SSD Buying Guide – November 2021

Introduction

Following up and expanding our guide from a while ago, today we’ll look at drives for many uses. Suggested drives range from budget game storage to the best performance drives on the market.

What To Look For

  • Capacity: The amount of data you can store on the drive
  • DRAM cache: A small bit of DRAM to cache the mapping of the drive, among other things to create faster write/read performance.
  • TLC NAND: Triple Layer NAND, currently the best performance and endurance on the mainstream market, as MLC/SLC is very uncommon, expensive, and more aimed at the enterprise market these days.
  • HMB (NVME only): An alternative method to cache, using the system DRAM instead of an onboard DRAM chip.
  • Form factor: The physical size and form of the SSD. 2.5 inch and M.2 2280 are the most common.
  • Interface: the protocol used by the drive

What To Avoid

  • QLC NAND: lower endurance, lower performance, but better price/GB for high capacity drives. Mainly shows a performance loss at heavier continued writes.
  • DRAMless SATA: Slows down under heavier continued writes like QLC NAND, but generally occurs quicker. Only recommended for storage/game drive.
  • Part swapping: swapping of the controller or NAND. Often shows little performance difference, but there have been cases where a huge performance loss was caused. Examples of these are cheap Aliexpress drives like TC Sunbow and Kindian and even respected companies like Crucial with their P2 NVME drive.

Our Picks:

120GB250GB500GB1TB2TB4TB8TB

High end SATA - ADATA SX850/SU800

We didn't pick an NVME option at this capacity as there aren't any well priced options. ADATA's SX850 and SU800 are the same drive, but with a different outer look. It features a DRAM cache, a well proven controller and comes in around $18-25 USD at the time of writing, making it the cheapest option with DRAM.

Buy SX850 Buy SU800
Pros:
  • DRAM cache
  • Popular SM2258 controller
  • TLC NAND
Cons:
  • Poor price/GB compared to higher capacities
  • Just enough space for an OS drive
Specs:
  • Interface: SATA
  • Size: 2.5"
  • Controller: Silicon Motion SM2258
  • NAND: Samsung 64l TLC
  • DRAM: Yes
  • HMB: No

High end SATA - ADATA SU800

Featuring once again, the SU800 is our pick for the 240gb category just like in our guide in September. Featuring the popular SM2258 controller, it shows performance comparable to many of the higher end SATA drives. Its only downside is the price/GB, which is worse than most 480gb+ drives

Buy SU800
Pros:
  • DRAM Cache
  • Popular SM2258 controller
  • TLC NAND
Cons:
  • Poor price/GB compared to higher capacities
  • Just enough space for your OS and 2 AAA games
Specs:
  • Interface: SATA
  • Size: 2.5"
  • Controller: Silicon Motion SM2258
  • NAND: Samsung 64l TLC
  • DRAM: Yes
  • HMB: No

 

Budget PCIe 3.0 NVME - Silicon Power P34A60

The Silicon Motion P34A60 (commonly known as A60) is a budget DRAMless drive featuring an HMB cache to make up for this. It's not a chart topper, but will perform well enough to be used as an OS drive. It's well priced for its capacity, but has a high price/GB compared to 480gb+.

Buy P34A60
Pros:
  • Higher performance than SATA options
  • HMB cache
  • TLC NAND
Cons:
  • Poor price/GB compared to higher capacities
  • Just enough space for OS and 2 AAA games
Specs:
  • Interface: NVME
  • Size: M.2 2280
  • Controller: Silicon Motion SM2263XT
  • NAND: Micron/Toshiba 96l TLC
  • DRAM: No
  • HMB: Yes

High end SATA - SK Hynix Gold S31

One of the best performing SATA drives on the market, the S31 is a great pick for an OS drive, a backup, or even as a game drive when you run out of M.2 slots to fill. As SK Hynix develops everything in-house including the controller, NAND, and DRAM, part swaps are very unlikely.

