Searching for the best M.2 NVMe SSDs for Gaming Laptops? Finding the Best SSD for gaming pc can be difficult without prior knowledge. While you have solved the equation between SSD and HDD, there is a world of possibilities when we speak of SSD. From ensuring a smooth gaming experience to securing a flawless windows experience, SSD can load applications quicker than you thought. Our experts have spent quality time analyzing the different aspects of these SSDs.
Based on integrated circuits, SSD is a reliable option as the probability of data loss decreases, and the desktop speed is enhanced. Similarly, SSD for gaming pc has a vital role to play as the boot speed depends on it. Selecting the best will always provide an unparalleled experience; however, things change when there is a budget constraint and desktop limitation simultaneously.
While NVMe Gen 4.0 comes in with the latest features, many motherboards might not be able to support it. Similarly, if you install a secondary SSD for a gaming laptop, you need to look out for the PCIe ports’ availability.
Selecting the SSD space is a crucial part as users have to fit it into the budget and meet the gaming requirements at the same time. This issue will be addressed in this article.
This article is a collection of our tried and tested best SSD for gaming pc 2022, as all the SSD meets our benchmark. Apart from it, other relevant topics like the difference between SATA and NVMe drives will be discussed thoroughly here.
Best SSD For Gaming PC M.2 NVMe/ PCIe 2022 – Overview
This guide will act as the best walkthrough for different SSD available in the market. Explaining every minute detail, it will discuss the different spectrum of owning the SSDs compared to others.
- Western Digital SN850 – Superior SSD Performance
- Crucial P5 Plus by Micron – Your Budget-friendly SSD option
- Seagate FireCuda 530 – Unleashing the Beast
- Samsung 970 EVO Plus Series – Unparallel Endurance SSD Rating
Unleashing The 5 Best SSD For Gaming PC
Specially curated by our team of experts, these 5 SSDs can change the entire gaming experience for the users. Let’s set a new benchmark for the world to follow!
1). Western Digital SN850- PCIe 4.0 Interface NVMe SSD
Packed in 3 variants (500GB, 1TB, and 2TB), the WD SN850 is a classic masterpiece when your primary objective is to unleash superior gaming performance. With the latest NVMe/PCIe 4.0 interface in hand, this hardware can push up to 7000 / 5000 MB/s reads/writes sequential rate. The easy 5GB/s on both sides provides a seamless experience when it comes to 4K write performance.
Similarly, a hard 300GB of the 1TB SSD is systematically used as a fast SLC cache. The WD Black SN850 can unremarkably cover 600TB of writes, and therefore, users can be free of unnecessary hustle. Therefore, passing our endurance benchmark test.
Despite all the mind-boggling features, WD SN850 runs short on a cooling system. Without a standard cooling fan, heat dissipation can create a major issue putting the longevity of the hardware at risk. Therefore, if you haven’t got it covered already, you must buy the upgraded version of WD Black SN850.
Compared to other options in the market, we found that WD Black SN850 would seem a viable option if it fits your budget. Having an uninterrupted gaming session makes the adventure worth your time. We recommend you choose the 1TB version of this disk to operate in a seamless manner.
Product Specification –
- Interface – AIC PCIe 4.0 x4
- Read/write speed – 7000/5300 MB/s
- Warranty – 5 years
- Memory – BiCS4 96-layer TLC
- Controller – WD_Black G2
What We Like –
- Dynamic 300GB used as SLC cache to enhance the performance
- Operates perfectly for an all-round performance
- Exceptional quality when it comes to 4K performance
What We Didn’t Like –
- Heat sink available as an option
2) Crucial P5 Plus By Micron – Your Budget-Friendly M.2 SSD Option For Gaming
While Crucial kept us waiting for its Gen4 SSD, the wait has completely been worth the time. After regressive testing for gaming laptop setups, Crucial P5 outperformed all the PCIe 3.0 setups and is still available at almost the same price. With a read/write sequence rate of 6600/5000 MB/s, the SSD will fulfill all your gaming needs.
