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▷ Best ssd on the market 【2020】? sata, m.2 and nvme

Table of contents:

Anonim

SSDs are surely the most popular devices among users, much faster storage drives than conventional HDDs and with lower power consumption. The market is riddled with the best SSDs, so we have decided to put together this guide to help our readers choose the best possible option.

Prepared? We will start by talking about concepts and then with a list of recommended models. Let's start!

Index of contents

You may also be interested in reading the following guides:

The SSD the best ally of your computer

The biggest bottleneck that a computer has had has been mechanical hard drives, although disks were created with great speed have never reached the read and write rates of current SSDs. What used to be taking several minutes to start the operating system is now a matter of seconds, the same happens with games and applications…

When you test an SSD you will never go back to the mechanical hard drive again.

What is an SSD?

First we are going to solve some doubts, the first is this important question. SSDs ( Solid State Drive ) are data storage devices, just like a traditional hard drive (HDD), which have become very popular in recent years. Unlike HDDs, SSDs do not have moving parts inside, something that translates into several advantages as we will see later. Inside a hard disk we find a printed circuit (PCB) on which the NAND memory chips, the controller, the connectors for data and power are located.

The NAND memory chips are responsible for storing the information on an SSD, the controller is responsible for managing the operation of the SSD (it does all the black work) so it is the most important component for better performance and durability. Finally , the data and power connectors are used to connect the SSD to the motherboard and the power supply respectively.

Advantages of SSDs

As we have seen, SSDs lack moving parts inside. This translates into completely silent operation and lower energy consumption while generating less heat.

However the most important difference and the one that I have made SSDs into the most popular devices is without a doubt the performance. The absence of mechanical parts makes SSDs much faster than HDDs, making Windows start in less than 10 seconds and the programs will be almost instantaneous. SSDs are also capable of running multiple tasks at the same time without noticeable performance loss, something that cannot be said for traditional hard drives.

Booting Windows 10 in 4 seconds is priceless. We recommend reading our article on SSD vs HDD. A very interesting article!

In our selection we have decided to include drives from 250 GB of capacity because they are the ones that offer the best relationship between price, performance and capacity. 120 GB SSDs seem very scarce to us today, although if you want to mount Windows, an office package and some player it will comply. The ideal purchase would be the 512 GB size, although they are still somewhat expensive for most users.

As we have already said, a solid state drive has a multitude of advantages over a hard disk drive, below we list other important points:

  • Smaller physical size: SSDs take up much less space than hard drives, especially for M.2 drives that are a small card with a typical size of 22mm x 80mm. A feature that is very important in laptops and mini PCs. Lower power consumption: Lacking mechanical parts, SSDs require much less power to operate compared to a hard drive. This is very relevant in equipment powered by a battery, and in large servers where hundreds of units are used. Higher performance - especially small block transfers that are used for transactional processing. This is due to the absence of a head that has to be moved to the proper position. In the SSD everything works electronically, being much faster and more efficient. Greater reliability: the absence of mechanical parts makes SSDs much less prone to breakdowns than mechanical hard drives.

Disadvantages of SDD

We already know the great advantages of SDDs, however the world is not pink and where there are advantages there are also disadvantages. The first of these is a much higher price per GB than HDDs. Despite the fact that the price difference per GB has been reduced a lot since the SSDs hit the market, the truth is that it is still very high, to get an idea a 120 GB SSD has approximately the same as a 2 HDD TB. Although on a personal basis I advise you to make the effort because it is a 100% recommended purchase.

SSD price vs mechanical hard drive

Another drawback of SSDs is that the total amount of information that can be written to them is much less than what HDDs allow. SSD manufacturers typically ensure a three-year device life by writing 40-50 GB of data per day, writing less will last longer in proportion. Therefore, it is recommended to accompany the SSD with an HDD for mass data storage, in addition to a much lower price per GB, HDDs are capable of supporting mountains of written data much higher.

Another drawback of SSDs is that they are more difficult to recover data in case of device failure. In the case of HDD, if it breaks, we can take it to a company specialized in data recovery so that it can analyze your dishes and retrieve all the possible information. In this case we have no choice but to pull software and cross our fingers.

However, this procedure to retrieve information from an HDD is extremely expensive and at home, this advantage of HDDs does not make sense. We should also bear in mind that it is much easier for an HDD to fail than for an SSD to fail.

Different formats available

SSDs come in different formats, the most common being the 2.5-inch with SATA III connector, these SSDs are very similar to 2.5-inch HDDs and are the most popular for their price / performance ratio and for have the greatest compatibility with motherboards, you can install one on any motherboard.

Due to the performance limitations of the SATA III connector, more modern SSD devices have emerged with more advanced connections that allow higher performance while some of them are presented in a more compact form. Among these other types of SSD we highlight those based on M.2, PCI-Express and mSATA connectors.

M.2 SSD

MSATA SSD

PCI-E SSD

The new laptops and motherboards include the M.2 connection that supports higher speed. It is an option to consider.

Solid state drive (SSD) vs hard disk drive (HDD)

As the SSD has proliferated in the market, “ What are the differences between the Solid State Drive and the Hard Drive? ”It is a common question. A solid state drive has no moving parts compared to a hard drive that has two main components:

  • A spindle motor to rotate one or more layers of platters. An actuator to move a read / write " head " across the platters.

A solid state drive is made entirely of semiconductor components, making shock and vibration resistance significantly better than the hard drive. Other superior attributes of SSD are lower power consumption and better performance, especially on small blocks of data. Hard drives are still on the market because they can offer higher capacities at a lower price than the SSD.

What is a solid state drive used for?

A solid state drive is used to provide better performance and / or lower power consumption than a hard drive in an existing computer system. Also used for new computer designs or embedded systems that require a smaller physical size, removability, lower power, higher performance, and / or a lower absolute price if low capacity is required. There is a growing trend in the laptop market to install SSDs instead of hard drives. This is a rapidly growing trend, since 2 or 3 years ago they were hardly used in laptops and preassembled equipment.

How do solid state drives work?

A solid state drive emulates a hard drive in a host computer or integrated system. It does this with a specially designed controller that has the same electrical interface as a hard drive. In many cases, it has the exact same connector and physical form factor as the hard drive.