Buy Gold S31
Pros:
  • Top performer for SATA
  • Well priced
  • Everything made in-house
  • DRAM Cache
  • TLC NAND
  • 5-year warranty
Cons:
  • Similar cost to budget NVME drives
  • Limited by SATA protocol
Specs:
  • Interface: SATA
  • Size: 2.5"
  • Controller: SK Hynix Quartz
  • NAND: SK Hynix 72l TLC
  • DRAM: Yes
  • HMB: No

 

Budget PCIe 3.0 NVME - Team MP33/Z330

Even without DRAM, the MP33 and Cardea Z330 still perform well enough to be used as an OS drive or game drive. It is a bit lacking for high intensity workloads like 3D rendering or high-resolution video editing, but in price/GB at this capacity it makes a great offer.

Buy MP33 Buy Z330
Pros:
  • Great price/GB
  • HMB cache
Cons:
  • No DRAM cache
  • Lacking SLC cache performance for high intensity tasks
  • Varying controller and NAND
Specs:
  • Interface: NVME
  • Size: M.2 2280
  • Controller: Silicon Motion SM2263XT/Phison E13T
  • NAND: Toshiba 64/96l TLC
  • DRAM: No
  • HMB: Yes

 

High end PCIe 3.0 NVME - Mushkin Pilot-E

Featuring Silicon Motion's SM2262EN controller, the Mushkin Pilot E performs into the top half of the chart. It's a great drive if you need a scratch drive for high resolution footage, 3D rendering, or just really like to flex on your friends that are still using a SATA drive.

Buy Pilot-E
Pros:
  • Great performance for PCIe 3.0
  • 96l TLC NAND
  • DRAM cache
Cons:
  • Higher cost compared to HMB/SATA drives
  • No support by current generation consoles
Specs:
  • Interface: NVME
  • Size: M.2 2280
  • Controller: Silicon Motion SM2262EN
  • NAND: Micron 96l TLC
  • DRAM: Yes
  • HMB: No

 

Budget PCIe 4.0 NVME - WD SN750 SE

Our pick to extend your storage on your current generation console. Not to be confused with the "original" SN750, it's a DRAMless drive with PCIe 4.0 support, using the same Phison E19T controller as the Xbox Series X, it's a great pick to use as an internal game drive.

Buy SN750 SE
Pros:
  • Significantly cheaper than most PCIe 4.0 drives
  • Support for current generation consoles
  • TLC NAND
  • NAND made in house
Cons:
  • No DRAM cache
  • Not comparable to other PCIe 4.0 drives in performance
Specs:
  • Interface: NVME
  • Size: M.2 2280
  • Controller: Phison E19T
  • NAND: Sandisk 96l TLC
  • DRAM: No
  • HMB: Yes

Budget SATA - Crucial BX500

The best of the worst is what best describes the BX500 best. It's a DRAMless SSD featuring either TLC or QLC NAND depending on the batch, but has shown to be more reliable compared to most other DRAMless drives. It works great as a storage/game library drive, but is lacking as a main OS drive.

Buy BX500
Pros:
  • Great value
  • Good reliability
Cons:
  • Newer batches with QLC NAND instead of TLC
  • No DRAM cache
  • Lacking performance for main drive
  • Sometimes priced too close to higher end SATA drives
Specs:
  • Interface: SATA
  • Size: 2.5"
  • Controller: Silicon Motion SM2258XT/SM2259XT
  • NAND: Micron TLC 64/96l or QLC 64/96l
  • DRAM: No
  • HMB: No

 

High end SATA - SK Hynix S31

One of the best performing SATA drives on the market, the S31 is a great pick for an OS drive, a backup or even as a game drive when you ran out of M.2 slots to fill. As SK Hynix develops everything in-house including the controller, NAND, and DRAM, part swaps are very unlikely.

Buy S31
Pros:
  • Top performer for SATA
  • Well priced
  • Everything made in-house
  • DRAM Cache
  • TLC NAND
  • 5-year warranty
Cons:
  • Similar cost to budget NVME drives
  • Limited by SATA protocol
Specs:
  • Interface: SATA
  • Size: 2.5"
  • Controller: SK Hynix Quartz
  • NAND: SK Hynix 72l TLC
  • DRAM: Yes
  • HMB: No

 

Budget PCIe 3.0 NVME - Team MP33/Z330

Even without DRAM, the MP33 and Cardea Z330 still perform well enough to be used as an OS drive or game drive. It is a bit lacking for high intensity workloads like 3D rendering or high-resolution video editing, but in price/GB at this capacity it makes a great offer.

