Are you tired of sluggish load times and long waits to jump into your favorite games? If you’re a PC gamer, you know that your storage solution can make or break your gaming experience. That’s where a high-quality SSD comes in, and Lexar has been a trusted name in storage for years. Choosing the Lexar best SSD for PC gaming can dramatically improve your system’s responsiveness, reduce loading screens, and give you a smoother overall gameplay experience.
In this article, we’re diving deep into some of Lexar’s top SSD offerings, perfect for anyone looking to supercharge their gaming rig. We’ll explore their features, highlight what makes them stand out, and help you find the ideal storage upgrade. Let’s get your gaming PC performing at its peak!
Lexar 1TB NM790 SSD PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 2280 Internal
The Lexar 1TB NM790 is a true powerhouse for gamers and content creators alike, setting a high bar for the Lexar best SSD for PC gaming. This internal NVMe SSD leverages PCIe Gen4 technology to deliver breathtaking speeds that will slash your game load times and make file transfers feel instantaneous. With impressive read/write speeds, it’s designed to keep up with the most demanding games and applications, ensuring you spend less time waiting and more time playing. Its low power consumption is an added bonus, making it an efficient choice for both desktop and laptop setups, and it’s even compatible with the PlayStation 5 for those who game across platforms!
- Key Features:
- 1TB capacity
- Exceptional performance: up to 7400MB/s read, 6500MB/s write
- 1000TBW (Terabytes Written) endurance rating
- 2x faster than PCIe Gen 3 SSDs
- Up to 40% less power consumption than DRAM cache-enabled PCIe Gen 4 SSDs
- Host Memory Buffer (HMB) 3.0 for smoother transfers
- Designed for hardcore gamers, professionals, and creators
- Compatible with PlayStation 5
- Single-sided NVMe SSD, perfect for laptops
- Five-year limited warranty
- Pros:
- Blazing-fast speeds significantly improve game loading
- Excellent power efficiency for sustained performance
- High endurance rating ensures longevity
- Versatile compatibility with PC and PS5
- Great value for a high-performance Gen4 drive
- Cons:
- Requires a PCIe Gen4 compatible motherboard to achieve full speeds
- Doesn’t include a heatsink (might need separate purchase for intense use)
- User Impressions: Gamers consistently praise the NM790 for its incredible speed, noting a dramatic difference in game load times and overall system responsiveness. Many appreciate its low power consumption, especially for laptop builds, and its competitive pricing for a top-tier Gen4 drive.
- See it on Amazon here
Lexar 2TB Play SSD with Heatsink PCle Gen 4×4 NVMe
When it comes to dedicated gaming storage, the Lexar 2TB Play SSD stands out, especially if you’re looking for an all-in-one solution that can bridge your PC and console gaming worlds. This NVMe SSD isn’t just fast; it comes with a unique, pre-installed heatsink, making installation a breeze and ensuring optimal thermal performance during even the most intense gaming sessions. Tested and approved for PS5, it’s also a fantastic choice for PC gaming, offering huge capacity and lightning-fast speeds to keep your entire game library readily accessible and running smoothly.
- Key Features:
- Designed to coordinate with your PS5, enhancing your gaming experience
- 2TB capacity with 1600TBW endurance
- 7400MB/s max read and 6500MB/s max write speeds for reduced load times
- Tested and approved storage for PS5, allowing direct game play
- Includes a unique heatsink for effortless installation and enhanced cooling
- HMB and SLC Dynamic cache for improved PC performance
- Five-year limited warranty
- Pros:
- Integrated heatsink provides superior thermal management
- Massive 2TB capacity for extensive game libraries
- Exceptional speeds reduce loading times significantly
- PS5 compatibility with direct game play support is a huge plus
- Plug-and-play convenience with the pre-attached heatsink
- Cons:
- Heatsink might make it slightly bulkier for some ultra-compact laptop slots
- Price point is higher due to capacity and included heatsink
- User Impressions: Users absolutely love the convenience of the pre-attached heatsink, especially for PS5 installations. PC gamers highlight its massive storage space and consistent high performance, making it a reliable choice for housing a vast collection of demanding titles.
