Our picks · Hardware facts first

Best SSDs

The internal and portable drives we would buy, up to three per tier, each chosen from published reviews against a hardware bar we state below, with the controller, DRAM and flash inside. There are no prices here: every link goes to the retailer, where the current price is shown.

Picks checked November 4, 2026

Disclosure: the “Check price” buttons on this page are paid links, and Eyes on Flash earns a commission on purchases made through them. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Picked by Sean Webster, memory and storage technologist. Every pick traces to the maker’s own specs and a published review we saved, and a commission never decides a pick.

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Eyes on Flash earns a commission on purchases made through the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Each paid link is marked “Paid link” beside its button. This never changes which picks are listed or how they are ordered. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Best pick in each tier

Internal · Budget
Photo: Lexar
Lexar NM790 1TB
“An all-around excellent PCIe 4.0 SSD”, says Tom’s Hardware: Maxio MAP1602 with YMTC 232-layer TLC and a five-year warranty.
Check price at Amazon Why we picked it Paid link
Internal · Mainstream
Photo: SK hynix
SK hynix Platinum P41 2TB
SK hynix’s own Aries controller with 176-layer TLC and LPDDR4: “the best consumer PCIe 4.0 SSD we’ve tested to date”, says Tom’s Hardware.
Check price at Amazon Why we picked it Paid link
Internal · High end
Photo: Sandisk
WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB
Tom’s Hardware calls it the fastest overall consumer SSD it has tested, with fantastic power efficiency to match.
Check price at Amazon Why we picked it Paid link
Portable · Budget
Photo: Samsung
Samsung T7 Shield 1TB
Rugged and consistent at 10 Gbps: Samsung’s Pablo controller with 128-layer TLC behind an ASMedia bridge.
Check price at Amazon Why we picked it Paid link
Portable · Mainstream
Photo: Crucial
Crucial X10 Pro 1TB
Tom’s Hardware’s “USB speed king”: a native Silicon Motion USB controller with Micron TLC and a five-year warranty. Crucial stock is running out.
Check price at Amazon Why we picked it Paid link
Portable · High end
Photo: Sandisk
Sandisk Pro-G40 2TB
Thunderbolt 3 speed with a USB fallback, DRAM and TLC inside, and a five-year warranty; Tom’s Hardware’s top portable pick.
Check price at Amazon Why we picked it Paid link

Every pick at a glance

One bar per drive, colored by tier and in the order the tiers run below. Hover or focus a bar for its numbers; click it to jump to the drive’s card.

A longer bar means the maker warrants more writes before wear-out; it is a warranty limit, not a measured lifetime. Source: Maker data sheets linked on each card.

Show the numbers

Drive	Tier	Rated TBW	At capacity (GB)	TBW per TB
Lexar NM790	Budget	1,000	1,000	1,000
BIWIN Black Opal NV7400	Budget	2,000	2,000	1,000
TEAMGROUP T-Force G50	Budget	325	512	635
SK hynix Platinum P41	Mainstream	1,200	2,000	600
Samsung 990 EVO Plus	Mainstream	1,200	2,000	600
WD_BLACK SN7100	Mainstream	1,200	2,000	600
WD_BLACK SN8100	High end	2,400	4,000	600
Kingston Fury Renegade G5	High end	2,000	2,000	1,000
Samsung 9100 Pro	High end	1,200	2,000	600

The link sets a ceiling; the drive inside and the port on your computer decide whether you reach it. Source: Maker data sheets linked on each card.

Show the numbers

Drive	Tier	Interface	Gbps
Samsung T7 Shield 1TB	Budget	USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)	10
Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD (v2) 2TB	Budget	USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)	10
Samsung T7 1TB	Budget	USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)	10
Crucial X10 Pro 1TB	Mainstream	USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps)	20
Kingston XS2000 2TB	Mainstream	USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps)	20
Sandisk Extreme PRO Portable SSD (v2) 2TB	Mainstream	USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps)	20
Sandisk Pro-G40 2TB	High end	Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gbps), with USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) on other hosts	40
OWC Envoy Ultra 2TB	High end	Thunderbolt 5 (80 Gbps), built-in cable	80

The bar each tier sets

Tier	Interface	TLC flash	DRAM	Named controller or bridge	Warranty
Internal budget	PCIe 4.0	Required	A host memory buffer in place of DRAM is fine	Required	3 years or more
Internal mainstream	PCIe 4.0	Required	DRAM or a named host memory buffer design	Not part of this tier’s bar	5 years
Internal high end	PCIe 5.0	Required	Required	Not part of this tier’s bar	5 years
Portable budget	10 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2)	Required	Not part of this tier’s bar	Required	3 years or more
Portable mainstream	20 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2)	Required	Not part of this tier’s bar	Not part of this tier’s bar	5 years
Portable high end	Thunderbolt or USB4	Required	Not part of this tier’s bar	Not part of this tier’s bar	5 years

A tick means the tier requires it; an empty cell means it is not part of that tier’s bar. A drive whose maker swaps controllers or flash between batches fails every tier.

Internal SSDs

Internal SSDs · tier 1 of 3

Budget

PCIe 4.0 drives with TLC flash and a named controller; a host memory buffer in place of DRAM is fine here.

3 picks, best first

Best pick

Lexar NM790 1TB

Launched By September 2023 (date of Tom’s Hardware’s review)Launched more than three years ago

Photo: Lexar

“An all-around excellent PCIe 4.0 SSD”, says Tom’s Hardware: Maxio MAP1602 with YMTC 232-layer TLC and a five-year warranty.

Interface: PCIe 4.0
DRAM: No DRAM, uses host memory
Endurance per TB: 1,000 TBW per TB

What is inside

Controller: Maxio MAP1602 Named review
Flash: 232-layer TLC Named review
DRAM: None, host memory buffer Named review

Suits you if

You have a PCIe 4.0 or newer M.2 slot.
You are fine with a drive that borrows host memory instead of carrying DRAM.

Skip it if

Your slot does not take M.2 2280.
You want a drive with its own DRAM.
You want a drive launched in the last three years.

