Whether you are upgrading your PC building a new one or even dealing with a slow laptop, storage (best SSD) is one of the most important parts waiting for attention. If you have decided over the SSD vs HDD debate, on account of which if chosen to go for an SSD hard drive then this guide is going to be extremely helpful to you, no matter if it is about your gaming PC desktop, Laptop, or a Notebook.
Fastest Best Internal External SSD Storage For PC and Laptop requires a comprehensive guide about the usage and types of disk. Increasing the memory of your system is no less than a bliss that overcomes the crashing down of applications, frequent lags, and waiting too long for programs to respond which seems like hours.
This slow system is indeed a big obstacle to achieving your targets on both professional grounds as well as lessening the joy of entertainment. The SSD is the best measure to cure your system. Let’s get through them straight.
Fastest Best Internal External SSD Storage For PC and Laptop
1. XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade – Best ADATA SSD
Capacity: 1TB, 2TB | Form Factor: M.2 2280 | Speed: Max sequential read up to 7400MB/s & max sequential write up to 6800MB/s | Interface: PCIe Gen 4.0 x 4, NVMe 1.4
ADATA XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade is one of the best NVMe SSDs with PCIe Gen 4 interface compliant with NVMe 1.4, the fastest and flawless lane of storage with high bandwidth of data transferring. It is way better than its predecessor XPG GAMMIX S70 in terms of speed and data. The S70 is based on a 3D NAND flash drive using the IG5326 Innogrit controller.
Its max capacity for reading and writing is 7400/6800 MB/s, having a 1480 TBW (Terabyte Written) maximum. It is compatible with PS5, laptops, Notebooks, and any thin-profile device. The only drawback attached to this device is that it comes in no less than 1TB of storage.
2. Seagate FireCuda 530 – Best SSD for gaming
Capacity: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | Form Factor: M.2 2280 | Speed: Max sequential read up to 7300MB/s & max sequential write up to 6900MB/s | Interface: PCIe Gen 4.0 x 4, NVMe 1.4
A blend of strength and reliability, the Seagate FireCuda 530 is the best SSD for gaming, multitasking, and high-end professionalism tasks. With PCIe Gen 4.0 interface it has 7300MB/s and 6900MB/s high read and write speed respectively, uses an E18 controller, and is based on a 3D TLC NAND flash drive.
Edit your videos and switch between the jobs in the blink of an eye. It’s perfectly compatible with your laptop, PC, Notebook, and even the best option for PS5, meeting all the requirements for a heavy mandate of data storage. Although we are not very impressed with the built-in heat sink the 5100 high endurance and multiple benchmark testing, this is a great option to boost your system.
3. Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus – Best SSD for Macbook Pro
Capacity: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | Form Factor: M.2 2280 | Speed: Max sequential read up to 7000MB/s & max sequential write up to 6850MB/s | Interface: PCIe Gen 4.0 x 4, NVMe 4.0
This is the premium quality built for both game enthusiasts and professionals. Rapid 7000MB/s 6850MB/s read and write with amazingly smooth performance. It meets all the competitive edges you might require to lead the battle. It is based on the B27 flash drive, and Phison E18 controller, and has a DDR4 Cache.
It is the world’s fastest NVMe SSD with a custom heat spreader, built with copper and aluminum components, that enables the user to touch the desirable outcome at rapid speed. Having PCIe Gen 4.0 interface which is PCIe Gen 3.0 backward compatible without lessening the speed of your work. It is suitable for your PC desktops, where you need to perform your best at any cost.
4. Samsung 980 PRO – Best SSD for PS4 Pro
Capacity: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | Form Factor: M.2 2280 | Speed: Max sequential read up to 7000MB/s & max sequential write up to 5000MB/s | Interface: PCIe Gen 4.0 x 4, NVMe 1.3c
Another best SSD for a slow system, we have Samsung 980 Pro PCIe 4 NVMe SSD. We have tested this with our gaming laptop and PC and found a significant improvement in its boot time. No lagging, just pure performance without blinking. It is also based on the 3D TLC NAND flash drive, but the heat spreader, in which the respective chip is coated with Nickel is not as effective as it has to be.
