Greatest SSD for gaming 2023

What’s the finest SSD for gaming? We’ve been maintaining with the newest (and, after all, quickest) strong state drives, racing their learn and write speeds in opposition to each other. With storage necessities rising ever bigger, it’s by no means been extra essential to ensure your system’s received loads of area to your present and future favorite video games.

Regardless of how previous your gaming PC is, any system can profit from swapping from ageing mechanical drives to extra trendy SSD choices. Along with getting quicker with the appearance of the NVMe protocol, M.2 drives imply terabytes of storage has by no means been so small or inexpensive.

Right here are our greatest SSD for gaming picks in 2023:

1. WD Black SN850X

The finest SSD for gaming is the WD Black SN850X.
Anticipate to pay $159.99-$699.99 / £153.99-£701.99.

Professionals

• The quickest PCIe 4.0 gaming SSD
• Non-obligatory RGB heatsink
• Software program ensures most efficiency with Recreation Mode 2.0

Cons

• Nice efficiency comes at an ideal price
• Can run a contact scorching with out a heatsink

The WD Black SN850X is the quickest SSD you should purchase, making full use of its PCIe 4.0 interface with lightning-fast sequential learn and write speeds of seven,300MB/s and 6,600MB/s, respectively.

This stage of efficiency not solely improves loading occasions in video games, however you need to discover your gaming PC boots quicker and extra shortly handles normal duties. You’ll at all times get essentially the most out of the drive whereas enjoying video games too, due to its Recreation Mode 2.0 toggle within the included software program.

Should you’re frightened about potential thermal throttling impacting the WD Black SN850X, you possibly can decide it up with an optionally available heatsink for peace of thoughts. Higher nonetheless, the heatsink comes with a splash of RGB too, so it will probably look cool whereas staying cool.

2. Samsung 980

The finest PCIe 3.0 SSD is the Samsung 980.
Anticipate to pay $52.99-$139.99 USD / £44.99-£93.99 GBP.

Professionals

• Quick PCIe 3.0 speeds
• Sturdy Samsung Magician software program

Cons

• Outperformed by PCIe 4.0 drives
• No DRAM

The Samsung 980 is the right match for anybody trying to improve their ageing SATA arduous drives or SSDs with one thing a bit nippier. The South Korean tech big’s storage elements have remained among the many most fascinating out there for years, and it’s not arduous to see why.

Utilizing a PCIe 3.0 interface, the Samsung 980 delivers sequential learn and write speeds that rework any sluggish gaming PC right into a nippy machine. The SSD may be additional enhanced by means of using Samsung Magician software program, making it simple to get essentially the most out of your new drive.

3. Samsung 870 EVO

The finest SATA SSD is the Samsung 870 EVO.
Anticipate to pay $33.99-$269.99 / £29.99-£223.99.

Professionals

• Nonetheless loads quick for PC video games
• Excessive capability choices

Cons

• Barely lofty price ticket
• A lot slower in comparison with NVMe drives

NVMe SSDs will undoubtedly change their SATA brethren, however there’s nonetheless loads of worth available in drives that use the ageing interface just like the Samsung 870 EVO. Whereas its sequential learn and write speeds could seem paltry within the face of PCIe storage, it’s nonetheless loads quick for many video games and is undeniably quicker than any arduous drive.

Should you prioritise capability over velocity, choosing the Samsung 870 EVO may very well be a sensible transfer. You’ll be able to decide it up in sizes that go all the best way as much as 4TB, which means you gained’t have to fret about rehoming your Steam library and it prices a lot lower than any M.2 SSD with the identical quantity of area.

4. Essential P5 Plus

The finest low cost PCIe 4.0 SSD is the Essential P5 Plus.
Anticipate to pay $74.99-$149.99 / £71.99 – £239.99.