How it clears the bar

Lexar NM790: each requirement of its tier and the drive’s own value
Requirement	The bar	This drive	Source kind
Interface	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0	Maker sheet
TLC flash	Required	232-layer TLC	Named review
DRAM	A host memory buffer in place of DRAM is fine	No DRAM, host memory buffer	Named review
Named controller or bridge	Required	Maxio MAP1602	Named review
Warranty	3 years or more	5 years	Maker sheet

Full specs

Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe 2.0
Controller: Maxio MAP1602, no DRAM (uses host memory buffer)
DRAM: None; host memory buffer, per Tom’s Hardware’s spec table
Flash: YMTC 232-layer TLC
Endurance: 1,000 TBW at 1TB (1,500 TBW at 2TB)
Rank 1 of 36 on the SSD endurance board
Warranty: 5 years
Form factor: M.2 2280
PS5: Meets Sony’s list. PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe, the interface Sony asks for. M.2 2280, a size Sony lists. 1TB, inside Sony’s 250 GB to 8 TB range. Reads up to 7,400 MB/s; Sony recommends 5,500 MB/s or faster. Sony requires a heatsink or heat transfer sheet; with it fitted, the drive must be no more than 11.25 mm thick. Sony’s PS5 M.2 SSD requirements
Part number: LNM790X001T-RNNNU
Specs from: Tom’s Hardware review of the Lexar NM790 · Lexar NM790 spec sheet

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2nd pick

BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 2TB

Launched By June 2025 (date of BIWIN’s spec sheet)

Photo: BIWIN

The same Maxio controller with Micron 232-layer TLC; “a solid performer with … no real downsides”.

Interface: PCIe 4.0
DRAM: No DRAM, uses host memory
Endurance per TB: 1,000 TBW per TB

What is inside

Controller: Maxio MAP1602 Named review
Flash: 232-layer TLC Named review
DRAM: None, host memory buffer Maker sheet

Suits you if

You have a PCIe 4.0 or newer M.2 slot.
You are fine with a drive that borrows host memory instead of carrying DRAM.

Skip it if

Your slot does not take M.2 2280.
You want a drive with its own DRAM.

How it clears the bar

BIWIN Black Opal NV7400: each requirement of its tier and the drive’s own value
Requirement	The bar	This drive	Source kind
Interface	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0	Maker sheet
TLC flash	Required	232-layer TLC	Named review
DRAM	A host memory buffer in place of DRAM is fine	No DRAM, host memory buffer	Maker sheet
Named controller or bridge	Required	Maxio MAP1602	Named review
Warranty	3 years or more	5 years	Maker sheet

Full specs

Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe 2.0
Controller: Maxio MAP1602, no DRAM (host memory buffer per the NewMaxx SSD spreadsheet)
DRAM: None (BIWIN’s spec sheet says DRAM-less); host memory buffer per the NewMaxx SSD spreadsheet
Flash: Micron 232-layer TLC
Endurance: 2,000 TBW at 2TB (1,000 TBW at 1TB)
Rank 1 of 36 on the SSD endurance board
Warranty: 5 years
Form factor: M.2 2280
PS5: Meets Sony’s list. PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe, the interface Sony asks for. M.2 2280, a size Sony lists. 2TB, inside Sony’s 250 GB to 8 TB range. Reads up to 7,450 MB/s; Sony recommends 5,500 MB/s or faster. Sony requires a heatsink or heat transfer sheet; with it fitted, the drive must be no more than 11.25 mm thick. Sony’s PS5 M.2 SSD requirements
Part number: BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 2TB
Specs from: BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 specifications · Tom’s Hardware, controller and flash · NewMaxx SSD spreadsheet (community database, for parts the maker does not name) · SSD-Tester test of the BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 2TB

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3rd pick

TEAMGROUP T-Force G50 512GB

Launched November 2023

Photo: TEAMGROUP

TLC flash and a five-year warranty on an InnoGrit IG5220; slower peak speeds than the two picks above it.

Interface: PCIe 4.0
DRAM: No DRAM, uses host memory
Endurance per TB: 635 TBW per TB

What is inside

Controller: InnoGrit IG5220 Community database
Flash: TLC Community database
DRAM: None, host memory buffer Maker sheet

Suits you if

You have a PCIe 4.0 or newer M.2 slot.
You are fine with a drive that borrows host memory instead of carrying DRAM.

Skip it if

Your slot does not take M.2 2280.
You want a drive with its own DRAM.

How it clears the bar

TEAMGROUP T-Force G50: each requirement of its tier and the drive’s own value
Requirement	The bar	This drive	Source kind
Interface	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0	Maker sheet
TLC flash	Required	TLC	Community database
DRAM	A host memory buffer in place of DRAM is fine	No DRAM, host memory buffer	Maker sheet
Named controller or bridge	Required	InnoGrit IG5220	Community database
Warranty	3 years or more	5 years	Maker sheet

Full specs

Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe
Controller: InnoGrit IG5220 (RainierQX) per the NewMaxx SSD spreadsheet and SSD-Tester’s 1TB test; TEAMGROUP names only InnoGrit and says no DRAM
DRAM: None, per TEAMGROUP’s spec sheet (“G50 (NO)”); host memory buffer per the NewMaxx SSD spreadsheet
Flash: Micron or YMTC TLC, 128- or 176-layer, per the NewMaxx SSD spreadsheet (TEAMGROUP does not state it)
Endurance: 325 TBW at 512GB (650 TBW at 1TB)
Rank 14 of 36 on the SSD endurance board
Warranty: 5 years
Form factor: M.2 2280
PS5: Meets Sony’s list. PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe, the interface Sony asks for. M.2 2280, a size Sony lists. 512GB, inside Sony’s 250 GB to 8 TB range. Reads up to 5,000 MB/s, below the 5,500 MB/s Sony recommends. Sony requires a heatsink or heat transfer sheet; with it fitted, the drive must be no more than 11.25 mm thick. Sony’s PS5 M.2 SSD requirements
Part number: TM8FFE512G0C129
Specs from: TEAMGROUP T-Force G50 spec sheet · TechPowerUp, launch announcement and controller maker · NewMaxx SSD spreadsheet (community database, for parts the maker does not name) · SSD-Tester test of the TEAMGROUP T-Force G50 1TB

Check price at Amazon Paid link

Internal SSDs · tier 2 of 3

Mainstream

PCIe 4.0 drives with TLC flash and DRAM or a proven host memory buffer design, all with five-year warranties.

