If you’ve purchased orbuilt a gaming PCwithin the last few years, chances are you’ve got a motherboard that supports M.2 NVMes. Likewise, if you’re the proud owner of a Sony PlayStation 5, you will also be able to utilize M.2 SSD storage devices to up your gaming performance. Not to be confused with2.5-inch SATA SSDs, these small form factor storage devices slotdirectly into a motherboard. M.2 SSDs are a popular choice among gamers for two major reasons: they’re small, and they’re fast.
NVMe M.2 SSDs are regularly used to level up your gaming performance by offering fast and efficient speeds that greatly triumph over most HDDs and some ofthe best SATA SDDs.This is because M.2 SSDs are installed directly into your motherboard. Through this, M.2 SSDs can connect directly to your PC’s CPU by utilizing their PCIe interface to transfer data at impressively fast speeds. Simply put, utilizing one of these small form factor storage devices will result in lightning-fast load times while gaming, making waiting around for several minutes during a loading screen a thing of the past.
SABRENT Rocket 2230 NVMe 4.0 1TB SSD
WD_BLACK 2TB SN850X NVMe Internal Gaming SSD Solid State Drive with Heatsink
In addition to unparalleled speed, these drives are popular among PC enthusiasts for their compact size and ease of installation. Unlike HDD and SATA SSDs, which require the use of external power cables, mounting screws, and various other confusing steps; M.2 SSDs provide a simple, mess-free installation with no cables necessary. In fact, most experienced PC builders may be able to install and uninstall an M.2 SSD in only a few minutes. So, if you’re new to building computers, and you’re feeling intimidated, don’t be! Game Rant is here to help make the process of understanding and choosing an M.2 SSD easy and painless.
Game Rant’s Picks for The Best M.2 SSDs in 2024
SAMSUNG 980 PRO SSD 2TB
The Samsung 980 PRO SSD comes with an impressive 2TB of storage space, ready to save all of your favorite games. This SSD promises ultra-fast speeds by utilizing the latest PCIe 4.0 interface to transfer nearly twice the amount of data compared to Gen3. In addition, the Samsung 980 PRO SSD utilizes innovative technology to ensure stable thermal control of the SSD.
Whether you’re searching for an M.2 SSD to add to your PC build or PlayStation 5 console, the Samsung 980 PRO SSD is one of the most balanced choices on the market. This M.2 SSD provides some of the fastest and most efficient speeds available, with read speeds of up to 7,000 MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 5,100 MB/s. This means that users utilizing this SSD will experience some of the fastest loading times in their favorite games.
The Samsung 980 PRO SSD also boasts some innovative thermal control, utilizing a heat spreader label and a nickel coated controller to provide stable thermals of the NAND chip. That being said, users interested in an M.2 SSD for their PS5 will need to invest in a heatsink. All in all, the performance and efficiency of the Samsung 980 PRO make it one of the best choices for users looking to upgrade their gaming experience.
Crucial P3 Plus 4TB
If you’re in the market for a premium M.2 SSD equipped with an impressive 4TB of storage, then the Crucial P3 Plus is an explementary option. This generous M.2 SSD features a PCIe 4.0 interface, delivering some of the fastest transfer speeds on the market by utilizing the latest technology. Crucial also boasts grounded security by offering encryption built into the hardware that receives frequent firmware updates to keep your data safe.
Although there are some M.2 SSDs on the market with a storage capacity of over 4TB, these SSDs tend to lack a lot of value for the average person and sometimes even reach considerable price points over $500. Generally speaking, because of the expensive nature of M.2 SSDs, it is typical to expect an increase in price when shopping for an SSD that supports a bigger storage capacity. With that being said, even though the Crucial P3 Plus is more expensive than other options on this list, there is not a considerable gap between value and performance. This is what makes the Crucial P3 Plus such a strong contender for those looking for an impressive storage upgrade.
While the read and write speeds of the Crucial P3 Plus are not completely matched with the Samsung 980 Pro, this SSD easily compensates for value by providing a massive amount of storage for a great price. If you’re a PC gamer looking for a lot of space to save clips and videos, or if you’re a PS5 player looking for a significant boost to your game library, the Crucial P3 Plus should be considered as one of the strongest options to quickly and seriously up your storage space.
WD_BLACK 1TB SN850X NVMe
The WD_BLACK SN850X proves that, regardless of budget, there are plenty of quality options available for those interested in upgrading their system with a fast M.2 SSD. Available for around $100, this SSD provides an impressive 1TB of storage and read/write speeds that rival competitors. In addition to that, the WD_BLACK M.2 SSD boasts unique software that allows you to monitor your drive’s health and boost game performance.
Although M.2 drives are known for being more expensive than their 2.5-inch SATA counterparts, that doesn’t mean there is a lack of budget and mid-range options available for the average user looking to upgrade their device. This M.2 SSD by Western Digital proves that sentiment exactly by providing a significant upgrade that balances impressive speeds, performance, and storage that rivals other options. In addition to that, users on a budget do not need to feel limited solely to small storage solutions because this drive provides a whopping 1TB of storage, for around $100.
