Best NVMe SSD: Whether you are creating a new gaming setup or upgrading the storage on your current PC, investing in one of the best solid-state drives (SSD) on the market makes sense. NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) SSDs, on the other hand, are the best performing storage with the quickest read and write speeds. They not only offer up to 12 times quicker speeds than SATA drives, but they are also more dependable and have a longer lifespan. However, NVMe SSDs are used in the latest-generation game consoles from Microsoft and Sony, with the PlayStation 5 including a user-accessible M.2 port to accommodate an additional NVMe SSD.
There are several options if you are looking to purchase a new NVMe SSD. To make things easier, we have compiled a list of the best NVMe SSDs to buy in 2022. Our best picks are the WD Black SN850, the Seagate Firecuda 530, and the Samsung 980 Pro, all of which are affordable and perform well.
The Best NVMe SSD: WD Black SN850
The future of gaming is here with the WD_BLACK SN850 NVMe SSD. Long load times are obsolete with PCIe Gen4 technology, reaching up to 7000MB/s read speed and up to 5300MB/s write speed (1TB model). Spend more time playing and less time deleting, storing your latest and favorite games with up to 2TB capacity. As used for storage capacity, 1GB = 1 billion bytes and 1TB = one trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on the operating environment. As used for transfer rate, 1 MB/s = 1 million bytes per second. Based on internal testing; performance may vary depending upon the host device, usage conditions, drive capacity, and other factors.
The Western Digital Black SN850 was our top suggestion for the best NVMe SSD in 2021, and it remains one of our top recommendations this year. When compared to the other SSDs on this list, the SN850 is slightly less expensive while still providing some of the quickest speeds. Sequential read speeds of up to 7,000MBps and write speeds of up to 5,300MBps are possible with the PCIe Gen 4 SSD. It is available in capacities of 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB, with durability ratings of 300 TBW (Terabytes Written), 600 TBW, and 1200 TBW, respectively, which is comparable to Samsung’s 980 Pro and the Crucial P5 Plus.
The WD Black SN850 also comes with a specific heatsink variation that is sold separately and could provide improved thermal performance to keep temperatures under control. The WD Black SN850 is also PlayStation 5 compatible, which means it may be used to enhance the console’s capacity. Aside from gaming, this drive should provide outstanding performance for normal workloads and is appropriate for professionals who cannot compromise on data transfer speeds.
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The Best Speedy NVMe SSD: Seagate Firecuda 530
Performance nothing short of exhilarating, the FireCuda 530 SSD redefines speed—up to 7300MB/s catalyzes the full power of PCIe Gen4 with transfer rates 2× faster than Gen3 SSDs and 12× faster than SATA SSDs. Top it off with unrivaled endurance, FireCuda 530 is built for sustained abuse and accelerated gaming. The speed of PCIe Gen4 is yours—seize the power.
The Seagate Firecuda 530 is yet another highly rated NVMe SSD with one of the best endurance ratings of any NVMe SSD on the market. The standard model with 500GB capacity has an endurance rating of 640 TBW, 1TB has a rating of 1275 TBW, 2TB has a rating of 2550 TBW, and there is also a 4TB storage option with a rating of 5100 TBW. To deal with high temperatures, Seagate provides an optional custom heatsink designed by EK Water Blocks (EKWB) to ensure optimal cooling effectiveness, eliminating thermal throttling and allowing top performance for extended periods of time.
The Firecuda 530 is said to have the fastest speeds possible on a PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD, thanks to its 176-layer 3D TLC NAND. Sequential read rates of up to 7,300MBps and write speeds of up to 6,900MBps are claimed. It is also one of the few NVMe SSDs with a maximum storage capacity of 4TB on the market, and it is fully compatible with the PlayStation 5.
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Best NVMe Drive with AES encryption: Samsung 980 Pro
When it comes to flash storage, Samsung has always been a trusted name, and the 980 Pro is the company’s premier NVMe SSD option. It is also one of our top picks for anyone looking for the quickest storage technology as well as 256-bit hardware encryption. The drive is PCIe Gen 4 compliant, with sequential read rates of up to 7,000MBps and write speeds of up to 5,000MBps reported. It employs Samsung’s 3-bit MLC NAND technology with over 100 layers of cells and is said to utilize 15% less power than its predecessor. Furthermore, using Samsung’s Magician software, one can monitor the performance of the SSD, as well as its health and temperature.