3 picks, best first

Best pick

SK hynix Platinum P41 2TB

Launched By July 2022 (date of Tom’s Hardware’s review)Launched more than three years ago

Photo: SK hynix

SK hynix’s own Aries controller with 176-layer TLC and LPDDR4: “the best consumer PCIe 4.0 SSD we’ve tested to date”, says Tom’s Hardware.

Interface: PCIe 4.0
DRAM: DRAM on board, LPDDR4
Endurance per TB: 600 TBW per TB

What is inside

Controller: Aries Named review
Flash: 176-layer TLC Maker sheet
DRAM: On board, LPDDR4 Named review

Suits you if

You have a PCIe 4.0 or newer M.2 slot.
You want a drive with its own DRAM for its map of where data lives.

Skip it if

Your slot does not take M.2 2280.
You want a drive launched in the last three years.

How it clears the bar

SK hynix Platinum P41: each requirement of its tier and the drive’s own value
Requirement	The bar	This drive	Source kind
Interface	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0	Maker sheet
TLC flash	Required	176-layer TLC	Maker sheet
DRAM	DRAM or a named host memory buffer design	DRAM on board	Named review
Warranty	5 years	5 years	Maker sheet

Full specs

Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe 1.4
Controller: SK hynix Aries (Tom’s Hardware; SK hynix’s page does not name it)
DRAM: SK hynix LPDDR4, per Tom’s Hardware’s spec table
Flash: SK hynix 176-layer TLC
Endurance: 1,200 TBW at 2TB (750 TBW at 1TB)
Rank 7 of 36 on the SSD endurance board
Warranty: 5 years
Form factor: M.2 2280
PS5: Meets Sony’s list. PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe, the interface Sony asks for. M.2 2280, a size Sony lists. 2TB, inside Sony’s 250 GB to 8 TB range. Sony requires a heatsink or heat transfer sheet; with it fitted, the drive must be no more than 11.25 mm thick. Sony’s PS5 M.2 SSD requirements
Part number: SHPP41-2000GM
Specs from: SK hynix Platinum P41 product page · Tom’s Hardware review of the SK hynix Platinum P41

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2nd pick

Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB

Launched By October 2024 (date of Tom’s Hardware’s review)

Photo: Samsung

Samsung’s DRAM-less PCIe 4.0 drive done right: Piccolo controller and V8 236-layer TLC, “solid in every way”.

Interface: PCIe 4.0
DRAM: No DRAM, uses host memory
Endurance per TB: 600 TBW per TB

What is inside

Controller: Samsung Piccolo Named review
Flash: 236-layer TLC Named review
DRAM: None, host memory buffer Named review

Suits you if

You have a PCIe 4.0 or newer M.2 slot.
You are fine with a drive that borrows host memory instead of carrying DRAM.

Skip it if

Your slot does not take M.2 2280.
You want a drive with its own DRAM.

How it clears the bar

Samsung 990 EVO Plus: each requirement of its tier and the drive’s own value
Requirement	The bar	This drive	Source kind
Interface	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0	Maker sheet
TLC flash	Required	236-layer TLC	Named review
DRAM	DRAM or a named host memory buffer design	No DRAM, host memory buffer	Named review
Warranty	5 years	5 years	Maker sheet

Full specs

Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4 (or PCIe 5.0 x2), NVMe 2.0
Controller: Samsung Piccolo, no DRAM (uses host memory buffer)
DRAM: None; host memory buffer, per Tom’s Hardware’s spec table
Flash: Samsung V8 236-layer TLC
Endurance: 1,200 TBW at 2TB (600 TBW at 1TB)
Rank 15 of 36 on the SSD endurance board
Warranty: 5 years
Form factor: M.2 2280
PS5: Meets Sony’s list. PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe, the interface Sony asks for. M.2 2280, a size Sony lists. 2TB, inside Sony’s 250 GB to 8 TB range. Sony requires a heatsink or heat transfer sheet; with it fitted, the drive must be no more than 11.25 mm thick. Sony’s PS5 M.2 SSD requirements
Part number: MZ-V9S2T0B/AM
Specs from: Tom’s Hardware review of the Samsung 990 EVO Plus · Samsung 990 EVO Plus data sheet

Check price at Amazon Paid link

3rd pick

WD_BLACK SN7100 2TB

Launched November 2024

Photo: Sandisk

Chart-topping power efficiency in Tom’s Hardware’s testing, with TLC flash and a five-year warranty.

Interface: PCIe 4.0
DRAM: No DRAM, uses host memory
Endurance per TB: 600 TBW per TB

What is inside

Controller: Polaris 3 Teardown or lab test
Flash: 218-layer TLC Community database
DRAM: None, host memory buffer Maker sheet

Suits you if

You have a PCIe 4.0 or newer M.2 slot.
You are fine with a drive that borrows host memory instead of carrying DRAM.

Skip it if

Your slot does not take M.2 2280.
You want a drive with its own DRAM.

How it clears the bar

WD_BLACK SN7100: each requirement of its tier and the drive’s own value
Requirement	The bar	This drive	Source kind
Interface	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0	Maker sheet
TLC flash	Required	218-layer TLC	Community database
DRAM	DRAM or a named host memory buffer design	No DRAM, host memory buffer	Maker sheet
Warranty	5 years	5 years	Maker sheet

Full specs

Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe
Controller: Sandisk Polaris 3 (A101-000171-A1 in SSD-Tester’s 2TB test), with a host memory buffer; the data sheet calls the drive DRAM-less
DRAM: None (the data sheet calls the drive DRAM-less); host memory buffer per the NewMaxx SSD spreadsheet
Flash: Western Digital TLC 3D NAND (Kioxia 218-layer per the NewMaxx SSD spreadsheet)
Endurance: 1,200 TBW at 2TB (600 TBW at 1TB)
Rank 15 of 36 on the SSD endurance board
Warranty: 5 years
Form factor: M.2 2280
PS5: Meets Sony’s list. PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe, the interface Sony asks for. M.2 2280, a size Sony lists. 2TB, inside Sony’s 250 GB to 8 TB range. Sony requires a heatsink or heat transfer sheet; with it fitted, the drive must be no more than 11.25 mm thick. Sony’s PS5 M.2 SSD requirements
Part number: WDS200T4X0E
Specs from: Sandisk WD_BLACK SN7100 data sheet · NewMaxx SSD spreadsheet (community database, for parts the maker does not name) · SSD-Tester test of the WD_BLACK SN7100 2TB · Tom’s Hardware review of the WD_BLACK SN7100

Check price at Amazon Paid link

Internal SSDs · tier 3 of 3

High end

PCIe 5.0 drives with TLC flash, their own DRAM and five-year warranties.