Thus leaving the chip hot under the load. Another fact is, this SSD is in compliance with NVMe 1.3c instead of 1.4. However the read and write speed is still very attractive as it is going to max out at 7000 and 5000MB/s. Onwards, the Samsung Magician Software is full of effective tools, including monitoring the performance, firmware updates, health of the drive, and much more.
5. Crucial P5 Plus – Best budget NVMe SSD
Capacity: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | Form Factor: M.2 2280 | Speed: Max sequential read up to 6600MB/s & max sequential write up to 5000MB/s | Interface: PCIe Gen 4.0 x 4, NVMe 1.4
For consistent working without a pause, Crucial P5 Plus is the Best SSD in the market with NVMe PCIe Gen 4.0. Very trustable and reliable storage that meets the standards of perfect gaming, video editing, and climbing the height of every task with gorgeous speed.
Although this NVMe M.2 SSD is a standard performer in competitive SSDs but still has the best storage compared to SATA SSDs. Moreover, the 1200 TBW long endurance and Micon Advanced 3D NAND flash drive is the most prominent advantage for the user.
Another good part is, that this drive is available in 250GB at least, so for those who want to get benefit from the given scale they can have this option for the system to boot and leave behind the lagging computers or laptops.
SSD SATA 3 M.2
We have covered your old computers and laptops with either M.2 SATA or M.2 NVMe interface with the motherboard. This type of SSD is ranked lower than PCIe NVMe SSD in terms of reading and writing sequential speed but better than SATA 2.5 (which is about to come next as the best SSD). This one is also easy to install directly without cables likewise PCIe SSDs.
6. Kingshark M.2 2242 – M.2 SATA
Capacity: 64GB, 120GB, 128GB, 240GB, 250GB, 256GB, 500GB, 512GB, 1TB | Form Factor: M.2 2242 | Speed: Max sequential read up to 570MB/s & max sequential write up to 500MB/s | Interface: SATA III 6Gbps
Now we have the best SATA M.2 hard drive, high performance in a compact size to seize the gravity of gaming and multitasking. The Kingshark gamer SATA SSD comes in a 2242 form factor, compatible with your laptop and PC. Although this chip is not as good and speedy as PCIe NVMe SSDs it contains better bandwidth for max sequential read and writes compared to its fellows.
Enjoy the high 570/500MB/s read and write based on a 3D TLC flash drive. However, the coolest part is the availability of minimum storage of 64GB SSD, letting the user boost the system and stop the Apps or programs from crashing.
7. PNY CS900 – Best Low Cost SSD SATA
Capacity: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Form Factor: M.2 2280 | Speed: Max sequential read up to 535MB/s & max sequential write up to 515MB/s | Interface: SATA III 6Gbps
PNY CS900 is an affordable SSD for your compact devices like Notebooks and laptops as much suitable as for your PC desktops. Being one of the best SSDs in SATA M.2 2280, this certainly boots up your system in a few seconds, Whether it’s about games or applications, all get started instantly.
PNY M.2 SATA SSD bears a maximum sequential 535/515MBs/s for reading and writing respectively. It is the quietest and coolest hard drive with very low consumption power. Although the 40 TBW low endurance may sound bitter 3-years warranty with 24/7 technical support covers you all. In short, it’s a very feasible yet affordable SSD storage for your computer.
SSD SATA 2.5
Here we have covered some more of the old systems that lack PCIe interface and are entertaining M.2 slots for memory upgrading. We are talking about the best SSD SATA 2.5, which is compatible with the SATA lane of the motherboard, and connectable with cable.
8. Samsung 870 QVO – Best SATA 3 SSD’
Capacity: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB | Form Factor: 2.5 inches | Speed: Max sequential read up to 560MB/s & max sequential write up to 530MB/s | Interface: SATA III 6Gbps
Samsung 870 QVO is the best SSD SATA 3.0 with a 2.5 interface, two or more generations old desktops and laptops are concentrated with it. If you own one of them then this might suit your system well. The best part is, if your system interface is 3Gbps or 1.5Gbps, this 6Gbps SSD is still compatible with it. A significant improvement in OS, launching applications, and a lot more.