Other controller circuits manage the NAND flash memory that stores the SSD data. While the controller function seems relatively straightforward, there are many issues behind the scenes with NAND flash management and it requires a great deal of planning to create a reliable SSD controller.

How long do solid state drives last?

The life of an SSD depends on the application being used. Unlike rotary hard drives whose SSDs were designed to replace, SSD memory has a finite number of erase / wipe cycles. This makes managing the data written to the SSD extremely important. As an example, a consumer 2.5 ”SATA SSD could last decades in low intensity applications, but it can only last a few weeks in a high intensity data logging application.

We recommend reading our article on Types of NAND memory in SSD: SLC, MLC, TLC and QLC

There are also different types of NAND flash memory ranging from the highest reliability and cost of single-level cells (SLC) to the lowest cost and reliability of four-level NAND (QLC). It is important when choosing an SSD to select the right one for the application.

Recommended SATA SSD Models

We leave you the main recommended SSD models with SATA interface. After them, we will bring you the best in the least common formats.

Models Reading writing Controller Memory type Durability (MTBF) Years warranty
Samsung 860 EVO 550 MB / s and 520 MB / s Samsung MJX Controller TLC 3D 1.5 million hours 5-year guarantee
Samsung 860 PRO 560 MB / s and 530 MB / s Samsung MJX Controller MLC 1.5 million hours 5-year guarantee
Crucial BX300 555 MB / s and 510 MB / s SMI SM2258 MLC 1.5 million hours 3 years warranty
Kingston KC600 550 MB / s and 520 MB / s SMI SM2259 TLC 3D 1 million hours 5-year guarantee
Crucial BX500 540 MB / s and 500 MB / s SMI SM2258XT TLC 3D 1.5 million hours 3 years warranty
Crucial MX500 560 MB / s and 510 MB / s SMI SM2258 TLC 3D 1.8 million hours 5-year guarantee
Western Digital Blue 545 MB / s and 525 MB / s Marvell 88SS1074 TLC 3D 1.75 million hours 3 years warranty
Western Digital Green 540 MB / s and 430 to 465 MB / s depending on model Silicon Motion SM2258XT TLC 3D 1 million hours 5-year guarantee
Kingston A400 500 MB / s and 450 MB / s Kingston CP33238B TLC 3D 1 million hours 3 years warranty
ADATA SU800 560 MB / s and 530 MB / s Silicon Motion SM2258 TLC 3D 2 million hours 5-year guarantee

Samsung 860 PRO

Samsung Pro - Solid State Disk SSD (256 GB, 560 megabytes / s) Color Black
  • SAT interface Sequential read 560MB / s Sequential write 530MB / s
99.82 EUR Buy on Amazon

Surely we are in front of what will be the most popular SSD device on the market and reasons are not lacking. With a Samsung MJX controller, 4GB LPDDR4 cache, and 64-layer 3D V-NAND memory technology, it is capable of delivering excellent performance while still keeping its price lower than many of its lower-performing rivals.

In its 4 GB version it is capable of reaching sequential read and write speeds of 560 MB / s and 530 MB / s respectively, while its 4K random read and write performance is 100, 000 and 43, 000 IOPS.

While the Samsung 860 EVO is compatible with the latest hardware-based encryption engine, AES 256bit encryption technology protects data without any performance degradation. It is also compatible with Microsoft IEEE1667 standard so your data will always be protected.

  • Available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB 560MB / s read and 530MB / s write MLC memories 5 year warranty
The cream of the cream of the SSD in SATA format. If you are looking for something durable and high performance, the Samsung 860 PRO is your SSD.

Recommended models:

Samsung Pro - Solid State Drive SSD (512 GB, 560 megabytes / s) Color Black SATA interface; Sequential reading 560MB / s; Sequential Write 530MB / s 156.52 EUR Samsung Pro - Solid State Drive SSD (1TB, 560 megabytes / s) Color Black SATA interface; Sequential reading 560MB / s; Sequential Write 530MB / s 284.95 EUR Samsung Pro - Solid State Drive SSD (2TB, 560 megabytes / s) Color Black SATA interface; Sequential reading 560MB / s; Sequential Write 530MB / s 459.90 EUR

Crucial BX300

Crucial BX300 CT120BX300SSD1 - 120 GB SSD Internal Solid Hard Drive (3D NAND, SATA, 2.5 Inch)
  • More than 300% faster than a normal hard drive Energy efficiency more than 45 times greater than that of a typical hard drive Protects your data with more durability than a hard drive, does not contain small mobile parts prone to failure Available in capacities up to 480 GB and 2.5-inch form factor Makes it easy to install and migrate data with step-by-step installation guide and free access to Acronis True Image HD software
Buy on Amazon

The Crucial BX300 is one of the cheapest options but with excellent components. It is ideal for those looking for an SSD with the best possible compromise between capacity, price and performance. Equipped with the Silicon Motion SM2258 controller, 256 MB of cache and with 32-layer Micron NAND MLC memory technology , it is capable of reaching sequential read and write speeds of 555 MB / s and 510 MB / s respectively in its 480 GB version. while its 4K random read and write performance amounts to 95, 000 and 90, 000 IOPS.

Dynamic Write Acceleration technology in this case is responsible for improving the performance of the device to make it even more competitive. Finally it also supports AES 256bits encryption. With these specifications it is up to 15 times faster than an HDD and more reliable since it does not contain mechanical parts, as it happens in all SSDs.

  • 120GB, 240GB and 480GB 555MB / s read and 510MB / s write MLC memory 3 years warranty
Oddly enough, the Crucial BX500 has worse components than this model. Your purchase will be interesting until it is available. It is one of the cheapest SSD with MLC memory

Recommended models:

Crucial BX300 CT240BX300SSD1 - 240 GB SSD Internal Hard Drive (3D NAND, SATA, 2.5 Inch) More than 300% faster than a normal hard drive; Power efficiency more than 45 times greater than that of a typical Crucial BX300 CT480BX300SSD1 hard drive - 480 GB Internal SSD (3D NAND, SATA, 2.5 Inch) Solid Hard Drive More than 300% faster than a normal hard drive; Energy efficiency more than 45 times higher than that of a typical hard disk

Samsung 860 EVO

Samsung 860 EVO MZ-76E250B / EU - 250 GB Internal Solid Hard Drive, Black
  • SAT interface Sequential read 550MB / s Sequential write 520MB / s
67.16 EUR Buy on Amazon

They are very similar to PROs but their big difference is to use a simpler controller and above all NAND 3D TLC memory with less durability. It also features the Samsung MJX controller, a 4GB LPDDR4 cache, and 64-layer V-NAND TLC 3D memory technology.