Professionals

• Tremendous snappy learn/write speeds
• Nice endurance score
• 5-year guarantee

Cons

• Not the quickest drive in its class
• Could possibly be extra energy environment friendly

PCIe 4.0 SSDs don’t need to break the bank, and Essential’s P5 Plus proves you possibly can decide up a drive with respectable efficiency with out having to stretch your funds.

Not solely does the Essential P5 Plus boast learn speeds as much as 6,600MB/s however its two million-hour imply time to failure (MTTF) score means it’s dependable in addition. In fact, it additionally comes with a five-year guarantee, simply in case its spectacular endurance score isn’t sufficient to incite confidence.

5. WD Blue SN570

The finest low cost PCIe 3.0 SSD is the WD Blue SN570.
Anticipate to pay $29.99-$99.99 / £24.99-£89.99.

Professionals

• Full x4 PCIe 3 interface
• Nice price-to-performance worth
• 900TBW endurance

Cons

WD is right here to point out you can, the truth is, have all of it, because the Blue SN570 NVMe SSD boasts as much as 2TB of storage, a strong 900TBW endurance, and respectable learn and write speeds for one the bottom costs you’ll discover.

In fact, it’s not the quickest drive on the market, however it’s arms down one of the best you will get beneath $100 with out sacrificing capability, velocity, or each. That makes it the right possibility for the finest gaming PC on a funds.

6. Essential MX500

The finest low cost SATA SSD is the Essential MX500.
Anticipate to pay $34.99-$218.99/ £26.99-£235.99.

Professionals

• Aggressive value
• High learn/write efficiency for SATA
• Good endurance

Cons

• Decrease capacities are slower

The MX500 needs to be your go-to in case you’re wanting the most affordable SSD attainable, with out compromising an excessive amount of on high quality. Due to its Micron guardian firm, Essential is ready to supply SSDs utilizing its personal high-quality reminiscence for an ideal value.

The MX500 severely undercuts its competitors and whereas it’s not strictly the most affordable SSD in the marketplace, it’s essentially the most budget-friendly we are able to suggest as a worthwhile, high quality buy.

Learn our Essential MX500 evaluation for a full verdict and rating.

7. Gigabyte Aorus RGB M.2 NVMe SSD

The finest RGB SSD is the Gigabyte Aorus RGB M.2 NVMe SSD.
Anticipate to pay as much as $119.99 / £87.99.

Professionals

• Greatest trying SSD with RGB
• 5-year guarantee

Cons

• Not as quick as it’s fairly
• Tops out at 512GB

SSDs normally aren’t the flashiest of elements, typically taking a again seat to RGB-clad gadgets like graphics playing cards, the finest CPU coolers, and the gaming RAM. However the Gigabyte Aorus RGB M.2 NVMe SSD is the outlier to that rule, with a surprising design that deserves to be on present.

Should you don’t need to cover your M.2 drive beneath a shroud, the Gigabyte Aorus RGB M.2 NVMe SSD is the newest PC part to be RGB’d, with its strikingly brilliant and customisable heatsink. It’s not too overbearing and might add a little bit of flare to your setup.

8. SK Hynix Platinum P41

The finest M.2 SSD for laptops is the SK Hynix Platinum P41.
Anticipate to pay $89.99-$156.99 / £89.99-£156.99.

Professionals

• Compact kind issue
• 5-year guarantee
• Extraordinary 1,200TBW score

Cons

Even the finest gaming laptop computer advantages from extra storage, and the SK Hynix Platinum P41 SSD is ideal for growing your on-the-go storage with out compromising on spec. That includes an in-house Aries controller, this drive is able to learn speeds as much as 7,000MB/s, which means it’ll run rings round SATA SSDs and lots of NVMe choices.

Despite its spectacular speeds, the Platinum P41 options an equally spectacular energy effectivity score, one thing that helps preserve peak efficiency inside a toasty laptop computer atmosphere. Naturally, this additionally means it’ll be kinder to your moveable powerhouse’s battery, which might make it easier to spend much less time gaming subsequent to an influence outlet.

