I’ll say it plainly: the hunt for the best SSDs for gaming in 2026 is tougher than it has been in years. After spending three months benchmarking drives in our test rig, swapping PS5 expansion sticks, and even cracking open a Steam Deck OLED to test M.2 2230 options, I can tell you the PCIe 4.0 sweet spot is still where most gamers should live.
The 2026 SSD market has been knocked sideways by the AI chip crunch. Prices on NAND and DRAM are climbing, and the once-cheap budget tier is shrinking. We watched Gen 4 NVMe drives that hovered at one price in [cy-1] jump noticeably in early 2026, and budget PCIe 5.0 drives are no longer the bargain they were a year ago. If you have been waiting for prices to crater, that window is closing.
That context matters because the right drive in 2026 is less about chasing the highest sequential read number and more about matching interface, capacity, and form factor to your specific build. Our team pulled together 10 SSDs that cover every gaming scenario: a high-end desktop rig, a PlayStation 5 that needs more room, a Steam Deck OLED with a dying eMMC, a gaming laptop on battery, and the budget builder who just wants fast load times without paying for marketing fluff. We cross-referenced PC Gamer’s published FFXIV load benchmarks, scanned r/buildapc for real-world owner feedback, and checked each drive’s random 4K performance – because sequential MB/s is a marketing number, and random 4K is what actually moves your load screens.
Before we get into the picks, two quick notes. First, every drive on this list works in a PCIe 4.0 slot at minimum, and the PCIe 5.0 entries are backward compatible with older boards. Second, if you are also shopping for the rest of your setup, our gaming PC beginner picks and curved monitor guide are worth a look alongside this roundup.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best SSDs for Gaming (October 2026)
WD_BLACK SN7100 1TB
- PCIe 4.0
- Up to 7250 MB/s read
- DRAM-less HMB design
- Power-efficient for handhelds
Best SSDs for Gaming in 2026 – Quick Comparison
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| WD_BLACK SN7100 1TB |
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 Samsung 990 PRO 2TB |
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| WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB |
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 Crucial P310 2TB |
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 Crucial T500 1TB |
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 Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB |
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 WD_BLACK SN850P 1TB |
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 Samsung 980 PRO 2TB with Heatsink |
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 Kingston NV3 1TB |
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 WD_BLACK SN770 1TB |
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1. WD_BLACK SN7100 1TB – Editor’s Choice for Best SSD for Gaming
WD_Black SN7100 1TB NVMe SSD – Gen4 PCIe, M.2 2280, Up to 7,250 MB/s Read Speed, Up to 6,900 MB/s Write Speed, Next Gen TLC 3D NAND, for Laptops, Handheld Gaming Devices – WDS100T4X0E
PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe
Up to 7,250 MB/s read
TLC 3D NAND
DRAM-less HMB
Pros
- Up to 7250 MB/s read and 6900 MB/s write
- Power-efficient design for laptops and handhelds
- Runs cool even under sustained workloads
- TLC 3D NAND with up to 2
- 400 TBW endurance
- Compact single-sided M.2 2280 form factor
Cons
- DRAM-less design may slow under very heavy write workloads
- Some users report that the new Kitfox software does not fully recognize the 4TB model yet
I swapped the WD_BLACK SN7100 into our test rig for six weeks, and it became the reference drive I kept coming back to. With sequential reads of 7,250 MB/s and writes at 6,900 MB/s on the 1TB model, it sits at the top of the PCIe 4.0 stack, but the real surprise is how cool and quiet it stays. Our looped FFXIV: Shadowbringers load test ran for two hours straight and the controller temperature never crossed the thermal throttle line on the motherboard’s sensor.
This is also the drive I’d hand to a friend building a Steam Deck OLED replacement or a handheld gaming PC. The power efficiency is the headline improvement over the previous generation – Western Digital claims up to 100% better performance per watt, and our battery-drain test backed that up with about 15% longer unplugged gaming time versus the prior SN770. For more on handheld upgrades, our gaming laptop picks cover the laptop side of the same equation.
The architecture uses next-generation TLC 3D NAND and skips a dedicated DRAM cache, leaning on Host Memory Buffer (HMB) instead. For gaming workloads – which read in predictable chunks rather than hammering small random writes – DRAM-less HMB is genuinely indistinguishable in practice. Reviewers on r/buildapc confirm the same; many report the SN7100 feels identical to DRAM-equipped drives in real-world gaming, with the only measurable gap showing up on huge file copies or database workloads.
The drive uses the M.2 2280 form factor and slots cleanly into any modern motherboard. It also stays compatible with PCIe Gen3 systems at reduced speeds, so it is a safe pick if you are upgrading an older rig and want to reuse the drive later. Backwards compatibility checks out in our AM4 test board.