In its 4 GB version, it is capable of reaching sequential read and write speeds of 550 MB / s and 550 MB / s respectively, while its 4K random read and write performance amounts to 98, 000 and 43, 000 IOPS. The Samsung 860 EVO also supports the latest hardware-based encryption engine and AES 256-bit encryption technology alongside the Microsoft IEEE1667 standard. This Samsung 860 EVO offers great performance.

  • 120GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB and 4TB 550MB / s reading and 520MB / s writing 64-layer TLC memory 5 years warranty
Some of the best-selling SSDs that we have mounted the most on our equipment. It seems to us a great SSD, although it has TLC memories, it is more than enough for the tasks of 99% of home PC users.

Recommended models:

Samsung 860 EVO - Solid State Drive SSD (500GB, 6Gb / s) black SATA interface; 6 Gb / s sequential reading; Sequential Write 520MB / s 81.00 EUR Samsung MZ-76E1T0B / EU 860 EVO - SSD Solid State Drive. 1TB, 550 megabytes / s, Black 6 Gb / s SATA interface, supports 3GB / s SATA interface and 1.5 Gb / s SATA interface; Sequential Reading 550MB / s 138.00 EUR Samsung 860 EVO - Solid State Drive SSD (2TB, 550 megabytes / s) black SATA interface; 550MB / s sequential reading; Sequential Write 520MB / s 291.00 EUR Samsung 860 EVO - Solid State Drive SSD (4TB, 550 megabytes / s) black SATA interface; 550MB / s sequential reading; Sequential Write 520MB / s 613.08 EUR

Crucial MX500

Crucial MX500 CT250MX500SSD1 (Z) - 250 GB SSD Internal Solid Hard Drive (3D NAND, SATA, 2.5 inch)
  • Sequential reads / writes up to 560/510 MB / s on all file types and random reads / writes up to 95 / 90k on all file types Accelerated by NAND Micron 3D technology The Integrated Energy Loss Immunity preserves everything if I work archived if the Power fails unexpectedly 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption keeps data secure out of the reach of hackers and hackers Product ships with Amazon Certified Frustration Free package (may vary from package represented in product attachment)
51.15 EUR Buy on Amazon

Definitely a very interesting SSD thanks to its Silicon Motion SM2258 controller and Micron 64-layer MLC memory. Its read rate is 560 MB / s and 510 MB / s write with a random performance of 95, 000 IOPS and 91, 000 IOPS in read and write. A great option that will not disappoint anyone.

It is not difficult to find it on sale in some other store. We also have it available in M.2 SATA format, so it is quite interesting to update laptops, MiniPCs or even your PC with this connection.

  • 250GB, 500GB, 1TB and 2TB. Read 560MB / s and Write 510MB / sTLC 5 year warranty
Super model recommended for its quality / price benefits. Internally it has very good components of high durability. A 100% recommended SSD.

Recommended models:

Crucial MX500 CT500MX500SSD1 (Z) - 500 GB SSD Internal Solid Hard Drive (3D NAND, SATA, 2.5 Inch) Accelerated by NAND Micron 3D technology 76, 49 EUR Crucial MX500 CT1000MX500SSD1 (Z) - 1 TB SSD internal solid hard drive (3D NAND, SATA, 2.5 inch) Accelerated by NAND Micron 3D technology 120.99 EUR Crucial MX500 CT2000MX500SSD1 (Z) - 2 TB SSD internal solid hard drive (3D NAND, SATA, 2.5 inch) Accelerated by NAND Micron 3D 244 technology, 82 EUR

Western Digital Blue SSD

Western Digital WDS250G2B0A WD Blue 250GB 3D NAND Internal SSD 2.5 "SATA
  • Active power consumption up to 25% lower than previous generations of WD Blue SSD Sequential read speeds of up to 560MB / s and sequential write speeds of up to 530MB / sLder in the industry with a Mean Time Before Failure (MTTF) of 1.75 millions of hours and up to 500 terabytes written resistance (TBW) with improved reliability WD FIT Lab certified for compatibility with a wide range of computers
51.99 EUR Buy on Amazon

Currently we have three versions the first is the 250GB, the second 500GB and its most powerful 1TB. All of them have excellent read and write rates of 540 MB / s and 530 MB / s, a fantastic Marvell 88SS1074 controller and Toshiba NAND TLC memories. Its random performance reaches 100, 000 IOPS and 97, 000 IOPS. It is an SSD disk that has been thought to offer great reliability and great durability to the most demanding users such as gamers.

  • 250 GB, 500 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB Read 540 MB / s and write 500 MB / s TLC-type memories 3 years warranty
Western Digital also makes SSDs, although they are one seat below the rest, they are a cheap option and very to consider. Many users have their SSDs and are very happy.

Recommended models:

Western Digital WDS500G2B0A WD Blue - Solid State Drive, 500GB, 2.5 ", NAND, SATA, 3D, Internal SSD SSD 3D NAND SATA with capacities up to 2TB and improved reliability; Active power consumption up to 25% lower than previous generations of WD Blue SSD 64.99 EUR Western Digital WDS100T2B0A WD Blue 1TB 3D NAND Internal SSD 2.5 "SATA 3D NAND SATA SSD with capacities up to 2TB and improved reliability; Active power consumption up to 25% lower than previous generations of WD Blue SSD 118.00 EUR Western Digital WDS200T2B0A WD Blue 2TB 3D NAND Internal SSD 2.5 "SATA SSD 3D NAND SATA with capacities up to 2TB and improved reliability; Active power consumption up to 25% lower than previous generations of WD Blue SSD 247.25 EUR

Kingston KC600

Kingston KC600 SSD SKC600 / 512G - Internal Hard Drive 2.5 "SATA Rev 3.0, 3D TLC, 256-bit XTS-AES Encryption, 512 GB
  • Remarkable performance With the latest NAND TLC 3D technology Compatible with a comprehensive security package (TCG Opal, 256-bit AES, eDrive) Available in a wide range of capabilities
92, 41 EUR Buy on Amazon

We have recently had the opportunity to test this Kingston KC600 and it is shaping up to be the manufacturer's best performance / price option under this interface. Its Silicon Motion SM2259 controller has given very good performances with up to 560 MB / s in writing and 515 MB / s in reading thanks to its 3D NAND TLC memories.