- See it on Amazon here
Lexar 2TB NM790 SSD PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 2280 Internal
For those who crave the ultimate storage capacity without compromising on speed, the Lexar 2TB NM790 is arguably the Lexar best SSD for PC gaming in terms of balancing performance and space. Building on the success of its 1TB sibling, this 2TB version offers the same phenomenal PCIe Gen4 speeds, enabling incredibly fast boot-ups, application launches, and, most importantly, game loading. With a generous 2TB of space, you can install dozens of AAA titles without worrying about running out of room, while its efficient design ensures it won’t be a power hog.
- Key Features:
- 2TB capacity
- Exceptional performance: up to 7400MB/s read, 6500MB/s write
- 1500TBW (Terabytes Written) endurance rating
- 2x faster than PCIe Gen 3 SSDs
- Up to 40% less power consumption than DRAM cache-enabled PCIe Gen 4 SSDs
- Host Memory Buffer (HMB) 3.0 for seamless performance
- Designed for hardcore gamers, professionals, and creators
- Compatible with PlayStation 5
- Single-sided NVMe SSD, perfect for laptops
- Five-year limited warranty
- Pros:
- Massive 2TB capacity caters to extensive game libraries
- Blazing-fast PCIe Gen4 speeds for minimal load times
- High endurance rating for long-term reliability
- Energy-efficient operation
- Versatile for both PC and PS5 gaming
- Cons:
- Still requires a separate heatsink for optimal thermal performance under heavy loads
- Higher price point than lower capacity models
- User Impressions: Gamers with large digital libraries absolutely adore the 2TB NM790. They report seamless performance across all their games, praising the sheer speed and the freedom of not having to constantly uninstall titles to make space. It’s often cited as a superb balance of capacity and raw speed.
- See it on Amazon here
Lexar 256GB NS100 SSD 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal Solid
Not every PC gamer needs the absolute cutting-edge NVMe speeds, especially if you’re looking to upgrade an older system or have a budget-friendly build. The Lexar 256GB NS100 SSD offers a fantastic entry point into the world of solid-state storage. This 2.5-inch SATA III drive is a perfect upgrade for traditional hard drives, instantly breathing new life into older laptops or desktops. While not as fast as NVMe, its sequential read speeds of up to 520MB/s are still dramatically faster than an HDD, meaning quicker boot times, faster application loads, and a noticeably snappier system for your less demanding games.
- Key Features:
- 256GB capacity
- Upgrade for laptop or desktop computers for faster startups, data transfers, and application loads
- Sequential read speeds of up to 520MB/s
- Faster performance and more reliable than traditional hard drives
- Shock and vibration resistant with no moving parts
- 120TBW (Terabytes Written) endurance rating
- Three-year limited warranty
- Pros:
- Significant performance boost over traditional HDDs
- Affordable entry point for SSD technology
- Highly reliable with no moving parts (shock and vibration resistant)
- Easy installation in most standard 2.5-inch drive bays
- Ideal for breathing new life into older PCs or as a dedicated OS drive
- Cons:
- Slower speeds compared to NVMe SSDs (not PCIe Gen4)
- Lower capacity might be limiting for large game libraries
- Shorter warranty period than the NVMe models
- User Impressions: Users consistently report that the NS100 is an excellent upgrade for older systems. Many are pleasantly surprised by the noticeable speed improvement, making their PCs feel much more responsive for everyday tasks and lighter gaming. It’s often recommended for budget-conscious users or as a secondary drive.
- See it on Amazon here
Lexar 1TB SL500 Portable SSD, Up to 2000MB/s, Compatible
While internal SSDs are great for your main rig, sometimes you need speed on the go. The Lexar 1TB SL500 Portable SSD isn’t just any external drive; it’s a super-fast, incredibly compact solution perfect for carrying your games, large media files, or even recording directly from your iPhone 15 Pro. With USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 performance, you’re looking at read speeds up to 2000MB/s, making it excellent for quickly transferring game installations between PCs, backing up your save files, or even running lighter games directly from the drive. Its durable, thin metal design means it can slip into your pocket, ready for action wherever you go.
- Key Features:
- 1TB capacity
- Incredible USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 performance: up to 2000MB/s read and 1800MB/s write
- Thin, lightweight, and durable metal design
- Supports Apple ProRes recording (up to 4K 60FPS with iPhone 15 Pro/Max)
- Wide compatibility with mobile devices, iPhone 15/16 series, laptops, cameras, Xbox X|S, PS4, PS5, and more
- Unique Thermal Control Design for optimal temperatures
- Equipped with a Type-C data cable for plug-and-play convenience
- Includes Lexar DataShield 256-bit AES encryption software
- Product dimensions: 3.3” x 2.1” x 0.3”; 0.095 lbs.