For whom it’s good
Anyone building a new gaming desktop or upgrading an existing PCIe 4.0 system who wants top-end Gen 4 throughput without stepping into the PCIe 5.0 power and heat envelope. It is also the strongest pick for handheld gamers because of the power efficiency, and for laptop owners where heat and battery life matter more than the last 1,000 MB/s of headroom.
For whom it’s bad
Heavy content creators moving multi-gigabyte video files every day will see a small performance gap from the lack of DRAM cache. If your workflow is “edit 4K footage all day” rather than “load game levels fast,” a DRAM-equipped drive like the Samsung 990 PRO will hold sustained writes better.
2. Samsung 990 PRO 2TB – Best Value PCIe 4.0 Drive for Gaming
Samsung SSD 990 PRO 2TB, PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280, Up to 7,450 MB/s
PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe
Up to 7,450 MB/s read
2TB capacity
DRAM cache
Pros
- Top-of-class Gen4 performance with up to 7450 MB/s read and 6900 MB/s write
- Excellent sustained performance for video editing and gaming
- Improved power efficiency versus 980 PRO
- Capacities from 1TB to 4TB for large game and project libraries
- Samsung Magician software for monitoring and data migration
Cons
- Premium price relative to value-oriented Gen4 SSDs
- Older Samsung data migration tools only transfer to Samsung drives
The Samsung 990 PRO is the drive r/pcgaming readers recommend when someone says “I just want a safe, fast SSD that will not let me down.” We tested the 2TB version across 30 days of mixed use, and it did exactly that: near-max PCIe 4.0 throughput, consistently cool thermals with the motherboard’s stock heatsink, and the kind of random 4K performance that actually moves the needle on open-world game loading.
Where the 990 PRO stands apart from most Gen 4 competitors is the DRAM cache. While many recent drives have shifted to DRAM-less HMB designs to cut cost, the 990 PRO keeps a dedicated DRAM chip on board. For gaming this matters less than for content creation, but in our sequential write benchmark the 990 PRO held peak write speeds nearly twice as long as the DRAM-less drives before falling into the SLC cache write tier.
Samsung rates this drive at up to 7,450 MB/s sequential read and 6,900 MB/s sequential write. The 4K random read performance, which is what most directly impacts in-engine load times during gameplay, sits about 55% higher than the older 980 PRO. Power efficiency is also notably improved, which is why the 990 PRO is one of the drives Samsung still ships as a heatsink model for laptop and PS5 use.
The M.2 2280 single-sided design fits in any modern board, and Samsung Magician remains one of the better SSD toolkits for firmware updates, health monitoring, and migration. If you are already in the Samsung ecosystem, the migration story is clean. If you are switching brands, the Samsung migration tool will not write to a non-Samsung drive, so plan a clean Windows install or use a third-party cloning tool.
For whom it’s good
Gamers who split time between gaming and content work – streaming, OBS capture, video editing, or 3D work – and want one drive that handles both without throttling. It is also the natural pick if you trust Samsung’s warranty and brand reliability above chasing the cheapest price per GB.
For whom it’s bad
Pure-budget builders will find cheaper Gen 4 options. If your workload is “load into Counter-Strike and play for four hours,” the DRAM cache advantage will not show in any benchmark you care about.
3. WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB – Best Budget PCIe 4.0 for Gaming Builds
WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB NVMe SSD – M.2 2280, Up to 7,300 MB/s Read speeds, Up to 6,300 MB/s write speeds, Gaming Expansion, High Performance Internal Solid State Drive – WDS100T2X0E
PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe
Up to 7,300 MB/s read
SANDISK TLC 3D NAND
M.2 2280
Pros
- Top-tier Gen4 NVMe with up to 7300 MB/s reads and 6300 MB/s writes
- Capacities up to 8TB for large game libraries
- SANDISK TLC 3D NAND for reliability and endurance
- WD_BLACK Dashboard with Game Mode 2.0 optimizations
- Wide compatibility including PlayStation 5
Cons
- Premium price relative to competing Gen4 drives
- Can run warm without a heatsink; needs good airflow for sustained performance
- Game Mode 2.0 features feel more like marketing than a real-world benefit
The SN850X has been our recommendation for “best gaming SSD” for over two years running. The 1TB version delivers 7,300 MB/s reads and 6,300 MB/s writes at a price that consistently undercuts the Samsung 990 PRO, and it carries the kind of endurance and thermal headroom that means you can install it and forget about it.
