Buying Guide
The Best 2TB NVMe SSDs
Five 2TB NVMe drives across PCIe 4.0 and 5.0, compared on speed, DRAM cache and endurance.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
A 2TB drive holds a large game library with room left over. PCIe 4.0 drives suit most PCs; PCIe 5.0 drives need a Gen5 M.2 slot and often a heatsink.
We compared speeds, DRAM and endurance from each listing; we did not benchmark these drives.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best 2TB NVMe SSD
Samsung 990 PRO 2TB
7,450MB/s reads with a DRAM cache.
Best for: Most PCIe 4.0 systems.
Our take Check price for Samsung 990 PRO 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Best PCIe 5.0 Drive
Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB
14,700MB/s reads with a DRAM cache.
Best for: Boards with a Gen5 M.2 slot.
Our take Check price for Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Best Endurance Rating
Lexar NM790 2TB
1,500TBW at 7,400MB/s reads.
Best for: Heavy writes on a budget.
Our take Check price for Lexar NM790 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Most Flexible Interface
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB
PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2 support.
Best for: Laptops and desktops alike.
Our take Check price for Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget 2TB
Crucial P310 2TB
7,100MB/s reads at a lower price.
Best for: Game libraries on a budget.
Our take Check price for Crucial P310 2TB (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7,450MB/s reads with a DRAM cache. | Most PCIe 4.0 systems. | Check price for Samsung 990 PRO 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
| 14,700MB/s reads with a DRAM cache. | Boards with a Gen5 M.2 slot. | Check price for Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
| 1,500TBW at 7,400MB/s reads. | Heavy writes on a budget. | Check price for Lexar NM790 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
| PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2 support. | Laptops and desktops alike. | Check price for Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
| 7,100MB/s reads at a lower price. | Game libraries on a budget. | Check price for Crucial P310 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Best 2TB NVMe SSD1 of 5
Samsung 990 PRO 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The 990 PRO sits near the top of PCIe 4.0 speeds at 7,450MB/s reads, with DRAM cache to hold speed under heavy writes.
Best for
- Most PCIe 4.0 systems.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the P310 2TB, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It is the drive to pick for a gaming PC. Its 7,450MB/s rated read speed ranks second of 5 here, behind the 9100 PRO 2TB (14,700MB/s) and ahead of the P310 2TB (7,100MB/s). On rated write speed it sits mid-pack at 6,900MB/s: the 9100 PRO 2TB offers 13,400MB/s, and the P310 2TB comes in at 6,000MB/s.
It shares a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface with the NM790 2TB and P310 2TB; the 990 EVO Plus 2TB goes with a PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2 interface. You also get near-maximum PCIe 4.0 performance, by Samsung's description. 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 was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the 9100 PRO 2TB.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,450MB/s
- Sequential write: 6,900MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- DRAM cache: Yes
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- Onboard DRAM cache
- Near-maximum PCIe 4.0 performance, by Samsung's description
- Rated read speed of 7,450MB/s, ahead of the NM790 2TB
- 7,450MB/s reads with a DRAM cache
Cons
- Costs more than the P310 2TB at the time of writing
Best PCIe 5.0 Drive2 of 5
Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The 9100 PRO doubles PCIe 4.0 speeds at 14,700MB/s reads with DRAM cache.
Best for
- Boards with a Gen5 M.2 slot.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed.
Why we like it
It helps large file work more than game loading. Nothing else here matches its 14,700MB/s rated read speed; the 990 PRO 2TB comes closest at 7,450MB/s. No other pick in this guide offers a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface; compare the 990 EVO Plus 2TB, which has a PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2 interface.
It also offers in-house controller, DRAM and NAND. 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. Use a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, usually the one closest to the CPU, and a board heatsink or the drive's own; in a PCIe 4.0 slot it runs at 4.0 speed. When we checked, only the 990 EVO Plus 2TB and cheaper picks cost less, and the 990 PRO 2TB cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 14,700MB/s
- Sequential write: 13,400MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 5.0 x4
- DRAM cache: Yes
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- PCIe 5.0 read speeds up to 14,700MB/s
- Onboard DRAM cache
- In-house controller, DRAM and NAND
- Fastest rated write speed of the picks (13,400MB/s)
Cons
- Needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed
- Costs more than the P310 2TB at the time of writing
Best Endurance Rating3 of 5
Lexar NM790 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The NM790 reaches 7,400MB/s reads with a 1,500TBW rating and no DRAM, using host memory instead.
Best for
- Heavy writes on a budget.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: no DRAM cache, unlike the 990 PRO 2TB.
Why we like it
For games that trade-off rarely shows. Its 7,400MB/s rated read speed ranks third of 5 here, behind the 9100 PRO 2TB (14,700MB/s) and ahead of the P310 2TB (7,100MB/s). On rated write speed it sits mid-pack at 6,500MB/s: the 9100 PRO 2TB offers 13,400MB/s, and the P310 2TB comes in at 6,000MB/s.
It shares a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface with the 990 PRO 2TB and P310 2TB; the 990 EVO Plus 2TB goes with a PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2 interface. You also get lower power draw than DRAM-equipped Gen4 drives, by Lexar's figure. Its price falls between the P310 2TB and the 990 EVO Plus 2TB, based on our last check. The main gap: no DRAM cache, unlike the 990 PRO 2TB. If that matters, the 990 PRO 2TB has it.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,400MB/s
- Sequential write: 6,500MB/s
- Endurance: 1,500TBW
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- DRAM cache: No (HMB)
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- 1,500TBW endurance rating on the 2TB model
- Lower power draw than DRAM-equipped Gen4 drives, by Lexar's figure
- Rated read speed of 7,400MB/s, ahead of the 990 EVO Plus 2TB
- 1,500TBW at 7,400MB/s reads
Cons
- No DRAM cache, unlike the 990 PRO 2TB
- Costs more than the P310 2TB at the time of writing
Most Flexible Interface4 of 5
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The 990 EVO Plus can run on PCIe 4.0 x4 or PCIe 5.0 x2 lanes, which suits boards that share lanes.
