue of eight. Meanwhile, the queue of 32 cuts that down to 94 and 317MB/s of reads and writes. That leads to the Corsair catching up in the queue of 32, where it's just around 20 MB/s slower, while the queue of eight does still give the Fury double the speed.

As for the random speeds, the Fury doesn't quite reach the levels the spec sheet suggests. Instead, it gets to 23,000 reads and 77,400 IOPS reads and writes at a queue of 32 and thread of 16, while the MP600 achieves 17,500 and 71,300, respectively.

3DMark storage

Another test I used was 3DMark's storage test to compare the two. It runs a lineup of loading tests in various games to test their bandwidth and times to provide a final score, which is also used to compare the various drives.

Running through the relatively long benchmark netted the Renegade a score of around 4,500, while the MP600 Pro XT got to around 3,000. This gave the Kingston drive a 1.5x lead over the Corsair, but basic scores don't really tell us any information other than a comparison.

Instead, the end stats show off some more useful stats overall. The first of which is the average bandwidth across the tests, where the Kingston achieves a speed of around 760MB/s, while the Corsair gets an average of around 500MB/s instead.

There are also access time stats for the same games. In that the G5 takes an average of 39μs, as the MP600 takes 61μs. Even though that might sound quick, those are equivalent to 0.000039 and 0.000061s, so it's highly unlikely you would notice any real difference between the two.

Thermals

To end off the testing, I also stress-tested the SSD by using IOMeter to run a continuous 15-minute load. Split across reads and writes, it should load up the drive to increase its temperature.

Through that, you can see the G5 slowly increasing its temperature from around 43°C to getting up to 60°C over the load getting there after around 10 minutes. It's only after stopping the drive that it jumps up to 68°C before slowly decreasing back down to ambient.

That does keep it just below the operating temperature of 70°C, which is ideal in prolonging its lifespan. You can also probably improve on this, as PCIe Gen 5 drives can get quite hot, and the heatsink on my Prime motherboard isn't exactly the biggest solution, and it was relatively warm in the office.

Conclusion

Overall, the Kingston Fury Renegade G5 lives up to the PCIe Gen 5 NVMe standard, ensuring the best performance out of the box. The sequential tests show that off, but as expected, the random performance is a lot tougher and slower, yet still improved over the PCIe Gen 4 option.

Its pricing also doesn't make it the most appealing choice, as it goes above the top of the market Samsung drive. But with a strong selection of capacities and ranges, it might be one for down the road, and one that will last you for a while, with a strong build quality and top components used.

While the new model set for release in July still utilizes the Z1 Extreme processor, it has made a jump in its SSD storage capacity and form factor size compatibility, allowing for 2280 instead of only 2230.

With this in mind, you'll be glad to hear that the WD_BLACK SN850X 4TB NVMe M.2 2280 SSD is now massively discounted on Amazon. Its 58% discount means it's now more than half price off.

It's now available for just $294.54, a drastic $405.45 fall from the original $699.99 price, making this an ideal acquisition.

Why you should have the WD_BLACK SN850X 4TB NVMe M.2 2280 SSD on your radar

Is this SSD compatible with gaming handheld devices?

Valve's Steam Deck, ASUS' ROG Ally base models, along with the Lenovo Legion Go do not support the 2280 SSD form factor. While many can attain the 2280 adapter, there is no official support.

Fortunately, the upcoming ROG Ally X as aforementioned, utilizes the 2280 SSD form factor slot. Not only is this important for those looking to acquire greater storage capacity while using their handheld device, but 2280 SSDs are much cheaper than 2230.

If the upgrade from 512GB to 1TB on the Ally X is not enough, then this might be the perfect purchase before its release.

Best SSD deals

So if you're after the best PCIe Gen 5 SSDs out there, we've picked out a range of options for you to choose from. With a range of models, you should be able to find something that meets your requirements. Along with picking out options that we've personally tested and had a look around the market for the top options out there, here is our selection.

How we picked the best PCIe Gen 5 SSDs

Our selection process for the best PCIe Gen 5 SSDs is a meticulous one, which is grounded on comprehensive research through publicly available benchmarks and user reviews. We prioritize performance, but also factor in the reliability of the brand, the warranties offered, and the reported experiences of users regarding the product’s durability and customer service.

We look for consistency in performance benchmarks, not just peak speeds, to ensure that the drives can deliver top performance over time and under different scenarios. Another aspect we consider is the software that accompanies these drives, as intuitive data management and migration tools can greatly enhance the user experience. Along with putting some of the drives through our testing lab and reviewing the ones we can, to provide a more informed decision.

Overall, we're aware of our diverse audience and therefore focused on including SSDs of different storage variants and price points, so there's an option for the budget-conscious, the gamer, and those looking for an SSD with a cooling solution. However, if you're looking more specifically for one of the best budget SSDs or the best SSD for gaming, we have separate guides that unfold those issues in a bit more detail.

At the top level of selection, we have the WD_Black SN8100 as the best PCIe Gen 5 SSD to consider. Available in 1, 2, and 4TB models, it has a range of capacities, all with the top-level speed, although the low-end option does lose out on some of that.

When it comes to the sequential read and write speeds, the 1TB model runs up to 14,900 and 11,000MB/s, respectively. While the 2 and 4TB are rated for 14,900 and 11,000MB/s. As for the random speeds, the 1TB stick is rated for 1.6 million IOPS and 2.4 million IOPS read and write speeds. The 2 and 4TB have random 4K speeds of 2.3 million IOPS and 2.4 million IOPS read and writes.