3 picks, best first

Best pick

WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB

Launched May 2025

Photo: Sandisk

Tom’s Hardware calls it the fastest overall consumer SSD it has tested, with fantastic power efficiency to match.

Interface: PCIe 5.0
DRAM: DRAM on board, DDR4
Endurance per TB: 600 TBW per TB

What is inside

Controller: SM2508 Teardown or lab test
Flash: BiCS8 TLC Named review
DRAM: On board, DDR4 Teardown or lab test

Suits you if

You have a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
You want a drive with its own DRAM for its map of where data lives.

Skip it if

Your slot is PCIe 4.0 or older: the extra interface speed goes unused.
Your slot does not take M.2 2280.

How it clears the bar

WD_BLACK SN8100: each requirement of its tier and the drive’s own value
Requirement	The bar	This drive	Source kind
Interface	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0	Maker sheet
TLC flash	Required	BiCS8 TLC	Named review
DRAM	Required	DRAM on board	Teardown or lab test
Warranty	5 years	5 years	Maker sheet

Full specs

Interface: PCIe 5.0 x4, NVMe 2.0
Controller: Silicon Motion SM2508, labelled Sandisk A101-250800-AC (APH Networks’ teardown of the 2TB; the 4TB review names the SM2508 too)
DRAM: DDR4. APH Networks’ teardown of the 2TB found one Micron 2GB DDR4-1600 chip (MT40A1G16TB-062E:F); the 4TB’s DRAM size has not been published
Flash: Kioxia BiCS8 218-layer TLC in two packages on the 4TB (ThePCEnthusiast’s 4TB review; APH Networks’ 2TB teardown matches)
Endurance: 2,400 TBW at 4TB (1,200 TBW at 2TB), which the data sheet calls projected values
Rank 15 of 36 on the SSD endurance board
Warranty: 5 years
Form factor: M.2 2280
PS5: Check before buying. A PCIe 5.0 drive; Sony’s list asks for PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe, so check that the maker lists PS5 support. M.2 2280, a size Sony lists. 4TB, inside Sony’s 250 GB to 8 TB range. Sony requires a heatsink or heat transfer sheet; with it fitted, the drive must be no more than 11.25 mm thick. Sony’s PS5 M.2 SSD requirements
Part number: WDS400T1X0M
Specs from: Sandisk WD_BLACK SN8100 data sheet · Sandisk launch release, BiCS8 TLC · NewMaxx SSD spreadsheet (community database, for parts the maker does not name) · APH Networks teardown of the WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB · ThePCEnthusiast review of the WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB · Tom’s Hardware review of the WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB

Check price at Amazon Paid link

2nd pick

Kingston Fury Renegade G5 2TB

Launched By October 2025 (date of Tom’s Hardware’s review)

Photo: Kingston

The same SM2508 controller and Kioxia TLC as the SN8100, with LPDDR4 DRAM; fast and power-efficient in Tom’s Hardware’s testing.

Interface: PCIe 5.0
DRAM: DRAM on board, LPDDR4
Endurance per TB: 1,000 TBW per TB

What is inside

Controller: SM2508 Named review
Flash: 218-layer TLC Named review
DRAM: On board, LPDDR4 Named review

Suits you if

You have a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
You want a drive with its own DRAM for its map of where data lives.

Skip it if

Your slot is PCIe 4.0 or older: the extra interface speed goes unused.
Your slot does not take M.2 2280.

How it clears the bar

Kingston Fury Renegade G5: each requirement of its tier and the drive’s own value
Requirement	The bar	This drive	Source kind
Interface	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0	Maker sheet
TLC flash	Required	218-layer TLC	Named review
DRAM	Required	DRAM on board	Named review
Warranty	5 years	5 years	Maker sheet

Full specs

Interface: PCIe 5.0 x4, NVMe 2.0
Controller: Silicon Motion SM2508
DRAM: LPDDR4, per Tom’s Hardware’s spec table
Flash: Kioxia 218-layer TLC
Endurance: 2,000 TBW at 2TB (1,000 TBW at 1TB)
Rank 4 of 36 on the SSD endurance board
Warranty: 5 years
Form factor: M.2 2280
PS5: Check before buying. A PCIe 5.0 drive; Sony’s list asks for PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe, so check that the maker lists PS5 support. M.2 2280, a size Sony lists. 2TB, inside Sony’s 250 GB to 8 TB range. Sony requires a heatsink or heat transfer sheet; with it fitted, the drive must be no more than 11.25 mm thick. Sony’s PS5 M.2 SSD requirements
Part number: SFYR2S/2T0
Specs from: Tom’s Hardware review of the Kingston Fury Renegade G5 2TB · Kingston FURY Renegade G5 data sheet

Check price at Amazon Paid link

3rd pick

Samsung 9100 Pro 2TB

Launched March 2025

Photo: Samsung

Samsung’s Presto controller with 236-layer V8 TLC and LPDDR4X. Tom’s Hardware found good all-round speed and solid power efficiency.

Interface: PCIe 5.0
DRAM: DRAM on board, LPDDR4X
Endurance per TB: 600 TBW per TB

What is inside

Controller: Presto Named review
Flash: V8 TLC Named review
DRAM: On board, LPDDR4X Maker sheet

Suits you if

You have a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
You want a drive with its own DRAM for its map of where data lives.

Skip it if

Your slot is PCIe 4.0 or older: the extra interface speed goes unused.
Your slot does not take M.2 2280.