The SN850X 1TB drive boasts truly insane read and write speeds, with the drive’s read speeds being clocked up to 7300 MB/s. Meanwhile, the WD_BLACK SSD boasts write speeds up to 6300MB/s. These speeds impressively outshine several competitors on this list and deserve to be commended. Although the speeds of this drive are impressive enough alone, Western Digital takes it one step further by implementing game-boosting software with Game Mode 2.0. This software utilizes predictive loading to further improve loading times during games, resulting in one of the fastest drives on the market.
TEAMGROUP MP33 512GB
The MP33 SSD by TEAMGROUP presents a great storage solution that comes for a shockingly affordable price. Utilizing PCIe Gen3x4 technology, users can anticipate read and write speeds of up to 1,700/1,400 MBs. This results in a significant increase in transfer speed over most HDDs and even some 2.5 inch SATA SSDs.
When it comes to shopping for a quality M.2 SSD on a budget, the amazing deal that the TEAMGROUP MP33 SSD provides shouldn’t be passed on. When buildinga budget gaming PC, users interested in including an M.2 SSD can purchase an M.2 drive of a smaller capacity, and supplement additional storage needs with alternatives such as 2.5-inch SATA drives or HDDs. Although 512GB isn’t as spacious as other options on this list, this drive provides more than enough room to store several games and other important pieces of software.
The price-conscious nature of this SSD makes it a no-brainer choice for anyone looking for a slight upgrade to their storage device. After all, even a small amount of storage on an M.2 SSD results in a significant upgrade in terms of speed and performance from an HDD or SATA SDD. Plus, you can opt forthe 1TB optionand still pay less than $70, or add on more storage later.
The SABRENT Rocket 2230 NVMe is a small form factor SSD M.2 drive. These drives are typically made for use in ‘mobile’ devices such as laptops and some handheld gaming consoles, although they do share compatibility across most motherboards. This reliable 1TB SSD also utilizes the PCIe 4.0 interface to provide users with the latest speeds and efficiency, at an impressive price point.
The SABRENT Rocket 2230 NVMe SSD stands out from other options on this list because of its unique size and compatibility. This compact SSD is designed for use in smaller devices, such as laptops, tablets, and handheld gaming devices. If your device or motherboard is compatible with 2230 M.2 drives, then you can guarantee that this compact drive will serve as a great, low-profile choice across many different devices. With that being said, 2230 M.2 drives are commonly used to upgrade storage in the Steam Deck and the ASUS ROG Ally.
If you’re after an upgrade for one of these two handheld gaming consoles, then the SABRENT Rocket 2230 NVMe SSD stands as one of the best options on the market. This SSD combines great value and performance, offering 4750 MB/s of read speed, and 4300 MB/s of writing speeds for less than $100. When searching for a significant upgrade to the Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally, this SSD provides a solid selection of expansion, up to 2 TB.
This SSD ensures that you never need to worry about the state of your available storage space, meaning you can have an expansive library of installed games and saves ready to go on your handheld gaming console. The SABRENT Rocket 2230 SSD is a great choice for a storage device that promises fast speeds and immensely reliable performance with an MTBF of 1,500,000 hours.
The WD_BLACK SN850X stands as one of the best options when shopping for a storage upgrade for the PlayStation 5. This is largely because of the heatsink that comes included with this SSD, which is a required element to upgrade the storage in your PS5. This sleek M.2 SSD features 2TB of storage, making it so that you can spend less time waiting for games to load and more time playing.
According to Sony, all M.2 SSD storage upgrades for the PlayStation 5 will need a heatsink to ensure the best and most stable performance during gaming. Luckily, there are a few options out there that make this addition painless, by presenting the heatsink and the NVMe as one singluar product, rather than selling them separately. The SN850X by Western Digital stands as a fine example of one such product. This M.2 NVMe comes with the heatsink pre-installed, making any upgrades to your PlayStation 5 a painless endeavor.
Although perfectly suited for users upgrading their PS5 due to its all-in-one simplicity, the SN850X is an impressive drive to add to any build, console or otherwise. This M.2 SSD features fast read and write speeds measured at 7,300/6,350 MB/s, rivaling even the most premium options on this list. In addition, the 2TB of added storage this drive features is quite plentiful, offering a vast amount of storage to maintain a large library of games on either the PS5 or PC. All in all, if you’re after a significant upgrade to your PS5 or PC, the SN850X stands as a robust choice to enhance your gaming experience.
How To Pick The Best M.2 SSDs
Before deciding on a drive, the most important step is to consider the device you will be installing it in. M.2 SSDs come in a variety of sizes that vary in compatibility, but the standard size is considered to be 2280. If you haven’t already, it’s best to first ensure that your device is compatible with an NVMe M.2 device and to determine the size you need. For example, handheld gaming devices like theSteam Deck or the ASUS ROG Allyuse 2230 M.2 devices. Another important step is to determine the number of M.2 slots you have available. More slots mean you can utilize more drives, improving your gaming experience even further.
When searching for the best M.2 SSDs, you should focus on a few additional factors before making a final decision:
M.2 NVMe SSDs are notably faster than standard SATA SSDs.
Q: What are the cons of an M.2 SSD?
Although these drives are known for remarkable speeds, M.2 SSDs can be much more expensive than other storage devices.
Q: How long do M.2 SSDs last?
Drive health largely depends on the model, individual, and frequency of usage, but these M.2 drives are expected to last anywhere from 5–10 years.
