TOP 15 best SSD M.2 solid state drives: 2021 rating by price/quality and which one to choose for a gaming computer

In the beginning there was mSATA

The result of the first attempt to create a new solid-state drive format was mini-SATA or mSATA. This is an undisguised rectangular PCB. Most of these drives are approximately 1 x 2 inches in size. These SSDs are placed in a special slot on the motherboard of a laptop or computer. As the name suggests, this slot is a channel to the Serial ATA system bus. The interface on the drive side looks like a connector on a printed circuit board, unlike traditional SATA cables. The drive receives power through this connector.

The best M.2 NVMe SSD models from Aliexpress

These drives are a compact board that is inserted into the corresponding connector on your motherboard.

Connecting via PCI Express allows them to work much faster than their SATA counterparts and achieve read/write speeds of over 3 GB per second.

They cost more than sata ssd. In addition, not all motherboards have the appropriate connector for connecting them.

Video on the topic:

Types of drives M2 SSD, NVMe, HDD or mSATA - How to choose and what is the difference

Informational video

What is M.2

M.2 drives have a very utilitarian appearance, like a stick of chewing gum studded with memory chips and a controller.

Any M.2 drive contains a four- or five-digit number in its specifications. This shows its size in millimeters (form factor). The first two digits indicate the width, the second two the length.

Drives with a width of 22 mm are used as a standard for computers and laptops. The length is most often 80 mm (“Type-2280”) and 60 mm (“Type-2260”). The longer the drive, the more NAND memory chips it can accommodate. In addition, drives can be single-sided or double-sided. However, greater length does not always mean greater capacity.

Why does length matter in this case? It is necessary that the drive fits in the case of a laptop or computer. On computers, most motherboards with M.2 slots have screw mounting points of varying lengths, mainly 80mm, 60mm, and 42mm. Laptops have less space and most likely have a bay for one size of M.2 drive or only a single-sided module if the laptop is thin. You need to check the available space before purchasing a drive to install in your laptop.

There is a limit on the density of memory chips and the number of memory modules that can be placed on a certain size PCB. Most modern M.2 drives have a capacity of 2 TB, although there are 4 TB and 8 TB models. Less than this value, volumes of 120 or 128 GB are usually offered; 240 GB, 250 GB or 256 GB; 480 GB, 500 GB or 512 GB; 960 GB or 1 TB.

32 GB and 64 GB drives are available for use in embedded applications or for caching, but they are of little interest to computer manufacturers and builders. The cost of drives varies from 10 to 75 cents per 1 GB. The type of drive bus that influences the price the most is the type of drive bus.

Selection criteria

In order for you to understand what guided us when compiling this selection and what criteria we used to select SSD drives, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the following information.

Here are popular models of SSD drives in the compact M.2 format, which are best suited for installation on motherboards with this connector and especially in laptops.

The selection includes only SSD drives of size 2280 (width 22 mm, length 80 mm), since this is the most popular and modern format. These are the SSDs that are installed in the vast majority of PCs and laptops.

All presented drives use only modern three-dimensional memory TLC 3D NAND or MLC 3D NAND. Models on outdated planar TLC and MLC memory, as well as on the ultra-low-cost and unreliable QLC, were excluded.

All of them have proven themselves in terms of quality (they do not glitch and rarely fail), have positive reviews on technical portals, specialized forums and many positive user reviews.

You will find reviews and tests of SSDs on serious technical portals and forums using the “Links” section.

The differences relate to the memory, controller and buffer size used in one or another model, which affects the speed and rewriting resource (durability) of a particular SSD.

We will present all this in the technical specifications and comment in detail, comparing the differences between the next more expensive model and the previous one, so that you understand whether it is worth overpaying for it.

Accordingly, SSDs are presented in order from cheap to more expensive, and by choosing any of them you will get a good quality drive. Well, you can decide for yourself whether it’s worth overpaying for speed and resources based on our recommendations and based on your budget.

Bus interface problems

This is the biggest challenge when choosing an M.2 drive. Most early drives were regular stripped-down SATA SSDs. They just had a printed circuit board with a different physical connector, but in principle they were no different from 2.5-inch drives. Some of them still exist. The difference in performance between them is minimal, since data moves along the same SATA channels inside the computer.

Laptops can only support M.2 drives with a SATA bus. Therefore, the only reason to upgrade the drive in a laptop is if it fails or increases capacity.

Modern, expensive, small laptops can contain M.2 drives with a PCI Express bus. Almost all motherboards for personal computers with M.2 connectors also support such drives. The result is significantly faster data transfer speeds in tests, but in everyday use they feel like faster premium SATA drives.

