Best SSD for gaming – the top solid state drives in 2022. Which ssd for gaming pc

Your operating system and your most played games should be stored on the SSD. Modern games range in size from 10 to 50 GB, so keep that in mind when comparing the SSDs we supplied.

Best SSD 2022

At this point, we have an SSD for all your storage needs, whether you want to completely eliminate load times or get affordable storage space. Hard drives still have their place to store your media and game backups, but at this point your gaming PC or any PC should have an SSD to act as a boot drive. Even consoles have gone over to SSDs, and you can add M.2 shelves to your PS5 to increase your storage space.

There is a wide range of SSDs available with different transfer speeds, NAND types, and all different prices. That’s a lot to figure out, but that’s why we’re here to showcase only the best SSDs. Whether you’re gaming or just want a fast, reliable startup disk, these are the drives you need. In addition, we help you understand the storage specs if you are looking for something beyond our recommendations – click here to view it in the UK.

TL;DR – These are the Best SSDs:

Best SSD

Capacity: 1TB | Interface: M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x 4 | Sequential Read: 6600 MB / s | Sequential Write: 5000 MB / s | NAND type: Micron Advanced 3D NAND | Warranty: 5 years or 600 TBW

The Crucial P5 Plus offers high speeds with solid durability and even better value. With 1TB of disk space and a sequential read speed of 6,600MB / s, it offers powerful capabilities for less than $ 150, making it our top choice for the best SSD. This NVME SSD supports PCIe 4.0 technology, which makes it much faster than PCIe 3.0 drives. And while it costs a bit more, it is ahead of the other drives on our list, such as the WD_Black SN750 SE and Samsung 980.

This SSD is perfect for hardcore gamers, creative content creators, or the heavy workload. Additionally, the Crucial P5 Plus meets the minimum specification requirements to work with the PS5 when used with a heat sink. Advanced controller technology and Micron Advanced 3D NAND technology will make the device faster, store more information, run more efficiently and use less energy. In addition, Crucial P5 offers a warranty of 5 years or a total of 600 disk writes. For your next gaming PC, this is the perfect part to go with any affordable CPU and motherboard.

But before we discuss the reasons why a hard drive may still be a viable choice for some gamers, we first need to address the differences between internal and external SSDs.

wd black sn850 1tb

The best gaming SSD is the WD Black SN850 1TB.

This PCIe 4.0 based NVMe drive offers some of the best speeds found on consumer SSDs today, offering sequential read and write speeds of 7,000MB / s and 5,300MB / s respectively.

This helps drastically reduce startup times when turning on your PC, and as more and more developers are asking for SSD in their gaming system requirements, it’s an ideal drive for high-storage-capacity games like Microsoft Flight Simulator. If your motherboard doesn’t have one, it’s also available with its own RGB heatsink to reduce the risk of thermal throttling.

What we like
Nearly half the price of the competition
Optional heat sink
Super fast

WD Black SN850 1 TB specification
Controller	WD on your own
Memory	TLC 3D
Electric socket	M.2 (NVMe)
Capacity	500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
Sequence read / write	7000MB / s / 5300MB / s

Samsung 970 EVO Plus

The best PCIe 3.0 SSD is the Samsung 970 EVO Plus.

The Samsung 970 EVO Plus was the last PCIe 3.0 SSD before we all moved to the higher spec PCIe 4.0 drives introduced with 3rd generation AMD Ryzen. The 970 EVO Plus is almost half the price of the original thanks to the drastic drop in memory prices – a value that the SSD has managed to maintain over its lifetime.

So you have an SSD that is generally faster, especially when it comes to the write performance provided by this enhanced Phoenix controller, and one that is at least the same price as the drive it replaces. This is how you do iterative hardware upgrades, folks.

What we like
Same price as the 970 EVO
Higher efficiency
Improved endurance

Specification of Samsung 970 EVO Plus 500 GB
Controller	Samsung Phoenix
Memory	Samsung 3-bit MLC
Electric socket	M.2 (NVMe)
Capacity	250 GB, 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
Sequence read / write	3,500 MB / s / 3,300 MB / s

Read the PCGamesN Samsung 970 EVO Plus review for a full verdict and rating.

A strange British-American hybrid, Will turns caffeine into tech articles in a little-known process called “writing.” His favorite games are Counter-Strike, StarCraft and Fallout 2. He will also be tweeting the latest tech deals at @DealsFoundry.

Fastest SATA SSD: Samsung 870 Evo

Type: 2.5 inch SATA SSD | Capacities: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | Sequential speeds: up to 560MB / s reads and 530MB / s writes

The Samsung 870 Evo is a TLC (3-bit NAND) alternative to the company’s 870 Qvo QLC (4-bit NAND) drive. Storing less bits per cell compared to the earlier Qvo disk increases the cost of a gigabyte, but also improves performance. This is especially true for random performance where small chunks of data are read or written rather than long, sequential chunks – for example, think about gaming rather than copying a large video file. Write endurance is also increased, as evidenced by the three-year warranty on the 870 Qvo compared to Samsung’s five-year warranty on the 870 Evo.