As for the endurance, the 1TB NVMe is at 600 TBW, the 2TB is for 1,200TBW, and the 4TB is at 2,400 TBW. As for the mean time before failure, it's expected to be 1.75 million hours with warranty and support for 5 years.

Testing it in our SN8100 review, we see what it is capable of. The results are in the graphs below, and it does work out to be one of the fastest options we've tested. An ideal option for those looking to get the best performance out there from a PCIe Gen 5 SSD.

A second pick for our best PCIe Gen 5 SSD is the Kingston FURY Renegade G5. It once again offers a top level of PCIe Gen 5 speeds that make it a top choice.

It has a SM2508 chip controller onboard with a 3D TLC NAND flash, along with a DRAM cache. It has a sustained speed that can improve performance in the long term. That is, if you get the thermals in control, you can keep it up there, as most motherboards should allow.

The expected performance for the drive is up to 14,200MB/s and 11,000 MB/s read and write for the 1TB drive. The 2TB and 4TB are rated for up to 14,700 and 14,00MB/s read and writes. When it comes to the random 4K speeds, the range of options offers 2.2 million IOPS reads and up to 2.2 million IOPS.

That comes with an endurance of 1, 2, and 4 petabytes for the 1, 2, and 4 terabyte drives. With a mean time before failure of up to 2 million hours, and with a warranty support of up to 5 years. In our FURY Renegade G5 review, we tested out that performance, and it performed admirably, as seen in the graphs above.

Another top choice of a PCIe NVMe is the Crucial T700 NVMe SSD. To start with, solid-state drive promises a leap in speed and efficiency, boasting sequential read and write speeds of up to 11,700MB/s and 9,500MB/s, respectively – so you can expect faster app launches, quicker loading times, and overall faster performance.

For gamers, content creators, and professionals in creative fields who demand quick access to large files and a seamless workflow, these speeds should be great. Further, the SSD is compatible with the latest Intel and AMD CPUs, which should make your workflow more seamless and also ensure that your setup is future-proof.

The inclusion of Microsoft DirectStorage elevates the drive’s utility, especially in gaming. It enables up to 60% faster texture rendering and a significant cut in load times. This technology, combined with the drive’s low CPU utilization, means that whether you’re battling in intense gaming environments or rendering high-resolution videos, the T700 is built to deliver with minimal system lag.

If you want to upgrade your setup with a PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD within a reasonable price tag, then you should check out the Inland TD510.

To start with, the SSD has a generous storage capacity of 1TB, which should cater to a variety of users, from PC enthusiasts to professional creators who seek reliable storage with swift load times. Plus, its backward compatibility with Gen4 and Gen3 systems ensures a wide-reaching appeal, granting users of older setups a taste of next-gen performance.

As far as performance goes, the TD501 packs in sequential read and write speeds reaching up to 9,500MB/s and 8,500MB/s, alongside random read/write IOPS of 1300K/1400K. With such speeds, you can expect the drive to keep pace with demanding applications and large file transfers.

Further, this performance is backed by 232-layer TLC NAND technology, a substantial 700 TBW (Terabytes Written) endurance rating, and a 1,600,000 hours MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) — translating to reliability and longevity.

If you are looking for a PCIe Gen 5 drive with good thermal performance, then you should check out the Gigabyte Aorus Gen5 10000 SSD.

To start with, the SSD carves out its niche by not just meeting the expectations for next-gen PCIe Gen5 technology but also by providing additional cooling solutions to sustain high performance. More specifically, this drive comes with a heatsink, which should combat thermal throttling and help maintain optimal performance.

As far as performance goes, the Aorus Gen5 10000 sports a PCI Express Gen5 x4 interface and NVMe 2.0 support; this SSD delivers blistering sequential read speeds of up to 12400MB/s and write speeds of up to 11,800MB/s, which should deliver a significant boost to your rig’s performance.

To further bolster its high-speed performance, you get a DDR4 DRAM cache, which should ensure smooth and efficient data processing and retrieval.

If you want a next-gen SSD for your gaming rig, then you should check out the Corsair MP700 PCIe Gen5 drive. To start with, the PCIe Gen5 SSD sports an NVMe 2.0 interface, which promises high bandwidth, which, in turn, translates into higher speeds and powerful performance.

As mentioned before, this SSD is tailored for gaming enthusiasts who demand quick load times and a seamless experience, and the specs speak for themselves. To start with, the MP700 boasts sequential read and write speeds that reach up to 10,000MB/s and 9,500MB/s, respectively. These figures aren’t just numbers; they translate into real-world benefits like reduced game load times and quicker file transfers, making it an essential component for gamers and power users alike.

For this guide, we have selected the 1TB variant, which we think should be sufficient for most users. However, depending on your budget and requirements, you can also choose the 2TB model.

How to pick the best PCIe Gen 5 SSD

Before you go shopping for a new PCIe Gen 5 drive, here are a few things you should consider –

Compatibility

In terms of hardware compatibility, every generation of PCIe is backward compatible. So, as long as your motherboard has an M2 slot, you should be all set to upgrade your existing desktop drive to a PCIe 5 SSD. So, before you buy a new drive, just make sure that it is compatible with your specific build.