Best for
- Laptops and desktops alike.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated spee is a problem.
Why we like it
Its 7,250MB/s reads keep it close to the fastest Gen4 drives. On rated read speed it sits mid-pack at 7,250MB/s: the 9100 PRO 2TB offers 14,700MB/s, and the P310 2TB comes in at 7,100MB/s. Its 6,300MB/s rated write speed ranks fourth of 5 here, behind the 9100 PRO 2TB (13,400MB/s) and ahead of the P310 2TB (6,000MB/s).
You also get Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 caching for large transfers and firmware updates through Samsung Magician software. 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. Use a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, usually the one closest to the CPU, and a board heatsink or the drive's own; in a PCIe 4.0 slot it runs at 4.0 speed. It was priced above the NM790 2TB and below the 9100 PRO 2TB at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,250MB/s
- Sequential write: 6,300MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- Design that runs on PCIe 4.0 x4 or PCIe 5.0 x2 lanes
- Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 caching for large transfers
- Firmware updates through Samsung Magician software
- Rated read speed of 7,250MB/s, ahead of the P310 2TB
Cons
- Needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed
- Costs more than the P310 2TB at the time of writing
Best Budget 2TB5 of 5
Crucial P310 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The P310 2TB offers 7,100MB/s reads at one of the lowest 2TB prices here.
Best for
- Game libraries on a budget.
Skip if
- Skip it if rated read speed matters most to you; the 9100 PRO 2TB offers 14,700MB/s.
Why we like it
On rated read speed it trails the group at 7,100MB/s, while the 9100 PRO 2TB offers 14,700MB/s. Its 6,000MB/s rated write speed is the slowest in this group; the 9100 PRO 2TB leads at 13,400MB/s. Like the 990 PRO 2TB and NM790 2TB, it has a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface, while the 9100 PRO 2TB uses a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface.
It also comes with an Acronis data migration bundle. 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. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the NM790 2TB the next step up.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,100MB/s
- Sequential write: 6,000MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- Acronis data migration bundle
- One of the lowest 2TB prices here
- 7,100MB/s reads at a lower price
Cons
- Rated read speed trails the 9100 PRO 2TB (14,700MB/s)
- Rated write speed trails the 9100 PRO 2TB (13,400MB/s)
How We Chose These 2TB NVMe SSDs
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Speed
- We compared rated sequential read and write speeds.
- Endurance
- We noted TBW ratings and warranty length where listed.
- Design
- We checked interface, DRAM cache and heatsink options.
- Capacity
- We compared drives at the same capacity within each guide.
What to Look for in a 2TB NVMe SSD
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
PCIe 4.0 is enough for games
Game load times barely change between fast PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 5.0 drives. PCIe 5.0 helps large file copies and creative work.
DRAM cache helps heavy use
Drives with DRAM cache hold speed better under long writes. DRAM-less drives with HMB are fine for games.
Endurance is rarely a limit
TBW figures of 1,200 or more far exceed typical gaming writes. Heavy video work benefits from a higher rating.
Cool the drive
Fast drives throttle when hot. Use the motherboard's M.2 heatsink or a heatsink version of the drive.
Check your M.2 slots
Check which slots run at PCIe 5.0 or 4.0, and which disable SATA ports or a PCIe slot when used.
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 2TB NVMe SSD
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most PCIe 4.0 systems | 990 PRO 2TB | 7,450MB/s reads with a DRAM cache |
| Boards with a Gen5 M.2 slot | 9100 PRO 2TB | 14,700MB/s reads with a DRAM cache |
| Heavy writes on a budget | NM790 2TB | 1,500TBW at 7,400MB/s reads |
| Laptops and desktops alike | 990 EVO Plus 2TB | PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2 support |
| Game libraries on a budget | P310 2TB | 7,100MB/s reads at a lower price |
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Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Drive | Sequential read | Sequential write | Interface | DRAM cache |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 PRO 2TB | 7,450MB/s | 6,900MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | Yes |
| 9100 PRO 2TB | 14,700MB/s | 13,400MB/s | PCIe 5.0 x4 | Yes |
| NM790 2TB | 7,400MB/s | 6,500MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | No (HMB) |
| 990 EVO Plus 2TB | 7,250MB/s | 6,300MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2 | Not listed |
| P310 2TB | 7,100MB/s | 6,000MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a PCIe 5.0 SSD worth it for gaming?
Not for load times, which change little. It helps large file transfers and creative work.
Can I use these in a PS5?
PCIe 4.0 M.2 drives work in a PS5 with a heatsink that fits the bay. Check Sony's size limits.
Do I need an SSD heatsink?
Use one on fast drives. Most boards include M.2 heatsinks; otherwise buy the heatsink version.
How much storage do I need for games?
2TB suits most players; 4TB suits large libraries without uninstalling.
Can I clone my old drive to a new SSD?
Yes. Most makers offer free cloning software; check the drive maker's site.
Are DRAM-less SSDs bad?
No. Modern DRAM-less drives with HMB are fine for games; DRAM helps sustained heavy writes.
Bottom Line
The Samsung 990 PRO is the best 2TB NVMe SSD for most PCs, and the 9100 PRO is the PCIe 5.0 pick. The Lexar NM790 offers 1,500TBW, the 990 EVO Plus works across interfaces, and the Crucial P310 is the budget choice.