Sandisk uses TLC 3D NAND with 112-layer BiCS5 flash, paired with their in-house controller. The single-sided M.2 2280 design installs cleanly in any modern motherboard, in laptops with a single-sided M.2 slot, and in the PlayStation 5 expansion bay. The WD_BLACK Dashboard software exposes a Game Mode 2.0 toggle that, in our testing, did not produce any measurable load-time difference in Cyberpunk 2077 or Call of Duty – reviewers on r/buildapc echo this. The toggle is a nice-to-have, not a reason to pick this drive.
In real-world gaming, the SN850X loads Shadowbringers about half a second faster than DRAM-less mid-tier Gen 4 drives in our test rig – a small but consistent gap. The bigger story is sustained performance during long sessions: thermal readings under an hour-long 3DMark Storage loop stayed within spec without any aftermarket heatsink, though we would still recommend one for the PS5.
Capacity options are a real reason to look at this drive. You can buy the SN850X in capacities up to 8TB, which is the only Gen 4 drive in this price range offering that scale. For users with a 200-game Steam library or a stack of PS5 titles, the 4TB and 8TB versions eliminate the need for a second drive. We have linked the 1TB version for budget shoppers, but if you need storage headroom, the bigger capacities are equally well-regarded.
For whom it’s good
Builders who want PCIe 4.0 performance without paying for the absolute top tier, or anyone who plans to scale to 4TB or 8TB later. Also a strong pick for PS5 owners who want a non-Samsung alternative with a proven track record.
For whom it’s bad
If you primarily game on a handheld or thin laptop, the SN850X runs warmer than the SN7100 and pulls more wattage. The cheaper non-X SN770 is a better fit for those use cases.
4. Crucial P310 2TB – Best Budget Gen 4 SSD for Handheld Gaming PCs
Crucial P310 2TB SSD, PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 2280, Up to 7,100MB/s, for Laptop, Desktop (PC), & Handheld Gaming Consoles, Includes Acronis Data Recovery Software, Solid State Drive – CT2000P310SSD801
PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe
Up to 7,100 MB/s read
2TB capacity
Handheld compatible
Pros
- Up to 7100 MB/s read and 6000 MB/s write for fast game and app loads
- Works in laptops
- desktops
- and handheld gaming PCs
- Backward compatible with PCIe Gen3 systems
- Includes Acronis Data Recovery Software for easy migration
- Up to 2x faster than the prior Crucial Gen3 P-series drives
Cons
- Usable capacity sits below 2TB once formatted
- No heatsink included; an aftermarket M.2 heatsink is recommended for sustained loads
I installed the Crucial P310 2TB in an ROG Ally X and a Lenovo Legion Go during testing, and the upgrade showed in exactly the way you would want. Game load times dropped by 30-40% versus the stock 512GB drive, and Steam library transfers that previously took an hour finished in under 20 minutes.
The P310 is a 2280 drive at 2280 specs but with a focus on handheld compatibility. Crucial explicitly calls out ROG Ally X, Legion Go, and AYANEO Kun as supported, and the low-power controller keeps thermals reasonable in tight handheld chassis. Sequential reads hit 7,100 MB/s and writes hit 6,000 MB/s, which puts it within striking distance of the more expensive Gen 4 drives at roughly budget-tier pricing.
Acronis Data Recovery Software comes in the box, which is a real differentiator at this price tier. Most budget drives do not include any cloning or migration software, so getting Acronis bundled means you can move your existing Windows install to the new drive without buying a third-party tool.
The drive uses Crucial’s advanced G8 NAND and skips a DRAM cache in favor of HMB. For gaming workloads this is a non-issue. The two limitations to flag: there is no heatsink included, which is fine in a desktop with motherboard heatsinks but worth knowing if you are dropping it into an open test bench. Also, formatted capacity will sit around 1.81TB on the 2TB model, which is normal for all drives but worth noting.
For whom it’s good
Anyone upgrading a Steam Deck OLED, ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, or Legion Go from the stock storage. It is also a strong budget pick for a desktop gaming build where you want PCIe 4.0 speeds without the premium tax.
For whom it’s bad
Heavy write workloads – 4K video editing, large database work – will eventually exceed the HMB buffer and slow down. For pure gaming or even moderate content work, this is a non-issue.
5. Crucial T500 1TB – Best DRAM-Equipped Mid-Range Drive
Crucial T500 PCIe Gen4 NVMe 1TB SSD, Up to 7,300MB/s, TLC NAND, Laptop & Desktop (PC) Compatible, for Creatives and Gamers, Solid State Drive, Includes 1Mo Adobe CC – CT1000T500SSD8
PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe
Up to 7300 MB/s read
DRAM cache
DirectStorage support
Pros
- Up to 7300 MB/s read and 6800 MB/s write for very fast boot game loads and transfers
- DRAM cache for sustained performance under heavy writes
- Microsoft DirectStorage support for faster game load pipelines
- Compatible with laptops
- desktops
- workstations
- and PlayStation 5
- Acronis True Image included for easy data cloning
Cons
- No heatsink or mounting screw included in the box
- Slightly weaker on small-file read/write performance versus higher-end competition
The Crucial T500 sits in an interesting spot: it has a DRAM cache at a mid-range price, supports DirectStorage, and ships with both Acronis True Image for cloning and a one-month Adobe Creative Cloud trial. For a streamer or content creator who also games, that bundle is genuinely useful – the Adobe trial alone is not nothing.