Top-notch hardware like Micron’s latest NAND flash memory, and in-house controller, Crucial has revolutionized the hardware at the cost it comes. Being a cheap alternative to the current PCIe 4.0 setup, the hardware can also be used in the old setup configured for PCIe 3.0. However, users can expect some shortcomings in connection.
Adding to the features, Crucial P5 M.2 has replaced the cheap QLC flash memory with a quality TLC drive without any major price fluctuation. This puts the SSD in serious competition against the WD Black SN850. However, there can be some minor issues related to IOPS performance and operating temps that are not really a hindrance when compared to this SSD’s benefits.
Concluding our thorough research, it might not be the best one in the market but keeping the price-performance comparison in mind; the Crucial P5 M.2 SSD is totally worth the price. Mostly, it is cheaper than the other SSDs available.
Product Specification –
- Interface – M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4
- Read/write speed – 6600/5000 MB/s
- Warranty – 5 years
- Memory – Micron 176-layer TLC flash
- Controller – Crucial PCIe4.0 Gen
What We Like –
- An in-house controller provides better flexibility
- Top-notch facilities based on the price-performance comparison
What We Didn’t Like –
- Moderate 4K performance
3) Seagate Firecuda 530 Solid State Drive – M.2 PCIe Gen4 ×4 NVMe For Gaming.
Seagate has finally entered the PCIe 4.0 market segment with its beast. Unleashing the Firecuda 530, Seagate must be the first choice for every gaming PC user. While we take to read/write speed into account, one must not forget about the durability of a product. With an unbelievable 2550 TBW rating, the endurance level for Seagate Firecuda 530 is unmatched.
While 2TB and 4TB comes in with the same rating of 7300/6900 MB/s, we found that it decreases in the 1TB and 500GB version. Combining the Micron 176-layer TLC NAND with a Phison PS5018-E18 controller provides unparalleled read and write latency as it brings a 35% improvement over its predecessor.
One shouldn’t doubt the SSD when it comes to high-quality performance. Tests by our experts proved that 4K performance can be easily rendered using the Seagate Firecuda 350, making it the best SSD for gaming laptops as well. However, there is no integrated cooling fan associated. We recommend having an integrated cooling system in the motherboard as it can unleash prolonged gaming sessions without any issue.
Product Specification –
- Interface – M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4
- Read/write speed – 7300/6900 MB/s
- Warranty – 5 years
- Memory – Micron 176-layer TLC NAND
- Controller – Phison PS5018-E18 controller
What We Like –
- Incomparable endurance rating
- Best in the market
What We Didn’t Like –
- No integrated cooling system
4) Samsung 970 Evo Plus Series: M.2 NVMe Solid State Drive For Gaming Needs
Being fond of the high-quality hardware that Samsung associates itself with, choosing one of its SSD makes sense for most users. Giving the much-needed upgrade to Samsung 970 Evo, the plus series can unleash higher write performance revolutionizing the gaming experience. Amidst other specs, the Samsung 970 Evo Plus is available for the same price making it more attractive to the audience. Therefore, our research on Samsung’s hardware makes this one of the best SSD for gaming pcs.
Using the Samsung Phoenix controller, users would have to worry little about real-world usage. The 500GB version of this model works well for any gaming rig. There are other SSDs available at competitive pricing but might lag a little in performance. While it fits your budget, this SSD mostly acts as the secondary drive for most gaming rigs, as 500GB alone doesn’t suffice the requirements most of the time.
Therefore, make a wise choice comparing your budget and the list of best SSD for gaming laptops.
Product Specification –
- Interface – M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4
- Read/write speed – 3500/3200 MB/s
- Warranty – 5 years
- Memory – Samsung 3-bit MLC
- Controller – Samsung Phoenix
What We Like –
- Integrated Samsung technology which uplifts the gaming rig
- Tough competitor when it comes to real-world performance
What We Didn’t Like –
- While 500GB is a smart purchase, 1TB can be a costly buy.
