Are you tired of staring at loading screens while your friends are already in the game? Do your favorite titles feel sluggish, even with a powerful graphics card and CPU? The unsung hero you might be overlooking is your storage drive. Upgrading to one of the best SSDs for PC gaming can dramatically cut down load times, make game worlds stream faster, and give your entire system a noticeable boost.
Gone are the days when traditional hard drives (HDDs) were your only option. Solid State Drives (SSDs) have revolutionized storage, offering lightning-fast speeds, silent operation, and improved durability. For gamers, this isn’t just a luxury; it’s practically a necessity. Imagine hopping into a massive open-world game and seeing textures load instantly, or jumping into multiplayer matches without being the last one to connect. That’s the power of a great gaming SSD!
In this article, we’re diving deep into some of the top contenders on the market to help you pick the perfect upgrade for your rig. We’ve handpicked some of the most reliable and high-performance options that truly stand out.
Why a Good SSD Matters for Gaming
You might think your GPU and CPU do all the heavy lifting for gaming performance, and you’d be mostly right for frame rates. However, when it comes to loading assets, levels, and even starting your PC, the SSD is king. Here’s why:
- Blazing-Fast Load Times: This is the most obvious benefit. Games, especially modern AAA titles with large assets, will load in a fraction of the time compared to an HDD. This means less waiting and more playing!
- Smoother Gameplay: In open-world games, data is constantly streaming from your drive. A fast SSD ensures that game assets load quickly, preventing stuttering, pop-in, and providing a seamless experience.
- Faster System Responsiveness: Beyond games, your entire PC will feel snappier. Boot-up times, application launches, and file transfers will all be significantly quicker.
- Quieter Operation: Unlike HDDs, SSDs have no moving parts, making them completely silent.
- Durability: Without moving parts, SSDs are also more resistant to drops and shocks, which is a plus for portability or general peace of mind.
Now, let’s get to the stars of the show – the best SSDs for PC gaming you can get your hands on!
Product Reviews
WD_BLACK 2TB SN850X NVMe Internal Gaming SSD Solid State
The WD_BLACK SN850X is an absolute beast for serious gamers looking to transform their PC’s performance. Building on the success of its predecessors, this NVMe SSD pushes the boundaries with insane sequential read speeds of up to 7,300 MB/s, meaning your games will load so fast you might wonder if they were ever actually off. It’s designed specifically with gaming in mind, featuring advanced technologies like Predictive Loading and Adaptive Thermal Management to keep performance consistent even during intense, prolonged gaming sessions. If you’re looking for an NVMe SSD that delivers top-tier speed and reliability, the SN850X is a fantastic choice, especially with its optional heatsink for better thermal management.
-
Key Features:
- Top-tier performance with speeds up to 7,300 MB/s
- Capacities up to 8TB built with Western Digital TLC 3D NAND
- Optional heatsink version for sustained peak performance
- WD_BLACK Dashboard software for monitoring and customization (Windows only)
- Future-forward features: Predictive Loading, Overhead Balancing, Adaptive Thermal Management (ATM)
-
Pros:
- Extremely fast read and write speeds, significantly reducing game load times.
- Optional heatsink effectively prevents thermal throttling.
- High endurance ratings for long-term use.
- Dashboard software offers useful monitoring and customization features.
-
Cons:
- Premium price point, especially for higher capacities.
- Heatsink version might not fit all laptop or SFF PC builds.
User Impressions: Gamers consistently rave about the SN850X’s phenomenal speed, noting immediate improvements in game loading and overall system responsiveness. Many appreciate the heatsink version for keeping temperatures in check during demanding play, ensuring consistent performance. It’s often cited as a go-to for a premium gaming experience.
Samsung 870 EVO SATA III SSD 1TB 2.5” Internal Solid
While NVMe drives dominate the high-speed headlines, the Samsung 870 EVO proves that SATA SSDs are far from obsolete, especially for those upgrading older systems or looking for reliable, cost-effective storage. This drive maximizes the SATA interface, offering excellent sequential speeds of up to 560/530 MB/s, which is still incredibly fast compared to any traditional hard drive. Samsung’s reputation for quality and reliability shines through with this SSD, making it a perfect choice for gamers and professionals who need solid, dependable performance without the need for a newer M.2 slot. It’s incredibly compatible and easy to install, making it a fantastic upgrade for almost any desktop PC or laptop.
-
Key Features:
- Maximizes SATA interface limit with 560/530 MB/s sequential speeds
- Industry-defining reliability with up to 600 TBW under a 5-year limited warranty
- Highly compatible with major host systems and applications
- Easy 2.5-inch SATA form factor installation for desktops and laptops
- Samsung Magician 6 software for drive management and optimization
- World’s #1 flash memory brand (since 2003) with in-house component production
-
Pros:
- Excellent value for money and performance in the SATA category.
