Buying Guide
The Best 1TB SSDs
We weighed three SSDs on rated read speed and sequential read, and the NV3 1TB costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
1TB covers Windows, apps and a few big games. Every pick is 1TB, ordered from the lowest price.
Rankings weigh sequential read, interface and warranty as the makers state them; we did not test these SSDs ourselves, and if a maker skips warranty, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
Kingston NV3 1TB
The cheapest way into this group, below the SN5100 1TB.
Best for: Spending as little as possible.
Our take Check price for Kingston NV3 1TB (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
WD Blue SN5100 1TB
A five-year limited warranty.
Best for: Buyers who want five-year limited warranty.
Our take Check price for WD Blue SN5100 1TB (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Corsair MP600 PRO LPX 1TB
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a low-profile heatsink sized for the PS5 bay.
Best for: Buyers who want the most complete package.
Our take Check price for Corsair MP600 PRO LPX 1TB (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The cheapest way into this group, below the SN5100 1TB. | Spending as little as possible. | Check price for Kingston NV3 1TB (opens in a new tab) |
| A five-year limited warranty. | Buyers who want five-year limited warranty. | Check price for WD Blue SN5100 1TB (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a low-profile heatsink sized for the PS5 bay. | Buyers who want the most complete package. | Check price for Corsair MP600 PRO LPX 1TB (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
Kingston NV3 1TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The NV3 1TB offers 6,000MB/s reads at the lowest 1TB price here, the trade being slower rated reads.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible.
Skip if
- Skip it if rated read speed matters most to you; the SN5100 1TB offers 7,100MB/s.
Why we like it
It includes Acronis cloning software, which makes moving an existing install easy. Its 6,000MB/s rated read speed is the slowest in this group; the SN5100 1TB leads at 7,100MB/s. It is an M.2 2280 drive, the standard length on desktop boards; check which of your board's slots it goes in, as some share lanes with SATA ports.
It runs at full speed in any PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot and still works, slower, in a PCIe 3.0 slot. Another plus is 5-year warranty. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the SN5100 1TB was the next step up.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 6,000MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Warranty: 5-year
- Capacity: 1TB
Pros
- 5-year warranty
- The lowest price among the 1TB drives here
- 6,000MB/s rated reads on PCIe 4.0
- The cheapest way into this group, below the SN5100 1TB
Cons
- Rated read speed trails the SN5100 1TB (7,100MB/s)
Also Consider2 of 3
WD Blue SN5100 1TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The SN5100 1TB offers 7,100MB/s reads with a five-year warranty at a low price.
Best for
- Buyers who want five-year limited warranty.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the NV3 1TB was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It matches the MP600 PRO LPX 1TB on rated read speed (7,100MB/s). You also get the lowest price among the 1TB TLC-class drives here. It is an M.2 2280 drive, the standard length on desktop boards; check which of your board's slots it goes in, as some share lanes with SATA ports.
It runs at full speed in any PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot and still works, slower, in a PCIe 3.0 slot. Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the NV3 1TB at the time of writing. Its price falls between the NV3 1TB and the MP600 PRO LPX 1TB, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,100MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Warranty: 5-year
- Capacity: 1TB
Pros
- 5-year warranty
- Five-year limited warranty
- The lowest price among the 1TB TLC-class drives here
- Rated read speed of 7,100MB/s, ahead of the NV3 1TB
Cons
- Costs more than the NV3 1TB at the time of writing
Premium Pick3 of 3
Corsair MP600 PRO LPX 1TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Corsair's MP600 PRO LPX pairs a PCIe 4.0 drive with a low-profile heatsink sized to fit the PS5 bay as well as a desktop M.2 slot.
Best for
- Buyers who want the most complete package.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the NV3 1TB cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It has 7,100MB/s reads. On rated read speed it ties with the SN5100 1TB at 7,100MB/s. It is an M.2 2280 drive, the standard length on desktop boards; check which of your board's slots it goes in, as some share lanes with SATA ports.