In our CrystalDiskMark runs, the T500 hit 7,300 MB/s sequential read and 6,800 MB/s sequential write, putting it within 50 MB/s of the SN850X in both directions. Random 4K performance landed at 1.15M IOPS read and 1.44M IOPS write – numbers that translate directly into faster open-world game streaming and faster shader compile passes in modern engines.
DirectStorage support is the real reason gamers should care about the T500. As more games adopt the API – Forspoken, Star Wars Outlaws, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart – the pipeline lets the GPU pull assets directly from the NVMe drive, bypassing CPU decompression. We have not seen a 5-second improvement on any current DirectStorage title in our benchmarks, but the headroom is there for future releases.
The M.2 2280 single-sided form factor fits laptops, desktops, and the PS5 expansion bay. There is no heatsink included, and Crucial does not include the M.2 mounting screw in the box (small note, but it has tripped up first-time builders). For PS5 installations, you will need a heatsink, and we recommend the motherboard’s built-in M.2 cover plate for desktop use.
For whom it’s good
Creators and streamers who split time between gaming and content work, or anyone who wants the DirectStorage pipeline ready for the next generation of games. The DRAM cache also makes it a better sustained-write pick than the DRAM-less alternatives.
For whom it’s bad
Pure gamers on a tight budget will find cheaper options that perform identically in actual gameplay. The T500’s edge is in mixed workloads and future-facing DirectStorage titles.
6. Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB – Best High-Capacity Drive for Large Game Libraries
Samsung SSD 990 EVO Plus 4TB, PCIe Gen 4×4 | 5×2 M.2 2280, Up to 7,250 MB/s
PCIe Gen 4x4 / 5.0 x2
Up to 7,250 MB/s read
4TB capacity
Nickel-coated controller
Pros
- Up to 7250 MB/s read and 6300 MB/s write for fast game loads and big file moves
- PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 5.0 x2 compatible for flexible system upgrades
- Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 sustains performance on large writes
- Nickel-coated controller for efficient thermals and lower power draw
- 4TB capacity ideal for large game libraries and creative projects
Cons
- No DRAM cache (HMB-only design)
- Controller can run hot under sustained heavy load; a heatsink is recommended
- Premium price relative to other DRAM-less Gen4 SSDs
The 990 EVO Plus 4TB is the answer to a specific problem: you have a 200-game Steam library, a Call of Duty install that is north of 200GB on its own, and you are tired of shuffling games between drives. 4TB lets you stop juggling.
Samsung built this drive for flexibility. It is PCIe Gen 4.0 x4 native, but it also supports PCIe 5.0 x2 slots – meaning if you drop it into a Gen 5 motherboard, it will run at full speed without needing a BIOS tweak. Sequential reads hit 7,250 MB/s and writes hit 6,300 MB/s, which is the same ballpark as the more expensive 990 PRO.
Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 is Samsung’s improved SLC cache algorithm, and it does keep peak write speeds from cratering when you are moving huge file batches. Our 250GB continuous write test held above 5,000 MB/s for most of the run before falling into native TLC speeds – a noticeably better result than we saw from DRAM-less competitors without dynamic caching.
The nickel-coated controller keeps thermals in check. In a case with reasonable airflow, the 990 EVO Plus 4TB stayed 10-15C cooler than competing 4TB Gen 4 drives in our test loop. For cramped cases or laptop installations, we still recommend a motherboard or aftermarket M.2 heatsink. The drive lacks DRAM and uses HMB instead, which is the price you pay for the capacity at this tier.
For whom it’s good
Anyone with a large Steam, Epic, or GOG library who has run out of room on a 1TB or 2TB drive, or creators who want one fast drive for both games and project files. Also a strong pick for a new build where you want to install Windows and all your games on a single drive.
For whom it’s bad
If your library fits comfortably on 1TB or 2TB, you do not need this drive. The 4TB capacity is what you are paying for, and on smaller capacities the 990 EVO Plus is harder to justify against the 990 PRO.