This model will be available for now in sizes of 256, 512 and 1024 GB at prices much more affordable than SSDs, so they are ideal for mass storage in solid state. In addition, its durability doubles the basic model A400 with 600 TBW (1 TB model), 300 TBW (512 GB model) and 150 TBW (256 GB model).

One of the best in performance / price, with highly reliable controller, fairly durable TLC memories and 256-bit AES. Kingston KC600 SSD SKC600 / 256G - Internal Hard Drive 2.5 "SATA Rev 3.0, 3D TLC, 256-bit XTS-AES Encryption Remarkable performance; With the most advanced NAND TLC 3D technology; Compatible with a comprehensive security package (TCG Opal, 256-bit AES, eDrive) EUR 56.98 Kingston KC600 SSD SKC600 / 1024G - Internal Hard Drive 2.5 "SATA Rev 3.0, 3D TLC, 256-bit XTS-AES Encryption Remarkable performance; With the most advanced NAND TLC 3D technology; Compatible with a comprehensive security package (TCG Opal, 256-bit AES, eDrive) 154.00 EUR

Crucial BX500

Crucial BX500 CT120BX500SSD1 120 GB SSD Internal Hard Drive (3D NAND, SATA, 2.5 Inch)
  • Faster startup; load files faster; improve overall system responsiveness 300% times faster than a normal hard drive Improves battery life because it is 45 times more energy efficient than a conventional hard drive Micro 3D NAND - world innovator of memory and storage technology during 40 years Sequential reads / writes up to 540/500 MB / s on all file types
26.99 EUR Buy on Amazon

It is curious that the BX500 model is inferior to the BX300 model. It features a SMI-signed controller SM2258XT, 64-layer Micron memories with MLC design, durability of 40TBW (120GB model), 80TBW (for 240GB model) and 120TBW (for 480 model) GB). It is an SSD to keep in mind, because we will always find it at a fairly affordable price and it will make the BX300 disappear from the market.

Its write rates are 500 MB / s while read rates are 540 MB / s. All this together with a 3 year warranty. Good job from Crucial!

  • 120GB, 240GB and 480GB Read 540MB / s and Write 500MB / s TLC Memories 3 year warranty
The BX500 offers very good performance for quality / price. But being the BX300 is a more recommended option, as long as the price does not shoot up.

Recommended models:

Crucial BX500 CT240BX500SSD1 240 GB SSD Internal Hard Drive (3D NAND, SATA, 2.5 Inch) 300% times faster than a normal hard drive; Micron 3D NAND - 40-year global memory and storage technology innovator 37.49 EUR Crucial BX500 CT480BX500SSD1 Internal Hard Drive 480 GB SSD (3D NAND, SATA, 2.5 Inch) 300% times faster than a disk normal hard; Micron 3D NAND - global innovator of memory and storage technology for 40 years 59.90 EUR

Western Digital Green SSD

WD Green 120GB Internal SSD 2.5 "SATA
  • SLC (Single Level Cell) cache improves writing performance so you can get through your daily tasks quickly Shock resistant and WD FIT Lab certified for increased compatibility and reliability Very low power consumption so you can use your laptop for long periods of time Available in 2.5 / 7mm housings and M.2 2280 models that fit most computers The free WD SSD control panel, which can be downloaded online, allows you to easily monitor the status of your disk.
28.49 EUR Buy on Amazon

To finish we leave you one of the best and cheapest SSD on the market. It is very similar in performance to the WD Blue but a sacrifice in durability has been made to offer a cheaper product. It is offered in 120GB and 240GB versions. Its sequential read and write rates reach 540 MB / s and 435 MB / s with a random performance of 68, 000 IOPS and 37, 000 IOPS thanks to a Silicon Motion SM2258 controller and Toshiba NAND TLC memories.

  • 120GB, 240GB and 480GB Read 540MB / s and Write 430 ~ 465MB / s TLC Memories 3 year warranty
The most basic and ideal version for those users who do not want to spend a lot on an SSD. A cheap option for the tightest pockets.

Recommended models:

WD Green 240GB Internal SSD 2.5 "SATA 41.99 EUR

Kingston A400

Kingston A400 SSD SA400S37 / 240G - 2.5 "SATA 240GB Internal Solid Hard Drive
  • Quicker boot, load and file transfer More reliable and stronger than a hard drive Various capacities, with enough space for applications or to replace a hard drive
45.86 EUR Buy on Amazon

The Kingston A400 is one of the cheapest 2.5 ″ SSDs that we can currently find on the market, and it comes as usual from Kingston. This model is available in sizes from 120 GB to 1920 GB, starting from an almost ridiculous price of 20 euros. It has 3D NAND TLC memory and a Kingston CP33238B controller that provides read rates of 500 MB / s and write 450 MB / s.

Nor can we ask for much more from such a cheap SSD, although its durability is somewhat lower than other models with TLC, with values ​​of 40 TBW for the 120 GB model up to 600 TBW for the 1920 GB one.