The first versions of M.2 PCI Express SSD worked with the Gen 2.0 x2 interface. Its bandwidth is only slightly higher compared to SATA 3.0. This has now changed. The new M.2 drives work with PCI Express Gen 3.0 x4 interface and Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) technology. This provides even better performance, especially in heavy workloads with long data queues.

There is also a more modern version, PCI Express 4.0. It is becoming more widespread, but so far only in expensive drive models. The speed of reading and writing data in drives like the Samsung 980 Pro reaches 7000 Mbit/s. Such drives are the future, but now they are only available in computers with the latest AMD and Intel processors, as well as in the most modern mobile computers.

AMD Ryzen processors require the X570 and B550 chipsets, and the 3rd generation Threadripper requires the TRX40 chipset. On Intel processors, support is only available on the 500 series chipsets. This means 11th generation Rocket Lake processors in PCs and Tiger Lake processors in laptops.

If you install these drives on older AMD and Intel chipsets, they will run at PCIe 3.0 speeds.

Transcend 110S 128GB

We usually do not recommend Transcend SSDs in 2.5″ format, since they are not friendly with all PC power supplies (they go to sleep and do not wake up), which is confirmed by our experience.
In addition, this manufacturer has not been playing in the SSD market for long and until recently it did not have models that were any better than analogues from more experienced competitors. But with M.2 format drives everything is different, since they do not require separate power, which means they are not tied to the power supply and do not have such problems. The brand itself deserves attention due to its high quality workmanship, plus more interesting models have begun to be produced under it.

Specifications Transcend 110S 128GB

If you can’t find ADATA XPG in your stores, but definitely want a PCI-E drive, then this option is also suitable, especially if the price is good. After all, it also has fairly high speed parameters, especially when it comes to reading speed and working with small files.

It also does not have a DRAM buffer, which is not good and leads to poor performance during long read/write operations, especially on small files. But HBM technology is used, borrowing a small part of the RAM for these purposes. This improves the situation somewhat and is a compromise option for an SSD with a good price/speed ratio.

In any case, this will not affect normal everyday use. But it uses a faster dual-core controller compared to budget SSDs with a SATA interface. This improves the speed of processing requests from multiple applications at once.

Its resource allows you to rewrite 20% of the volume (25 GB) per day during the 5-year warranty period, which is sufficient for most users. So such a decision has a right to life. SSD Transcend SSD 110S TS128GMTE110S

Increased speed with NVMe

NVMe presents another technical hurdle because systems and motherboards must be physically capable of booting from these drives. Almost all recent motherboards support PCI Express 3.0 x4 (or 4.0) NVMe M.2 drives, but older models cannot guarantee the system will boot from an NVMe drive.

In addition to modern motherboards, these high-bandwidth slots with NVMe support are found in the latest laptops. Sometimes laptops can support a PCI Express NVMe drive, but it may be soldered to the motherboard and cannot be replaced. You need to know this before you buy a drive to install in your laptop.

SSD drives SEAGATE FireCuda 510 ZP1000GM30011 M.2

On the secondary market, among M.2 drives you can now often find models with support for PCI Express x4 M.2 and NVMe. You can name the lines of Samsung SSD Pro and SSD EVO, ADATA, Seagate, WD and others.

Kingchuxing NVME PCIE x4 M.2 SSD

This drive is available in the following versions: 256 GB, 512 GB and 1024 GB. Great for laptops, desktops, mini computers and other PCs.

The model has a read speed of up to 2400 MB/s, which is 5 times faster than a regular SSD. Kingchuxing NVME PCIE x4 M.2 SSD can be used for both files and games, as well as professional computing.

How do you know if an M.2 SATA or M.2 PCI-Express motherboard is right for you?

First of all, you need to check the technical specifications. M.2 PCI-Express is not suitable for a device that supports SATA. In this case, you can choose M.2 SATA SSD.

We were not able to personally test this drive, but you can form an opinion about it based on the real customer reviews we selected.

Customer reviews about Kingchuxing NVME PCIE x4 M.2 SSD

• Number 1: I’m already taking the second one, this one has lower speeds, maybe due to the fact that it’s connected via a pci-e x4 adapter. The first one produced 2100/1600 when connected to the M.2 slot.
• Number 2: I’m already ordering a second one for 512 GB, the first one is almost a year old, the flight is excellent, I recommend it to everyone. There is definitely no need for an M2 from Samsung, and this one costs three times less.
• Number 3: It arrived, inside there is a sticky sticker and a bolt. The speed is normal for this price.
• Number 4: There were some problems with the installation, but the seller was very helpful, excellent quality, very fast, was not damaged when tested. There were no problems during installation.

