SSDs work differently than a traditional hard drive (HDD). While they are data storage devices, they don’t have any moving parts. While HDDs use spinning platters to access information, flash drives store data on flash memory chips . The technology they employ is similar to what you might find in a smartphone, USB flash drive, or tablet.
Since SSDs don’t have to wait for a platter to spin up where the data resides, all memory chips remain accessible at the same time. This makes it easier for users to access their information at high speeds . However, it’s important to know that there are two SSD formats: 2.5-inch SATA and NVMe SSDs .
SATA and NVMe SSDs: What’s the difference?
2.5-inch SATA SSDs:
The simplest replacement for a standard hard drive is a 2.5-inch SATA model . This has the same size and shape as a standard 2.5-inch HDD . It plugs into a normal SATA port . Most modern PC cases have mounting points for 2.5-inch hard drives. Often, these are located on the back of the motherboard tray .
NVMe SSDs :
For maximum power and minimum space, NVMe (also known as PCI Express, PCIe NVMe, or simply NVMe) models are ideal. Most NVMe SSDs mount directly to the motherboard in an M.2 slot . If the board doesn’t have one, the user can use a PCIe expansion card (AIC). These will fit into a spare PCIe x4 or x16 slot and are monstrously fast, but more expensive.
The best NVMe SSDs: our selection of 2025
#1 Samsung SSD 990 PRO M.2 PCIe NVMe 1TB, the best M.2 SSD in 2025
The Samsung SSD 990 PRO M.2 PCIe NVMe has become one of the best SSDs on the flash drive market over time. It is available in several capacities up to 4TB. This model is suitable for both laptops and powerful central processing units. It is also compatible with the latest game consoles like the PS5. In M.2 2280 format, this SSD uses the PCIe 4.0 x4 interface and the NVMe protocol. It can offer sequential read speeds of up to 7,450 MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 6,900 MB/s. This is an SSD that guarantees exceptional responsiveness and optimal fluidity in all applications and situations. In addition, it benefits from a 5-year warranty and an endurance of up to 2400 TBW. It is one of the best SSDs that can be used over the long term.
#2 Corsair MP600 Pro LPX, best proven, mature and reliable M.2 SSD
The Corsair MP600 Pro LPX stands out with improved performance and capacities of up to 8TB. This is not very common for a consumer SSD. Here, sequential read speeds can reach 7,100MB/s compared to 6,800MB/s for sequential write speeds. Corsair offers a drive with good availability and a suitable price-performance ratio. The flash drive also comes in two design options, featuring a black or white heatsink. This makes it suitable for various build styles. The result is a versatile and attractive piece of hardware. Furthermore, the MP600 Pro LPX is ideal for workstations. It features a powerful eight-channel controller with DRAM. But above all, it’s a proven, mature, and reliable product. It’s worth noting that it’s hard to find IG5236-based hardware that’s as satisfying.
| What we like |
|---|
| – Satisfactory performance – Wide range of capacities – Heat sink included (white or black) – Equipped with DRAM |
| What we like less |
|---|
| – Not very energy efficient – B0BWYX6BQ3 |
#3 Kingston KC3000 1024GB, for value for money
The Kingston KC3000 was for a long time, especially during its launch, one of the fastest SSDs on the market. While the hardware it uses has become more commonplace these days, the Phison E18 SSD controller it uses is certainly still a strong point. This is paired with 176-layer Micron TLC NAND. Available in capacities up to 4TB, this M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD offers sequential read and write speeds of 7000MB/s. It also provides a TBW of 3200 for the 4TB model. The KC3000 is therefore available in a wide range of capacities. This model is ideal for those who prioritize value for money. While it’s not the most powerful or fastest SSD currently available, it comes with a good price and good performance consistency.
