This isn’t about go-faster bragging rights though. Yes, you can copy enormous files to an SSD in record time, but it’s the massive boost that the drive will give you your computer’s responsiveness that will shock you most: applications launch almost instantly, web pages load faster, and Windows simply feels a lot faster. SSDs come in different sizes and shapes so we’ve tested a range of different types, predominantly modern M.2 NVMe (PCIe) drives but you might also see traditional SATA and others. Many are even compatible with the PlayStation 5 console. We’re testing internal drives here but we also have a chart of the best portable hard drives and SSDs if that’s what you’re after.
Best SSDs 2022
What to look for in an SSD
For those seeking the very best performance, there’s still a case for finding the fastest rather than just choosing the cheapest SSD.
Blindingly quick Effective heatsink Works in a PS5 Special warranty
Heatsink is a necessity Expensive
There’s even a special warranty with three years of data recovery should the drive fail – something that’s normally reserved for enterprise-class devices. It’s a great choice for PC and console owners who want the best-in-class PCIe 4.0 drive. You just might struggle to afford one, especially at the 4TB capacity.
Great performance Works with PS5 Hardware encryption 4TB option
Needs Gen4 M.2 slot 500GB model is slower
It comes with a heatsink and unlike the regular MP600 Pro, it fits into the PS5. The performance is actually beyond what Sony’s console can take advantage of but the price is cheaper than the FireCuda 530 so it doesn’t really matter. For PC users, firmware enhancements and hardware encryption make the LPX all the more tempting.
Top-notch performance Hardware encryption Heatsink an option
Not a bargain No 4TB option, yet TBW surpassed by other drives
Being faster than other products is important to Samsung, possibly trading resilience to achieve those raw speeds. The 990 Pro drives are also expensive, and with a max capacity of 2TB at launch this won’t be enough for everyone. The Samsung 990 Pro is made for those that want the absolute fastest drive available and aren’t overly concerned about the cost or the lack of a larger capacity. It isn’t for those that are looking for the best value or who expect added features like a heatsink to be included by default.
Affordable Decent performance Useful software
4TB is costly TBW varies
PCI bus connected NVMe cards are historically be expensive and lower capacity, but not anymore. The newer and faster PCIe 4.0 is available elsewhere, but this is still a solid choice for a lot of users out there. You can even get it in 4TB but the price is high enough that you should consider the jump to PCIe 4.0.
Great performance 5-year warranty Ideal for a PS5 & PC
Expensive Idle power consumption is high No hardware encryption
The KC3000 offers excellent performance in a range of challenging use cases and the heat spreader is thin enough to ensure it fits neatly into Sony’s next-gen console. There are only minor points putting it behind the competition such as the price, the lack of hardware encryption, and a small power consumption issue. Still, if you see it on offer somewhere it will make for a decent drive.
Very cheap Faster than SATA
No hardware encryption
This doesn’t provide ultimate speed or hardware encryption then but it’s still substantially quicker than any SATA drive. We’d like a 2TB model and you’re better off getting the larger capacities but the Blue SN550 comes highly recommended from us. It’s the fuss-free way to upgrade to NVMe if you’re on a budget.
Excellent PCIe 4.0 performance Works in PCIe 3.0 M.2 slots
Needs an X570 or B550 motherboard Lacks integrated heatsink
While the 980 Pro will work in older PCIe 3.0 slots, you won’t be getting the full speed so upgrading your motherboard might be worthwhile. And on that front, you’ll currently need an AMD Ryzen processor in a B550 or X570 chipset slot. If you can afford to, consider going for a higher capacity model as Samsung doesn’t offer consistent specs across the range.
Excellent read/write speeds Up to 4TB capacity Heatsink option
No hardware encryption Can get warm without ventilation No heatsink on 4TB drive
The drive now comes in up to 4TB and there’s a clear boost in performance with 7,300MB/s read speeds with write speeds not far behind. It’s compatible with PC and PS5 but there are some caveats. Although the drive has a stylish heatsink, this is not available on the 4TB option making it a no go for PlayStation 5 owners who want that much space. You’ll also want to avoid paying the full RRP and note that hardware encryption remains AWOL.
Inexpensive Decent performance 5 year warranty
No 4TB option Not suitable for PS5 No hardware encryption
It’s very affordable and it offers decent performance overall making it a great option for a daily workhorse if you want to spend money elsewhere on your build. There’s no heatsink option making it a no-go for PS5 users and there’s no hardware encryption either. Still, the SN770 offers good bang for your buck if you don’t have these kinds of tick boxes.