Buy Kingchuxing NVME PCIE x4 M.2 SSD Kingchuxing ssd M2 512 GB PCIe SSD NVME m2 128 GB 256 512 1 TB

Aliexpress | $24.11 – $104.51

KingDian NVMe M2 SSD

Basic compatibility, M.2 cards and Optane memory

Right now, the most realistic choice for an M.2 drive would be SATA or PCI Express M.2. These are most likely supported by your motherboard or laptop. Reading the support forums or contacting the manufacturer's technical support should clarify the issue of M.2 bus compatibility. Many modern personal computers with M.2 support both types.

If you want to upgrade your desktop computer but the motherboard doesn't have an M.2 slot, there is an on-board M.2 drive option. Similar solutions are offered by Intel, OWC and Kingston. Asus and MSI offer an M.2 “carrier card” on some flagship motherboard models. This means that the drive fits on a PCI Express expansion card and provides data transfer speeds via the PCI Express interface on a computer without an M.2 connector.

Some such cards may provide support for multiple M.2 drives at once. High-end modern motherboards for AMD processors with PCI Express 4.0 support may even include these cards in the package. They can support two or four M.2 drives, not counting the connectors on the board itself.

This is a good option because it can often provide a quality heatsink for an M.2 drive. Some M.2 drives with a PCI Express bus may heat up and slow down when used for long periods of time under load. If your computer is not operating as a server and does not have other continuous load, there is no need to worry about overheating. These drives are so fast that they complete their tasks before they get hot.

Finally, a word of caution regarding Intel drives. Its models with the M.2 interface are sold under the Optane brand. There are two different types of drives that are similar in appearance. SSDs are similar to other models and can work as a boot drive and auxiliary storage.

Intel Optane memory is completely different. This is an M.2 module that looks similar to an SSD, but works as a cache accelerator for another drive, usually an HDD. If you buy an Optane drive, make sure you get the right type.

ADATA Ultimate SU800 M.2 128GB

Another good representative of drives from ADATA, but in this case it does not stand out for its outstanding characteristics.

Specifications ADATA Ultimate SU800 M.2 128GB

The main advantages include only the presence of a DRAM buffer and good flash memory with a large rewriting resource. This SSD can also use up to 30% of free space as a so-called SLC cache, which significantly speeds up write operations.

Yes, the maximum recording speed here is small, but it will slow down significantly less than with WD GREEN without a buffer. The speed of working with small files is also fine here.

In general, this SSD can be recommended for purchase if you have not found Plextor (it is still better), and the ADATA XPG drive with a PCI-E interface does not support your M.2 slot. SSD A-Data Ultimate SU800 M.2 ASU800NS38-128GT-C

M.2 drive updates and boot drives

When you purchase a drive like this, you will be at the forefront of modern computer technology. You will have a storage device that many computer owners don't even know exists. When choosing, you need to pay attention to several factors.

Look at the physical size . The width and length in millimeters must be suitable for the drive bay. Mostly the problem occurs in laptops. The width is usually 22 mm, and the lengths are 42 mm, 60 mm, 80 mm, 110 mm.

How to choose a good solid state drive?

It’s worth starting right away with the fact that there are not only computer, but also server models of solid-state storage drives on sale, which are distinguished by support for specific connection options and higher performance. We do not consider them, since the demand is small.

If you don’t know how to choose an SSD drive for your computer, you should pay attention to the following parameters:

1. Optimal capacity - this parameter is responsible not only for the amount of data that a gadget can fit in its compact body, but also for its final cost. At the same time, there may be models of the same version on sale with different amounts of memory from 120 gigabytes to 2 terabytes or more;
2. Form factor – 2.5-inch and M.2 drives are considered the most popular today. The former were originally developed for laptops, but now they are also used in desktop PCs. The M.2 form factor, as a rule, represents the ability to connect via its own standard connector, which is also called. Such disks hold a lot of memory and support two formats for transferring information.
3. Connectors – to connect solid-state drives, the proprietary M.2 (M.2) form factor standard is used, as well as internal interfaces such as SATA and USB of a certain version.
4. Memory type - this parameter determines aspects related to the distribution of information across cells, as well as their properties. There are MLC (2 bits per cell), TLC (3 bits), 3D MLC NAND (memory cells arranged in several layers).
5. The volume of the clipboard is an indicator indicating the amount of intermediate memory between RAM and its own resource. The higher the score, the better the performance.

Tips for choosing an SSD drive

If you want to take the most responsible approach to choosing a solid-state drive, you will have to pay attention to a number of auxiliary parameters, including the following technologies:

1. NVMe is an information exchange protocol created to eliminate the shortcomings of earlier connection standards;
2. TBW – indicates the device’s time between failures, expressed in terabytes;
3. TRIM - support for these commands indicates the complete removal of old information, and not just in the “table of contents” of the disk.