However, you get to unleash the power of the Samsung 980 PRO PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD for next-level computing. 980 PRO delivers 2x the data transfer rate of PCIe 3.0 while maintaining compatibility with PCI 3.0. Results are based on a comparison with Samsung PCIe NVMe SSDs and SATA SSDs. Performance may vary depending on the SSD’s firmware version and the system hardware and system configuration. Performance measurements are based on IOmeter 1.1.0. The write performances were measured with Intelligent TurboWrite technology being activated. The sequential write performances after Intelligent TurboWrite region are up to 500MB/s(250GB), 1,000MB/s (500GB) and 2,000MB/s (1TB). To maximize the performance of the 980 PRO, you need to check whether your system supports PCIe 4.0 at the Intel or AMD website. Results are also based on a comparison with Samsung PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSDs and SATA SSDs.
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Best NVMe PCIe Gen 4 SSD: Crucial P5 Plus
The Crucial P5 Plus SSD delivers remarkable speed and data protection with sequential reads up to 6600MB/s for transformative computing. It is engineered by Micron with the latest Gen4 NVMe technology, the Crucial P5 Plus includes advanced features like full hardware-based encryption, dynamic write acceleration, and adaptive thermal protection to keep your data safe while enhancing system reliability. Designed specifically for intensive workloads, high-quality creative content, hardcore PC / console gaming and compatible with Heatsink. The P5 Plus is also backward compatible with most Gen3 systems for ultimate flexibility.
When compared to the choices from Samsung, Seagate, and Western Digital, the Crucial P5 Plus is a more cheap NVMe PCIe Gen 4 SSD. While it is fast, it is said to achieve peak sequential read speeds of up to 6,600MBps and write speeds of up to 5,000MBps, which are slightly slower than the ones stated above. It does, however, provide AES 256-bit hardware encryption, which is only found on the Samsung 980 Pro. The drive has similar endurance ratings to the Samsung 980 Pro, making it a good choice for individuals looking for a taste of PCIe Gen 4 storage without spending a lot of money. When combined with a heatsink, the Crucial P5 Plus is also compatible with the PlayStation 5.
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SK Hynix Gold P31: Affordable PCIe Gen 3.0 NVMe SSD
The Gold P31 is solid to the core. It lead the industry in sustained performance, putting each product through its paces. Enduring rigorous 1,000-hour stress tests, the Gold P31 achieved an impressive 1,200 TBW (Terabytes Written, 2TB Standard) rating. It provides customized SK Hynix edition Macrium cloning software for data transfers and OS migration along with Easy Kit software so you can check the performance and status of your SSD at a glance.
SK Hynix promises quality with confidence. The products have long-lasting performance so loyal customers can purchase with peace of mind. With the sleek stick-type M.2 form factor of 22X80mm, the Gold P31 SSD is not only compatible with desktops, but also easily installs into laptops. Don’t worry, you won’t have to miss out on powerful storage capacity as our new 2TB version can save all the data you need.
The SK Hynix Gold P31 is an excellent solution for individuals who are not yet ready to upgrade to PCIe Gen 4.0 or who are using an older system with a PCIe Gen 3.0 interface. It is reported to be one of the first NVMe SSDs on the market with a 128-layer flash, providing exceptional performance at a reasonable price. When utilized with a PCIe Gen 3.0 motherboard, the SSD is rated to reach peak read rates of up to 3,500MBps and write speeds of up to 3,200MBps. As a result, it is ideal for older desktops and laptops that do not support the PCIe Gen 4.0 interface.
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ADATA XPG Spectrix S40G
Think again if you thought there weren’t enough RGB items in the market. The ADATA XPG Spectrix S40G is one of the few NVMe SSDs that includes its own set of LEDs for adding some RGB fun to your system. You may adjust the lighting on the drive by using the XPG RGB Software one with the S40G. Aside from a color palette that can be customized, there are a number of preset effects to choose from.
Customization in Your Ways XPG S40G is the newest addition to the XPG product family Inherited from the legendary SX8200 Pro series. The XPG S40G is powered by the latest 3D NAND technology and PCIe NVMe interface and comes with a specially designed customizable RGB lighting heatsink for an enhanced computing experience. The latest technology S40G is able to reach sequential read/write up to 3500/3000MB/s. This exceptional speed helps to boost overall system responsiveness and decrease program and game loading time for professionals and hardcore gamers making the S40G SSD an ideal choice for enhanced gaming high-resolution graphic and video editing 3D modeling large data analysis artificial intelligence and other intensive applications.
However, it uses specification capacity 256GB / 512GB / 1TB Form Factor M 2 2280 Interface PCIe Gen 3×4 NVMe 1 2 supported Performance Read up to 3500MB/s Write up to 1900MB/s. Performance may vary based on SSD capacity host hardware and software operating system and other system variables Results are based on internal tests MTBF 2 000 000 Hours 5 Year Disclaimer. This is an internal PCIe M 2 SSD that utilizes an M key. To maximize the performance of this SSD, ensure your system supports M 2 PCIe x4 and NVMe function. Some motherboards may require additional setup in BIOS.
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