How it clears the bar

Samsung 9100 Pro: each requirement of its tier and the drive’s own value
Requirement	The bar	This drive	Source kind
Interface	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0	Maker sheet
TLC flash	Required	V8 TLC	Named review
DRAM	Required	DRAM on board	Maker sheet
Warranty	5 years	5 years	Maker sheet

Full specs

Interface: PCIe 5.0 x4, NVMe 2.0
Controller: Samsung Presto (Tom’s Hardware; the data sheet says Samsung in-house controller)
DRAM: 2GB LPDDR4X on the 2TB, per Samsung’s data sheet
Flash: Samsung 236-layer V8 TLC (Tom’s Hardware; the data sheet says Samsung V-NAND TLC)
Endurance: 1,200 TBW at 2TB (600 TBW at 1TB)
Rank 15 of 36 on the SSD endurance board
Warranty: 5 years
Form factor: M.2 2280
PS5: Check before buying. A PCIe 5.0 drive; Sony’s list asks for PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe, so check that the maker lists PS5 support. M.2 2280, a size Sony lists. 2TB, inside Sony’s 250 GB to 8 TB range. Sony requires a heatsink or heat transfer sheet; with it fitted, the drive must be no more than 11.25 mm thick. Sony’s PS5 M.2 SSD requirements
Part number: MZ-VAP2T0B/AM
Specs from: Samsung 9100 PRO data sheet · Tom’s Hardware review of the Samsung 9100 Pro

Check price at Amazon Paid link

Portable SSDs

Portable SSDs · tier 1 of 3

Budget

10 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2) portables with TLC flash and a named controller.

3 picks, best first

Best pick

Samsung T7 Shield 1TB

Launched By July 2022 (date of Tom’s Hardware’s review)Launched more than three years ago

Photo: Samsung

Rugged and consistent at 10 Gbps: Samsung’s Pablo controller with 128-layer TLC behind an ASMedia bridge.

Link speed: 10 Gbps
DRAM: No DRAM
Warranty: 3 years

What is inside

Controller: Samsung Pablo Named review
Flash: 128-layer TLC Named review
DRAM: None Named review
Bridge: ASM2362 Named review

Suits you if

Your computer has a port that carries 10 Gbps.
You are fine with a drive that carries no DRAM.

Skip it if

Your port carries less than 10 Gbps: the drive runs at the port’s speed.
You want a drive with its own DRAM.
You want a drive launched in the last three years.

How it clears the bar

Samsung T7 Shield: each requirement of its tier and the drive’s own value
Requirement	The bar	This drive	Source kind
Interface	10 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2)	10 Gbps	Maker sheet
TLC flash	Required	128-layer TLC	Named review
Named controller or bridge	Required	Samsung Pablo, bridge ASM2362	Named review
Warranty	3 years or more	3 years	Maker sheet

Full specs

Interface: USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)
Bridge: ASMedia ASM2362
Controller: Samsung Pablo
DRAM: None (Tom’s Hardware: the DRAM-less Pablo controller)
Flash: Samsung 128-layer TLC
Warranty: 3 years
Part number: MU-PE1T0S/AM
Specs from: Tom’s Hardware review of the Samsung T7 Shield · Samsung Portable SSD T7 Shield data sheet

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2nd pick

Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD (v2) 2TB

Launched By March 2021 (date of Tom’s Hardware’s review)Launched more than three years ago

Photo: Sandisk

One of the best 10 Gbps portables Tom’s Hardware has tested, with WD 96-layer TLC and a five-year warranty.

Link speed: 10 Gbps
DRAM: No DRAM
Warranty: 5 years

What is inside

Controller: WD in-house Named review
Flash: 96-layer TLC Named review
DRAM: None Named review
Bridge: ASM2362 Named review

Suits you if

Your computer has a port that carries 10 Gbps.
You are fine with a drive that carries no DRAM.

Skip it if

Your port carries less than 10 Gbps: the drive runs at the port’s speed.
You want a drive with its own DRAM.
You want a drive launched in the last three years.

How it clears the bar

Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD (v2): each requirement of its tier and the drive’s own value
Requirement	The bar	This drive	Source kind
Interface	10 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2)	10 Gbps	Maker sheet
TLC flash	Required	96-layer TLC	Named review
Named controller or bridge	Required	WD in-house, bridge ASM2362	Named review
Warranty	3 years or more	5 years	Maker sheet

Full specs

Interface: USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)
Bridge: ASMedia ASM2362
Controller: Western Digital in-house NVMe controller
DRAM: None, per Tom’s Hardware’s spec table
Flash: WD 96-layer TLC
Warranty: 5 years
Part number: SDSSDE61-2T00-G25
Specs from: Tom’s Hardware review of the Sandisk Extreme v2 · Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD data sheet

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3rd pick

Samsung T7 1TB

Launched By August 2020 (date of Tom’s Hardware’s review)Launched more than three years ago

Photo: Samsung

The T7 Shield’s lighter sibling: the same Pablo controller and ASMedia bridge, with 92-layer TLC and a three-year warranty.

Link speed: 10 Gbps
DRAM: No DRAM
Warranty: 3 years

What is inside

Controller: Samsung Pablo Named review
Flash: 92-layer TLC Named review
DRAM: None Named review
Bridge: ASM2362 Named review

Suits you if

Your computer has a port that carries 10 Gbps.
You are fine with a drive that carries no DRAM.

Skip it if

Your port carries less than 10 Gbps: the drive runs at the port’s speed.
You want a drive with its own DRAM.
You want a drive launched in the last three years.

How it clears the bar

Samsung T7: each requirement of its tier and the drive’s own value
Requirement	The bar	This drive	Source kind
Interface	10 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2)	10 Gbps	Maker sheet
TLC flash	Required	92-layer TLC	Named review
Named controller or bridge	Required	Samsung Pablo, bridge ASM2362	Named review
Warranty	3 years or more	3 years	Maker sheet

Full specs

Interface: USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)
Bridge: ASMedia ASM2362
Controller: Samsung Pablo
DRAM: None, per Tom’s Hardware’s spec table
Flash: Samsung 92-layer TLC
Warranty: 3 years
Part number: MU-PC1T0T/AM
Specs from: Tom’s Hardware review of the Samsung T7 · Samsung Portable SSD T7 data sheet

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Portable SSDs · tier 2 of 3

Mainstream

20 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2) portables with TLC flash and five-year warranties.