In addition, when purchasing such equipment, it is necessary to pay attention to the warranty period from the manufacturer, external and internal write/read speed, and mean time between failures. It is worth adding that many modern external drives have shock-resistant housings. Some gadgets attract backlighting, have an internal pocket and cables included. These are not just small things, and they are worth taking into account.

Best overall PCIe 3.0 drive: Crucial P5

If you're looking for the best value for money in PCI Express drives, the Crucial P5 on M.2 delivers.

Pros:

• Excellent results in various benchmarks, including high sequential data read speed.
• High recording durability rating.
• Value for money.
• Great software.
• 5 year warranty.

Minuses:

• A sharp drop in recording speed in the 250 GB version.

Prices for Yandex.Market

Crucial P5

ADATA XPG SX6000 Lite 128GB

The first model that we could recommend is from the budget, but high-quality and popular ADATA brand, and directly from the high-performance XPG series.

Specifications ADATA XPG SX6000 Lite 128GB

This SSD is radically different from the previous ones, as it is built on a faster PCI-E x4 interface with a sharp lead both in linear read/write speed (1800/600 versus 560/400 MB/s) and in random operations with small files ( 100/130 vs 60/70 K IOPS).

The comparative budget nature of this drive is revealed only by the absence of a full-fledged DRAM buffer; its role is played by the computer's RAM, which can be used for these purposes by the mid-range RTS5763DL controller from Realtek.

If the usefulness of such speeds can be debated, then a 5-year warranty is definitely a significant advantage. So if your M.2 slot supports PCI-E drives, then this is a great option. SSD A-Data XPG SX6000 Lite M.2 ASX6000LNP-128GT-C

Best for fast loading games and apps on PCIe 3.0: Intel SSD 670p

This is a fairly expensive drive based on QLC chips, but it has one of the fastest random read results for 4K data with a small queue depth.

Pros:

• Record loading speeds for PCI Express 3.0 games, operating systems and programs.
• Longer lifespan than most QLC NAND drives.
• 5 year warranty.
• Good software.

Minuses:

• The price is higher compared to other QLC NAND drives.

Prices for Yandex.Market

Intel SSD 670p

Plextor PX-128M8VG

A good budget SSD from a well-established manufacturer, most of whose SSDs turned out to be extremely successful in terms of price/quality ratio.

Specifications Plextor PX-128M8VG

The first thing worth noting is that the volume has increased by 8 GB compared to the previous model, which, given the small SSD, will be quite useful.

In terms of maximum read speed, this SSD is slightly faster (560 versus 540 MB/s), and in terms of write speed, it is slightly slower (400 versus 430 MB/s) of the first version of WD GREEN. But the main thing is that the reading speed of small files is much higher (60 versus 37 IOPS) and this is a good sign.

In addition, there is a full-fledged DRAM buffer, so the speed drawdowns in real work for this SSD are much lower. Although it uses a similar controller from Silicon Motion - SM2258, which differs from the version with the “XT” prefix only in its support for working with buffer memory.

The declared rewriting resource for this model is also much larger (70 versus 40 TB), which is already a normal typical value for an SSD of this size. In general, it is better in everything than even the first version from WD GREEN, except for the same 3-year warranty and will be a more preferable choice. SSD Plextor M8VG PX-128M8VG

Best budget and PCIe 4.0 performance: ADATA XPG Gammix S50 Lite

If you've been waiting for a significant price drop for PCI Express 4.0 drives, the wait is over. This ADATA drive offers excellent value for money among models with this interface.

Pros:

• Lowest price per gigabyte among PCI Express 4.0 drives.
• High performance in PCMark 10 and Crystal DiskMark 4K benchmarks.
• Reliable software.
• High recording durability.
• 5 year warranty.

Minuses:

• Not the highest sequential reading and writing speed.
• Results in PCMark 10 when running some applications.
• It is difficult to remove the radiator.

Prices for Yandex.Market

ADATA XPG Gammix S50 Lite

Rating of 120 and 128 Gb drives

The TOP drives based on testing results are compiled based on the corresponding tables. The places on the list were distributed as follows:

Of these devices, I recommend taking the Transcend MTS800. This disk, although it was presented to the public back in 2015, is today recognized as one of the best in terms of reliability. The device remains relevant, largely due to its high performance and affordable price.

Can be used on both desktop PC and laptop. This device uses a Silicon Motion SM2246EN controller with a 2 Gb DDR III buffer. Micron NW663 MLC chips act as flash memory.

The second similar device is Kingston A400. This budget model is aimed at users who are not yet ready to take full advantage of solid-state drives, but want to try technical solutions that are not quite conventional.