Faster than a single M.2 slot Easy to install Colourful LEDs Doesn't need M.2 slots
Expensive No encryption RAID 0 config can’t be changed
Not only that, but it offers better than PCIe 3.0 x4 performance, although you’ll need to be careful about where you plug it in due to PCI lane issues (read the review to find out more). Since there are two cards inside, you also benefit from RAID 0 striping. The downside is you can’t switch to RAID 1 and there’s no encryption. It’s also expensive but could be cheaper than upgrading your motherboard to M.2. This is where you have a choice. There are two different types of SSDs: SATA and PCIe. SATA is the type you’re probably most familiar with as it has been around for years and is used in PCs and laptops for hard drives and DVD drives. Most SATA SSDs are 2.5in wide as they’re designed to fit in laptops. But they’re also compatible with all recent PCs. For laptop users specifically, you’ll want to also know the exact height of the SSD to ensure it will fit: some are 9.5mm thick rather than 7mm. The other type is a PCIe SSD. It gets confusing because there are other acronyms and terminology too: NVMe and M.2. Put simply, PCIe (PCI Express) supersedes SATA because it is a much faster interface. Most commonly you’ll see PCIe drives referred to as NVMe. This stands for Non-Volative Memory Express) but what’s most important to note is the form factor – the size of the drive – because that’s which determines if the thing will actually fit in your PC or laptop. They’re long sticks that look similar to RAM, only with the connector at the end. This is where M.2 comes in. It’s a relatively new type of slot you’ll find on recent motherboards and in some laptops. Most M.2 SSDs are the 2280 type, which simply means 22mm wide and 80mm long. You can check your motherboard manual or contact your laptop manufacturer to find out if such a drive will be compatible. Note: Just because an SSD has an M.2 interface does not mean it is an NVMe drive. You can buy SATA SSDs with M.2 connectors which will still be limited to SATA speeds, so watch out for this when buying. As we said, it can get a bit confusing. If your PC’s motherboard doesn’t have an M.2 slot, don’t worry. you can buy a PCIe adapter card for around £15/$15. Some M.2 SSDs are sold with the adapter, such as Kingston’s KC1000. Or you can now get drives like the WD Black AN1500 which give you better than PCIe 3.0 performance without an M.2 slot. PCIe comes in different versions like a lot of tech and while PCIe 3.0 is still the most common, PCIe 4.0 drives are now on sale – such as the Samsung 980 Pro. They are twice as fast but as is common with a new standard, the price is high and it’s likely you’ll need to upgrade other parts of your machine like the motherboard in order to get the most out of it. Find out how to install an SSD in your PC.
Aren’t SSDs really expensive?
Sure, you get much more storage if you buy a traditional hard drive for the same money, but if you have a PC you can always install Windows and your most-used programs on an SSD and keep your music, video and photo libraries on a huge hard disk where performance isn’t as important.
How much space do I need?
Of course, the 250GB size of SSD (although you can find smaller) is going to be the cheapest and therefore the most tempting. However, there’s nothing worse than getting a notification of your drive being full, resulting in lots of admin to sort out what to keep, delete or move. Also be careful for when smaller drives have worse specs. So carefully consider what you’re going to need the drive for. If it’s just for the operating system and a few applications then 250GB will be fine – especially if you’re going to have another drive for storing files. However, if this is going to be the only drive in your machine and you’re going to be storing lots of applications, files and games then you’ll need to go for more. 1TB will obviously cost more but will be necessary.
Performance
Getting back to performance, this has effectively plateaued among SATA SSDs. It’s not that flash memory has reached its limit, it’s that they’re hitting the limit of what the SATA interface is capable of. The fastest SATA SSDs can read at around 550MB/s, but the fastest PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives can read at over 6000MB/s. Really, you should only use a SATA drive if you have no other choice.
What about MLC, TLC and SLC?
There are various memory technologies used on SSDs, from multi-level cell (MLC), to the cheaper triple-level cell flash (TLC) architectures. You might even come across the rare and most expensive single-level cell (SLC) drive. The differences between the cell technologies boil down to the amount of bits (data) that a single cell (within the SSD) can handle. TLC handles three, MLC two, and SLC one. The greater the number of bits per cell, the increased likelihood of failure, inconsistencies and – most importantly – performance. However, as this is a general sweeping statement, manufacturers have found ways around the limitations of SSD technology. When buying an SSD, look out for long warranties and high write limits (expressed as a TBW value) if you prize data integrity, although with the help of proper backup routines, data loss isn’t really an issue today. Tech Advisor’s Reviews Editor, Chris has been reviewing all kinds of tech for over 10 years and specialises in audio. He also covers a range of topics including home entertainment, phones, laptops, tablets and more.