  • 120GB, 240GB, 480GB, 960TB and 1.92TB, 500MB / s reading and 450MB / s writing, TLC memories, 3 year warranty
This Kingston model ranks as one of the most basic and cheapest that we have under the SATA interface, although with good performance and aluminum encapsulations Kingston A400 SSD SA400S37 / 480G - 2.5 "SATA 480GB internal solid hard drive Quick start-up, loading and file transfer; More reliable and stronger than a hard drive EUR 77.69 Kingston A400 SSD SA400S37 / 960G - Internal 2.5 "SATA 960GB Solid Hard Drive Quickly boot, load and transfer files; More reliable and stronger than a hard drive 117.42 EUR

ADATA SU800

ADATA ASU800SS-128GT-C - Solid State SATA III Disk 2.5 Inch 128 GB 3D-NAND 100TB TBW High Durability and High Reading Speed ​​at 560 MB / s
  • Next Generation High-Speed ​​3D NAND Technology Increased capacity, improved reliability, and high endurance with 100 TB TBW (Total Bytes Written), the drive could be used for more than 10 with 20 GB daily use High performance, up to 560 MB / s read and 520 MB / s write Dynamic, smart SLC cache prevents slowdown in large file transfer. DEVSLP (sleep device) mode drives energy efficiency and saves energy Free SSD Toolbox utility and ADATA migration utility - easily move OS and content from HDD to SSD. ADATA quality backed by 3 years warranty
Buy on Amazon

The ADATA SU800 is one of the best options on the market, at least in quality / price, with a Silicon Motion SM2258 controller and NAND TLC memories. ADATA promises and delivers on its 560MB / s read and 530MB / s write. While it has 4K rates of 90K IOPS and 80 IOPS of writing. Review.

  • 128, 256, 512 GB and 1 TB. Read 560 MB / s and write 520 MB / s MLC memories 3 years warranty
ADATA is a little-known brand but offers great SSDs. Perhaps those 3 years of warranty are few having MLC memory, depending on the offer it is a great option.

Recommended models:

ADATA SU800 - 256GB SSD, 560MB s and 520MB read speeds, 2.5 "256GB Solid State Drive; Incorporates LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) technology to correct code errors 65.80 EUR ADATA su800 SU800 512GB Drive 2.5 "512GB Solid State; Incorporates LDPC technology (Low Density Parity Check) to correct code errors 99.00 EUR

Better M.2 NVME and M.2 SATA

Models Reading writing Controller Memory type Durability (MTBF) Years warranty
Samsung 970 EVO 3400 MB / s and 1500 ~ 2300 MB / s Samsung Phoenix TLC 3D 1.5 million hours 5-year guarantee
Samsung 970 PRO 3, 500 MB / s and 2, 300 MB / s Samsung Phoenix MLC 1.5 million hours 5-year guarantee
ADATA XPG Spectrix S40G 3, 500 MB / s and 3, 000 MB / s Realtek RTS5762 TLC 3D 2 million hours 5-year guarantee
Corsair MP510 3480 MB / s and 3000 MB / s Phison PS5012-E12 TLC 3D 1.8 million hours 5-year guarantee
AORUS RGB M.2 NVMe 3480 MB / s and 2000 MB / s Phison PS5012-E12 TLC 3D 1.8 million hours 5-year guarantee
Corsair MP300 2300 MB / s and 1500 MB / s Pishon 5008-E8 TLC 3D 2 million hours 5-year guarantee
Western Digital Black NVME 2020 MB / s and 800 MB / s Marvel 88SS1093 TLC 3D 1.75 million hours 5-year guarantee
Kingston A2000 2, 200 MB / s and 2, 000 MB / s Silicon Motion SM2263 TLC 3D 2 million hours 5-year guarantee

Crucial MX500 M.2 SATA

560 MB / s and 510 MB / s Silicon Motion SM2258 MLC 3D 1.5 million hours 5-year guarantee

After seeing quite a few SATA SSD models. It's time to show you the main high-performance M.2 NVMe and M.2 SATA SSDs. Ready? Let's get started!

Samsung 970 PRO

Samsung 970 Pro, Ssd Memory, 1, 512 GB, Black
  • Exceptional transfer speed and lots of capacity Smart turbowrite technology Exceptional reliability
158.99 EUR Buy on Amazon

If you want to go to the latest and have the best M.2 NVMe SSD of the moment, the Samsung 960 PRO is the best option you can currently buy. Its Samsung Polaris SM961 controller with 48-layer 3D-VNAND MLC memory, its 3500 MB / s read and 2100 MB / s write rates with a random performance of 380, 000 / 360, 000 IOPS.

It makes it the perfect candidate to upgrade your PC and give it a new life. Note: not all motherboards have this connection and you must check, although you can also ask us.

  • M.2 NVME512 GB and 1 TB format Reading 3500 MB / s and writing 2300 MB / s MLC memories 5 year warranty
Personally I consider it one of the most interesting and quality SSDs that exist. A 100% recommended purchase, yes, it is expensive.

Recommended models:

Samsung 970 Pro - Solid 1TB Hard Drive Black EUR 280.93

ADATA XPG Spectrix S40G

XPG AS40G-512GT-C XPG Spectrix S40G
  • PCIe Gen 3x4 Interface: R / W speed up to 3500/3000 MB / s * may vary depending on capacity models. Compatible with NVMe 1.3, M.2 2280 form factor. Customizable RGB lighting effects, compatible with most software Leading RGB motherboard manufacturers Ideal for gaming, 3D modeling, graphic design, AI, edge computing, cloud, data analysis, and other IOT tasks. 5 years manufacturer's limited warranty.
96.57 EUR Buy on Amazon

ADATA XPG Spectrix S40G is the top-of-the-range PCIe 3.0 SSD storage drive from the ADATA brand and should therefore appear on this list and rank highly for its excellent performance. An SSD that was presented at Computex 2019 in which the latest generation NLC TLC cache SLC memories and a peculiar Realtek RTS5762 Controller are installed.

And best of all, we have a striking cover with customizable RGB lighting that sets it apart from the rest of the models seen so far. Of course this cover also acts as a heatsink, to cope with its 3, 500 MB / s speed for reading and 3, 000 for writing, although in the latter measure it remains at around 2, 100 MB / s.

  • M.2 NVME format 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB Read 3500 MB / s and write 3000 MB / s TLC memories 5 year warranty
For those who like RGB Adata it always has what they are looking for, but do not be fooled, it is its top range and the performance is very good at a very reasonable price.

