A Solid State Drive or SSD has become more widely known for PC and laptop users these days. This computer hardware is regarded by many as an essential replacement for the usual Hard Disk Drive (HDD) that we know in terms of speed and data transfer.
For gamers, this is an important component to add to your computer if you want to elevate your gaming experience to the next level. Other than that, it has no moving mechanical parts, so it sets apart from an HDD.
This guide will tackle the best SSDs that you can use for gaming. We will also get into the details by sharing their pros and cons.
Why SSD Instead of HDD?
According to Kingston, there are a few reasons why you should opt for a powerful SSD instead of a hard disk drive. The blog site listed the following factors:
- Durability and Reliability - SSDs are known to pose a greater performance compared to HDDs. As such, it also maintains a low temperature because of the absence of its parts. If you want to experience the least data loss in your game, go for a more durable SSD.
- Fast Booting - Compared to HDDs, SSDs offer a lot of faster booting time on top of a reliable data transfer. Don't worry about transferring your files from one storage to another since an SSD can do it quickly.
- Less Power and Energy - The blog also mentioned that you could save a lot of power by using an SSD. There's also a guaranteed energy efficiency that you can reap here, which is a huge plus for the users.
- Lightweight and Quiet - Regardless of whether your device is a computer, laptop, or other gadgets, an SSD can easily fit on them thanks to its size. It also weighs less, so it won't be bulky on your device.
- Practical Sizes - Speaking of its size, SSDs could come in many sizes.
Related Article: PS5 SSD Buying Guide: How to Find the Right NVMe M.2 Drive
Best Gaming SSDs to Purchase This Year
Based on PC Gamer's article, there are a handful of SSDs that you can choose from, benefitting you as a gamer. Here's a quick list that you need to check right now.
Seagate Firecuda 530
Specs
- Capacity:500GB, 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB
- Controller: Phison PS5018-E18 controller
- Memory: Micron 176L TLC NAND
- Interface: M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4
- Seq. read: 7,300MB/s
- Seq. write: 6,900MB/s
Pros
- An all-rounder SSD for every task
- Boasts a stellar rating on endurance.
Cons
- Costly PCIe 4.0 drive
- 256-bit encryption is lacking
Samsung 970 EVO Plus
Specs
- Capacity: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
- Controller: Samsung Phoenix
- Memory: Samsung 3-bit MLC
- Interface: M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4
- Seq. read: 3,500MB/s
- Seq. write: 3,200MB/s
Pros
- Features a next-gen SSD technology from Samsung
- Real-world performance tops its features
Cons
- Needs to undergo an optimization further
WD Black SN850
Specs
- Capacity: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
- Controller: WD_Black G2
- Memory: BiCS4 96-layer TLC
- Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4
- Seq. read: 7,000MB/s
- Seq write: 5,300MB/s
Pros
- Good PCIe 4.0
- A five-year warranty is eye-catching for customers
- Real-world performance is excellent
Cons
- Easily goes hot
- Lacks AES 256-bit encryption
Read Also: Which SSD is Better? SATA vs NVMe
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Joseph Henry