Speed

PCIe Gen 5 SSDs are capable of reaching unprecedented read and write speeds, often going beyond 10 GB/s, which is essential for tasks that require quick data access and transfer. Of course, with increasing speed and features, the prices go up, so this is something you need to be mindful of if you’re on a budget.

Storage capacity

Larger storage capacities allow for more extensive data libraries and applications, but they can also affect the price point significantly. If you have a look at the options available on the market, you will find SSDs with capacities ranging from 500GB to 8TB and more. The “right” one for you will depend on your needs and budget.

Thermal management

If you will be using your SSD for gaming, video editing, or any other kind of resource-intensive task, then you need a heatsink to keep your drive cool. Usually, most SSDs targeted at professionals (like some of the best gaming SSDs) come with a heatsink and other thermal management features, so have a look at these before you decide on a product.

Is PCIe 5.0 overkill?

Not at all; PCIe 5.0 is the perfect SSD for today’s necessities. With the rapid advancement of technology and increasing data demands, PCIe 5.0 SSDs are not just about meeting today's needs; they are about future-proofing. As applications become more data-intensive and new technologies like DirectStorage start to become mainstream, the additional bandwidth and speed offered by PCIe 5.0 will become increasingly valuable.

Does Gen 5 PCIe M2 exist?

Yes, they do. Now that PCIe Gen 5 slots have been more widely adopted by chipsets and have been implemented into motherboards, more drives have been released. This means there are plenty of options to choose from, but the pricing is still more expensive than Gen 4 and might be out of your range.

Can you put PCIe Gen 5 in a Gen 4 slot?

Yes, PCIe Generations are backward compatible. So if it still uses the same interface, which the M.2 should, it will work in a Gen 4 slot. But you will lose about half the performance since the Gen 5 drive will have to clock down to work in that socket. Which means your Gen 5 drive will run at Gen 4 speeds and lose out on most of its value.

Is PCIe Gen 5 faster than Gen 4?

Yes, PCIe Gen 5 is faster than Gen 4. According to the available throughput for a PCIe link, it's in fact twice the speed. Since the M.2 interfaces use a x4 slot, the PCIe Gen 5 can reach a throughput of 15.754GB/s compared to the 7.877GB/s of the Gen 4. Although it's unlikely that any actual drives maximise that and reach those speeds, instead you see speeds around 14GB/s.

As the years have passed and technology has progressed, we've seen the move away from slower-spinning hard drives to solid-state drives without all those moving parts. This started off with SATA SSDs that were still using a cable to plug into the motherboard, and managed to improve speeds. However, even NVMe SSDs have dropped far enough in price to be considered the top choice.

With even more impressive speeds and capacities for a good value, there's an incredible amount of choice. Even now, more technologies are being introduced, with the likes of PCIe Gen 5 NVMes and smaller-sized drives to fit a Steam Deck.

So, if you're after a cheap, portable, or the best choice in general, we have you covered. All of these should still provide you with a greatly improved experience if you're moving from a slower drive or an excellent option to increase your capacity.

Products at a glance

How we picked

For this guide, we have looked at several SSDs manufactured by different brands and then shortlisted the ones that we thought were the best. We have picked the SSDs based on features like speeds, storage capacity, heatsink, and more. We have also checked community reviews and purchasing history to see what is popular and tested out options to see what is suitable.

Plus, we are always adding new products to our list to keep it updated, so you can check back here for more updates. We aim to test these one day in our testing lab, but for now, we've used our years of testing and reviewing expertise to select these top options.

Our top picks

At the top of the lineup for the best SSD for gaming, we have the Kingston Fury Renegade G5. Bringing about the M.2 PCIe Gen 5 spec for the fastest and latest technology for blazingly fast load times. That way, you can ensure you are getting some future-proofing build components and ones that can withstand the tests.

It is equipped with an SM2508 controller and utilizes DDR4 DRAM for the cache. Alongside the 3D TLC NAND flash, it allows for the impressively fast speed it has to offer while also keeping up the performance in the long run. That's thanks to the buffer that setup creates and doesn't bottleneck the utility as much, and something budget NVMes without a cache may struggle with.

As we found in our Fury Renegade G5 review, it lives up to the speeds. The sequential speeds manage to reach the advertised ones and beat out the PCIe Gen 4 competition. Although the random speeds do falter much like the rest of the options, it keeps at a very solid pace anyway for great performance.

Even without its own heatsink, the G5 keeps temperatures and performance up in the long run stress tests. That way, it's a long-term solution, if you can afford it, considering there may be some better-priced options out there.

If you want a top last-gen NVMe SSD, check out the Samsung 990 PRO drive. To start with, this M.2 drive sports a PCIe Gen 4.0 interface, which should translate into high speeds. Specifically, the SSD offers read and write speeds of up to 7,450 MB/s and 6,900 MB/s, which should translate into faster app launches, quicker loading times, and overall faster performance.

Further, like some of the best NVMe SSDs, this is also quite power-efficient. Samsung claims it uses over 50% less power than its predecessor.

To maintain this performance, the drive is equipped with a nickel-coated controller that promises to deliver thermal control. It also comes with a heatsink version if you want it, but that might be best suited as a PS5 SSD, considering most motherboards these days offer their own implementations instead.

This drive is available in various capacities. With 1, 2, and 4TB versions available, depending on your use case and budget, that is a good range to choose from and ensure you don't have to get more storage down the line.