- Outstanding reliability and endurance, backed by Samsung’s reputation.
- Broad compatibility with older and newer systems.
- Simple plug-and-play installation.
-
Cons:
- Slower than NVMe drives (inherent to the SATA interface).
- Doesn’t offer the extreme speeds of PCIe Gen4 drives.
User Impressions: Customers love the 870 EVO for its rock-solid reliability, easy installation, and noticeable speed improvement over HDDs. It’s frequently recommended for users looking for a straightforward, dependable upgrade without breaking the bank, particularly for those with systems that don’t support NVMe or who prefer the 2.5-inch form factor.
WD_BLACK 2TB SN7100 NVMe Internal Gaming SSD Solid State
The WD_BLACK SN7100 is designed to deliver high-octane gaming performance for both desktop warriors and on-the-go gamers with handheld devices and laptops. Sporting PCIe Gen4 speeds up to 7,250MB/s read, it’s a formidable opponent for loading large game worlds and intense texture packs. What truly makes the SN7100 stand out is its balance of performance and efficiency, offering up to 100% more power efficiency over the previous generation. This makes it an ideal pick for gaming laptops where battery life and heat management are critical, without compromising on the speed needed to blast past load screens.
-
Key Features:
- High-octane gaming with speeds up to 7,250MB/s read and 6,900MB/s write (1-2TB models)
- Purpose-built for serious on-the-go gamers with PCIe Gen4 interface
- Available in capacities up to 4TB
- Up to 100% more power efficiency over the previous generation
- WD_BLACK Dashboard for optimization (Windows only)
- High endurance of up to 2,400TBW (4TB model)
-
Pros:
- Excellent speed for a PCIe Gen4 drive.
- Impressive power efficiency, great for laptops and handhelds.
- Good endurance for heavy gaming and content creation.
- Provides a noticeable upgrade from slower NVMe or SATA drives.
-
Cons:
- Not as widely available in all regions as some other WD_BLACK models.
- Performance can fluctuate slightly with larger file transfers compared to top-tier SN850X.
User Impressions: Users report being highly satisfied with the SN7100’s speed, especially noting its suitability for gaming laptops due to its efficiency. It’s seen as a solid, reliable choice for those seeking near top-tier NVMe performance without the premium cost of the absolute fastest drives, delivering a significant boost to game load times.
WD_BLACK 1TB SN770 NVMe Internal Gaming SSD Solid State
The WD_BLACK SN770 is a fantastic sweet spot for gamers seeking a significant performance upgrade without emptying their wallets. This NVMe SSD boasts blazing speeds of up to 5,150MB/s, leveraging the PCIe Gen4 interface to deliver robust in-game responsiveness and minimize stutter. It’s specifically designed to fuel your gaming experience, ensuring smooth streaming and quick load times. Crucially, it also supports future games developed for Microsoft’s DirectStorage technology, making it a future-proof choice. If you’re transitioning from an older SATA SSD or an HDD, the SN770 offers an incredible performance leap for a very competitive price, making it one of the best SSDs for PC gaming on a budget.
-
Key Features:
- Blazing speeds up to 5,150MB/s (1TB and 2TB models)
- PCIe Gen4 interface for enhanced in-game responsiveness and smooth streaming
- Capacities up to 2TB for ample game storage
- Supports future games with Microsoft’s DirectStorage technology
- WD_BLACK Dashboard for monitoring and optimization (Windows only)
- Reliable drive from a trusted brand
-
Pros:
- Excellent performance-to-price ratio for a PCIe Gen4 drive.
- Significant speed upgrade over SATA SSDs and HDDs.
- DirectStorage support is a great future-proofing feature.
- Reliable and from a reputable brand.
-
Cons:
- Not as fast as the absolute top-tier PCIe Gen4 drives like the SN850X.
- No integrated heatsink option, may require aftermarket cooling in some scenarios.
User Impressions: Gamers consistently praise the SN770 as a fantastic mid-range option, offering incredible value for its speed. Many highlight the noticeable difference in load times and overall system snappiness after upgrading from older drives. It’s often recommended as the go-to choice for those wanting Gen4 speed without the premium price tag.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Gaming SSD
Picking the best SSD for PC gaming isn’t just about grabbing the fastest one. Here’s what you should keep in mind:
- NVMe vs. SATA:
- NVMe SSDs (M.2 form factor): These connect via the PCIe interface and offer vastly superior speeds (hundreds to thousands of MB/s) compared to SATA. They are ideal for primary game drives and modern systems. Most high-performance gaming SSDs are NVMe.