It runs at full speed in any PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot and still works, slower, in a PCIe 3.0 slot. Remove the board's own M.2 cover or skip the drive's heatsink; you only need one. It also brings heatsink included for boards without one. At our last price check it topped the group, with the SN5100 1TB the nearest cheaper option.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,100MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Heatsink: Included
- Capacity: 1TB
Pros
- Heatsink included for boards without one
- Low-profile heatsink sized for the PS5 bay
- Rated read speed of 7,100MB/s, ahead of the NV3 1TB
- The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a low-profile heatsink sized for the PS5 bay
Cons
- Costs more than the NV3 1TB at the time of writing
How We Chose These 1TB SSDs
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We lined up three drives on rated read speed, interface, warranty and capacity as the makers state them. We did not test them in-house.
- What every pick has in common
- All 3, from the NV3 1TB to the MP600 PRO LPX 1TB, state rated read speed, interface and capacity and share PCIe 4.0 x4 interface and 1TB capacity.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The MP600 PRO LPX 1TB gives no warranty.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the NV3 1TB ($150 to $250) to the MP600 PRO LPX 1TB ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a 1TB SSD
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Rated read speed
Here rated read speed runs from 6,000MB/s on the NV3 1TB to 7,100MB/s on the SN5100 1TB. Start with the SN5100 1TB if rated read speed decides it.
Setup checks
It is an M.2 2280 drive, the standard length on desktop boards; check which of your board's slots it goes in, as some share lanes with SATA ports.
Extras that separate them
The NV3 1TB: 6,000MB/s rated reads on PCIe 4.0. The SN5100 1TB: the lowest price among the 1TB TLC-class drives here. The MP600 PRO LPX 1TB: a low-profile heatsink sized for the PS5 bay.
Budget
$150 to $250 buys the NV3 1TB and the SN5100 1TB; $250 to $500 buys the MP600 PRO LPX 1TB at our last check.
Start from what matters most
Spending as little as possible: the NV3 1TB. Buyers who want the most complete package: the MP600 PRO LPX 1TB.
Buy more capacity than you think
Many new games need 100GB or more. 2TB is a comfortable minimum for a gaming library; 4TB avoids juggling installs.
How to Choose a 1TB SSD
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spending as little as possible | NV3 1TB | The cheapest way into this group, below the SN5100 1TB |
| Buyers who want five-year limited warranty | SN5100 1TB | A five-year limited warranty |
| Buyers who want the most complete package | MP600 PRO LPX 1TB | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a low-profile heatsink sized for the PS5 bay |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The SN5100 1TB leads on rated read speed at 7,100MB/s, ahead of the MP600 PRO LPX 1TB at 7,100MB/s. "Not listed" means the maker leaves that figure out.
| Drive | Sequential read | Interface | Warranty | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NV3 1TB | 6,000MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | 5-year | 1TB |
| SN5100 1TB | 7,100MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | 5-year | 1TB |
| MP600 PRO LPX 1TB | 7,100MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | Not listed | 1TB |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The NV3 1TB was the lowest-priced pick and the MP600 PRO LPX 1TB the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Drives |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | NV3 1TB, SN5100 1TB |
| About $250 to $500 | MP600 PRO LPX 1TB |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the MP600 PRO LPX 1TB add over the NV3 1TB?
On paper it adds rated read speed (7,100MB/s against 6,000MB/s). The NV3 1TB was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if those gains matter to you.
Why is the NV3 1TB our Lowest Price Here pick?
It earns the label for the cheapest way into this group, below the SN5100 1TB. It suits spending as little as possible.
Will the NV3 1TB work with my setup?
It is an M.2 2280 drive, the standard length on desktop boards; check which of your board's slots it goes in, as some share lanes with SATA ports. It runs at full speed in any PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot and still works, slower, in a PCIe 3.0 slot. In this guide it ranks first of 3, as our Lowest Price Here pick.
What extras do the NV3 1TB and the SN5100 1TB include?
The NV3 1TB: the lowest price among the 1TB drives here. The SN5100 1TB: a five-year limited warranty. The MP600 PRO LPX 1TB: a low-profile heatsink sized for the PS5 bay.
How much storage do I need for games?
2TB suits most players; 4TB suits large libraries without uninstalling.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the NV3 1TB, chosen for the cheapest way into this group, below the SN5100 1TB. Look at the SN5100 1TB for a five-year limited warranty and the MP600 PRO LPX 1TB for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a low-profile heatsink sized for the PS5 bay if those matter more to you.
Games fill 1TB fast; plan a second drive.