| What we like |
|---|
| – Good overall performance – Well-known and trusted brand |
| What we like less |
|---|
| – Not the fastest in its category |
#4 WD_Black Western Digital SSD WD Black SN850X 1TB – With Heatsink
The Black SN850X relies on an improved controller and recent flash memory to make the most of the PCIe 4.0 interface. This M.2 2280 SSD is available in capacities of 1 TB, 2 TB and 4 TB. It offers sequential read and write speeds of up to 7,300 and 6,600 MB/s respectively. Its 5-year warranty comes with a maximum endurance rated at 2,400 TBW. This flash drive offers performance that can rival a large majority of PCIe 4.0 drives on the market. On the other hand, it is possible to have it with an RGB heat sink at 1 TB and 2 TB. Here, the manufacturer offers its software for hardware configuration. It is therefore an ideal storage solution for gamers, but not only. It is a versatile drive intended for the console and PC audience.
| What we like |
|---|
| – High-level performance – Large and coherent SLC cache – Solid warranty and software offering – Optional heatsink and RGB |
| What we like less |
|---|
| – High price |
#5 Crucial T500 1TB, best SSD for laptops
The Crucial T500 is a drive that stands out for its advanced flash memory combined with a custom controller. The two make a perfect duo for those who want a power-efficient SSD using four channels. Additionally, the DRAM cache Crucial adds here improves performance. Beyond that, the brand offers single-sided hardware with the T500 that supports TCG Opal. This makes the SSD a good choice for professional use on a laptop. While there is a version with a heat sink, those looking to use this SSD with a laptop will have to do without. In fact, in this respect, this model may be more suitable compared to DRAM-free drives. Indeed, the T500’s controller has a large surface area and a metal IHS. This makes it easier to avoid overheating the controller. This makes it one of the storage devices to absolutely favor for laptops. Its sequential read/write speeds are 7,400/7,000 MB/s respectively.
| What we like |
|---|
| – Decent power efficiency – Has DRAM – Single-sided – Optional heatsink (for desktop, PS5) – Supports software and encryption |
| What we like less |
|---|
| – Price always finds its balance – Constant and inconsistent performance |
#6 Seagate SSD FireCuda 530 500GB, for workstations
The Seagate FireCuda 530 is an M.2 SSD that outperforms direct competitors like the Samsung 980 Pro and the WD_Black SN850. It actually ranks ahead of these models when it comes to sustained write rates. Its technical superiority lies in the use of Micron’s 176 L TLC flash memory. This not only gives it exceptional performance, but also doubles the endurance of industry standards. Here, the price may be perceived as more powerful than its peers. Nevertheless, it justifies this investment with its premium features, including a five-year warranty and three years of data recovery service. In addition, the exceptional endurance of more than 600 TB of writes per TB of capacity is a significant asset. This combination of performance, reliability, and support makes it an ideal choice for demanding users. This drive will find its place perfectly in workstations.
| What we like |
|---|
| – Fast PCIe 4.0 performance – Satisfying 7000MB/s and 3000MB/s sequential read and write speeds – Impressive endurance – Attractive design and heat sink – 256-bit XTS-AES encryption |
| What we like less |
|---|
| – Expensive – Effectiveness compared to the competition |
#7 Kingston FURY Renegade 1TB, another alternative for the best value for money
The Kingston Fury Renegade is a high-performance PCIe 4.0 SSD offering impressive sequential read speeds of 7300 MB/s and sequential write speeds of 7000 MB/s. This 2280-format M.2 NVMe SSD features a Phison controller and TLC NAND memory. It offers excellent endurance with a 5-year warranty and a TBW (Terabytes Written) rating of 2000 TB for the 2 TB model. For those who need it, this drive is also available with a graphene-aluminum heatsink or a conventional heatsink for only . Kingston provides the drive to consider for those looking for the best value. While it is a little slower than the WD Black SN850X, especially in gaming tests, its overall performance remains very solid. It is a good choice for users looking for a high-performance SSD at a more affordable price.