If you're looking for a budget SSD with a low price but still plenty of performance, the Crucial P3 Plus is the option to choose from. Still an NVMe SSD on the PCIe Gen 4 standard, it is a great choice for performance. It suggests a sequential read and write speed of 5,000 and 4,200MB/s, respectively.

It is an improvement of 43% compared to the last-generation PCIe 3 SSDs, so it still has a lot to offer. Unfortunately, being a cheaper option, it lacks an onboard cache that is used as a buffer when loading data onto the drive. So, over time, you may find the drive slowing down when doing large tasks. However, for gaming and small changes, it shouldn't have an impact.

Built with Micron's advanced 3D NAND, it is a high-quality component that is reliable and provides great performance for flash memory. Crucial also provides solid security with management software, allowing optimizations and updates to provide a longer run time and peace of mind.

Another pick for a PCIe Gen 5 SSD is the WD_Black SN8100, a drive with plenty of speed and power behind it. Even under the new ownership of Sandisk, the brand's performance on its drives remains.

Utilizing the Silicon Motion SM2508 controller and paired with TLC 3D CBA flash memory, the SSD brings in a cached SSD with speed over time as part of its design. This is also seen by it being rated for an endurance of 600/1,200/2,400 terrabytes written for the 1/2/4 TB drives, and a mean time between failures of 1.75 million hours. Along with a support and warranty of 5 years, it can last you some time yet.

As for the speeds, the specs suggest a sequential read of 14,900MB/s and a write of 11,000/14,000MB/s (1/2&4TB). As for the random 4K spec, that is rated at 1.6 million IOPS read and 2.4 million IOPS write for the 1TB model, and then 2.3 million IOPS read and 2.4 million IOPS write speeds for the 2 and 4TB models.

Having put the SN8100 through testing in our review, we put the NVMe to the test in a range of tests, checking the speed and thermals of the drive. It very much lives up to the name and speed with the performance it achieves, it does get a bit toasty though, so it's best to make sure you have a good heatsink and airflow setup. You can check out the results in the graph below.

Now, if you're looking to expand out the storage of your Steam Deck or other handheld with the same size requirement, you may need to get a 2230-sized drive. Either upgrading or expanding, it's a bit more unique to try and get the right sizing and generation for it to be a worthy purchase and installation.

The Corsair MP600 Mini is one of the top options for the job. It offers a Gen 4 drive capable of reaching speeds of up to 7,000MB/s for sequential reads and 6,200MB/s writes. That also comes with some wide compatibility for a variety of devices, as the smaller size means it can fit many more places. It is built with high-density 3D TLC NAND for combining performance and endurance to provide long-term use.

Instead of just NVMe options, there are SATA options available that connect via cable instead of directly on your motherboard. So, one of the top options to go for is the Samsung 870 Evo, where the 2.5-inch drive comes in capacity options ranging from 250GB all the way to 4TB, giving you plenty of options to pick from.

It doesn't even come that much cheaper than NVMe's, considering a 1TB option on sale is available for $89.99, which might not make it an ideal choice. But they still have their place in builds for certain users, so it's definitely one to consider.

The speed does take a hit by going over the SATA standard, as it has a 560MB/s sequential read and up to 530MB/s write speed. That is around 13x slower than the 990 Pro, but it does have a better compatibility considering it's much easier to get adapters and cables to work universally than an M.2 drive.

Along with bringing a 5-year warranty and up to 2,400 TBW (Terabytes written), it should last a good amount of time. Upheld by using Samsung Magician on your system, which can monitor the drive health and ensure it's updated as well, to ensure the best experience with it.

If you are looking for an external gaming SSD, then we think that the Western Digital P40 SSD might check all the boxes for you.

Now, external drives tend to have slower speeds than internal SSDs, but portable drives compensate for the speeds with flexibility and multi-utility. Much like some of the best external SSDs, this WD drive has a speed of up to 2,000MB/s, which should be sufficient for gamers.

Further, this drive is compatible with PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S, which is good news for console users. Plus, this drive also works well with PCs, laptops, and even Macs, with the ability to have a Type-C connection plugged in.

This portable SSD is pocket-sized, lightweight, and rugged in design. It also sports RGB lights, which should appeal to people looking for gamer aesthetics. However, the lights work only with PCs and laptops.

How to pick the best SSD for gaming

Speed

The speed depends on whether you decide to get an external SSD or an internal SSD. Usually, for gaming, the internal drives are more common as they offer higher speeds - you are looking at sequential read and write speeds over 7,000 MB/s.

Meanwhile, external drives mostly have read speeds ranging from 1,000 MB/s to 3,000 MB/s. However, portable SSDs tend to be multipurpose and portable, so the right choice depends on your use case.

Storage

If you have a look at the storage options available, you will find SSDs offering storage from 500MB to 8TB, which is a wide range. Ideally, for gaming or storing massive amounts of data, you should go for 2TB of storage. However, again, this will vary depending on your requirements and how much you want to store all on the same drive.

Heatsinks

As you are buying this SSD for gaming, which is a resource-intensive task, your SSD will be under a bit of load and will probably heat up. To help maintain optimal temperature and performance, you should look for a heatsink. Most SSDs aimed at gamers will feature a heatsink, so you don’t need to be too worried about it.

But if your motherboard comes with an integrated one, it might be better to save a few bucks and go for an SSD without a heatsink. That way, you can install the drive and keep the aesthetics of the board as well, keeping the looks and performance as they should be.