- Five-year limited warranty
- Pros:
- Exceptional portable speeds for quick data transfer and backup
- Extremely compact and lightweight, highly portable
- Broad compatibility with a wide range of devices, including gaming consoles
- Built-in thermal control prevents performance throttling
- Includes encryption software for data security
- Cons:
- Requires a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port for maximum speeds (otherwise speeds will be lower)
- Not designed as a primary internal drive for PC gaming
- Price per GB is generally higher than internal SSDs
- User Impressions: Users rave about the SL500’s incredible portability and speed. It’s a favorite for content creators who need fast external storage for editing on the go, and gamers appreciate its ability to quickly transfer large game files between systems or serve as external game storage for consoles. The sleek design and robust build quality are also frequently praised.
- See it on Amazon here
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Why should I choose an SSD over an HDD for PC gaming?
A: SSDs (Solid State Drives) offer significantly faster read and write speeds compared to traditional HDDs (Hard Disk Drives). This translates to much quicker game loading times, faster map rendering, smoother texture streaming, and overall snappier system performance. While an HDD might store more for less, an SSD drastically improves your actual gaming experience.
Q2: What’s the difference between NVMe and SATA SSDs for gaming?
A: NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) SSDs connect via the PCIe interface and are considerably faster than SATA SSDs, which use the older SATA interface. NVMe drives, especially PCIe Gen4 ones like the Lexar NM790 series, can reach speeds of 7000+ MB/s, whereas SATA SSDs max out around 550 MB/s. For the Lexar best SSD for PC gaming performance, NVMe is the clear winner for modern systems. SATA SSDs are still great for older PCs or as secondary storage.
Q3: Do I need a heatsink for my NVMe SSD?
A: For high-performance PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSDs, especially if you’re gaming for extended periods or doing intensive tasks, a heatsink is highly recommended. These drives can generate significant heat, and a heatsink helps dissipate it, preventing thermal throttling (where the drive slows down to prevent overheating) and ensuring sustained peak performance. Some drives, like the Lexar Play SSD, come with one pre-installed.
Q4: How much storage capacity do I need for PC gaming?
A: This depends on your game library size. Modern AAA games can easily take up 50GB to 150GB or more.
– 256GB-500GB: Good for a few games and your operating system (OS).
– 1TB: A popular choice for most gamers, allowing for several large games and your OS. This is often the sweet spot for the Lexar best SSD for PC gaming for many.
– 2TB or more: Ideal for enthusiasts with vast game libraries who don’t want to constantly uninstall games.
Q5: Can Lexar SSDs be used in PlayStation 5 consoles?
A: Yes, several Lexar NVMe PCIe Gen4 SSDs, including the NM790 and Play SSDs, are compatible with the PlayStation 5. They meet or exceed Sony’s recommended speed and form factor requirements, allowing you to expand your PS5’s storage and play games directly from the drive. Always double-check the specific product’s compatibility.
Q6: Will an SSD improve my game’s Frames Per Second (FPS)?
A: Generally, an SSD will not directly increase your game’s FPS. FPS is primarily determined by your CPU, GPU, and RAM. However, an SSD can significantly reduce stuttering caused by texture streaming or loading assets from a slow drive, leading to a smoother feeling gameplay experience, even if the raw FPS count doesn’t change.
Q7: What is TBW (Terabytes Written) and why is it important for SSDs?
A: TBW is an endurance rating that indicates how many terabytes of data can be written to the SSD over its lifetime before it’s expected to start wearing out. A higher TBW rating means the drive is designed for more intensive use and should last longer, especially for gamers who frequently install, uninstall, and update large game files. Lexar SSDs typically offer competitive TBW ratings, ensuring long-term reliability.
Conclusion
Upgrading to a Lexar SSD is one of the smartest moves you can make to enhance your PC gaming experience. Whether you’re chasing the absolute fastest load times with a PCIe Gen4 NVMe drive like the Lexar NM790, need massive storage with an integrated heatsink like the Lexar Play, or simply want to rejuvenate an older system with a reliable SATA SSD, Lexar has a solution. We hope this guide has helped you narrow down the Lexar best SSD for PC gaming that perfectly fits your needs and budget. Say goodbye to loading screens and hello to seamless gaming!