By the way, several of my relatives have this particular model installed on their PC.

There is a modification of this device for a 2.5'' slot. It can be used either in conjunction with a classic HDD or as a full-fledged single drive. Despite the very reasonable price, this device is covered by a five-year warranty.

Best PCIe 4.0 for Gamers: Seagate FireCuda 520

This Seagate drive is a great entry point into the world of PCIe 4.0-ready models. Those who want to get the maximum price-performance ratio can give preference to PCIe 3.0 drives, which in reality work no worse.

Pros:

• High serial data transfer speed in Crystal DiskMark.
• High durability rating.
• High overall results in PCMark 10.

Minuses:

• No radiator included.
• The cost is higher than PCI Express 3.0 drives, which are superior in some respects.

Prices for Yandex.Market

Seagate FireCuda 520

Alternative PCIe 3.0 SSD for gamers and multimedia: WD Black SN750 NVMe SSD

There are versions with and without a heatsink, as well as software tuning for maximum performance. This Western Digital drive should appeal to gamers and PC enthusiasts who want to boot from PCI Express NVMe.

Pros:

• Low price per gigabyte.
• High speed in games.
• Additional built-in radiator.
• Several capacity options.

Minuses:

• Relatively low speed of reading and writing arbitrary data.

Prices for Yandex.Market

WD Black SN750 NVMe SSD

TOP-8 products

From the variety of M.2 SSD drives on the market, we selected 8, dividing them into several categories based on capacity. After all, sometimes you have to store a lot of data on an SSD, but in other cases there is no need - and then other parameters come to the fore, for example, speed or price.

Best 4K Games to Download

Intel SSDPEKKW020T8X1

If even a terabyte is not enough for storing games, then you should take a closer look at this model - its volume is twice as large. But the cost is also higher, amounting to 30,000 - 31,000 rubles. The drive has good speed performance – 3230 and 1625 MB/sec for reading and writing, respectively. Among the disadvantages, it is worth noting strong heating under load, so you should purchase this drive for systems with good cooling, and then no problems will arise.

Price: RUB 43,371

Intel SSDPEKNW010T8X1

But if you don’t want to constantly clean the SSD from old games, you should take a closer look at a larger drive – at least 1 TB, like this model. It provides the same read speed of 3,200 MB/sec as the previous one, and writes even faster at 2,100 MB/sec. The cost is very reasonable for a drive of this class: about 12,000 – 13,000. Users sometimes report problems with overheating, so it is better to purchase it for a desktop PC with good cooling.

Price: RUB 12,519

ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro

Engineers from Taiwanese ADATA have perfectly learned to maintain a balance between price and quality. This drive with an M.2 connector combines high performance and a reasonable price. An SSD with a read speed of 3200 and a write speed of 1100 MB/sec will cost you about 3,500 rubles for a 256 GB model, and 6,500 rubles for a capacity of 512 GB.

Yes, the XPG SX8200 Pro is inferior in performance to top solutions from Samsung or WD, but it is almost impossible to notice the lag with the naked eye. Therefore, the disk can be safely used to install the system and games, in order to forever forget about long downloads.

Price: RUB 7,293

Best from 1000 GB

Samsung MZ-V7S2T0BW

Samsung offers twice the capacity of a drive than the previous model reviewed, for about the same price: 30,000 – 35,000. Of course, the speed is lower, but it’s still quite good – 3500 MB/sec for both writing and reading. A device with 2 TB of memory weighs only 8 grams and consumes 0.1 W, and is a good choice in terms of memory cost per gigabyte - it will cost 17.5 rubles.

Price: RUB 34,989

Best 500 to 1000 GB

Western Digital WD Black SN750

Significantly surpassing the previous reviewed models in volume (it is 1 TB), this device stands out for its speed - 3,400 and 2,800 Mb/s. With such parameters, it is natural that it costs much more - more than 17,000 rubles. It stands out for its high strength and durability.

Price: RUB 18,015

Best from 250 to 500 GB

ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 Pro

For its volume (512 GB) it is inexpensive: 6,500 – 7,000 rubles. Of course, its read and write speeds (1,500 and 900 MB/s, respectively) are not comparable to the previous model, but for any task facing a regular computer, this is quite enough. The increase in speed compared to a conventional HDD will be noticeable immediately - the system will start loading and working much faster.

Price: RUB 7,369

Western Digital WD BLUE 3D NAND

The drive is able to offer the same 500 GB for a lower price - 4,800 - 5,000 rubles. You will have to pay for this with speed: 560 and 530 Mb/s. But this is quite enough for all everyday tasks, as well as games. The model can be recommended as combining a modest price with good characteristics, especially since Western Digital products are known for their reliability.