Connection type and size

Depending on your use case and where you're putting your SSD, there's a lot to consider. If you're going for a handheld drive, you're likely limited to an M.2 NVMe, where it might just fit a 2230 option. While your standard gaming PC likely has the option for a full-size M.2 and SATA, with the PCIe Gen varying too.

Which SSD is best for gaming?

The best gaming SSD is going to be the fastest one available. Currently, that will be an M.2 NVMe on either PCIe Gen 5 or 4 standard. As those can reach the highest speeds on the x4 slot they sit in, which has a theoretical performance limit of 15GB/s on that standard for Gen 5, and 8GB/s for Gen 4.

So, in our selection, we picked the 990 Pro and Fury Renegade G5 for a Gen 4 and Gen 5 drive, respectively. Those are capable of up to 7,000 and 14,000MB/s speeds and get the best possible chance if put in the right system.

Is SATA or NVMe better for gaming?

An NVMe SSD is better for gaming; the standard can reach much faster speeds compared to a SATA drive. Considering that SATA is limited to 6GB/s on the cable compared to the higher ability of the NVMes. Even then, the likes of the 870 EVO have a speed of 560 and 530MB/s sequential read and write speeds. Compared to the 990 Pro NVMe, which can achieve up to 7,450 and 6,900MB/s instead.

That allows your games to load faster and generally perform better as well, especially when games start implementing DirectStorage more and more to provide seamless scenes.

Is 2TB SSD enough for gaming?

Even though these days games are getting bigger and bigger, a 2TB SSD should be plenty for you. Even if it's used as one drive with the OS installed, that will still leave well over 1.5TB for your games, files, and applications. You may, at some point, find yourself limited, but for the most part, you'll be able to install plenty of games on the SSD.

Does a faster SSD increase FPS?

No, a faster SSD won't directly increase the FPS of games, as it's not a component that improves that. Instead, it can improve loading times and remove hitches, as faster options speed up how long it takes to get in and make sure the rest of the system can get to what it needs. That way, you can get a perceived speed that is much better, especially when compared to a hard drive.

What is the difference between SSD and NVMe SSD?

SSDs and NVMe vary by the connector they use to plug in, which results in a much faster speed. The NVMe protocol allows the connector to plug in via PCIe, and depending on the generation, can have tens of GB/s speeds. Whereas a SATA is limited to a 6GB/s via the cable.

But there are still plenty of choices in the range, no matter what you go for, be it if you're focusing on the best of the lot, capacity, or budget, there's a lot to choose from. So we've picked out some of our top options from the range so you can find the right one for your needs.

Products at a glance

How we picked

For this guide, we have looked at several SSDs from different brands and then shortlisted the ones we thought were the best. While selecting the SSDs, we looked at specs like speed, storage capacity, and more. Where possible, the drives go through our testing lab so we can evaluate their performance and review their worth.

Our top picks

Leading the pack for the best NVMe SSD is the Kingston Fury Renegade G5, featuring cutting-edge M.2 PCIe Gen 5 technology. This ensures lightning-fast load times and future-proof performance, making it an excellent choice for gamers looking to build a long-lasting, high-performance rig.

Powered by the SM2508 controller and DDR4 DRAM cache and paired with 3D TLC NAND flash, the G5 delivers exceptional speed and sustained performance. This buffer system helps prevent bottlenecks, which budget NVMe drives without a cache often struggle with.

In our review, the Fury Renegade G5 lived up to its performance claims. It hit its advertised sequential speeds and outperformed PCIe Gen 4 competitors. While its random speeds weren't groundbreaking, they remained consistently strong for smooth, real-world performance.

Even without a built-in heatsink, the G5 maintained solid thermal and performance metrics during extended stress testing. While it might come at a premium, it’s a worthy investment if you're seeking top-tier speed and longevity, though budget-conscious buyers may find better value elsewhere.

To start with, the Samsung 990 Pro offers random read/write speeds that are 40% to 55% faster than the previous iteration, that is, the 980 Pro. To be specific, the SSD offers sequential read/write speeds up to 7,450/6,900 MB/s, which is almost the maximum PCIe 4.0 can offer. So, if you want to upgrade your SSD or get an ultra-fast one, then this disk might be suitable.

As mentioned earlier, the SSD comes with a heatsink feature, which should help in controlling the temperature of the drive. This also means that the SSD is suitable for gaming on consoles, desktops, and even laptops.

For optimization, you get access to Samsung Magician software that can monitor your drive’s health, safeguard your data, and update your firmware.

If you want a high-capacity, fast internal NVMe SSD, then you should check out the WD Black SN850X. With the Gen4 PCIe technology and fast read speeds, it is suitable for an upgrade.

To start with, we have chosen the 4TB variant here, which is the biggest storage available. A 4TB SSD is more suitable for professionals who want to store a large amount of data or heavy media files. Also, it is suitable for gamers who need to store large game files. However, depending on your preferences, you can choose to go for 1TB or 2TB.

Further, the SSD has a read speed of up to 7,300 MB/s, which is nearly seven times faster than SATA SSDs. To maintain optimum performance, the drive comes with a heatsink, which should help keep the drive cool.

If you want an SSD for gaming, then this might be a good choice, as it comes with Game Mode 2.0, which promises to boost responsiveness, reduce lag, and increase power efficiency.

If you want a portable external SSD and don’t need massive storage, then you should check out the SanDisk 1TB Extreme PRO Portable SSD.

This portable NVMe SSD has a read/write speed of up to 2000MB/s, which is fast enough for most people out there. Now, the actual speed will vary depending on the usage conditions and the device you use.