| What we like |
|---|
| – Comes in capacities up to 4TB – Moderately priced 1TB and 2TB versions – Comes with Acronis True Image HD backup/cloning software – Superior durability ratings (TBW) |
| What we like less |
|---|
| – Lack of hardware encryption |
The Best SATA SSDs: Our Pick for 2025
#8 Samsung SSD 870 EVO 1TB, the best SATA SSD for Gaming
When it comes to purchasing an SSD for gaming, there are still a large number of users who opt for 2.5” SATA flash drives over the very fast NVMe SSD. It’s important to understand that the latter tend to be more expensive, which is why many people are turning to SATA drives like the Samsung SSD 870 EVO 1TB. Furthermore, 2.5” SSDs don’t necessarily require the latest motherboards and are therefore more backward compatible. For those who want the best of the best, the Samsung 870 Evo is among the fastest models for this use case. In terms of performance, it reaches sequential speeds of 560 MB/s read and 530 MB/s write. These features make it a solid choice for users looking to improve their system’s performance while benefiting from proven reliability.
| What we like |
|---|
| – 2400 TBW endurance – Uses V-NAND TLC technology and MKX controller – Compatible with a wide range of systems and applications – Easy installation |
| What we like less |
|---|
| – SATA interface limitation – No backup software included |
#9 Western Digital WD Blue SA510 2TB SSD – 2.5″, Best Value for Budget-Oriented Builds
The Western Digital Blue SA510 is a 2.5-inch internal SSD ideal for boosting PC performance. This drive is suitable for professionals, creatives, and tech enthusiasts. With read/write speeds of up to 560/520 Mbps and a capacity of 2 TB, it excels at demanding tasks like video editing. Its 2.5-inch form factor and compatibility make it a versatile option for upgrades. However, its SATA interface, while reliable, is slower than NVMe. But the price may be a deciding factor for some users. This more affordable drive is a solid choice for those looking to maximize their productivity.
| What we like |
|---|
| – Solid performance – High endurance of 400 TBW – Low power consumption – Compatible with many systems – Comes with Acronis True Image Western Digital software |
| What we like less |
|---|
| – Limited SATA interface – No heat sink – Not optimized for modern games |
#10 Crucial MX500 1TB, the best consumer Sata SSD
The Crucial MX500 is a 2.5-inch SATA 3 SSD that offers capacities from 250GB to 2TB. It’s ideal for those looking for solid performance without opting for a more expensive NVMe drive. With sequential read/write speeds of up to 560/510Mbps, it comes with an endurance of up to 700TBW. It rivals models like the Samsung 860 EVO in terms of reliability and performance. Often on sale, the MX500 represents excellent value for an affordable and effective upgrade. Indeed, it’s a must-consider for those who are desperate to save money. Despite its entry-level positioning, it offers solid SATA performance.
| What we like |
|---|
| – Mainstream performance – Competitive pricing – SSD toolkit and cloning software included – Host power failure protection – AES-256 hardware encryption – TCG Opal 2.0 SED support |
| What we like less |
|---|
| – Small, slower capacities – Design starting to show its age |
Best SSDs 2023-2024: NVMe
#1 Samsung 970 PRO (1TB), the best SSD 2023-2024 with a large capacity
For those looking for the highest-performing 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD with the best endurance on the market, the 970 PRO is the model to choose. Packed with Samsung’s 64L MLC V-NAND, this SSD can deliver consistent performance of up to 3.5/2.7 GB/s read/write. This performance comes at a cost, however, typically twice as high as competing products.
| What we like |
|---|
| – Excellent endurance – Unmatched performance – Full disk encryption |
| What we like less |
|---|
| – Expensive |
#2 WD Black SN750 2TB NVMe, Best Gaming SSD 2023-2024
The WD Black SN750 SSD offers speeds of up to 3100 MB/s. It also boasts random read speeds of 412.5 MB/s and gamer-friendly features at a very reasonable price. This SSD remains an excellent upgrade for a gaming rig, however humble it may be in 2022.
| What we like |
|---|
| – Excellent speeds – Settings included |
| What we like less |
|---|
| – Heats in confined spaces |
For superior performance and reliability, Samsung’s 970 Evo Plus series is among the best on the market. The SSD offers read and write speeds of 2.5 GB/s, with the ability to continue working with up to 600 terabytes written to the drive. It will make an excellent upgrade for anyone who needs additional business storage or a significant speed boost for their computer.