3 picks, best first

Best pick

Crucial X10 Pro 1TB

Launched July 2023Launched more than three years ago

Photo: Crucial

Tom’s Hardware’s “USB speed king”: a native Silicon Motion USB controller with Micron TLC and a five-year warranty. Crucial stock is running out.

Crucial has left the consumer market: Micron stopped shipping Crucial consumer drives at the end of February 2026, so the drives still in shops are remaining stock.

Link speed: 20 Gbps
DRAM: No DRAM
Warranty: 5 years

What is inside

Controller: SM2320 Named review
Flash: Micron TLC Named review
DRAM: None Named review

Suits you if

Your computer has a port that carries 20 Gbps.
You are fine with a drive that carries no DRAM.

Skip it if

Your port carries less than 20 Gbps: the drive runs at the port’s speed.
You want a drive with its own DRAM.
You need a drive its maker still sells.
You want a drive launched in the last three years.

How it clears the bar

Crucial X10 Pro: each requirement of its tier and the drive’s own value
Requirement	The bar	This drive	Source kind
Interface	20 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2)	20 Gbps	Named review
TLC flash	Required	Micron TLC	Named review
Warranty	5 years	5 years	Named review

Full specs

Interface: USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps)
Bridge: None: the controller speaks USB itself
Controller: Silicon Motion SM2320, a native USB controller (no bridge chip)
DRAM: None, per Tom’s Hardware’s spec table
Flash: Micron TLC
Warranty: 5 years
Part number: CT1000X10PROSSD9
Specs from: Tom’s Hardware review of the Crucial X10 Pro

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2nd pick

Kingston XS2000 2TB

Launched By October 2021 (date of Tom’s Hardware’s review)Launched more than three years ago

Photo: Kingston

A pocket-sized 20 Gbps drive with a native Silicon Motion controller, Micron 96-layer TLC and a five-year warranty; it slows on long writes.

Link speed: 20 Gbps
DRAM: No DRAM
Warranty: 5 years

What is inside

Controller: SM2320 Named review
Flash: 96-layer TLC Named review
DRAM: None Named review

Suits you if

Your computer has a port that carries 20 Gbps.
You are fine with a drive that carries no DRAM.

Skip it if

Your port carries less than 20 Gbps: the drive runs at the port’s speed.
You want a drive with its own DRAM.
You want a drive launched in the last three years.

How it clears the bar

Kingston XS2000: each requirement of its tier and the drive’s own value
Requirement	The bar	This drive	Source kind
Interface	20 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2)	20 Gbps	Maker sheet
TLC flash	Required	96-layer TLC	Named review
Warranty	5 years	5 years	Maker sheet

Full specs

Interface: USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps)
Bridge: None: the controller speaks USB itself
Controller: Silicon Motion SM2320, a native USB controller (no bridge chip)
DRAM: None (Tom’s Hardware notes it lacks the sustained writes of DRAM-equipped drives)
Flash: Micron 96-layer TLC
Warranty: 5 years
Part number: SXS2000/2000G
Specs from: Tom’s Hardware review of the Kingston XS2000 · Kingston XS2000 data sheet

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3rd pick

Sandisk Extreme PRO Portable SSD (v2) 2TB

Launched By September 2020 (date of Tom’s Hardware’s review)Launched more than three years ago

Photo: Sandisk

20 Gbps with DRAM inside: an ASMedia bridge, WD 96-layer TLC and DDR4, rated 4.5 out of 5 by Tom’s Hardware, with a five-year warranty.

Link speed: 20 Gbps
DRAM: DRAM on board, DDR4
Warranty: 5 years

What is inside

Controller: WD in-house Named review
Flash: 96-layer TLC Named review
DRAM: On board, DDR4 Named review
Bridge: ASM2364 Named review

Suits you if

Your computer has a port that carries 20 Gbps.
You want a drive with its own DRAM for its map of where data lives.

Skip it if

Your port carries less than 20 Gbps: the drive runs at the port’s speed.
You want a drive launched in the last three years.

How it clears the bar

Sandisk Extreme PRO Portable SSD (v2): each requirement of its tier and the drive’s own value
Requirement	The bar	This drive	Source kind
Interface	20 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2)	20 Gbps	Named review
TLC flash	Required	96-layer TLC	Named review
Warranty	5 years	5 years	Named review

Full specs

Interface: USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps)
Bridge: ASMedia ASM2364
Controller: Western Digital in-house NVMe controller
DRAM: DDR4, per Tom’s Hardware’s spec table
Flash: WD 96-layer TLC
Warranty: 5 years
Part number: SDSSDE81-2T00-G25
Specs from: Tom’s Hardware review of the Sandisk Extreme PRO v2

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Portable SSDs · tier 3 of 3

High end

Thunderbolt or USB4 portables with TLC flash and five-year warranties.

2 picks, best first

Best pick

Sandisk Pro-G40 2TB

Launched By November 2022 (date of Tom’s Hardware’s review)Launched more than three years ago

Photo: Sandisk

Thunderbolt 3 speed with a USB fallback, DRAM and TLC inside, and a five-year warranty; Tom’s Hardware’s top portable pick.

Link speed: 40 Gbps
DRAM: DRAM on board, DDR4
Warranty: 5 years

What is inside

Controller: Sandisk Named review
Flash: 96-layer TLC Named review
DRAM: On board, DDR4 Named review
Bridge: JHL7440 + ASM2362 Named review

Suits you if

Your computer has a port that carries 40 Gbps.
You want a drive with its own DRAM for its map of where data lives.

Skip it if

Your port carries less than 40 Gbps: the drive runs at the port’s speed.
You want a drive launched in the last three years.