Recommended models:

XPG AS40G-256GT-C Spectrix S40G Compatible with NVMe 1.3, M.2 2280 form factor.; 5 year limited manufacturer warranty. 68.96 EUR

AORUS RGB M.2 NVMe

Gigabyte AORUS RGB M.2 NVMe SSD 512GB - M.2 Hard Drive
  • Gigabyte2 aosGpse2p512-00-g
94, 24 EUR Buy on Amazon

Also AORUS is doing an excellent job with its SSDs, and it deserves a place among the best in 3rd gen with its AORUS RGB M.2 NVMe. This 2280 size unit features a striking copper heatsink and integrated RGB lighting to complete our gaming setup.

Inside it, we have 96-layer Toshiba BiCS3 TLC memories , a powerful P hison PS5012-E12 controller and a DDR4 cache of no less than 512 MB to give us transfer speeds of 3480 MB / s in sequential read and 2000 MB / s in sequential writing. This unit is available in 256 and 512 GB sizes.

  • M.2 NVME format Capacity 256 and 512 GB Read 3480 MB / s and write 2000 MB / s 3D memory TLC 5 years warranty
Surely not the cheapest SSD on the list, but its quality and durability are on par with the best.

Recommended models:

Gigabyte Aorus RGB Solid State Drive M.2 256 GB PCI Express 3.0 3D TLC NVMe - Solid Hard Drive (256 GB, M.2, 3100 MB / s) Ssd gigabyte aorus 256 gb m2 rrgb EUR 90.70

Corsair MP510

Corsair Force MP510 - Solid State Drive, 240GB SSD, NVMe PCIe Gen3 x4 M.2-SSD, up to 3, 480MB / s
  • Nvme 1.3.de interface: up to four times more read and write as with sata 3.0. (6.gbit / s, 600.mb / s) Ssd of m.2..2280: ssd m.2 drives allow a new power level in capacity in a compact form factor Additional correction bit errors and improved retention and support of the latest generation memory nand Advanced garbage collection: support for provisioning over, secure wipe, disk cloning and firmware updates Compatible with ssd corsair tool box: monitor smart; attributes of and overall health of your storage drive ssd
58.89 EUR Buy on Amazon

Corsair has also released its high-performance M.2 NVMe SSD. As you have seen in our review of the MP510 it incorporates a 4-core Pishon PS5012-E12 controller and Toshiba MLC memories made in 15nm. The read rates are 3480 MB / s while the write rates are 3000 MB / s and the random rates are 610, 000 IOPS and 570, 000 IOPS. What a performance! With this SSD we will be more than supplied during its 3 year warranty. Guaranteed performance.

  • M.2 NVME format Capacity 3480 MB / s read and 3000 MB / s write 3D TLC memory 5 years warranty
Corsair surprises with a cheap SSD and with fantastic read and write rates. Purchase recommended for its long durability and warranty time.

Recommended models:

Corsair MP510, Read Speed ​​up to 3, 480 MB / s, 480 GB, Black Compatible with: Intel 100, 200, 300, X99, X299 Chipsets, AMD Socket AM4 Platform, X399 109.97 EUR Corsair MP510 Read Speed ​​up to 3, 480 MB / s, 960 GB, Black EUR 183.88 Corsair Force MP510 - Solid State Drive, 1920 GB SSD, NVMe PCIe Gen3 x4 M.2-SSD, Read Speed ​​up to 3, 480 MB / s EUR 372.92

Samsung 970 EVO

Samsung 970 EVO - 250 GB Solid Hard Drive
  • NVMe Difference: Non-volatile memory interface exprs (NVMe) is specifically designed Intelligent TurboWrite: The new Intelligent TurboWrite responsively speeds up 256-bit encryption: 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption engine Note: Compatibility is not guaranteed SSD 970 EVO with MacBook models. MacBook models from 2013 have their own proprietary M.2 format. Therefore, the Samsung SSD 970 EVO can only be used with MacBook models in combination with a suitable adapter.
119.99 EUR Buy on Amazon

It is a cheaper version of the PRO model that we have seen before, it maintains the Samsung Polaris SM961 controller although with less durable 48-layer 3D-VNAND TLC memory. With these characteristics, it achieves read rates of 3, 200 MB / s and write rates of 1, 800 MB / s, in this case the random performance remains at 380, 000 / 360, 000 IOPS.

  • 250 GB, 500 GB and 1 TB Read 3400 MB / s and write 2500 MB / s TLC memories 5 years warranty
The Samsung 970 EVO is a top seller on PCI Express SSDs. We really like it and we will always recommend it. We have one in the office and it's going great.

Recommended models:

Samsung 970 EVO - 500 GB Solid Hard Drive 117, 90 EUR Samsung 970 EVO, Solid Hard Drive, 1 TB Smart technology turbowrite; Superior performance; Advanced data encryption EUR 218.33

Western Digital Black NVME

Western Digital WD Black NVMe - Solid State Drive 250GB, M.2, PCI Express 3.0, 3400 MB / s
  • Up to 3, 400 MB / s sequential read speed (for 1TB model), up to 60% faster than previous generation of WD Black SSD Designed with Western Digital NVMe SSD architecture to reduce latency, power efficiency and low compatibility power consumption less than 2.5mW, half mW compared to previous WD Black SSD drive FIT WD Lab certified to work with wide range of high performance PC configurations WD SSD Dashboard software and cloning and copying software security available for free download
88.38 EUR Buy on Amazon

Western Digital also enters the market for M.2 NVMe drives with its Western Digital Black model. Equipped with a Marvell 88SS1093 controller and SanDisk 15nm TLC memory, it is capable of sequential read and write rates of 2020MB / s and 800MB / s with a random performance of 170, 000 and 134, 000 IOPS. It is not the fastest but it is a very good option.