| What we like |
|---|
| – High read speed – Top performance out of cache |
| What we like less |
|---|
| – Tendency to heat up |
#4 Corsair Force MP600 2TB, Best SSD 2023-2024 with Zen 2
Corsair Force MP600 2TB is perfect for Zen 2-based PCs that are now attracting a large number of users. It must be understood that AMD is becoming a real advantage for Phison for the years 2023-2024. Both have decided to offer consumers a glimpse of the power that can be obtained with Gen4 SSDs . For those with a Zen 2 platform and who want the ultimate performance of current storage, this SSD will certainly be a compelling product.
| What we like |
|---|
| – Top flow rates – Large capacity |
| What we like less |
|---|
| – Dissipator that can interfere |
#5 Crucial P1 M.2 PCIe NVMe 500GB, for small budgets
The Crucial P1 delivers high performance and arguably offers better value than most SATA SSDs. However, its use of QLC memory means it falls a bit behind its NVMe competitors. Rated speeds don’t always hold up under load or when the drive is nearly full. At half capacity, you might see a drop in transfer speeds that resemble SATA SSDs. In any case, this model is attractive for its affordable price.
| What we like |
|---|
| – Long warranty – Good flow rate overall |
| What we like less |
|---|
| – Satisfactory performance until cache exhaustion |
Best SSDs 2023-2024: SATA
#1 Kingston SSD UV500 1920 GB, large capacity
For users looking to add a little extra oomph to a desktop system without spending a lot, the Kingston UV500 1920GB SSDs may be just the components you need. They use the older SATA connection standard but are still very good SSDs to buy in 2022 – and the older technology means cheaper prices.
| What we like |
|---|
| – Very attractive value for money – Easy to add to existing systems |
| What we like less |
|---|
| – Not the fastest SSDs |
#2 Samsung SSD 860 EVO 250 GB, adjusted capacity
The Samsung SATA 3 860 Evo SSD is the best choice compared to its predecessors due to its faster speeds and longer endurance. Keeping the focus on low prices, just like its predecessors, the Samsung 860 Evo series is affordable and aims to offer a large amount of solid-state storage.
| What we like |
|---|
| – Noticeable increase in speed – Quadrupled stamina |
| What we like less |
|---|
| – SATA 3 protocol limits maximum potential |
#3 Crucial MX500 250GB, fast and cheaper
Although SATA connections are slower than the newer PCIe interfaces, they are significantly cheaper. If you need more storage and don’t want to sacrifice the benefits of SSDs, this Crucial MX500 drive offers what you need at an incredibly affordable price. Sequential read and write speeds are very good for this model, reaching 560 MB/s and 510 MB/s for read and write respectively.
| What we like |
|---|
| – 256-bit AES encryption – TLC NAND memory |
| What we like less |
|---|
| – Not worth Samsung’s 960 Pro |
#4 Western Digital SSD WD Blue 1TB, the workhorse
The Western Digital WD Blue 1TB SSD offers improved SATA performance. These models are optimized for multitasking and heavy-duty application processing, making them ideal for both laptops and desktop PCs. Compared to conventional hard drives, the difference in performance will certainly be felt here.
| What we like |
|---|
| – Noticeable speed increase – Load an intensive application |
| What we like less |
|---|
| – SATA 3 limits performance |
#5 SanDisk SSD PLUS TLC 1TB, for security
Sandisk is one of the most popular companies in SSD technology. The SanDisk SSD Plus TLC offers improved speed and performance up to 20 times faster than standard hard drives. These SSDs also offer dashboard status monitoring for your favorite multimedia applications.
| What we like |
|---|
| – Supports SanDisk Dashboard software – Low price |
| What we like less |
|---|
| – Variable nomenclature |
The ideal capacity for your needs
The minimum SSD size available here is 250GB. This will provide enough space for installing Windows (around 20GB), a few large games, and your most frequently used programs. For those with a large photo and music collection, or simply a lot of games installed at the same time, 500GB is the minimum. For users who want maximum performance, using only SSDs remains the best option.
This way, there will no longer be data passing through HDDs that take time to respond. All the computer ‘s content will be on flash drives that are very fast to access. This generally results in a more powerful central unit . Of course, this is quite difficult for some buyers because of the money that will have to be invested. In these cases, a combo between SSD and HDD remains the best solution.