How it clears the bar

Sandisk Pro-G40: each requirement of its tier and the drive’s own value
Requirement	The bar	This drive	Source kind
Interface	Thunderbolt or USB4	40 Gbps	Named review
TLC flash	Required	96-layer TLC	Named review
Warranty	5 years	5 years	Named review

Full specs

Interface: Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gbps), with USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) on other hosts
Bridge: Intel JHL7440 Thunderbolt controller + ASMedia ASM2362
Controller: Sandisk in-house NVMe controller
DRAM: DDR4, per Tom’s Hardware’s spec table
Flash: Sandisk BiCS4 96-layer TLC
Warranty: 5 years
Part number: SDPS31H-002T-GBCND
Specs from: Tom’s Hardware review of the Sandisk Pro-G40

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2nd pick

OWC Envoy Ultra 2TB

Launched By July 2025 (date of Newsshooter’s review)

Photo: OWC

Thunderbolt 5 speed from Kioxia TLC on a Phison E27T, an IP67 shell and a five-year warranty. Once the cache fills, OWC rates sustained writes at 1,350 MB/s on the 2TB.

Link speed: 80 Gbps
DRAM: No DRAM
Warranty: 5 years

What is inside

Controller: Phison E27T Teardown or lab test
Flash: 162-layer TLC Teardown or lab test
DRAM: None Teardown or lab test
Bridge: TB5 Teardown or lab test

Suits you if

Your computer has a port that carries 80 Gbps.
You are fine with a drive that carries no DRAM.

Skip it if

Your port carries less than 80 Gbps: the drive runs at the port’s speed.
You want a drive with its own DRAM.

How it clears the bar

OWC Envoy Ultra: each requirement of its tier and the drive’s own value
Requirement	The bar	This drive	Source kind
Interface	Thunderbolt or USB4	80 Gbps	Teardown or lab test
TLC flash	Required	162-layer TLC	Teardown or lab test
Warranty	5 years	5 years	Teardown or lab test

Full specs

Interface: Thunderbolt 5 (80 Gbps), built-in cable
Bridge: Intel Thunderbolt 5 controller (model not named in the reviews)
Controller: Phison PS5027-E27T on the OWC Aura Pro IV M.2 drive inside, no DRAM (uses host memory buffer), per migovi’s teardown
DRAM: None; host memory buffer, per migovi’s teardown
Flash: Kioxia BiCS6 162-layer TLC, per migovi’s teardown
Warranty: 5 years
Part number: Not published by the maker
Specs from: migovi teardown and test of the OWC Envoy Ultra 2TB · Newsshooter review of the OWC Envoy Ultra · OWC Envoy Ultra product page

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All picks side by side

Every figure is the one on the drive’s card. Press a column heading to sort; press it again to reverse. To see what the chips and flash types mean, read DRAM-Less SSDs Are Slow, the controller timeline and the NAND die timeline.

Internal SSD picks

Tier and pick	Drive	PCIe	Controller	Flash	DRAM	Endurance (TBW per TB)	Warranty (years)	Launched
Budget · Best pick	Lexar NM790 1TB	4.0	Maxio MAP1602	232-layer TLC	No, host memory	1,000	5	By September 2023
Budget · 2nd pick	BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 2TB	4.0	Maxio MAP1602	232-layer TLC	No, host memory	1,000	5	By June 2025
Budget · 3rd pick	TEAMGROUP T-Force G50 512GB	4.0	InnoGrit IG5220	TLC	No, host memory	635	5	November 2023
Mainstream · Best pick	SK hynix Platinum P41 2TB	4.0	Aries	176-layer TLC	Yes, LPDDR4	600	5	By July 2022
Mainstream · 2nd pick	Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB	4.0	Samsung Piccolo	236-layer TLC	No, host memory	600	5	By October 2024
Mainstream · 3rd pick	WD_BLACK SN7100 2TB	4.0	Polaris 3	218-layer TLC	No, host memory	600	5	November 2024
High end · Best pick	WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB	5.0	SM2508	BiCS8 TLC	Yes, DDR4	600	5	May 2025
High end · 2nd pick	Kingston Fury Renegade G5 2TB	5.0	SM2508	218-layer TLC	Yes, LPDDR4	1,000	5	By October 2025
High end · 3rd pick	Samsung 9100 Pro 2TB	5.0	Presto	V8 TLC	Yes, LPDDR4X	600	5	March 2025

Portable SSD picks

Tier and pick	Drive	Link (Gbps)	Controller	Flash	DRAM	Warranty (years)	Launched
Budget · Best pick	Samsung T7 Shield 1TB	10	Samsung Pablo, bridge ASM2362	128-layer TLC	No	3	By July 2022
Budget · 2nd pick	Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD (v2) 2TB	10	WD in-house, bridge ASM2362	96-layer TLC	No	5	By March 2021
Budget · 3rd pick	Samsung T7 1TB	10	Samsung Pablo, bridge ASM2362	92-layer TLC	No	3	By August 2020
Mainstream · Best pick	Crucial X10 Pro 1TB	20	SM2320	Micron TLC	No	5	July 2023
Mainstream · 2nd pick	Kingston XS2000 2TB	20	SM2320	96-layer TLC	No	5	By October 2021
Mainstream · 3rd pick	Sandisk Extreme PRO Portable SSD (v2) 2TB	20	WD in-house, bridge ASM2364	96-layer TLC	Yes, DDR4	5	By September 2020
High end · Best pick	Sandisk Pro-G40 2TB	40	Sandisk, bridge JHL7440 + ASM2362	96-layer TLC	Yes, DDR4	5	By November 2022
High end · 2nd pick	OWC Envoy Ultra 2TB	80	Phison E27T, bridge TB5	162-layer TLC	No	5	By July 2025

How we pick

A drive becomes a pick when it clears the hardware bar for its tier and at least one published review that tested it is saved in our library. Among drives that clear the bar, the reviews decide the order: sustained writes once the fast cache is full, quick random reads, heat and power. A drive whose maker swaps controllers or flash between batches fails the bar, because we cannot say what you would get.

The bar for every tier is drawn at the top of this page, in the overview.

An older drive can still win its tier; when it launched more than three years before the check date, its card says so. Where we found no review of a drive’s flash type, it is left out, even if it sells well.

Popularity plays no part: a drive is here because of its hardware and its reviews, not because it sells well. We check the picks again when new reviews come out.

Reading the cards

Every figure comes from the maker’s own data sheet or a named review, linked under “Full specs”. Where a maker does not name a part, the card takes it from a review’s teardown or the NewMaxx SSD spreadsheet, a community database, and says so. Where no source names a part, the card says that instead of guessing. What each line of a data sheet assumes, from rated speeds to TBW and warranty terms, is in How to Read an SSD Spec Sheet.