The variant that we have chosen here has 1TB of storage, which is suitable for people who want a mobile solution. However, you can also get 2TB and 4TB variants in case you want more storage. Plus, you can download the SanDisk Memory Zone app, which allows you to manage files and space on your drive.

As far as security is concerned, you get 256‐bit AES hardware encryption, which also lets you set passwords for extra protection. On the outside, the drive has IP65 water and dust resistance, which means you can carry it around.

Another PCIe Gen 5 SSD offering a significant amount of speed, we've selected the WD_BLACK SN8100, now operated by Sandisk, which harnesses the full speed of the interface. An ideal pairing for the latest motherboards and the latest generation, offering a future-proof option.

The drive is controlled by the Silicon Motion SM2508 chip and has a TLC 3D CBA NAND flash. Combined with the DRAM cache, it achieves fast sustained speeds, which enable it to perform consistently over time, provided that temperatures are also kept in check. Since most motherboards come with heatsinks, that should be sufficient for the job.

It is available in sizes of 1,2, and 4TB that have sequential speeds of 14,900MB/s reads, and 11,000/14,000MB/s writes. Random speeds range 1,600,000/2,300,000 IOPS reads and 2,400,000 IOPS writes. With an endurance of 600/1,200/2,400 TBW and an MTBF of 1,750,000 hours, it should be some time before it gives out. Along with a 5-year warranty, it gives you a good few years on its lifespan.

In our SN8100 review, we put it to the test and measured its performance. It did manage to keep that performance at the top level, and with the temperature in check, if a bit high. You can see the results in the graphs below, which makes it a top choice for the job, if the price of the SSD is not off-putting for you.

How to pick the best NVMe SSD

Before you add an NVMe SSD to your cart, here’s what you need to consider -

Speed and compatibility

Now, if you want decent speeds, you are looking at the latest Gen 5 SSDs that offer up to 14,000 MB/s read/write speeds. However, there are older generation options that are half the speed of each generation, be it Gen 4 or even Gen 3, so it's best to check which one you're getting.

However, you also want to make sure your motherboard supports it at the right speed, as there's no need to splurge on a Gen 5 drive if you've only got a Gen 4 slot, as it'll bottleneck the speeds, so it's best to check the two specs before you buy.

Storage

The right storage capacity depends on how you plan to use the drive. For instance, if you want to use an SSD for general purposes, then 500GB to 1TB should be enough for you. If you want performance and you’re looking to store large files, then 1TB to 2TB should suffice. However, for creative professionals and hardcore gamers, you should look at SSDs that offer more than 2TB of storage space.

Use case and features

While SSDs come loaded with a lot of features, the “right” features for you would depend on your use case. For example, if you’re a content creator, then you might want to focus on storage capacities, heatsinks, and security. The availability of the right software and management might be important for you, too, so it might be the thing to look out for as well.

Should I replace my SATA SSD with NVMe?

If you have a motherboard that is compatible with an NVMe SSD, then we recommend that you make the switch from SATA. This will increase the overall speed and performance of your PC.

Are NVMe SSDs better than SATA SSDs?

Yes, NVMe offers drastically faster read and write times when compared to SATA SSDs. This significantly reduces load times and minimizes lag, getting you into the action quicker. It also keeps your system running at its best, giving you the best system for your money.

Is it worth buying an NVMe SSD?

If you are looking to squeeze the most performance out of your rig, then we recommend investing in an NVMe SSD. However, at its price point compared to SATA SSDs, the marginally improved performance can be a bit off-putting. If budget is an issue, then SATA SSDs may be the right choice for you.

Does NVMe need a heatsink?

Slower NVMes are unlikely to require a heatsink; below PCIe Gen 4, there wasn't much cooling required. However, the faster options in the likes of PCIe Gen 5 do benefit from a heatsink, as that ensures the drive does not thermal throttle, and it can continue to perform at its optimal.

Is it normal for an NVMe to get hot?

Yes, there is work happening on the NVMe, so it does get hot. With the SSD moving data and having electronics on board, it does have electricity going through it, so as it processes more data, it can increase in temperature. As long as it doesn't go above the spec, it should be fine, so be sure to keep cooling under wraps.

So, the files are properly gone? Ostensibly yes, the average or even intermediate computer user won’t be able to recover these files. However, the world of cybersecurity and indeed cybercrime is pretty mad, meaning it’s very tricky to actually make sure your data is gone for good. Almost impossible actually.

Of course, if the computer with the files is literally expendable, you could opt to physically destroy the drives. Luckily hard disk drives and SSDs can both be baptized in fire, so to speak. This is pretty much your only solution physically speaking, as some talented data recovery people can literally reconstruct cracked and snapped hard drive platters.

So, in the quite likely event that you don’t feel like setting fire to your PC, what are your options? In the advanced technological period in which we live, it’s worth being absolutely sure that your files are gone, especially confidential, personal stuff.

Luckily, PC-Doctor has a solution that passes muster both in terms of cyber security and user-friendliness, the PC-Doctor Service Center Drive Erase USB flash drive.

The drive allows you to skip the costly step of taking your drives to a technician for a professional erasure, allowing you to do it yourself, from the comfort of your own home, without sacrificing security or efficacy.

How does PC-Doctor securely erase your drives?

