With prices at an all-time low, upgrading to a solid-state drive (SSD) is now essential for your PC or device. Hard drives are best reserved for long-term storage, so it’s important to understand what an SSD is and how it can significantly boost your system’s performance
Best SSDs For September 2024
SSDs aren’t limited to just PCs; you can also enhance your PlayStation 5 with an SSD, and the Steam Deck or ASUS ROG practically begs for a larger SSD to accommodate an expansive game library. In this list, we will provide some of the best options you can grab in the market of September 2024.
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your internal drive or need an external storage solution, an SSD offers fast and reliable read and write speeds. Unlike traditional mechanical hard drives, SSDs utilize flash memory, making them much quicker. However, not all SSDs are created equal. For the fastest data transfers, you’ll want to invest in one of the best SSDs on the market—we’ve tested dozens to bring you a definitive list of top recommendations. (Via).
Samsung 990 Pro
The Samsung 990 Pro is the latest addition to Samsung’s lineup of high-end consumer SSDs, and it doesn’t disappoint. Building on the success of the 980 Pro, the 990 Pro boasts impressive sequential read and write speeds of 7,450 MBps and 6,900 MBps, respectively. While these speeds are capped by PCIe 4.0 limitations, they still offer a significant performance boost over the 980 Pro, ensuring lightning-fast file transfers and quick game installations.
For everyday use and gaming, the 990 Pro excels with its high random read and write IOPS ratings of 1,550,000—over 50% higher than the 980 Pro. This means that even without the next generation of PCIe, the 990 Pro delivers exceptional speed and responsiveness, making it an ideal choice for anyone looking to prepare their PC for DirectStorage games or to upgrade their PS5’s storage with something both larger and faster.
The 2TB model, priced at around $200, offers the best balance of performance and value. While the 4TB model provides greater durability and capacity, it comes at a much higher cost.
Teamgroup T-Force Z540 2TB
If you’re on the hunt for the fastest SSD available, the TeamGroup T-Force Z540 2TB is your top choice. It boasts remarkable sustained read and write speeds of 12,400 MBps and 11,800 MBps, respectively—unmatched by any other drive currently on the market. Its random read-and-write IOPS are equally impressive, with ratings of 1,400,000 and 1,500,000.
While there may not be many immediate use cases for such extreme performance, it ensures you’re well-prepared for future advancements, particularly with upcoming DirectStorage-supporting games. Do note, however, that this drive requires a PCIe 5.0 interface to reach its full potential, so make sure your motherboard supports this standard.
Crucial MX500 SATA 2TB
While SATA SSDs may not match the speed of PCIe interfaces, they offer a cost-effective alternative for those needing ample storage. The Crucial MX500 2TB drive provides an impressive amount of storage at a very affordable price.
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With sequential read and write speeds of 560 MBps and 510 MBps, respectively, it delivers solid performance for a SATA SSD. The drive also includes features such as power loss protection and AES 256-bit encryption, ensuring both reliability and security.
While it may not offer the highest specs available, the Crucial MX500 provides significant storage capacity without straining your budget, making it a great choice for cost-conscious users.
Western Digital Black AN1500 1TB
The Western Digital Black AN1500 is a unique and powerful storage solution. This add-in PCIe card features two Western Digital Black SSDs configured in RAID 0, allowing for data striping across both drives. This setup effectively splits the workload, resulting in significantly higher speeds compared to single SSDs.
The AN1500 utilizes a PCIe 3.0 interface, making it a valuable upgrade for older systems that need a performance boost without requiring a new machine. It delivers impressive sequential read speeds of up to 6,500 MBps and sequential write speeds of up to 4,100 MBps, surpassing many of the fastest PCIe 3.0 SSDs available. If you’re looking to maximize your storage performance without upgrading your entire system, the Western Digital Black AN1500 is an excellent choice.
Sabrent Rocket 2230
For upgrading the SSD storage in a compact laptop or a portable gaming system like the Steam Deck, the Sabrent Rocket 2230 1TB is an excellent option. Its compact design ensures it fits comfortably without causing clearance issues during installation, while still delivering impressive performance for its size.
With sustained read and write speeds of 4,750 MBps and 4,300 MBps, respectively, and random read and write rates of 450,000 and 545,000 IOPS, the Rocket 2230 offers a significant upgrade over the stock Steam Deck drive. However, it lags behind the fastest SSDs on the market. There is also a 512GB model available, it is less expensive but also slower. So, the 1TB version is the better choice for both speed and capacity.
Corsair MP600 Pro LPX
Few SSDs match the size and speed of the Corsair MP600 Pro LPX. This low-profile drive features a robust heat sink for effective heat dissipation and offers an impressive 8TB of storage. Despite its large capacity, it delivers excellent performance. It has sustained read speeds of 7,100 MBps and write speeds of 5,800 MBps.
The MP600 Pro LPX is also an excellent choice for the PS5, providing substantial storage expansion for your console, albeit at a price that’s about twice the cost of the console itself. It’s also compatible with any desktop PC that supports PCIe 4.0 or better, making it a versatile and high-performance option for both gaming and general use.