Endurance is the maker’s warranty figure in terabytes written (TBW). The meter divides it by the drive’s capacity, so a 1TB drive and a 4TB drive compare fairly, and fills against the highest internal figure on this page. Portables rarely publish endurance, so their third meter is the warranty. DRAM is a small memory chip some drives use to hold their map of where data lives; with a host memory buffer, the drive borrows a slice of the computer’s memory for that job instead. Our myth test DRAM-Less SSDs Are Slow measures what that costs. A bridge chip is the USB or Thunderbolt chip in front of a portable’s NVMe drive; some portables have a controller that speaks USB itself and need none. How the bridge and the port set a portable’s real speed is in Portable SSDs and Enclosures, and drives for a PS5, an Xbox or a handheld are on Best SSDs for PS5, Xbox and Steam Deck.

This page does not show prices. A page built once cannot keep a price current, and a stale price is worse than none. To see where a controller or flash type sits in the wider market, use the controller timeline and the NAND die timeline. For why memory and flash prices are rising, read The Memory Cycle.

Also considered

Products the reviews we read tested that did not make the cut, and the reason each one missed.

Internal SSDs · Budget

Crucial P310. Uses QLC flash, and this tier’s bar requires TLC. HWCooling.net review of the Crucial P310
Samsung 990. Tom’s Hardware calls it a QLC-based drive with a three-year warranty, and this tier’s bar requires TLC. Tom’s Hardware review of the Samsung 990 2TB
Kingston NV3. The 2TB model SSD-Tester tested uses QLC flash, and this tier’s bar requires TLC. SSD-Tester test of the Kingston NV3 2TB

Internal SSDs · Mainstream

Crucial T500. Clears the bar with TLC flash, DRAM and a five-year warranty, but Tom’s Hardware lists inconsistent sustained write performance among its drawbacks. Tom’s Hardware review of the Crucial T500 2TB
WD_BLACK SN850X. Clears the bar with TLC flash, DRAM and a five-year warranty, but Tom’s Hardware says its flash technology lags its competitors’ and expected it to struggle to beat the SK hynix Platinum P41. Tom’s Hardware review of the WD_BLACK SN850X
Sabrent Rocket 4. Tom’s Hardware calls this DRAM-less PCIe 4.0 drive a pleasant upgrade with good all-around and sustained performance and power efficiency, and lists plenty of competition among its drawbacks; its five-year warranty applies with registration, so it does not clear this tier’s flat five-year bar the way the picks do. Tom’s Hardware, Sabrent Rocket 4 2TB review

Internal SSDs · High end

Crucial T710. Clears the bar, and Tom’s Hardware praises its power efficiency, but it found no standout area of performance and notes faster options exist. Tom’s Hardware review of the Crucial T710 2TB
Sabrent Rocket 5. Tom’s Hardware calls it one of the fastest SSDs it has tested, with the fastest sustained writes, but notes high power consumption and low efficiency, and Sabrent’s page lists a 2-year warranty that extends to 5 years only when the drive is registered within 90 days, short of this tier’s five-year bar. Tom’s Hardware, Sabrent Rocket 5 2TB review

Portable SSDs · Budget

Silicon Power PX10. Tom’s Hardware found its sustained write speed lags a bit behind other 10 Gbps drives and notes it has no hardware-based encryption. Tom’s Hardware review of the Silicon Power PX10

Portable SSDs · Mainstream

Samsung T9. Has TLC flash and a 20 Gbps link, but a three-year warranty falls short of this tier’s five-year bar, and the review notes that few computers have the USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port it needs. Vivid Repairs review of the Samsung T9 2TB
Lexar ES5 Magnetic Portable SSD. Lexar lists a 20 Gbps link and a five-year warranty, but its published specs do not state the flash type, so it cannot be checked against this tier’s TLC bar. Lexar ES5 Magnetic Portable SSD product page
Sabrent Rocket nano V2. Has TLC flash and a 20 Gbps link, but Tom’s Hardware calls its all-around performance weak and gives it a three-year warranty with registration, short of this tier’s five-year bar. Tom’s Hardware, Sabrent Rocket nano V2 review

Portable SSDs · High end

Sandisk Extreme PRO with USB4. Has a five-year warranty, but Tom’s Hardware wanted faster write speeds from it and called it large next to other external SSDs. Tom’s Hardware review of the Sandisk Extreme PRO with USB4 2TB
LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5. Tom’s Hardware found it the fastest external drive it has tested, but only over Thunderbolt 5, and slower than competing USB4 drives on a computer without a Thunderbolt 5 port. Tom’s Hardware review of the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5

Questions before you buy

Do I need DRAM on an SSD?

Often not. The Budget and Mainstream tiers accept a host memory buffer, where the drive borrows a slice of the computer’s memory, and picks such as the Lexar NM790 and Samsung 990 EVO Plus use one. The High end tier requires the drive’s own DRAM, and the bar for each tier is at the top of this page. DRAM-Less SSDs Are Slow.

Does PCIe 5.0 matter for gaming?

Not much. The bench traces on our myth page show game loading barely follows sequential speed, and press tests found small load-time gaps, so a PCIe 4.0 drive from the Mainstream tier is enough for most game libraries. The PCIe 5.0 drives sit in the High end tier. A Gen5 SSD Loads Games Faster.

Is TLC flash better than QLC?

QLC packs more data into each cell than TLC. Every tier’s bar on this page requires TLC, and the also-considered list names QLC drives we left out for that reason. QLC Is Junk.

Will an internal SSD fit my laptop or console?

Every internal pick is an M.2 2280 drive, the common length for desktops and many laptops. Check that your slot takes that length and has room for a heatsink, and read the maker’s compatibility notes before you buy. SSDs for Builders.

Why is my portable SSD slower than its rating?

A portable only reaches its rated speed when the computer’s port and the cable both support its link. The tier bars name the link, 10 Gbps for Budget, 20 Gbps for Mainstream and Thunderbolt or USB4 for High end, and on a slower port the drive falls back to that port’s speed. Use the cable that came in the box.