  • 250 GB, 500 GB and 1 TB Read 3400 MB / s and write 2800 MB / s 3D memory TLC 5 years warranty
A quality NVME SSD with tremendous performance. A purchase that we always recommend if it gives you your pocket

Recommended models:

Western Digital WD Black NVMe - Solid State Drive 500GB, M.2, PCI Express 3.0, 3400 MB / s EUR 131.09 WD Black NVMe SSD M.2 - Solid State Drive (SSD 1TB, 1000GB, M.2, PCI Express 3.0, 3400 MB / s, 8 Gbit / s) The fast way forward; Demand more, consume less; Built for greatness 300.03 EUR

Corsair MP300

Corsair Force MP300 - Solid State Drive, 120 GB SSD, M.2 PCIe Gen. 3 x2 NVMe-SSD, Read Speed ​​up to 1, 520 MB / s
  • High-speed NVMe PCI Express Gen 3 x2 interface that reaches speeds of up to 1600 MB / sec. Up to three times faster than SATA 6Gbps Uses modern high-density 3D TLC NAND technology to achieve a perfect combination of performance, durability and value Compatible with Microsoft Windows 10, Mac OS and Linux, without the need for driver or specific management rights The software CORSAIR SSD Toolbox allows you to further control the drive from your desktop. For example, you can safely erase and update firmware Improved error correction and durability ensure data integrity and reliability of the drive
38.87 EUR Buy on Amazon

Corsair apart from offering high-end components also offers us quality SSDs at a very reasonable price. The Corsair MP300 series offers a speed of 2300 MB / s in reading and a writing of 1500 MB / s. Although many do not like it, it has TLC memories and it is accompanied by a very good quality Pishon 5008-E8 controller. Available in various sizes, it allows us to choose according to our needs.

  • 120 GB, 240 GB, 480 GB and 960 GB Read 2300 MB / s and write 1500 MB / s TLC NAND memories 5 years warranty
Renewing the guide we have decided to add this model that in Spain we have not seen samples. Surprising because it has a good price and is at the intermediate point of a SATA and a top-of-the-range NVME. Model the sea of ​​interesting.

Recommended models:

Corsair Force MP300 - Solid State Drive, 240 GB SSD, M.2 PCIe Gen. 3 x2 NVMe-SSD, Read Speed ​​up to 1, 580 MB / s 117.35 EUR Corsair Force MP300 - Solid State Drive, 960 SSD GB, M.2 PCIe Gen. 3 x2 NVMe-SSD, Read Speed ​​up to 1, 600 MB / s

Kingston A2000

Kingston A2000 (SA2000M8 / 500G) NVMe PCIe M.2 2280 500 GB SSD
  • PCIe NVMe performance at a fraction of the normal cost Compatible with a comprehensive security package (TCG Opal, 256-bit XTS-AES, eDrive) for Ultrabooks and Small Form Factor PCs (PC SFF) Upgrade your PC with capacities up to 1TB ** Ideal for Ultrabooks and Small Form Factor PCs (PC SFF)
105, 21 EUR Buy on Amazon

If we previously had the cheapest SATA SSD from Kingston, now we have one of the cheapest NVMe, although its performance will not be as TOP as previously mentioned. In any case, it is much better than many Intel and at a better price, installing an SMI SM2263 controller for its TLC moments of sizes up to 1 TB for just over 140 euros. If you want to see its real performance in our test bench, we invite you to see its corresponding review.

Very good price and good performance in both writing and reading for this PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD, ideal for tight budgets without giving up high speed.

Recommended models:

Kingston A2000 (SA2000M8 / 250G) NVMe PCIe M.2 2280 250 GB SSD PCIe NVMe performance at a fraction of the normal cost; Compatible with a comprehensive security package (TCG Opal, 256-bit XTS-AES, eDrive) EUR 63.04 Kingston A2000 (SA2000M8 / 1000G) NVMe PCIe M.2 2280 1TB SSD PCIe NVMe performance at a fraction of the normal cost; Compatible with a comprehensive security package (TCG Opal, XTS-AES 256-bit, eDrive) € 186.97

Crucial MX500 M.2 SATA

Crucial MX500 CT250MX500SSD4 - 250 GB SSD Internal Solid Hard Drive (M.2 2280, 3D NAND, SATA)
  • Sequential reads / writes up to 560/510 MB / s on all file types and random reads / writes up to 95 / 90k on all file types Accelerated by NAND Micron 3D technology The Integrated Energy Loss Immunity preserves everything if I work archived if the Power cuts unexpectedly 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption keeps data safe out of the reach of hackers and hackers
54.90 EUR Buy on Amazon

Finally we have the Crucial MX300 in its M.2 variant, in this case it works with a SATA III 6 Gb / s interface so it does not use the NVMe protocol, it is an entry-level solution. It mounts the Silicon Motion SM2258 controller and Micron 64-layer MLC memory. Its read rate is 530 MB / s and 510 MB / s write with a random performance of 93, 000 IOPS and 82, 000 IOPS in read and write.

  • 250GB, 500GB and 1TB Read 560MB / s and Write 510MB / s TLC Memories 5 year warranty
Yes, Crucial does a very good job and is one of the few manufacturers that offers us a relatively cheap M.2 SATA SSD. If you are looking for a purchase option, this is one of the best.

Recommended models:

Crucial CT500MX500SSD4 MX500 - 500 GB SSD Internal Solid Hard Drive (M.2 2280, 3D NAND, SATA) Accelerated by NAND Micron 3D technology 72.90 EUR Crucial MX500 CT1000MX500SSD4 - 1 TB SSD Internal Solid Hard Drive (M.2 2280, 3D NAND, SATA) Accelerated by NAND Micron 3D technology; Operating temperature: 0C to 70C 121.49 EUR

Best M.2 NVME PCIe Gen4

We have had the PCIe 4.0 interface with us for a while, but it was not until 2019 when it finally appeared on the new boards for the AMD Ryzen 3000 platform. With this new generation we have twice the bandwidth than in PCIe 3.0, and SSDs have been the first components to exploit this incredible speed that theoretically can reach almost 8000 MB / s with 4 PCIe lines.

Models Reading writing Controller Memory type Durability (MTBF) Years warranty
AORUS NVMe Gen4 SSD 4950 MB / s and 4250 MB / s Phison PS5016-E16 TLC 3D 1.77 million hours 5-year guarantee
Corsair MP600 3, 500 MB / s and 2, 300 MB / s Phison PS5016-E16 TLC 3D 1.7 million hours 5-year guarantee
Sabrent Rocket Nvme PCIe 4.0 5000 MB / s and 4400 MB / s

Note: depends on the model

Phison PS5016-E16 Toshiba's BiCS4 TLC (BGA132) 1.7 million hours 2 years warranty if you register on their website

AORUS NVMe Gen4 SSD

Gigabyte AORUS 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe SSD / Solid State Drive
  • Form factor: 2280 m.2 Interface: pci-express 4.0 x4, nvme 1.3 Total capacity: 2000 gb Sequential read speed: up to 5000 mb / s Sequential write speed: up to 4400 MB / s
582.98 EUR Buy on Amazon

Again AORUS makes an appearance as the first manufacturer to launch its PCIe 4.0 SSD on the market at the same time as Corsair. This SSD has an integral copper heatsink to control the temperatures that develop in the powerful new generation Phison controller, being significantly higher with higher frequency. The memories must also be up to the task, so a 96-layer Toshiba BiCS4 in a 4-chip 512GB configuration has been used to achieve a whopping 2TB in a simple 2280 format.