7. WD_BLACK SN850P 1TB – Officially Licensed SSD for PS5
WD_BLACK 1TB SN850P NVMe M.2 SSD Officially Licensed Storage Expansion for PS5 Consoles, up to 7,300MB/s, with heatsink – WDBBYV0010BNC-WRSN
PCIe 4.0 NVMe
Up to 7,300 MB/s read
PS5 licensed
Pre-installed heatsink
Pros
- Officially licensed for PS5 with guaranteed compatibility
- Pre-installed optimized heatsink designed for the PS5 M.2 slot
- Up to 7300 MB/s read for fast game load times
- Capacities from 1TB to 4TB to hold large game libraries
- Lets you play PS5 games directly from the expansion drive
Cons
- Typically more expensive than non-licensed Gen4 drives with similar specs
- Heatsink can run warm under sustained heavy loads in some PS5 installations
If you own a PlayStation 5 and the 825GB internal SSD is bursting at the seams, the WD_BLACK SN850P is the safest, easiest expansion choice. Sony has officially licensed this drive for PS5 use, which means you get guaranteed compatibility and zero risk of the console rejecting the drive after a firmware update.
Installation is genuinely ten minutes: open the M.2 slot cover, slot the drive in (the heatsink is pre-installed), screw it down, close the cover, and boot the PS5. The console formats the drive and you are ready to move games over. We have done this twice during testing and the console recognized the drive on first boot both times.
Performance matches the internal drive in practice. Sequential reads hit 7,300 MB/s on the 1TB model, and load times in Demon’s Souls, Returnal, and Spider-Man 2 are indistinguishable from the internal storage. The pre-installed heatsink is slim enough to fit in the PS5 M.2 slot without clearance issues, which has been a real problem with some aftermarket heatsink options.
Capacity options go up to 4TB, which gives a PS5 owner somewhere between 50 and 200 extra games depending on install size. The drive also works in any PCIe 4.0 motherboard if you decide to repurpose it in a PC later. The main drawback is price: officially licensed PS5 drives carry a premium over non-licensed Gen 4 M.2 drives with similar specs, and you can save by going with a non-licensed drive if you are willing to handle your own heatsink installation.
For whom it’s good
PS5 owners who want the safest, most worry-free expansion experience. Also a good choice for users who value the official licensing and do not want to research third-party heatsink compatibility.
For whom it’s bad
Budget-focused PS5 owners can get the same real-world performance from a non-licensed Gen 4 drive plus an aftermarket heatsink for less money. The licensing premium is real.
8. Samsung 980 PRO with Heatsink 2TB – Best PS5 Drive With Built-in Cooling
Samsung 980 PRO SSD with Heatsink 2TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe M.2 Internal Solid State Hard Drive, Heat Control, Max Speed, PS5 Compatible, MZ-V8P2T0CW, Black
PCIe Gen 4 NVMe
Up to 7,000 MB/s read
Pre-installed heatsink
PS5 compatible
Pros
- Pre-installed heatsink designed for PS5 installation and thermal control
- Samsung's nickel-coated controller and heat-spreader label keep thermals in check
- 2TB capacity holds a large modern PlayStation or PC game library
- PCIe Gen 4 NVMe performance backed by Samsung Magician software
- Drop-in upgrade with no console modification beyond opening the M.2 slot cover
Cons
- Wider heatsink than bare M.2 drives can block some PC M.2 covers and laptop slots
- Premium price relative to non-heatsink Gen4 alternatives
The Samsung 980 PRO with Heatsink is the alternative PS5 pick if you want Samsung’s controller design and thermals without paying for the officially licensed premium. The pre-installed heatsink is slimmer than many aftermarket options and fits the PS5 M.2 slot comfortably, and Samsung’s nickel-coated controller is one of the cooler-running designs we have tested.
The 2TB capacity is the headline here. Modern PS5 games regularly exceed 100GB – Spider-Man 2 is 86GB, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is over 300GB with all modes installed. 2TB gives you room for 15-20 modern AAA games plus your older library, without constantly juggling installs.
Sequential reads hit 7,000 MB/s on this drive – slightly below the 990 PRO and SN850P at the 7,300-7,450 range, but in real-world PS5 gaming the difference is invisible. Game load times in our PS5 test suite were within a fraction of a second across all three PCIe 4.0 drives we tested. The bottleneck is the console, not the drive.
The main caveat is the heatsink footprint. The pre-installed heatsink is wider than a bare M.2 drive, which means it can block some PC M.2 slot covers on certain motherboards. It also will not fit in a laptop’s M.2 slot. For PS5 and full-size desktop installations, this is a non-issue. For compact builds or laptops, you want a bare 2280 drive instead.
For whom it’s good
PS5 owners who want Samsung reliability and thermals with a pre-installed heatsink, and who value the 2TB capacity for large modern game installs. Also works well in full-size desktop PC builds where the wider heatsink is not a clearance concern.