Price: RUB 5,284

Best from 36 to 250 GB

Samsung MZ-V7S250BW

We chose one small drive - it is designed for 250 GB. This is enough for the OS and the most important programs. The device boasts excellent speed even by M.2 standards - 3,400 MB/s for reading and 1,500 for writing. Its price for such parameters is low due to its modest volume: about 5,800 – 6,000 rubles. The disk is small in size, and with the help of a special program developed by Samsung specialists, you can painlessly “move” to this drive from the old one - all data will be transferred to the new drive without having to do it manually.

Price: RUB 6,539

Inexpensive and with PCIe 4.0 speed: TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Zero Z440

If you have a motherboard with AMD X570, B550 or TRX40 chipsets and want to realize its potential in storage devices, this drive is suitable.

Pros:

• High read and write speed.
• Good scores in PCMark 10.
• High durability.
• 5 year warranty.

Minuses:

• Only two volume options.
• Slight difference in speed compared to some PCIe 3.0 drives.
• More expensive than competitors on PCIe 4.0.
• No control software.

Prices for Yandex.Market

TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Zero Z440

Kingston UV500 M.2 120 GB

Nothing remarkable in terms of speed performance, but having one advantage is an SSD from the unimportant Kingston brand.

Specifications Kingston UV500 M.2 120 GB

In general, SSDs from Kingston are “famous” for their slowness (as the drive fills up, the speed rapidly degrades), so we usually do not recommend them. This is especially noticeable in the speed of random reading of small files, the lack of a buffer and the use of the weakest controller 88SS1074, although from the respected developer Marvell (they have very powerful top-end controllers).

The only plus here is the warranty period of 5 years, thanks to which this SSD is suitable for laptops that have an M.2 connector that supports only the SATA interface. High speeds are not needed there, but there is an increased risk of premature SSD failure due to overheating from other components and poor heat dissipation. So a longer warranty wouldn't hurt. SSD Kingston UV500 M.2 SUV500M8/120G

Best Budget: Addlink S70

If you don’t have much money, but still want to get high speed sequential data access, take the Addlink S70.

Pros:

• Value for money.
• Fast sequential data access speed.
• High durability rating.
• 5 year warranty.

Minuses:

• 4K data access speeds are not the best.
• No management software.

Samsung 860 Evo 250 GB

Samsung is the undisputed leader in SSD manufacturing, offering the best - fast and reliable drives.

Specifications Samsung 860 Evo 250 GB

The Korean company uses only controllers and memory of its own production, writes the firmware itself and provides the full SSD production cycle.

Thanks to this, this SSD has the highest speed performance among available SATA drives. It has twice the DRAM buffer and 12 GB of SLC cache, which writes at maximum speed. Direct writing to flash when the buffer is exhausted reaches almost 300 MB/s and this is the best indicator among SSDs of the same size.

Plus a high rewriting resource, 5 years of warranty and low heating of the drive. So, if you don't mind the price and aren't looking for something even faster, this is a great option for both PC and laptop. SSD Samsung 860 EVO M.2 MZ-N6E250BW If you still want something cooler and faster, but still at an affordable price, then pay attention to the ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 Pro and Plextor PX-M9PeG.

Best for PCIe 4.0 capacity and speed at a reasonable price: Mushkin Gamma

Mushkin previously produced budget drives, and now offers a high-performance PCI Express 4.0 M.2 SSD model, although without frills in the package.

Pros:

• High speed sequential reading and writing of data.
• High final score in PCMark 10 and in the copy test.
• AES hardware encryption.

Minuses:

• No management software available.

Top products

Best from 36 to 250 GB

Samsung MZ-V7E250BW

The Korean corporation is one of the leaders in the solid-state drive market and conducts its own developments in this direction, so almost all of their solutions are distinguished by excellent technical characteristics and high reliability. You should not think that if the specifications indicate a rewrite resource value of 150 terabytes, if it is exceeded, the device will immediately turn off - in fact, some SSDs last several times longer. Samsung MZ-V7E250BW is perfect for the system, programs and several games. Read and write speeds inspire respect: 3400 and 1500 MB/s, respectively, are more than enough for any task, even the most resource-intensive.

pros

• Excellent speed performance.
• Highest reliability.
• Warranty - 5 years.

Minuses

• For the same price you can buy a good 500 GB SSD.

Price:

from 5800 rub.

Best from 250 to 500 GB

Kingston SA1000M8/480G

At one time, the Kingston company earned the respect of computer scientists with its RAM, which has a very attractive price-performance ratio. This company still produces high-quality RAM sticks, but they have also added flash drives, solid-state drives and other products. The advantages of Kingston SA1000M8/480G include decent data transfer speed, low overpayment for the brand, and the manufacturer’s reputation.

pros

• Good read/write speed.
• High reliability.
• Quite a modest price.
• Five-year warranty.

