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Are you tired of waiting for long loading screens? Maybe it’s time to upgrade your SSD. Here are the five best ones for gaming.
SSDs have become much more accessible than a decade ago, and everyone uses them, from budget gamers to enthusiasts. The size of today’s games is also an essential factor. Good old CD drives and games with just a few gigabytes in size are gone.
Before getting an SSD for gaming, consider a few things. You do not necessarily need the fastest one; you should look for what is practical. PCIe Gen 5 drives are technically the fastest but are challenging to tame. They heat up quickly, and you may be CPU-bound or even have the wrong motherboard, which splits your PCIe lanes. Other important considerations include TBW (endurance rating), read/write speed, and whether built-in DRAM is included.
With that said, we picked the five best SSDs for gaming, considering what we mentioned earlier.
1. Samsung 990 Pro PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD
Enthusiast gamers and content creators looking for the best in gaming go with the 990 Pro. Samsung’s Gen 4.0 flagship SSD offers top-tier gaming performance, exceptional read and write speeds, and PS5 compatibility. The 990 Pro is available in three iterations, from 512GB to 2TB, and also has a heatsink model as an option.
Specifications
| Category | Details |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Controller | Proprietary Samsung (Pascal) |
| NAND Flash | 176-layer TLC (Samsung V-NAND V7) |
| DRAM | Up to 4GB LPDDR4 |
| Sequential Read | Up to 7,450 MB/s |
| Sequential Write | Up to 6,900 MB/s |
| Random Read IOPS | Up to 1,400,000 |
| Random Write IOPS | Up to 1,550,000 |
| Endurance (TBW) | Up to 1,200 TBW |
2. Wd Black Sn850x PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD
Western Digital is a pillar contributor when it comes to reliable storage options. The SN850X makes for a top-notch gaming SSD with a reasonable price tag. It is compatible with the PS5 and has excellent read/write speeds. The SN850X comes in three iterations, from 512GB to 2TB, and has an optional heatsink model.
Specifications
| Category | Details |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Controller | Proprietary 8-channel |
| NAND Flash | 112-layer BiCS5 TLC |
| DRAM | Up to 2048 MB LPDDR4 |
| Sequential Read | Up to 7300 MB/s |
| Sequential Write | Up to 6600 MB/s |
| Random Read IOPS | Up to 1,200,000 |
| Random Write IOPS | Up to 1,100,000 |
| Endurance (TBW) | Up to 2400 TB |
3. Crucial T500 PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD
Crucial’s T500 is aimed at budget gamers and content creators who want a cost-effective yet high-performance SSD. It is compatible with the PS5 and comes in four iterations, from 512GB to 4TB, making it an excellent budget yet high-capacity fast storage option. The 4TB model comes standard with a heatsink, but other models, such as 1TB and 2TB, offer it as an option.
Specifications
| Category | Details |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Controller | Phison PS5025-E25 |
| NAND Flash | 232-layer Micron TLC |
| DRAM | LPDDR4 |
| Sequential Read | Up to 7400 MB/s |
| Sequential Writ | Up to 7000 MB/s |
| Random Read IOPS | Up to 1,180,000 |
| Random Write IOPS | Up to 1,440,000 |
| Endurance (TBW) | Up to 1200 TB |
4. Corsair Mp600 Pro Lpx PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD
Like the T500, the MP600 PRO LPX from Corsair is an incredible option for individuals who want high-density and high-capacity storage. It is the only SSD to offer up to 8TB of storage, along with PS5 compatibility and lightning-fast read/write speeds.
Specifications
| Category | Details |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Controller | Phison PS5018-E18 |
| NAND Flash | 3D TLC NAND |
| DRAM | Up to 2048 MB |
| Sequential Read | Up to 7,100 MB/s |
| Sequential Write | Up to 6,800 MB/s (4TB), Up to 5,800 MB/s (1TB) |
| Random Read IOPS | Up to 9,50,00 |
| Random Write IOPS | Up to 1,200,000 |
| Endurance (TBW) | Up to 6,000 TB |
5. Lexar NM790 PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD
Lexar’s offering ensures budget-conscious gamers needing solid performance get competitive speeds at a lower price point. The NM790 is available in multiple capacities (including 4TB), has an efficient thermal design, and offers incredible value for money.
Specifications
| Category | Details |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Controller | MaxioTech MAP1602A |
| NAND Flash | YMTC 232-layer TLC |
| DRAM | None (uses Host Memory Buffer, ie your system RAM) |
| Sequential Read | Up to 7400 MB/s |
| Sequential Write | Up to 6500 MB/s |
| Random Read IOPS | Up to 1,000,000 IOPS |
| Random Write IOPS | Up to 900,000 IOPS |
| Endurance (TBW) | Up to 3000 TB |
These SSDs cater to different needs—from high-end gaming setups to affordable yet reliable options—ensuring there’s something for every gamer in 2025!
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