We don’t recommend this drive for gaming, although the maximum it supports is 8TB storage. Nevertheless, for competitive workloads, for instance, editing videos and photos with several program support at a time, this SSD can do wonders. It contains max sequential 560/530MBs/s read and writes respectively.
9. Acer SA100 – Best value SATA SSD
Capacity: 240GB, 480GB, 960GB, 1.92TB | Form Factor: 2.5 inch | Speed: Max sequential read up to 560MB/s & max sequential write up to 500MB/s | Interface: SATA III 6Gbps
Acer SA100 is a good option to enhance the productivity and overall performance of the system. It is not the top SSD in the market but a significant boost in performance is very much visible. Take this as cheap storage as the performance per dollar is pretty good. Based on the 3D NAND TLC flash drive, it consumes low power compared to many of the SATA SSDs we reviewed earlier.
It supports a maximum of 560/500MBs/s for reading and writing respectively. Your files are in front of you without waiting, applications launch instantly and game loading time is reduced to a great extent. Overall the performance is remarkable and very noticeable when installed.
10. Kingston A400 – Best cheap SATA SSD
Capacity: 120GB, 240GB, 480GB, 960GB, 1.92TB | Form Factor: 2.5 inches | Speed: Max sequential read up to 500MB/s & max sequential write up to 450MB/s | Interface: SATA III 3Gbps
Going a little more backward, if you own a PC or a laptop that is old enough to have a 3Gbps interface, then Kingston A400 is a quick fix to your slow and laggy system. Although it also works fine with a 6Gbps interface as well. However, it is low power consumption and supports better and improved loading times of applications and files.
It contains a maximum sequential 500/450MBs/s read and writes respectively. Besides it has low endurance and has a chance of wearing out. This could be a good option for affordable or budget PCs or simply adding more space to your computer keeping the HDD together.
How to choose the best SSD for your system? Buyer’s Guide!
Upgrading your system storage leads to a significant improvement in the overall performance of the PC or laptop. Replacing the HDD or adding an SSD; reduces the starting time or quickly boots up your system, improves program initializing, Apps become lag-free, reads and writes the data much faster, games start quicker than before, files and music are becoming super accessible at lightning speed.
But if your head is buzzing with different types of SSDs in the market and which is compatible with your system then here are the three basic types of SSDs you have to educate first.
Types of SSDs (Solid State Drive)
There are three most popular drives you have seen many times while looking for the right SSD for your computer. They are:
a. SATA SSD or SATA III SSD
- SATA 2.5 SSD
- SATA M.2 SSD
b. NVMe SSD/ PCIe NVMe SSD
Now many of us encounter the most confusing phase which revolves around the form factor (called the shape of the drive), size of the drive (in terms of GB i.e. the Gigabyte and TB i.e. the Terabyte), and most importantly the connection interfaces. This evaluation might spin your head badly but learning about these drives and interfaces will shed those clouds confusing you.
What is an SSD?
SSD is called a Solid State Drive, it has unmoveable parts unlike HDD (Hard Disk Drive with moveable parts). It is so much faster than the HDD that if you ever have switched from HDD to SSD, you must find a significant speed of processing than before.
SSD retrieves data very quickly and passes it on further to your CPU or GPU, as a result of which you can switch between the applications/programs or files in the blink of an eye and get your work done without waiting for it processing of the machine. SATA SSD and NVMe are two main protocols or in simple language two types of SSD regarding the different slots or lanes available on your PC or a laptop.
SATA SSD
SATA 3 or III which is often written as mSATA SSD, is the most commonly found SSDs in the market today. Its speed is a maximum of 600GB/s (though for higher bandwidth, you can go for PCIe NVMe SSD that will come next in the section). SATA SSD is further categorized into two types; SATA 2.5 and SATA M.2.
SATA 2.5
This drive comes in a rectangular shape. It gets connected to your motherboard with a cable passing through it. SATA 2.5 usually comes into consideration as a replacement for HDD. This not only takes less space with ease of fixing but is also an affordable option to upgrade the storage.
Where SATA 2.5 is used?
This drive is particularly built for old desktops or laptops in which the motherboard has a SATA port instead of an M.2 port or PCI or NVMe port. So keep in mind, that this drive will only work with SATA lanes to transmit the data, otherwise, you may check other drives according to the compatibility of the system. When you search for a drive, this one will pop up with the name of the brand and “SATA III 2.5” right before it.