In our tests, the 870 was the fastest SATA drive we’ve ever tested, beating Samsung’s Crucial MX500 and Samsung’s own 860 Evo. For this reason, the 870 Evo is a great choice if you need top performance and don’t have the luxury of a faster NVMe socket.

Best cheap NVMe SSD: WD Blue SN570

Type: M.2 NVMe SSD | Capacities: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Sequential speeds: up to 3,500MB / s reads, up to 3,000MB / s writes

The WD Blue SN570 is our new best inexpensive SSD, replacing the older WD Blue SN550. The new model costs a bit more, but offers much faster sequential speeds, going from 2400MB / s reads to 3500MB / s reads – quite a tasty improvement. Write speeds have also increased from 1,950MB / s to 3,000MB / s, but be aware that smaller drives have correspondingly lower write speeds (a common SSD phenomenon). Note that the SN570 uses TLC memory instead of the cheaper QLC, which allows WD to offer a five-year warranty – cool. With around £ 10 in cost premium over the outgoing SN550 (at the time of writing), the SN570 is the best value option, although I wouldn’t rule out the SN550 if it has been heavily discounted or if you want a 2TB size – true now the SN570 is hitting a maximum of 1TB.

General recommendations? Well, this non-DRAM SSD is no match for the fastest PCIe 3.0 drives on the market, especially for long-lasting random writes, so it’s an ideal choice for gaming or multimedia storage, but a little less good as an operating system drive or for heavy tasks such as video editing. This is where higher-quality SSDs with DRAM caches perform better. Meanwhile, the Samsung 980 can be discounted below the SN570 at times, while offering faster real-world performance, so check the prices of both models. Ultimately, however, the SN570 is a great budget choice.

Alternative option: Samsung SSD 980

Type: M.2 NVMe SSD | Capacities: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Sequential speeds: up to 3,500MB / s reads, up to 3,000MB / s writes

The Samsung SSD 980 is another great option that offers slightly better real-world performance than the WD SN570 with the same specs, albeit at a higher RRP. Like the SN570, it is an NVMe SSD without DRAM, featuring a modern controller, large SLC cache, and high-speed 3D TLC flash memory. We were only able to test the smallest 250 GB drive, which is unable to reach the height of the 1TB model, achieving around 2,900 MB / s reads and 1,400 MB / s writes in our tests. Regardless, it remains fast to use, and speeds only drop when ~ 45GB of SLC cache is exhausted; Larger 500GB and 1TB drives offer even larger ~ 100GB and ~ 160GB SLC caches, which should allow you to maintain performance for longer.

The 980 SSD comes in three sizes: 250GB ($ 45 / £ 43), 500GB ($ 60 / £ 44 on sale), and 1TB ($ 110 / £ 78 on sale). We recommend that you choose which disk is the cheapest in your region.

Like many different technologies, the PCI Express (PCIe for short) interface has had many different generations over the years. We are currently in the middle of the PCIe Gen 3 to PCIe Gen 4 transition. The main difference between the two is the amount of bandwidth that data has to move between different parts of the computer.

Can you use an external SSD for PC gaming?

As with hard drives, there are both external and internal solid state drives that you can use for additional storage on your gaming PC.

Depending on the year and manufacturer of your computer, it may already have an internal SSD if it has been manufactured in the past few years as solid-state drives are quickly becoming the norm for both gaming PCs and laptops.

While it’s increasingly common for gaming PCs to have internal SSDs built in by their manufacturers, you always have the option of purchasing an external SSD if it’s missing.

External SSDs are portable and smaller than ever, so they’re a great choice if you don’t feel like opening up your computer to install an internal SSD or taking it to an expert.

External and internal SSDs are largely functionally the same, with the basic difference being very simple: the external SSD can be plugged into the computer and used immediately, while the internal SSD must be plugged into the computer’s motherboard.

Most computers allow you to use both an internal and external SSD if you need more memory.

Given that many modern PC games can be hundreds of GB in size, using an external SSD in addition to the internal SSD or the hard drive your computer already has may be worth considering if you have a large number of games that you spin frequently.

What is an HDD?

Before deciding on an SSD for your gaming laptop, you should decide if the hard drive itself is sufficient for gaming and browsing the Internet.

For many years, hard drives have been standard in both desktops and laptops because they are readily available, economical, and have enormous storage capacities.

However, they are quickly becoming obsolete as the technology used in SSDs becomes faster, cheaper and more efficient.

A hard drive is a form of electronic memory used in computers. A typical hard drive consists of a stack of thin, magnetized disks, also known as disk platters, for storing data.

Data is accessed via the attached actuator arm with a magnetized head that reads and writes information stored on the platters of the disks.

Historically, the standard size of most hard drives was 5.2 inches (13.21 cm). However, in recent years this number has decreased to two main sizes: 3.5 inches (8.89 cm) and 2.5 inches (6.35 cm), with the 2.5-inch (6.35 cm) variation commonly used in laptops and the 3.5 inch (8.89 cm) size usually found in desktop computers.

Most standard desktops and laptops have hard drives installed as they are the default for electronic storage. But are there still any benefits to using one of the more modern and elegant SSDs?