As mentioned earlier, PC-Doctor has passed some very stringent certifications for secure drive erasure. Most importantly, PC-Doctor is NIST 800-88r1 compliant, which is the current gold standard for media sanitation.

This certification from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) means that PC-Doctor has been verified as capable of erasing drives to the highest standards of cyber security. The official guidelines are extremely long and very comprehensive, so if you really want to know, you can read them here.

Anyway, what you need to know is that the PC-Doctor drive erasure USB stick will totally clean any type of drive, be it an HDD, SSD, SAS, or NVMe m.2. This means that the drives are returned to the same state they were when they left the factory - totally empty.

It might sound odd, but fully erasing drives is very tricky. This means that it's hard to be sure, as you can’t necessarily see everything via the file explorer.

OK then, but how can you be sure that PC-Doctor Drive Erase has completed its operation successfully? Well, a certificate verifying the erasure is created after the fact.

This certificate, provided in convenient PDF form, proves the extent of the drive erasure, even including a cryptographic fingerprint. Furthermore, it provides additional information too, for example:

The report also functions as a signable form for those using the PC-Doctor Drive Erase in a professional, enterprise scenario, allowing for proper accountability too.

How to use PC-Doctor Service Center Drive Erase

You may initially be apprehensive about inserting such a powerful data removal tool into your precious PC. However, the drive won’t brick your PC as soon as you plug it in, as there is a specific process.

That’s about it, for how to use PC-Doctor Drive Erase. For an easier breakdown and additional information, see our Q&A section below.

PC-Doctor FAQS

Here you’ll find some of the more common questions about drive erasure, and PC-Doctor specifically.

Will the PC-Doctor USB stick start as soon as I plug it in?

No. You have to go through a few menus first, so there’s no chance of accidentally erasing anything before you mean to.

What systems does PC-Doctor work on?

PC-Doctor runs on any x86-64 PC, including Windows or Linux PCs, and Intel-based Macs. 

What languages does PC-Doctor work in?

At time of writing, PC-Doctor runs in English, but can save report certificates in English, Danish, Finnish, French, Norwegian, Portuguese and Swedish.

What type of drives can be erased by PC Doctor?

PC-Doctor currently works on HDDs, SSDs, ATA, NVMe, eMMC, and SAS drives.

What methods does PC-Doctor use for drive erasure?

Depending on the type of drive in question, different methods are more effective than others. PC-Doctor uses whichever method will result in the most complete erasure. A full list of methods can be found here.

How much does PC-Doctor cost? 

You can purchase a PC-Doctor Drive Erase USB stick from their website here for $59.99, or for rapid simultaneous deployment on multiple systems, you can also buy Drive Erase in packs of 3 for $149.99.

Additionally, there are no license fees or maximum uses. Once you buy the drive erasure stick from PC-Doctor you can use it an unlimited amount of times. This provides a preferable alternative to erasure software subscriptions, as once you invest in PC-Doctor, it’s yours to keep.

It’s this insatiable desire for efficiency that births faster and faster storage drives. But what is an NVMe SSD - the latest standard, of SSD technology? Read on to decode this esoteric jumble of letters!

What Is An SSD?

Before we delve into the NVMe side of the puzzle, let’s first establish what an SSD is. Used for long-term data storage, SSDs (Solid State Drive) are essentially an evolution of the hard drive (HD).

These drives are referred to as “solid” because - unlike mechanical hard drives - they don’t use any moving components, amounting to improved thermals, improved energy efficiency, a more robust build, and quieter performance.

SSDs are also much quicker, as signals can travel faster through stationary electrical circuitry than they can when a moving component is involved.

What Does NVMe Mean?

NVMe stands for Non-Volatile Memory Express, and it’s an upgraded SSD technology that speeds up data transfer to an even further degree. It supersedes the SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) SDD standard that maxed out at 500–600 Mbps, establishing 2000 Mbps as the new normal, but how does it pull this remarkable feat off?

Well, hard drives and older SSDs utilize what’s known as point-to-point serial protocols to transfer data between the storage unit and the motherboard of a computer. In plain English, this means cables are used to link the drive to the motherboard.

Next came an SSD protocol that combined cables and ports to link up the two components, but the magic of the NVMe standard is that it cuts out these connections altogether in favor of a direct input on the motherboard.

Reducing the material signals have to travel through and the physical distance the data must traverse reduces latency significantly, making NVMe the speed demon that it is!

This port in the motherboard is known as the PCIe bus, which is where that little “e” comes from on the end of NVMe. PCIe slots are designed to accommodate hardware expansions, i.e. beefy discrete GPUs. However, now that storage technology has caught up with transfer tech, the PCIe slot and the NVMe SSD are perfect partners in crime.

What’s The Downside Of The NVMe SSD?

It’s faster, more energy efficient cuts down on some excess cabling… What's not to like? Well, the only real drawback of the NVMe SSD blueprint is the price tag, but as it marks such an improvement on the next best thing (SATA), it’s not a bad investment, especially considering it’s going to be the standard for the foreseeable future.

NVMe might not be the most budget-friendly storage solution but think of the productivity gains individuals and businesses would make with such a fast data transfer protocol.

Besides, one NVMe SSD today will be prime for use indefinitely, whereas older SSD variants will fall behind related technologies comparatively quickly, necessitating multiple replacements.

When it was released, NVMe was a nice-to-have, but these days, despite the cost, NVMe SSD storage is the smart choice if you’re thinking of picking up a new computer/laptop or starting a new build.

