The Best, High-Performance Solid State Drives (SSD) [2025]

Switching to a solid-state drive is the best upgrade you can make for your PC. These wondrous devices speed up boot times, improve the responsiveness of your programs and games, and generally make your computer feel fast. But not all solid-state drives are the same. You can spend big to achieve read and write speeds that reach a whole other level, or you can find top-notch SSDs that offer solid performance without breaking the bank.

Many SSDs come in a 2.5-inch form factor and connect to your PC via the same SATA port used by a traditional hard drive. But tiny NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) “gumstick” SSDs that fit in an M.2 connection on a modern motherboard are becoming increasingly common, along with blazing-fast PCIe 4.0 solid-state drives for compatible PCs, and you’ll even find SSDs that sit on a PCIe adapter and slot into your motherboard like a graphics card or sound card. Picking the perfect SSD isn’t as simple as it used to be, though excellent new drives like the SK Hynix Platinum P41 are certainly trying to achieve no-brainer upgrade status.

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The Best M.2 PCIe Gen4x4 SSDs

M.2 PCIe Gen4x4 SSDs feature cutting-edge technology with a PCIe 4.0 interface, providing four lanes of data transfer. This results in blazing-fast read and write speeds, making them perfect for modern slim laptops and desktops. With compact form factors and efficient NAND flash technology, they offer significant speed upgrades for older systems without the need to buy a new computer.

Samsung 990 PRO Series

The Samsung 990 PRO is a premium SSD that unleashes the full potential of PCIe 4.0 for your gaming and creative needs. It is powered by Samsung’s new Pascal controller and V7 TLC NAND flash, delivering stunning speeds of up to 7,450 MB/s read and 6,900 MB/s write. It also supports encryption and has an optional heatsink with RGB lighting for extra style and cooling. The Samsung 990 PRO is available in capacities from 1TB to 4TB and is compatible with laptops, desktops and PS5 consoles

WD_BLACK SN850P SSD

The WD_BLACK SN850X SSD is a cutting-edge storage device that unleashes the power of PCIe 4.0 for your gaming PC or PS5 console. It delivers insane speeds of up to 7,300 MB/s and comes with a range of capacities from 1TB to 4TB. It also features a Game Mode 2.0 that optimizes performance and an optional heatsink with RGB lighting that adds style and cooling. The WD_BLACK SN850X SSD is the ultimate choice for gamers who want to level up their storage

Lexar NM800 PRO SSD

The Lexar NM800 PRO SSD is a high-performance SSD that leverages PCIe 4.0 technology to deliver blazing-fast speeds for gamers, professionals and creators. It is equipped with 3D TLC NAND and an INNOGRIT controller, offering up to 7,500 MB/s read and 6,500 MB/s write. It also has a shock and vibration resistant design and a high endurance rating. The Lexar NM800 PRO SSD comes in capacities from 512GB to 2TB and has an optional heatsink model with RGB lighting for extra cooling and style.

The Best SATA SSDs

SATA SSDs (Serial ATA Solid-State Drives) utilize NAND flash memory, presenting substantial advantages over traditional HDDs. They offer faster performance, enhanced reliability, and reduced power consumption. With diverse form factors and capacities, SATA SSDs are extensively used in contemporary laptops and desktops, providing faster boot times and smoother application loading. They prove to be the optimal choice for older computers, enabling owners to upgrade their systems’ speed without the need to invest in an entirely new computer.

SAMSUNG 870 EVO SSD

The SAMSUNG 870 EVO SSD is a 2.5-inch SATA SSD that offers fast, reliable, and compatible performance for various tasks, from everyday computing to 4K/8K video processing. It has sequential speeds of up to 560/530 MB/s, a 5-year limited warranty, and a large variable buffer that enhances write speed and durability. It comes in different storage capacities, ranging from 250GB to 4TB.

Crucial MX500 SSD

The Crucial MX500 SSD is a 2.5-inch SATA SSD that delivers fast, reliable, and secure performance for various applications. It uses Micron 3D NAND technology to achieve sequential speeds of up to 560/510 MB/s and has a 5-year limited warranty. It comes in different storage capacities, ranging from 250GB to 4TB.

Kingston A400 SATA SSD

The Kingston A400 SSD is a 2.5-inch SATA SSD that boosts the responsiveness of your system with fast boot, loading and transfer times compared to mechanical hard drives. It uses a 2 Ch² controller for read and write speeds up to 500MB/s and 450MB/s and is 10x faster than a traditional hard drive. It comes in different storage capacities, ranging from 120GB to 1.92TB.

The Best, High-Performance Solid State Drives (SSD) [2025]