If you are Looking For SATA Type the best-recommended one is the Crucial MX500
5) Crucial MX500 – SATA SSD For Non M.2 Slots Supported Gaming Laptops.
The list of best SSD for gaming pc can never come to an end without including a SATA drive in it. While all the above-mentioned SSDs are M.2 in nature, the Crucial MX500 is packed to act as secondary storage. It is crucial to understand that most motherboards offer different SSD slot types, and accommodating them will lead to superior performance.
Being the most affordable in the market, we found that Crucial MX500 also meets the current market bandwidth limit of 600MB/s. While you store all your games in your primary drive, keeping the best one in this will provide a lag-free experience. Our experts highly advise utilizing this hardware as a smart alternative if it fits your budget.
However, if you plan to avoid purchasing an M.2 drive, make sure to buy the 1TB version, as it will provide enough space for your daily gaming experience. On the other hand, be prepared to face lag on the operating system as it is not as fast as the M.2 drives.
Available in most laptops, we consider Crucial MX500 as the best SSD for gaming laptops.
Product Specification –
- Interface – 3D NAND SATA
- Read/write speed – 560/510 MB/s
- Warranty – 5 years
- Memory – Micron DDR3
- Controller – Silicon Motion SM2258 four-channel
What We Like –
- The best SATA SSD in the market currently
- Protection against host power failure
What We Dislike –
- Might face issues during heavy data writes
Factors To Consider Before Deciding SSD Size For Your Gaming PC
Users must decide upon the storage size wisely depending on their gaming needs. While 500GB seems like a viable option, it can be problematic for high-storage requiring games like Red Dead Redemption.
Similarly, the SSD size can also decide on the write speed and affect your daily usage. Avoid using 250GB as an option and try combining an M.2 drive with a SATA drive to fit the same in your Gaming PCs budget. To provide a seamless experience, users must opt for 1TB as it will fulfill most of the requirements.
SATA SSDs vs. NVMe PCIe SSD For Gaming
While SATA SSD was launched before NVMe PCIe-based SSDs, NVMe provides exponentially better performance when compared with its predecessor. On average, NVMe can provide a sustainable read-write rate of 3.5 GB/s compared to 600MB/s on SATA SSD. Therefore, choosing NVMe PCIe SSD for high-resolution editing or gaming will provide accurate performance.
The high-performance rate by NVMe comes at a significant price difference which makes it viable for all chores. Similarly, your motherboard must be well-equipped to enable an NVMe PCIe SSD, which is not the same when we speak about SATA SSD.
Most of the NVMe SSDs are available in a size range of 250GB to 2TB, while SATA SSD can range up to 16TB. The costlier option for NVMe SSD can range up to 8TB.
Considering all the factors in hand can help a user decide upon the type of SSD they need. If gaming is not the need of the hour, users can buy the SATA SSD as it provides superior performance compared to HDD and can help with daily chores. On the other hand, users can install the SATA SSD as the backup drive to cover for shape shortage in NVMe SSD.
How To Test SSD’s Performance For Gaming PCs?
Testing your Gaming PC SSD’s performance can be a crucial key in the long run. After years of usage, your drive can show issues you aren’t aware of. Instead of formatting the drive, try using the Sequential Read and Write test or the 4K Random Read and Write test. While both tests estimate your drive’s performance, it is important to compare them with a benchmark.
ATTO Disk is popularly known among manufacturers as it uses compressible data. However, this data might not match real-world performance. To address the same, use an SSD benchmark as it utilizes uncompressed data to complete the test.
Takeaway
With this guide, finding the best SSD for gaming pc wouldn’t be a problem anymore. The five recommendations will cover all your gaming and video-editing needs. Similarly, finding the difference between a SATA SSD and NVMe M.2 SSD will provide you with a brief idea about how to move forward with the same.
Unlock the true potential of your gaming rig with the best SSDs in hand!
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