SATA M.2
This drive comes in a long and splendid shape, unlike the SATA 2.5 rectangular shape. It is identical to NVMe SDDs.
This SATA M.2 is extremely easy to connect directly with the motherboard and has no wire or cable to pass through it. It is a little pricey and has better bandwidth compared to the SATA 2.5.
Where SATA M.2 is used?
This type of drive is used when the motherboard has either M.2 SATA port or has M.2 NVMe port. But remember, an NVMe SSD wouldn’t connect with M.2 SATA port because of the different pin alignments.
This M.2 is a modern interface of the motherboard leaving behind the SATA port in old computers. Now this will be identified by the name written as “M.2 SATA” next to the company name.
NVMe SSD or PCIe NVMe SSD
This drive is sometimes referred to as PCIe M.2 as well. It is the newer form factor concerning the modern motherboards that come with a PCIe interface. Back to SATA 2.5 and SATA M.2, both have no difference in speed and performance but it’s worth noting that NVMe SSD is three to four times faster and has much-improved read and write speed compared to SATA SSDs, consequently are much pricier too.
If you are buying an NVMe SSD with PCIe Gen 4.0 and your motherboard has PCIe Gen 3.0 it’s perfectly fine because PCIe Gen 4.0 is backward compatible with Gen 3.0 and has no difference in speed or bandwidth.
Conclusion
Deciding on the type of SSD relies on the system or the motherboard of your desktop or laptop. The secondary thing that affects your decision is the budget you have dedicated. The cheapest SSD or budget SSD is the SATA 2.5, SATA M.2 has little cost increment and NVMe SSD is the latest, fastest, and at the same time an expensive option.
How much SSD do you need for a particular task?
How much SSD do you need as a student?
If you are an engineering student, college-going, or want to become an architect, you need to cross the 128GB limit of an ordinary computer and think over the hundreds of assignments, online lectures, recordings of webinars, multiple CAD/CAM software, editing tools, eBooks and documents and so much more coming in your whole academic year.
Following this, it is recommended to get at least 256GB SSD along with HDD if possible. This will prevent you from application crashes we often encounter while working on more than one application at a time together with several other tools and programs.
How much SSD is sufficient enough for a standard PC or a laptop?
Now here comes a standard yet sufficient storage you might require if not entirely dedicated for gaming. In this case, still, you still have plenty of applications to store, for instance, Microsoft Windows, and the frequent updating takes almost 25GB of your drive.
Further, you need to deal with emails, photos, videos, Zoom, PDFs, Word, Excel, music player, and so on, which just make a computer usable for everyday computing. In this case, a 128GB SSD at least is recommended.
Does SSD need a heatsink? Does this drive get hot for real?
The SSD does get hot for real and yes it does require a heatsink but this is a rare case to happen. In the situation of intense gaming, too many applications running at a time, too overloaded, and intensive multitasking can cause the drive to get heated.
In some areas, if that’s not the case, then the other neighboring components might cause the drive to get hot, This happens with gaming desktops especially when the hardware of your PC are very close to each other. The hot air generated and then passed out from the tower sometimes causing the drives to get hot. Remember, this is not a very frequent case to happen, though if you have experience working with such a PC then the SSD you chose must be wisely picked.
Try to get a drive with an integrated or built-in heat sink. There are many SSD drives out there that come with their heat dissipation mechanism based on the aluminum base and copper pipes, these types of SSDs are pretty handy in such situations.
Conclusion
The most common option for slow PC systems is to add an external SSD. But that’s not always an ideal pick for every one of us, that’s where internal SSDs come into consideration.
Where there is portable SSD seems easy to use, internal SSD is way more complicated comparatively. It requires your full attention and knowledge of the system interfaces, if not, then it probably counts as a waste of money for you.
You need to be cautious enough about the type of SSD and its compatibility with your laptop or PC desktop the way we have guided you earlier. Moving forward quickly, once you know which type of interface your motherboard is having you can easily get through the SSD form that might suit your system.
Thus thoroughly inspect the configuration of the SSDs and their suitability with the PC, If you still find it difficult to decide, just shoot a comment, and leave things for us to handle.