Buy MP33 Buy Z330
Pros:
  • Great price/GB
  • HMB cache
Cons:
  • No DRAM cache
  • Lacking SLC cache performance for high intensity tasks
  • Varying controller and NAND
Specs:
  • Interface: NVME
  • Size: M.2 2280
  • Controller: Silicon Motion SM2263XT/Phison E13T
  • NAND: Toshiba 64/96l TLC
  • DRAM: No
  • HMB: Yes

 

High end PCIe 3.0 NVME - Kingston A2000

The Kingston A2000 started off mediocre because of the SLC cache setup Kingston used at its time. But ever since it got a firmware update fixing this, the drive has performed close to many high end PCIe 3.0 drives. At its price, it can truly be unbeatable at times when it comes to value.

Buy A2000
Pros:
  • Incredible value
  • Performance close to many high end PCIe 3.0 drives
  • DRAM cache
  • TLC NAND
Cons:
  • Not compatible with current generation consoles
  • Not always available
Specs:
  • Interface: NVME
  • Size: M.2 2280
  • Controller: Silicon Motion SM2263
  • NAND: Micron 64/96l TLC
  • DRAM: Yes
  • HMB: No

 

Budget PCIe 4.0 NVME - WD SN750 SE

Our pick to extend your storage on your current generation console. Not to be confused with the "original" SN750, it's a DRAMless drive with PCIe 4.0 support, using the same Phison E19T controller as the Xbox Series X, it's a great pick to use as an internal game drive.

Buy SN750 SE
Pros:
  • Significantly cheaper than most PCIe 4.0 drives
  • Support for current generation consoles
  • TLC NAND
  • NAND made in house
Cons:
  • No DRAM cache
  • Not comparable to other PCIe 4.0 drives in performance
Specs:
  • Interface: NVME
  • Size: M.2 2280
  • Controller: Phison E19T
  • NAND: Sandisk 96l TLC
  • DRAM: No
  • HMB: Yes

 

High end PCIe 4.0 NVME - Corsair MP600 Pro XT/Seagate Firecuda 530

The best of the best right now, the MP600 Pro XT and Firecuda 530 both use the same hardware. Featuring Phison's highest end PCIe 4 controller and the best performing NAND on the market right now, both have beaten out the 980 Pro and SN850 when it comes to pure performance. This drive may not be useful for everyone, but if it is, it's a godsend.

Buy MP600 Pro XT Buy Firecuda 530
Pros:
  • Top of the chart performance
  • TLC NAND
  • Support for current gen consoles
Cons:
  • Not useful for most consumer tasks
  • Expensive
Specs:
  • Interface: NVME
  • Size: M.2 2280
  • Controller: Phison E18
  • NAND: Micron 176l TLC
  • DRAM: Yes
  • HMB: No

Budget SATA - Crucial BX500

The best of the worst is what best describes the BX500 best. It's a DRAMless SSD featuring either TLC or QLC NAND depending on the batch, but has shown to be more reliable compared to most other DRAMless drives. It works great as a storage/game library drive, but is lacking as a main OS drive.

Buy BX500
Pros:
  • Great value
  • Good reliability
Cons:
  • Newer batches with QLC NAND instead of TLC
  • No DRAM cache
  • Lacking performance for main drive
  • Sometimes priced too close to higher end SATA drives
Specs:
  • Interface: SATA
  • Size: 2.5"
  • Controller: Silicon Motion SM2258XT/SM2259XT
  • NAND: Micron TLC 64/96l or QLC 64/96l
  • DRAM: No
  • HMB: No

 

High end SATA - Crucial MX500

The MX500 is still one of the best SATA drives on the market and shows a great value as a SATA drive. Even if limited by the SATA protocol, it can be used as both a storage drive and a main OS drive.

Buy MX500
Pros:
  • Great performance for SATA
  • TLC NAND
  • DRAM cache
Cons:
  • Budget NVME drives start to offer a better value
  • Limited by SATA protocol
Specs:
  • Interface: SATA
  • Size: 2.5"
  • Controller: Silicon Motion SM2258/SM2259
  • NAND: Micron TLC 64l/96l
  • DRAM: Yes
  • HMB: No

 

Budget PCIe 3.0 NVME - Team MP33/Z330

Even without DRAM, the MP33 and Cardea Z330 still perform well enough to be used as an OS drive or game drive. It is a bit lacking for high intensity workloads like 3D rendering or high-resolution video editing, but in price/GB at this capacity it makes a great offer.