Final Thoughts

Our advice is to jump on the NVMe bandwagon as soon as possible, as, simply put, this upgrade is going to have the largest real-life impact on your computing, especially if you're a consummate gamer or busy videographer.

That said, bear in mind that although any NVMe SSD will surely give your system the kick in the pants you’ve been dreaming of, they’re not made equal. Some are better than others, so don’t skimp on the research side of shopping around!

SSDs add extra storage to your hard drive so you can store and process more data, more quickly.But before you can start using your SSD, you first need to initialize it. This process formats the SSD to your computer so it will be detected and function properly.

This process might sound like a lot of techy jargon, but that’s why we’re here to help! In this handy guide, we’ll take you through the steps to initializing an SSD, so you can start taking advantage of your new storage in no time!

Final Thoughts

Initializing an SSD might seem daunting at first, but it’s simple once you know what you’re doing. Simply follow the steps in this guide and you’ll be able to get your SSD ready to use in no time!

So if you have a new SSD that you want to put to good use, now you know everything you need to do to initialize it and take advantage of your new storage!

Why? The reason is this: Most people, including the PC Guide team, opt for a mix of performance and affordability in a new set-up; building for current needs with headroom too.

Micron’s newest Crucial P3 SSDs deliver exactly this, with a level of consistency to benefit gaming, home office, productivity, and other builds and use-cases too.

Essentially, if you’re upgrading then well-performing parts that extend the life of your current PC and offer great value are logical investments. For that, there are the P3 products. 

Or, if you’re building a new, more modern PC making use of PCIe Gen 4, the P3 Plus products are strong options.

Crucial P3 SSD Release

Micron is clearly one of the big three in the SSD market, and any new releases come with extensive consideration and product development.

This extends to the P3 and P3 Plus range, released in July 2022, at a point where the PC market started ramping up for some pretty big changes. CPUs, motherboards, and GPU releases are great, but the humble SSD is critical too.

Crucial’s release brought a slew of new SKUs to support users building new setups or upgrading and optimizing older ones.

Lineup and specs

The P3 SSD lineup consists of eight NVMe M.2 SKUs: the P3 500GB, 1TB, 2TB and 4TB SSDs (supporting PCIe Gen 3 4x), and the P3 Plus 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB (supporting PCIe Gen 4 4x).

Plenty of options then, and it means that whether you want to upgrade your OS drive, or opt for some boosted storage capacity, you can.

There’s more to the recent arrivals though, and this is where things get a little bit jargony – but we’ll cut through this and tell you the key info below.

Crucial P3 and P3 Plus tech explained

The P3 range makes use of QLC NAND memory. QLC stands for quad-level cell and is generally the preferred technology for larger SSD storage over the most common alternative - TLC (triple-level cell).

It’s not quite as good in performance versus TLC, but QLC can store four bits per cell (vs three bits for TLC) so it offers better density and so more options in terms of capacities.

And of course, if you don’t have the budget for lightning-quick TLC - based SSD drives, thunder-quick QLC does a very good job.

Micron has opted for a 176-layer 3D NAND production process in the QLC-based P3 and P3 Plus SSDs. This surpasses the previous 128-layer process and adds a silicon nitride layer to combat an issue known as cell-to-cell capacity coupling.

What is that? Cell-to-cell capacity coupling impacts programming times due to the presence of electrical charges in NAND cells. Micron’s silicon nitride layer is nonconductive, batting away the charges and so negating what is ultimately a hit to SSD reliability and performance.

Crucial P3 SSD performance

What does all this mean? Well, a clear upside of Crucial’s P3 SSD range, thanks to its fabrication process, is an approximate 25% performance boost (read AND write) over SSDs using a 128-layer fabrication process.

The benefits are present for both P3 and P3 Plus products and put the range in a favorable position against the main competition.

For example, comparing the P3 2TB SSD against, say, Samsung’s highly regarded 970 Evo Plus 2TB, shows a clear winner.

Sequential read and write are fairly even here: read for both is 3,500MB/s, while Samsung nicks the write award with 3,300MB/s versus the P3’s 3,000MB/s.

It’s a different story in 4K IOPS read and write though, with the P3 taking first in both with 650000 and 700000 respectively. That’s 100000 above the scores of the £200+ Samsung Evo Plus...in both.

Crucial P3 SSD Pricing

So, what about the price? Strong performance, reliability, and a range of capacities mean Micron could honestly price the P3 and P3 Plus SSDs above where they’ve landed.

It could do that, but it hasn’t. And to prove it, the P3 2TB SSD is actually £80 cheaper than the Samsung Evo Plus 970. The rest of the P3 and P3 Plus range is proportionately priced too, currently at under 8 pence per MB.

Final thoughts

So where does that leave us? Back at the beginning of this article, with a sustained sentiment. If you’re looking to upgrade an older system or build a budget PC – or you’re a certain tech writer with a Z270 motherboard still in use – the P3 range would be a great choice.

Alternatively, if you’re looking to build a newer system for gaming, a home office set up or other use-case scenarios, Micron’s Crucial P3 Plus SSDs are there for PCIe Gen 4.

In fact, if you wanted to, and felt comfortable doing so, Crucial P3 Plus SSDs would even be great for upgrading the storage in a PS5.

For reliable performance (and we mean performance), at a great price and overall value, don’t overlook the Crucial P3 SSD range from Micron. They may not be flashy, and they may not be a headline component. But we reckon you’ll be glad you got one.