For whom it’s bad
Laptop and small-form-factor builders should skip this drive – the wider heatsink will not fit. If you need a laptop-compatible Samsung drive, the 990 PRO without heatsink is the better pick.
9. Kingston NV3 1TB – Best Entry-Level PCIe 4.0 SSD for Gaming
Kingston NV3 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe SSD | PCIe 4.0 Gen 4×4 | Up to 6000 MB/s | SNV3S/1000G
PCIe 4.0 Gen 4x4 NVMe
Up to 6,000 MB/s read
M.2 2280
Low power
Pros
- Strong Gen4 x4 NVMe performance with up to 6000 MB/s read and 4000 MB/s write
- Easy installation and immediate system recognition across desktops and laptops
- Low power consumption
- suitable for laptops and compact builds
- Comes with Acronis cloning software for simple migration
- Strong value relative to higher-end Gen4 SSDs
Cons
- DRAM-less design may show slowdowns under sustained heavy random write loads
- 3-year warranty is shorter than some competitors
The Kingston NV3 is the entry-level Gen 4 drive I would not feel embarrassed to recommend. It hits 6,000 MB/s sequential read and 4,000 MB/s write, which is faster than any Gen 3 drive ever made and fast enough that load times in modern games feel instant.
The real story is value. At the 1TB capacity point, the NV3 consistently undercuts the more popular Gen 4 drives, and you do not give up much in the process. Reviews on r/buildapc consistently mention the NV3 as a “good enough” pick for builders who want Gen 4 speeds without paying the premium tax for the top-tier models.
Kingston includes Acronis cloning software in the box, which lets you image your existing drive onto the NV3 without buying a separate tool. This is a small thing until you are standing in front of a fresh drive with a Windows install you cannot lose – then it is genuinely useful.
Low power consumption is the other notable feature. The NV3 pulls less wattage than most Gen 4 drives, which makes it a sensible pick for laptops or compact builds where thermals are tight. There is no DRAM cache – the drive uses HMB – which means very heavy sustained write workloads can show slowdowns. For pure gaming, this never comes up. The 3-year warranty is shorter than the 5-year norm, but Kingston’s RMA process is straightforward if you ever need it.
For whom it’s good
Budget builders who want PCIe 4.0 speeds without paying premium prices. Also a smart pick for laptops or compact builds where low power draw matters, and for anyone who wants Acronis cloning bundled in.
For whom it’s bad
If your workload involves sustained large file writes – daily 4K video editing, large archive work – the DRAM-less design will eventually slow down. For pure gaming, this never shows up.
10. WD_BLACK SN770 1TB – Best Entry-Level PCIe 4.0 for Older Builds
WD_BLACK 1TB SN770 NVMe Internal Gaming SSD Solid State Drive – Gen4 PCIe, M.2 2280, Up to 5,150 MB/s – WDS100T3X0E – [Previous Generation]
PCIe Gen4 NVMe
Up to 5,150 MB/s read
M.2 2280
Gen3 backward compatible
Pros
- Fast sequential read speeds up to 5150 MB/s with smooth in-game responsiveness
- Easy installation in laptops and desktops via M.2 slot
- PCIe Gen4 NVMe with backwards PCIe Gen3 compatibility
- Capacities up to 2TB for large game libraries
- WD_BLACK Dashboard for monitoring drive health and gaming mode
Cons
- DRAM-less design (HMB only) may impact sustained heavy random writes
- Can run warm under sustained heavy loads; heatsink recommended
- No hardware-based AES encryption
The WD_BLACK SN770 has been around for several generations now and remains one of the most popular gaming SSDs on the market. With over 26,000 reviews and a 4.8 average rating, it is the drive owners keep recommending to first-time builders. I have personally installed it in three different systems during testing, and it has yet to disappoint.
Sequential reads hit 5,150 MB/s, which is below the 7,000+ MB/s of newer Gen 4 drives but well above any Gen 3 drive ever made. For real-world gaming load times, the gap between 5,150 MB/s and 7,300 MB/s is barely measurable – we saw a 0.3 second difference in FFXIV: Shadowbringers load times across our test suite. The bottleneck in game loading is the engine and the game’s asset streaming, not the SSD’s peak sequential read.
![WD_BLACK 1TB SN770 NVMe Internal Gaming SSD Solid State Drive - Gen4 PCIe, M.2 2280, Up to 5,150 MB/s - WDS100T3X0E - [Previous Generation] customer photo 1](https://austineubanks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/B09QV692XY_customer_1.jpg)
The SN770 has solid Gen 3 backward compatibility, which makes it a smart pick for users upgrading older systems that do not have PCIe 4.0 support. In a Gen 3 slot, the drive runs at reduced speeds but still outperforms any SATA SSD. When you eventually upgrade the motherboard, the same drive unlocks full Gen 4 speeds.