Capacity: 1TB | Interface: M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 x 4 | Sequential Read: 3500 MB / s | Sequential Write: 3000 MB / s | NAND type: V-NAND MLC | Warranty: 5 years or 600 TBW

Samsung 870 Evo

The best SATA SSD for gaming

Samsung 870 Evo specs:

When it comes to buying a gaming SSD, many people still choose a 2.5-inch SATA drive over a super-fast NVMe SSD, if only because the latter is quite expensive and you need a motherboard that supports it. For SATA SSD hunters, the Samsung 870 Evo is the best hard drive for the job today. Its daily speeds aren’t much faster than its predecessor, the 860 Evo, but as this drive becomes increasingly hard to come by, the 870 Evo is now our SATA SSD for them.

Honestly, the Crucial MX500 is another good budget option for SATA buyers, but when the 870 Evo’s prices are just a fraction more these days, there’s no point in picking the MX500 unless you can find it at a significant discount. Moreover, the 870 Evo also has a much higher endurance than the MX500: 300 Terabyte Written (TBW) for the 500 GB model compared to just 180 TBW for the 500 GB MX500. It’s fast, tough, and yet unbeatable for overall value.

What we like:
✔️ The fastest SATA drive you can buy today
✔️ Great endurance levels
✔️ Better value for money than the competition

Samsung 870 Qvo

The best large SATA SSD for gaming

Samsung 870 Qvo specs:

There is actually one SSD with faster write speeds than the Samsung 860 Evo and it is the Samsung 870 Qvo. Made of 4-bit MLC V-NAND instead of the 3-bit MLC like its Evo counterparts, the 870 Qvo has a much better value than the Samsung Evo counterparts. Its performance is more or less the same, and it is much cheaper. Consequently, if you’re looking for an SSD of at least 1TB, but don’t want to spend tons of cash (on an expensive NVMe SSD or high-capacity SATA drive), the 870 Qvo is your best bet to go.

Like the rest of Samsung’s drives, the 870 Qvo has exceptional endurance ratings and warranties, and its random read and write times are at its best. Additionally, if you have enough cash, you can buy one that has as much as 8TB – which is virtually unheard of in SATA circles. It’s still not as cheap as buying a large hard drive, but it’s the best you can get for an SSD.

What we like:
✔️ Perfect everyday performance
✔️ Great value for money
✔️ As fast as Samsung Evo SSDs

In addition, many newer gaming PCs have a dual storage configuration that uses a hard drive and an SSD, eliminating the need to purchase an additional drive yourself.

SSD Alienware Gaming Desktops

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No interest if paid in full within 12 months for $ 799+^

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Alienware Aurora Ryzen™ Edition R14 Gaming Desktop

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Financing

No interest if paid in full within 12 months for $ 799+^

Interest will be charged to your account from the date the transaction is posted if the purchase balance is not fully paid within 12 months.

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How We Test

From graphics cards to SSDs, we like to use all the hardware we recommend. Product testing is a huge part of our overall selection process, so we can be sure that a specific option is best for the job.

Products must pass our testing, which is largely gaming related, with other boring stuff, but most, if not every recommendation, have gone through a rigorous testing process.

For SSDs, especially the ones we list as the best for gaming, we need to evaluate the build quality, performance and finally value.

This process allows us to determine exactly how well individual SSDs are performing and ultimately whether they are worth your hard-earned cash.

Things To Consider

PC components are considered an investment, so no matter what your hardware is, there will always be a few key things to consider before making your final purchase. In this section, we’ll go over why you should buy an SSD, discuss the storage capacity, and briefly explain the different interfaces to make sure you go with the right product for your individual needs.

Storage Capacity

Due to faster speeds and more expensive manufacturing methods, SSDs are much more expensive per gigabyte than a hard drive. For this reason, most enthusiasts prefer to have an SSD in their system along with a hard disk, so as not to lose either performance or disk space.

When choosing an SSD, you’ll want to find out how much of it you’re actually going to use. If you already have a hard drive that you can use with it, use the hard drive to store most of your media and games.

Your operating system and your most played games should be stored on the SSD. Modern games range in size from 10 to 50 GB, so keep that in mind when comparing the SSDs we supplied.

Unless you’re going to supplement your SSD with a hard drive, you’ll want to spend more on storage to compensate for that. You should also get used to carefully managing your existing disk space.

Interface

There are three main interfaces for SSDs: SATA 3, M.2, and PCI-E.

SATA 3 is an interface shared by standard hard drives and has limited speeds compared to M.2 or PCIe. However, even with SATA speeds dropping, SSDs far exceed the capabilities of a hard drive.

The M.2 is both an interface and an enclosure, designed for small SSDs and the tiny slots they can be connected to. These slots can support either a SATA or PCIe signal, providing the same or better performance, all significantly saving installation space.

The PCI-E SSD is installed in the same way as a desktop graphics processor: in the PCI-E slot. PCI-E SSDs have world-class performance and are most commonly used in enterprise environments due to the memory bandwidth and speed offered by the PCI-E slot compared to alternatives.