- SATA SSDs (2.5-inch form factor): These use the SATA 3.0 interface, capped at around 550 MB/s. While slower than NVMe, they are still much faster than HDDs and are excellent for older systems, secondary game storage, or if you’re on a tighter budget.
- PCIe Gen3 vs. Gen4 (for NVMe):
- PCIe Gen4: Offers double the bandwidth of Gen3, leading to much faster speeds (typically 5,000 MB/s and up). If your motherboard supports it (usually newer Intel 11th Gen+ or AMD Ryzen 3000+), this is the way to go for the best performance.
- PCIe Gen3: Still very fast (around 3,500 MB/s), and perfectly adequate for most gaming needs. Gen4 drives are backward compatible with Gen3 slots, but will operate at Gen3 speeds.
- Capacity: How much space do you need?
- 500GB: Bare minimum for a primary drive with a few games. You’ll fill it fast.
- 1TB: A great starting point for most gamers, allowing for a good selection of AAA titles.
- 2TB+: Ideal for extensive game libraries, especially with modern games often exceeding 100GB each.
- Endurance (TBW – Terabytes Written): This indicates how much data can be written to the drive over its lifetime before it potentially degrades. For gaming, most modern SSDs have more than enough endurance for years of heavy use. Don’t worry too much about this unless you’re constantly writing huge files.
- With or Without Heatsink: High-performance NVMe SSDs can get hot under heavy load, potentially leading to “thermal throttling” (slowing down to cool off). Some drives come with a heatsink pre-attached. If not, and your motherboard doesn’t have an M.2 heatsink, consider getting one if you’re pushing the drive hard.
- Budget: SSDs vary widely in price. Determine your budget and balance it with the speed and capacity you need.
Conclusion
Upgrading your storage to one of the best SSDs for PC gaming is arguably one of the most impactful improvements you can make to your gaming experience, especially for modern titles. Whether you opt for the blistering speed of the WD_BLACK SN850X, the reliable value of the Samsung 870 EVO, or the balanced performance of the WD_BLACK SN7100 or SN770, you’re in for a treat. Faster load times, smoother gameplay, and a more responsive system await. No more excuses for being late to the battle!
FAQ Section
Q1: Do SSDs improve FPS (frames per second) in games?
A1: Generally, no. SSDs primarily reduce load times and improve asset streaming, which means less stuttering and pop-in in open-world games. Your FPS is determined by your CPU, GPU, and RAM. However, a fast SSD provides a much smoother overall gaming experience.
Q2: Is an NVMe SSD always better than a SATA SSD for gaming?
A2: For raw speed and future-proofing, NVMe SSDs are superior, especially for games designed to take advantage of faster storage (like those using DirectStorage). However, SATA SSDs are still a massive upgrade over HDDs and perfectly adequate for many games. The difference in in-game performance (once loaded) between a high-end SATA and a mid-range NVMe is often minimal.
Q3: How much SSD storage do I need for gaming?
A3: We recommend at least 1TB if you plan to install several modern AAA games, as many now exceed 100GB. 2TB or more is ideal if you have a large game library or play many graphically intensive titles. 500GB can work for a small selection of games.
Q4: Can I use an external SSD for gaming?
A4: You can, but internal SSDs (NVMe or SATA) will always offer better performance due to direct motherboard connections. External SSDs are generally limited by the USB interface’s speed. They are best for storing games you don’t play often or for moving large files.
Q5: Is it worth getting a heatsink for an NVMe SSD?
A5: For high-performance PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSDs, a heatsink is highly recommended. These drives can generate significant heat under sustained load (like during long gaming sessions or large file transfers), which can lead to thermal throttling and reduced performance. Many motherboards come with integrated M.2 heatsinks, or you can purchase one separately.
Q6: How do I install an internal SSD?
A6:
* NVMe (M.2): Locate the M.2 slot on your motherboard, remove the retaining screw/clip, insert the drive at a slight angle, then push it down and secure it with the screw/clip.
* SATA (2.5-inch): Mount the drive in a 2.5-inch drive bay, connect a SATA data cable from the drive to your motherboard, and connect a SATA power cable from your PSU to the drive.
After physical installation, you may need to format and initialize the drive in Windows Disk Management.
Q7: Will upgrading my SSD make my PC boot faster?
A7: Absolutely! One of the most noticeable improvements when switching from an HDD to an SSD (especially an NVMe) is dramatically faster boot times. Your operating system will load in mere seconds.
Q8: What is TBW, and how important is it for a gaming SSD?
A8: TBW stands for “Terabytes Written,” a measure of an SSD’s endurance, indicating how much data can be written to the drive over its lifetime before its cells start to degrade. For typical gaming use, modern SSDs have very high TBW ratings, meaning they’ll last for many years of heavy gaming before you even come close to reaching their limit. It’s less of a concern for most gamers and more for intensive professional workloads.