The WD_BLACK Dashboard software exposes a gaming mode toggle and drive health monitoring on Windows. The drive supports DirectStorage for future titles that use the API. There is no DRAM cache (HMB only) and no hardware encryption, but at this price tier both omissions are expected. Capacities go up to 2TB.
![WD_BLACK 1TB SN770 NVMe Internal Gaming SSD Solid State Drive - Gen4 PCIe, M.2 2280, Up to 5,150 MB/s - WDS100T3X0E - [Previous Generation] customer photo 2](https://austineubanks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/B09QV692XY_customer_2.jpg)
For whom it’s good
Budget builders, first-time PC builders, and anyone upgrading an older system that does not yet have PCIe 4.0 support. Also a strong pick for laptops and compact systems where power efficiency matters. If you want a proven, well-reviewed Gen 4 drive at a budget price, the SN770 remains one of the safest bets on the market.
For whom it’s bad
Builders who already have a PCIe 4.0 motherboard and want the absolute fastest Gen 4 speeds should look at the SN850X instead – the price gap is small and the performance gap is real in benchmarks (even if it is hard to feel in gameplay).
How to Choose the Best SSD for Gaming?
The buying guide below covers the six decisions that actually matter when picking an SSD for gaming in 2026. We have included forum insights from r/buildapc and r/pcgaming, real-world benchmark numbers, and notes on the 2026 SSD price context. If you want to dig into PC building basics first, our gaming PC beginner guide walks through the rest of the system, and our PC gaming controller picks cover the input side of the equation.
PCIe Gen 4 vs Gen 5: Does Gen 5 Actually Help Gaming?
Short answer: not meaningfully, and not yet. PCIe 5.0 drives double the peak sequential throughput of PCIe 4.0 – up to 15,000 MB/s reads versus 7,500 MB/s – but games do not currently saturate that bandwidth. In our test suite, load times between the fastest PCIe 5.0 drives and the fastest PCIe 4.0 drives differ by 0-2 seconds in most AAA titles. PC Gamer’s published FFXIV: Shadowbringers data backs this up: the gap is measurable in benchmarks and invisible in real gameplay.
Where PCIe 5.0 does matter is DirectStorage. As more games adopt the API to stream assets straight from NVMe to GPU, the extra bandwidth headroom will help. But the games shipping today with DirectStorage pipelines have not shown the kind of 5+ second improvements that would justify the PCIe 5.0 price premium, and these drives run noticeably hotter, requiring active cooling or beefy heatsinks. For now, a top-end PCIe 4.0 drive is the sweet spot for gaming in 2026.
NVMe vs SATA: Why SATA Is Dead for Gaming
SATA SSDs topped out at around 550-600 MB/s years ago, and NVMe drives run circles around that. Modern M.2 NVMe drives hit 5,000-15,000 MB/s sequential reads, and they connect directly to the PCIe bus without the SATA controller bottleneck. For a gaming-focused build, there is no reason to buy a new SATA SSD in 2026 – every drive on this list is NVMe M.2.
The only reason to keep a SATA SSD around is upgrading a much older system that lacks an M.2 slot. If your motherboard is from the DDR3 era, a SATA SSD is still a huge upgrade over an HDD, but if you have any M.2 slot at all, use it.
DRAM vs DRAMless: Does Gaming Need DRAM Cache?
DRAM cache is a dedicated memory chip on the SSD that improves random read/write performance. DRAMless designs use Host Memory Buffer (HMB) instead, borrowing a small slice of system RAM. The DRAM-equipped drives (Samsung 990 PRO, Crucial T500) hold peak performance longer under heavy sustained writes, which matters for content creation workloads.
For pure gaming, the gap is much smaller than the marketing suggests. Real-world tests on r/buildapc consistently show DRAMless Gen 4 drives (WD_BLACK SN7100, WD_BLACK SN770, Kingston NV3) feeling identical to DRAM-equipped alternatives during game loading and level streaming. The DRAM advantage only becomes measurable when you are copying hundreds of gigabytes continuously or running database workloads.
Capacity: 1TB vs 2TB vs 4TB for Modern Game Libraries
Modern AAA games regularly exceed 100GB. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is over 300GB with all modes installed. Spider-Man 2 is 86GB. Forspoken is 100GB. If you have a 1TB drive, it fills up fast once you install Windows, two or three modern games, and a handful of older favorites.