Buy MP33 Buy Z330
Pros:
  • Great price/GB
  • HMB cache
Cons:
  • No DRAM cache
  • Lacking SLC cache performance for high intensity tasks
  • Varying controller and NAND
Specs:
  • Interface: NVME
  • Size: M.2 2280
  • Controller: Silicon Motion SM2263XT/Phison E13T
  • NAND: Toshiba 64/96l TLC
  • DRAM: No
  • HMB: Yes

 

High end PCIe 3.0 NVME - Kingston KC2500

Featuring Silicon Motion's SM2262EN controller, the Kingston KC2500 performs into the top half of the chart. It's a great drive if you need a scratch drive for high resolution footage, 3D rendering, or just really like to flex on your friends that are still using a SATA drive.

Buy KC2500
Pros:
  • Great performance for PCIe 3.0
  • 96l TLC NAND
  • DRAM cache
Cons:
  • Higher cost compared to HMB/SATA drives
  • No support by current generation consoles
Specs:
  • Interface: NVME
  • Size: M.2 2280
  • Controller: Silicon Motion SM2262EN
  • NAND: Toshiba 96l TLC
  • DRAM: Yes
  • HMB: No

 

Budget PCIe 4.0 NVME - Adata XPG S50 Lite

Going a slightly different route from the SN750 SE, the S50 Lite does feature a DRAM cache and uses a Silicon Motion SM2267 controller. It shows better performance and offers a nice value for people looking to expand or replace their current gen console's drive.

Buy S50 Lite
Pros:
  • Support for current generation consoles
  • DRAM cache
  • PCIe 4.0 support
Cons:
  • Beaten by high end PCIe 4.0 drives
  • Expensive
Specs:
  • Interface: NVME
  • Size: m.2 2280
  • Controller: Silicon Motion SM2267
  • NAND: Micron 96l TLC
  • DRAM: Yes
  • HMB: No

 

High end PCIe 4.0 NVME - Corsair MP600 Pro XT/Seagate Firecuda 530

The best of the best right now, the MP600 Pro XT and Firecuda 530 both use the same hardware. Featuring Phison's highest end PCIe 4 controller and the best performing NAND on the market right now, both have beaten out the 980 Pro and SN850 when it comes to pure performance. This drive may not be useful for everyone, but if it is, it's a godsend.

Buy MP600 Pro XT Buy Firecuda 530
Pros:
  • Top of the chart performance
  • TLC NAND
  • Support for current gen consoles
Cons:
  • Not useful for most consumer tasks
  • Expensive
Specs:
  • Interface: NVME
  • Size: M.2 2280
  • Controller: Phison E18
  • NAND: Micron 176l TLC
  • DRAM: Yes
  • HMB: No

Budget SATA - Samsung 870 QVO

The 870 QVO is the replacement of the 860 QVO, featuring an updated controller and NAND and a "downgraded" 870 EVO. The main difference between QVO and EVO is the NAND, where the EVO uses TLC NAND instead of QVO's QLC NAND. It works great as a storage or game drive, but lacks a behind to be used as a main OS drive.

Buy 870 QVO
Pros:
  • Great price/GB
  • DRAM cache
  • NAND and controller made in-house
Cons:
  • QLC NAND
  • Performance lacks behind TLC based drives
Specs:
  • Interface: SATA
  • Size: 2.5"
  • Controller: Samsung MKX
  • NAND: Samsung 96l QLC
  • DRAM: Yes
  • HMB: No

 

High end SATA - WD Blue 3D

WD's blue 3D has never been top of the chart, but performs within a close margin of the 860/870 evo, mx500 and many other popular drives. Coming in cheaper than both options at the time of writing, this is our pick for a high capacity game drive or even OS drive.

