Do you want an SSD that delivers blazing-fast transfer and boot speeds? Well, say no more. Here are some of the best SSDs on the market.
If you want your computer to boot in seconds or your game to load instantly, you need a Solid State Drive (SSD). Or maybe you want faster data transfer speeds. Whatever the case may be, you need an SSD. The faster the drive is, the quicker your games will load. PCIe Gen 5 and Gen 4 drives offer the kind of performance you are looking for, but they can be much more expensive than standard PCIe Gen 3 SSDs.
While DirectStorage technology works with PCIe Gen 3 drives, the much faster Gen 4 and Gen 5 drives are recommended for better performance. In this article, we are sharing some of the best SSDs you should buy to achieve faster boot times, load times, and transfer speeds.
Note: Some aspects of this article are subjective and reflect the writer’s opinions. Also, prices mentioned herein are subject to change.
1) Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB SSD
Price: $239.99
The Samsung 9100 PRO is an absolute beast when it comes to raw performance. It can reach up to 14,700/13,400 MB/s read/write speeds, courtesy of being a PCIe Gen 5 drive. This level of speed is simply amazing and also future-proofs it. Such speeds are exactly what users who work in the AI industry need. It is perfect for training large language AI models.
If pricing is not an issue, go with it without a second thought. Just ensure to use a thermal heatsink for the best results. Such heatsinks are included in high-end motherboards.
2) TEAMGROUP T-Force G50 4TB SSD
Price: $199.99
The TEAMGROUP T-Force G50 is a PCIe Gen 4 SSD that offers decent transfer speeds. However, what is special about this drive is not its speed but its capacity. This is a 4TB SSD, which is available for the price of a 2TB drive. If storage capacity is more important to you than raw speed, then this is the drive you want.
It has an endurance of 2600 TBW, so its lifespan is much longer than any other drive on this list. The only caveat is that it is a DRAM-less SSD, so it cannot deliver sustained performance for as long as other drives at the same price point.
3) Samsung 990 PRO 2TB SSD
Price: $149.99
If you want amazing speeds without burning a hole in your wallet, then the Samsung 990 PRO is the one to buy. It is under $150, yet it offers 7,450/6,900 MB/s read/write speeds, which is quite fast. In fact, it is one of the fastest PCIe Gen 4 SSDs. The Samsung 990 PRO is also equipped with a blazing-fast 2GB of LPDDR4X RAM, which is used as a cache along with an SLC cache to sustain high-performance speeds for much longer.
4) WD_BLACK SN7100 2TB SSD
Price: $139
The WD_BLACK SN7100 is just as good as the Samsung 990 PRO but comes at a cheaper price. Western Digital went with a DRAM-less system to make this SSD more affordable. The lack of DRAM doesn’t affect gaming at all. You will only notice it when transferring large data from this SSD to another drive. The lack of DRAM makes it impossible to sustain high speeds for long periods. For gamers, that won’t be an issue. Therefore, you may choose this over the Samsung 990 PRO if you are on a limited budget.
5) Samsung 990 EVO 2TB SSD
Price: $129.99
The Samsung 990 EVO is a budget SSD that can deliver decent PCIe Gen 4 speeds at a lower price point. It is available for under $130, yet it can reach up to 5,000/4,200 MB/s read/write speeds, which should be more than enough for most people. It is also a DRAM-less SSD, but that is expected at this price point. The Samsung 990 EVO is fully compatible with PS5 and PS5 Pro, and there won’t be any issues.
Final Thoughts
The Samsung 9100 PRO is the fastest SSD on this list and also the most expensive. The Samsung 990 PRO holds the middle ground, as it offers a better price-to-performance ratio. However, if you want something on a budget, the WD_BLACK SN7100 is also a great option.
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