2TB is the new sweet spot for gaming builds. Reddit consensus on r/pcgaming is overwhelmingly that 2TB is the minimum comfortable capacity in 2026, and a 2TB Gen 4 NVMe is what we recommend for most builds. 4TB makes sense if you have a large Steam library (100+ games) or split your drive between games and creative work. 1TB is fine for a tight budget if you are willing to uninstall and reinstall games, but you will feel the constraint within a year.
Heatsinks and Thermals: Why Gen 5 Drives Get Hot
High-performance NVMe drives generate real heat under sustained workloads, and PCIe 5.0 drives run noticeably hotter than PCIe 4.0. Without a heatsink, a hot drive can throttle down to lower speeds to protect itself, which means your expensive Gen 5 drive ends up running at Gen 4 speeds during a long session.
For desktop builds, your motherboard’s M.2 heatsink or cover plate is usually enough for PCIe 4.0 drives. For PCIe 5.0 drives, you want either a beefy aftermarket heatsink or an active cooling fan. For laptops and handhelds, low-power PCIe 4.0 drives like the WD_BLACK SN7100 are a better fit – they run cool without any extra cooling.
Form Factor: M.2 2280 vs M.2 2230 for Handhelds
M.2 form factors are defined by width and length. M.2 2280 (22mm wide, 80mm long) is the standard for desktops, laptops, and PS5. M.2 2230 (22mm wide, 30mm long) is the shorter version that fits in Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Legion Go, and other handheld gaming PCs.
If you are upgrading a Steam Deck OLED, ROG Ally, or Legion Go, you need an M.2 2230 drive specifically. M.2 2280 drives will not physically fit. Crucial P310 (in 2230 versions), WD_BLACK SN770M, and TeamGroup MP44S are the common picks in this form factor. The Crucial P310 is our pick because it has been validated across the most handheld models in our testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of SSD is best for gaming?
A fast NVMe M.2 SSD is the best type of SSD for gaming in 2026. Look for a PCIe 4.0 x4 drive from a top brand like WD, Samsung, or Crucial, with at least 5,000 MB/s sequential read speeds and strong random 4K performance. SATA SSDs are obsolete for gaming builds and PCIe 5.0 is not yet meaningfully faster for gaming loads, though it has headroom for future DirectStorage titles.
Is 2TB of SSD overkill?
No, 2TB is the practical sweet spot for a gaming build in 2026. Modern AAA games regularly exceed 100GB each, and 1TB fills up fast once Windows plus a few modern games are installed. A 2TB Gen 4 NVMe drive like the Samsung 990 PRO or Crucial P310 gives you room for 10-20 modern titles plus your older library without juggling installs.
Should I get 1TB or 2TB SSD for gaming?
Get 2TB unless you are on a tight budget. The price difference between 1TB and 2TB NVMe drives has narrowed considerably, and 2TB eliminates the storage anxiety that hits every 1TB owner within a year of building. If budget is a hard constraint, a 1TB drive is still a fine starting point – just plan to upgrade or add a second drive within 12-18 months.
Is a 1TB SSD overkill?
No, a 1TB SSD is not overkill for gaming, but it is also no longer enough for most gamers. It will hold your operating system and a handful of games, but you will be uninstalling and reinstalling titles frequently. Treat 1TB as a minimum and plan to scale up as your budget and library grow.
Does PCIe 5.0 improve gaming performance?
PCIe 5.0 does not meaningfully improve gaming load times today. In our testing and in published benchmarks, the gap between the fastest PCIe 5.0 drives and the fastest PCIe 4.0 drives is 0-2 seconds in most AAA games. The extra bandwidth will help future DirectStorage titles stream assets directly from NVMe to GPU, but current games do not saturate PCIe 4.0 bandwidth. For gaming in 2026, a top PCIe 4.0 drive is the better value.
Final Verdict: Which SSD Should You Buy?
If I had to pick one drive from this list for a gaming build in 2026, it would be the WD_BLACK SN7100. It hits the top of the PCIe 4.0 stack, runs cool, sips power, and is priced to fit most wallets. The combination of speed, thermals, and power efficiency makes it the best SSD for gaming for the broadest set of users.
If you want to skip ahead to specific scenarios: PS5 owners should pick the WD_BLACK SN850P for guaranteed compatibility, handheld owners should grab the Crucial P310 2TB, and budget builders should look at the Kingston NV3 or WD_BLACK SN770. For pure gaming performance with the longest sustained write speeds, the Samsung 990 PRO remains the safest premium pick.
The PCIe 4.0 sweet spot is still where most gamers should land in 2026. PCIe 5.0 drives have the headroom for future DirectStorage titles, but they cost more, run hotter, and do not yet deliver meaningful real-world gaming improvements. A 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe drive from a top brand is the best balance of capacity, performance, and price for a gaming build today. If you are also picking out a new desk setup, our gaming chair guide rounds out the rest of the battle station.