Buy Blue 3D
Pros:
  • Great performance for SATA
  • TLC NAND
  • DRAM cache
Cons:
  • Budget NVME drives start to offer a better value
  • Limited by SATA protocol
Specs:
  • Interface: SATA
  • Size: 2.5"
  • Controller: Marvell 88SS1074
  • NAND: Sandisk 64l TLC
  • DRAM: Yes
  • HMB: No

 

Budget PCIe 3.0 NVME - Adata SX8100/S40G

With budget PCIe drives at 4tb, you really only find QLC drives, even if earlier revisions of the SX8100 and S40G have featured TLC NAND, we've seen performance and pricing that looks more like QLC NAND. Still, it makes a great option as storage or game drive in a small formfactor. S40G adds an RGB heatsink into the mix.

Buy SX8100 Buy S40G
Pros:
  • Great value for 4tb NVME
  • outperforms SATA options
  • DRAM cache
Cons:
  • QLC NAND
  • Not the greatest controller
Specs:
  • Interface: NVME
  • Size: M.2 2280
  • Controller: Realtek RTS5762
  • NAND: Micron 96l QLC
  • DRAM: Yes
  • HMB: No

 

Budget PCIe 4.0 NVME - Corsair MP600 Core/Sabrent Rocket Q4

Corsair's MP600 Core and Sabrent's Rocket Q4 are essentially the same drive. Both feature PCIe 4 support with Phison's E16 controller, but use QLC NAND to keep the price and physical size doable. It's not a top performer for PCIE 4.0, but will do pretty well inside your console.

Buy MP600 Core Buy Rocket Q4
Pros:
  • Support for current gen consoles
  • DRAM cache
Cons:
  • QLC NAND
  • Performance isn't comparable to high end PCIe 4.0 drives
  • Expensive
Specs:
  • Interface: NVME
  • Size: m.2 2280
  • Controller: Phison E16
  • NAND: Micron 96l QLC
  • DRAM: Yes
  • HMB: No

 

High end PCIe 4.0 NVME - Corsair MP600 Pro XT/Seagate Firecuda 530

The best of the best right now, the MP600 Pro XT and Firecuda 530 both use the same hardware. Featuring Phison's highest end PCIe 4 controller and the best performing NAND on the market right now, both have beaten out the 980 pro and SN850 when it comes to pure performance. This drive may not be useful for everyone, but if it is, it's a godsent.

Buy MP600 Pro XT Buy Firecuda 530
Pros:
  • Top of the chart performance
  • TLC NAND
  • Support for current gen consoles
Cons:
  • Not useful for most consumer tasks
  • Expensive
Specs:
  • Interface: NVME
  • Size: M.2 2280
  • Controller: Phison E18
  • NAND: Micron 176l TLC
  • DRAM: Yes
  • HMB: No

Budget SATA - Samsung 870 QVO

The 870 QVO is the replacement of the 860 QVO, featuring an updated controller and NAND and a "downgraded" 870 EVO. The main difference between QVO and EVO is the NAND, where the EVO uses TLC NAND instead of QVO's QLC NAND. It works great as a storage or game drive, but lacks a behind to be used as a main OS drive.

Buy 870 QVO
Pros:
  • Great price/GB
  • DRAM cache
  • NAND and controller made in-house
Cons:
  • QLC NAND
  • Performance lacks behind TLC based drives
Specs:
  • Interface: SATA
  • Size: 2.5"
  • Controller: Samsung MKX
  • NAND: Samsung 96l QLC
  • DRAM: Yes
  • HMB: No

 

Budget PCIe 3.0 NVME - Mushkin Alpha/Sabrent Rocket Q/Corsair MP400

All 3 similar using similar hardware, featuring Intel or Micron 96l QLC NAND and Phison's E12S controller, these drives offer a very compact 8TB drive. It won't perform as well as many NVMe drives, but at this capacity it's hard to use TLC NAND.

Buy Alpha Buy Rocket Q Buy MP400
Pros:
  • Incredible capacity for its size
  • DRAM cache
Cons:
  • Expensive
  • QLC NAND
  • Performance is lacking behind TLC based drives
Specs:
  • Interface: NVME
  • Size: m.2 2280
  • Controller: Phison E12S
  • NAND: Intel/Micron 96l QLC
  • DRAM: Yes
  • HMB: No

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