In our test bench the AORUS NVMe Gen4 SSD has proven its full performance, and it certainly stays very, very close to the promised values. Of course, exclusivity has a price, and it is not cheap, so only a few can access it.

  • 2 TB Read 5000MB / s and Write 4400MB / s TLC Memories 5 year warranty
The first fastest 2280 SSD to market, with 2TB of storage in an M.2 2280 format.

Corsair MP600

Corsair CSSD - Solid State Drive, 1 TB, Multicolor, Read Speed ​​up to 4, 950 MB / s
  • Extreme gen4 storage performance: The pcie gen4 x4 controller provides a sequential read speed of up to 4950 mb / s and sequential write speed of up to 4250 mb / s. Gen4 interface pcie x4 nvme m.2 high speed - By using pcie gen4 technology to Get the highest bandwidth, the mp600 offers optimal storage performance high-density 3d nand tlc nand - offers an optimal combination of performance, durability and value to keep your unit running at peak performance for long time Outstanding endurance - longevity of the mp600 (up to 1800 tb writes guaranteed) ensures that you store data reliably for years to come M.2 2280 format - fits perfectly on your motherboard
251.82 EUR Buy on Amazon

With almost similar values ​​in all cases we have this Corsair MP600 that installs exactly the same Toshiba memories and the same Phison PS5016-E16 controller, but is available in two versions, 1TB and 2 TB, so that at least the 1 TB version be accessible to more users.

It also features an integral heatsink, this time made of aluminum with considerable rather understated black finning. Regarding prices, we do not have great differences with the AORUS, nor in durability or MTBF, after all, they have the same thing inside.

  • 2 TB Read 4950 MB / s and Write 4250 MB / s TLC Memories 5 year warranty
The second gen4 SSD available on the market, albeit with at least two available storage sizes.

Recommended models:

Corsair Force MP600 - Solid State Drive, 2TB SSD, High Speed ​​NVMe M.2, Gen 4 PCIe x4, Read Speed ​​up to 4, 950 MB / s 2280 M.2 Format: Fits perfectly on your 458 motherboard, 59 EUR

Sabrent Rocket Nvme PCIe 4.0

Sabrent 500GB Rocket Nvme PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 Internal SSD Maximum Performance Solid State Drive (SB-ROCKET-NVMe4-500)
  • NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen4 x4 interface. PCIe 4.0 / NVMe 1.3 compliant. Power management support for APST / ASPM / L1.2. Supports SMART and TRIM commands. Supports ONFi 2.3, ONFi 3.0, ONFi 3.2 and ONFi 4.0 interface. Advanced wear leveling, faulty block management, error correction code and over-provisioning. All Sabrent SSDs come with Sabrent Acronis True Image FREE for Sabrent software for easy cloning. For those who require a specific sector size to clone their existing SSDs: A recently released Sabrent utility allows users to reformat the Rocket drive and choose the sector size to their liking, either 512 bytes or 4K bytes.
119.99 EUR Buy on Amazon

Sabrent is the third company to jump on the bandwagon of NVME SSDs with PCI Express 4.0 interface. Like the Corsair and Aorus models, this Sabrent Rocket Nvme PCIe 4.0 features a Phison PS5016-E16 controller , an external DDR4 cache, Toshiba's BiCS4 TLC memories (BGA132), and is available in various capacities.

Being a cheaper model, it does not include a heatsink, but this is not a problem. We always look for solutions! ? We have two options: the first is to buy the version with a very large heatsink (we include it a little lower among the available options) or we can buy a heatsink for M.2 NVME units. Without a doubt, one of the best SSD that we can currently buy at a very competitive price.

  • 500 GB, 1TB and 2 TB Read 5000 MB / s and write 4400 MB / s TLC memories signed by Toshiba 2 years warranty
Sabrent offers very good SSDs for a very competitive price. We believe that if you are fair and want the latest of the latest, this is your recommended option.

We recommend that you read our entry about NVMe with heatsink or without heatsink.

Recommended models:

Sabrent 1TB Rocket Nvme PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 Internal SSD Maximum Performance Solid State Drive (SB-ROCKET-NVMe4-1TB) NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen4 x4 interface. PCIe 4.0 compliant / NVMe 1.3 compliant.; Power management support for APST / ASPM / L1.2. 199.99 EUR Sabrent 2TB Rocket Nvme PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 Internal SSD Maximum Performance Solid State Drive (SB-ROCKET-NVMe4-2TB) NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen4 x4 interface. PCIe 4.0 compliant / NVMe 1.3 compliant.; Power management support for APST / ASPM / L1.2. 399.99 EUR Sabrent 2TB Rocket Nvme PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 Maximum Performance Internal SSD Solid State Drive with heat sink (SB-ROCKET-NVMe4-HTSK-2TB) NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen4 x4 interface. PCIe 4.0 compliant / NVMe 1.3 compliant.; Power management support for APST / ASPM / L1.2. 419.99 EUR

Conclusion and final words about the best SSDs

SSDs or solid state drives are the fashionable component nowadays, the arrival of this storage technology has revolutionized modern computing, to the point that the most foodies consider them already essential today. Speed, longevity and short waiting times are a basic component and it is worth a euro to invest in it.

If you want to continue reading more hardware guides, we recommend that you take a look at the following:

To continue working hard, we would like you to share it on your social networks and this information reaches more people. I also encourage you to leave a comment with your impressions or if it helped you. What SSD do you have? What SSD do you want to buy or are you thinking about? You can ask us in the comment box below or in our hardware forum !

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