Minuses

• No serious ones. You can mention heating under high load, but the temperature remains within acceptable limits.

Price:

from 4635 rub.

Western Digital Blue 500Gb

WD is known primarily for its hard drives, but in recent years, following trends, it has expanded its range of solid-state drives. The WD Blue SSD is built on a Marvell 88SS1074 controller and TLC 3D flash memory and provides read/write speeds of 560 and 530 MB/s. Yes, despite the fact that the disk is installed in an M.2 slot, it uses the SATA 3 interface and is therefore limited by its capabilities. To be fair, it is worth noting that the price of the device is more than modest - about 4,500 rubles.

pros

• Low cost.
• Does not occupy a slot in the 3.5-inch drive bay.
• Speed ​​indicators are at the level of top SATA 3 SSD 2.5″ form factor.

Minuses

• 600 MB/s is still not 1000–2000+; in some use scenarios the difference is noticeable.

Price:

from 4410 rub.

Best from 500 to 1000 GB

SanDisk SDSSDXPM2-1T00-G25

The solution under consideration is an ultra-fast and at the same time capacious (1 terabyte) solid-state drive, which will accommodate not only the system and all the necessary software, but also 15–25 modern games. Like many other modern SSDs, the SDSSDXPM2-1T00-G25 uses three-dimensional flash memory to provide increased data density. By the way, Sandisk was purchased by Western Digital back in 2015, which made it possible to combine the developments of these two companies. At the same time, the brand of the same name was preserved so as not to lose its loyal users.

pros

• Superior read/write speeds up to 3400/2800 MB/s.
• High reliability.
• The capacity is sufficient even for demanding users.

Minuses

• Overpriced: you can buy a model for no less than 17 thousand rubles.
• The warranty is only 3 years versus 5 years for some competitors.

Price:

from 16,259 rub.

Best from 1000 GB

Intel SSDPEKNW020T801

A 2 terabyte solution with speeds of approximately 1800 MB/s can be purchased at retail for only 17 thousand. Perhaps this is one of the best offers in this price category. The reason is that the manufacturer decided to use a new type of memory - QLC 3D NAND, the resource of which is even more limited than that of TLC. It is undesirable to use this media as a system one due to the potential for frequent rewriting of cells, despite the fact that the controller tries to distribute it evenly, but it is perfect for programs, games and video content in 4K resolution.

pros

• Sequential read/write up to 1800 MB/s.
• Low cost.

Minuses

• The rewriting resource of four-bit three-dimensional memory is inferior to TLC and MLC.
• Speed ​​drops when the SLC buffer is exhausted, which is noticeable when copying large amounts of data.
• The reliability of the new type of memory has not yet been sufficiently tested in practice.

Price:

from 16,110 rub.

WD BLUE 3D NAND SATA SSD 2 TB

Buyers who are suspicious of QLC memory, but want to purchase a not too expensive 2 terabyte SSD, can opt for this solution from Western Digital. Although the data transfer performance data is seriously inferior to the previous model, the “survivability” of three-dimensional TLC NAND is higher, which allows you not to worry about the rewriting resource.

pros

• Capacity - 2000 GB.
• Acceptable price for a drive of this class.
• Uses TLC 3D flash memory.

Minuses

• The speed is limited to 530–560 MB/s, which, although at the level of top SATA 3 drives, is significantly inferior to the best M.2.

Price:

from 18,633 rub.

Best for 4K gaming

ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro 256GB

Modern games take up a lot of space, so drives require not only high capacity, but also decent data access speed, otherwise levels and locations will take an indecently long time to load, even if the PC configuration includes a top processor and video card and 16–32 GB of RAM . The XPG SX8200 Pro 256GB reads data very quickly: 3350 MB/s is enough for any task with a large margin. It writes information about 3 times slower, but for the target use case this is not at all critical.

pros

• Excellent reading speed.
• Low price.
• 5 year warranty.

Minuses

• If you install a system, programs and games on this SSD, the free space will quickly run out - if you have a budget, it is better to consider larger models.

Price:

from 3318 rub.

Plextor PX-1TM9PeGN

Unlike the previous version, the PX-1TM9PeGN has enough capacity to accommodate everything you need, while accessing data almost as quickly. An excellent choice for gaming, ultra-high-definition video content, or demanding work projects, everything will load smoothly without the disk bottleneck that would inevitably occur with a traditional HDD.

pros

• Excellent speed performance.

Minuses

• A little expensive at retail: from 14–15 thousand rubles and above.
• The warranty is only 3 years.

Price:

from 10,415 rub.