9. Corsair EX100U

The finest exterior SSD for gaming is the Corsair EX100U.
Anticipate to pay $69.99-$384.99 / £74.99-£389.99.

Professionals

• Thrice quicker than SATA SSDs
• Compact design
• USB Sort-C connection

Cons

• No mud or water resistance
• No USB-A adaptor
• Included cable is a bit quick

The opposite SSDs on this checklist will stay inside your rig, however in case you’re smart, you’ll additionally hold backup exterior storage on standby. The Corsair EX100U is each small and speedy, making it the right storage resolution for if you’re on the go.

It’s value noting that the Corasir EX100U makes use of a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface, which permits it to supply learn and write speeds quicker lightyears forward of SATA. Nevertheless, don’t fear in case you don’t have a built-in USB-C port in your machine because it comes with a USB-A adapter.

10. Sabrent Rocket 2230

The finest Steam Deck SSD is the Sabrent Rocket 2230.
Anticipate to pay $49.99-£159.99 / £49.99-£149.99.

Professionals

• Proper dimension for Steam Deck
• Nice specs
• Sturdy

Cons

• Requires opening up your Deck

Should you’ve already had a peek inside Valve’s handheld, you’ll already know that a typical M.2 SSD isn’t going to suit. Fortunately, the Sabrent Rocket 2230 is strictly the appropriate dimension, so that you gained’t need to make any bizarre modifications to broaden your on-the-go storage.

The Sabrent Rocket 2230 is perhaps dinky sufficient to suit contained in the Steam Deck, however it nonetheless packs a solid-state punch. The PCIe 4.0 drive boasts as much as 4,750MB/s learn speeds, and also you’ll be capable to write as much as 4,300MB/s to the compact SSD. Regardless of its dimension, 1TB fashions are additionally out there, which means you may deliver an excellent higher chunk of your Steam library with you in your travels.

Searching for extra moveable add-ons? Try our greatest Steam Deck equipment checklist for extra methods to reinforce Valve’s handheld gaming PC.

What are the advantages of utilizing an SSD?

Stable-state drives are inherently quicker than conventional mechanical drives, largely because of the reality they function no shifting elements. So, by changing your previous arduous drive with even the most affordable SSD, you possibly can count on quick boot occasions, speedy file switch charges, and even enhanced gaming efficiency. That mentioned, putting in a shiny new storage drive gained’t magically make your gaming PC quicker, particularly in case you’re nonetheless rocking previous elements.

SATA vs NVMe SSDs

SATA drives have been round for some time longer, and whereas they provide decrease learn and write speeds than you’ll discover on an NVMe-based drive, the value per GB is far decrease. This makes them the right alternative if you’d like a high-capacity solid-state drive for storing your Steam library, or in case you’re going for a funds PC construct. Plus, the speeds are nonetheless considerably higher than a traditional arduous drive.

What’s an add-in card SSD?

Add-in card SSDs look somewhat bit like graphics playing cards, and so they hook up with your PC through PCIe. Whereas they use the identical customary as M.2, PCIe choices boast compatibility over M.2, as you gained’t want a motherboard with a more moderen socket kind to improve from SATA.

Which capability SSD ought to I’m going for?

Not all the finest PC video games profit from being put in on an SSD, so that you don’t essentially want a drive as massive as your secondary storage. Should you simply need an SSD to put in Home windows onto, then a 512GB capability is enough. 1TB is sufficient for putting in a couple of video games that profit, too, though you possibly can go even increased.

Can you set a PCIe 5.0 SSD in a PCIe 4.0 slot?

PCIe 4.0 is each backwards appropriate and forwards appropriate, which means you should utilize a PCIe 3.0 drive with the newer format and vice versa. It’s value noting in each situations, your efficiency will probably be constricted by the three.0 customary’s limitations.