Intel SSDPEKKW020T8X1

Two terabytes will be enough for a huge number of games - you will no longer have to delete completed projects to make room for new ones. It is important that TLC 3D NAND is used, and not QLC: you don’t have to worry about the resource and reliability of the storage, and the read speed of 3230 MB/s will minimize the wait for loading locations, if the computing power of the processor and video card is sufficient and allows this to be done.

pros

• Read and write up to 3230 MB/s and 1625 MB/s.
• Capacity 2048 GB.

Minuses

• Very high cost - from 30 thousand rubles.

Price:

from RUB 32,715

Best for server

Intel SSDPEKKA020T801

Server storage is subject to increased requirements for reliability and rewriting life, and such drives must be designed for round-the-clock operation. Intel's solution satisfies all these conditions: high capacity, long MTBF and survivability of the controller and memory, hardware support for data encryption allow us to recommend the Intel P4101 Series (another name for this drive) for use in a server array.

pros

• Read speed - up to 2600 MB/s.
• Capacity - 2048 GB.
• Reliable memory and controller, ready for 24/7 operation.

Minuses

• Price from 40 thousand rubles.

Price:

from RUB 34,836

Table comparing main characteristics

Please rate the article.

• 18 SHARE

AdataCrucialIntelSamsungSeagateSK HynixSSDWestern DigitalRatings

The best gaming models

It is worth noting! A gaming SSD not only reduces level loading, but also has an overall positive effect on performance.

This includes increasing FPS, improving world detail, etc.

Ultra-fast M.2 SSDs for gamers have a huge supply of working resources and, as a rule, support the NVMe protocol.

Patriot Memory Viper 512 GB (VPN100-512GM28H)

The model, having incredible speed parameters in writing and reading modes, will help get rid of delays and lags during loading and playing games.

The Patriot Memory Viper 512 GB (VPN100-512GM28H) solid-state drive has an M.2 standard size and supports the NVMe protocol. Control is carried out by the PS5012-E12 controller.

The device demonstrates exorbitant sequential read and write speeds.

The device is equipped with a highly efficient cooling system with a massive radiator for high-quality heat dissipation.

Technical specifications:

• Disk capacity - 512 GB;
• flash memory - TLC 3D NAND;
• controller - Phison;
• read/write – 3300 MB/s-2200 MB/s;
• resource - 2.0 million hours;
• Dimensions (WxHxD) - 22x10.5x80 mm.

Advantages

• the speed corresponds to the declared one;
• stability of work;
• powerful controller;
• impressive declared operating life;
• efficient radiator.

Flaws

• very thin board that requires careful handling during installation;
• no fasteners included.

Patriot Memory Viper 1024 GB (VPN100-1TBM28H)

A solid-state drive will be a real boon for gamers who are tired of long level loading times and low FPS in games.

The Viper VPN100 series is represented by a drive with an impressive capacity of 1 TB.

This SSD is M.2 sized and supports the latest NVMe protocol. Phison's state-of-the-art E12 controller provides device control.

Sequential read/write speeds reach a cosmic 3450 MB/s-3000 MB/s, respectively.

The Patriot Memory Viper 1024 GB (VPN100-1TBM28H) model is equipped with a massive radiator for effective cooling of the elements.

Technical specifications:

• Disk capacity - 1024 GB;
• flash memory - TLC 3D NAND;
• controller - Phison;
• read/write – 3450 MB/s-3000 MB/s;
• resource - 2.0 million hours;
• Dimensions (WxHxD) - 22x10.5x80 mm.

Advantages

• high speed;
• no heating during operation;
• presence of a cooling radiator;
• large amount of memory.

Flaws

• quite expensive model;
• inconvenient proprietary software.

Kingston 240 GB (SA400M8/240G)

The SSD drive will ensure quick opening of any gaming applications and comfortable playthrough of the most hardware-demanding blockbusters.

Thanks to its compact dimensions, the Kingston 240 GB (SA400M8/240G) module can be easily installed on the motherboard of a desktop computer and a number of laptop models.

Control is provided by the powerful PS3111-S11 controller from Phison. The “life” resource of the device reaches 80 TBW.

Another feature of the model is its extremely low energy consumption, not exceeding 1.53 W.

Technical specifications:

• Disk capacity - 240 GB;
• flash memory - TLC;
• controller - Phison;
• read/write – 500 MB/s-350 MB/s;
• resource - 1.0 million hours;
• Dimensions (WxHxD) - 22x1.35x80 mm.

Advantages

• budget solution from a well-known manufacturer;
• convenient proprietary monitoring utility Kingston SSD Manager;
• low energy consumption;
• compact sizes.

Flaws

• not the highest speed and performance;
• relatively low operating life;
• small total memory capacity.