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 Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
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
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Best 2TB NVMe SSD
Samsung 990 PRO 2TB7,450MB/s reads with a DRAM cache.
Best for: Most PCIe 4.0 systems.
Check price for Samsung 990 PRO 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best PCIe 5.0 Drive
Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB14,700MB/s reads with a DRAM cache.
Best for: Boards with a Gen5 M.2 slot.
Check price for Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Endurance Rating
Lexar NM790 2TB1,500TBW at 7,400MB/s reads.
Best for: Heavy writes on a budget.
Check price for Lexar NM790 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Most Flexible Interface
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TBPCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2 support.
Best for: Laptops and desktops alike.
Check price for Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget 2TB
Crucial P310 2TB7,100MB/s reads at a lower price.
Best for: Game libraries on a budget.
Check price for Crucial P310 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7,450MB/s reads with a DRAM cache. | Most PCIe 4.0 systems. | Check price for Samsung 990 PRO 2TB on Amazon (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 on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 1,500TBW at 7,400MB/s reads. | Heavy writes on a budget. | Check price for Lexar NM790 2TB on Amazon (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 on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 7,100MB/s reads at a lower price. | Game libraries on a budget. | Check price for Crucial P310 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Best 2TB NVMe SSD1 of 5
Samsung 990 PRO 2TB
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. Its price falls between the 990 EVO Plus 2TB and the 9100 PRO 2TB, based on our last check.
Key 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
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. At our last price check it topped the group, with the 990 PRO 2TB the nearest cheaper option.
Key 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
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. 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. Its price falls between the P310 2TB and the 990 EVO Plus 2TB, based on our last check.
Key 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
The catch
The main gap: no DRAM cache, unlike the 990 PRO 2TB. If that matters, the 990 PRO 2TB has it.
Most Flexible Interface4 of 5
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB
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 speed 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 990 PRO 2TB at the time of writing.
Key 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
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 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)
The catch
It gives ground on rated read speed, where the 9100 PRO 2TB offers 14,700MB/s.
How We Chose These 2TB NVMe SSDs
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- How these picks were ranked
- We lined up five drives on rated read speed, rated write speed, interface and DRAM cache, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results: 2 of 5 picks leave out DRAM cache.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the 990 PRO 2TB to the P310 2TB, state rated read speed, rated write speed and interface and share 2TB capacity.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The 990 EVO Plus 2TB and the P310 2TB give no DRAM cache.
- Price range
- From the P310 2TB to the 9100 PRO 2TB, all sat in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a 2TB NVMe SSD
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Rated read speed
Here rated read speed runs from 7,100MB/s on the P310 2TB to 14,700MB/s on the 9100 PRO 2TB, a 107% spread. For less, the 990 PRO 2TB is the runner-up at 7,450MB/s.
How much rated write speed you need
The 9100 PRO 2TB tops rated write speed at 13,400MB/s and the P310 2TB sits lowest at 6,000MB/s. The 990 PRO 2TB comes second at 6,900MB/s, in the same price tier as the 9100 PRO 2TB.
The M.2 standoff position marked on a Gigabyte motherboard DRAM cache
The 990 PRO 2TB and the 9100 PRO 2TB have it; the NM790 2TB goes without.
Features beyond the spec table
The NM790 2TB: lower power draw than DRAM-equipped Gen4 drives, by Lexar's figure. The 990 EVO Plus 2TB: Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 caching for large transfers. The P310 2TB: one of the lowest 2TB prices here.
An M.2 SSD installed on a motherboard Where your budget lands
Price does little to separate these 5: the P310 2TB through the 9100 PRO 2TB all landed in the $250 to $500 tier, which leaves rated read speed to decide it.
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 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The 9100 PRO 2TB leads on rated read speed at 14,700MB/s, ahead of the 990 PRO 2TB at 7,450MB/s. "Not listed" marks DRAM cache where the 990 EVO Plus 2TB and the P310 2TB leave the figure out.
| 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
Which has the fastest rated read speed: the 9100 PRO 2TB or the 990 PRO 2TB?
The 9100 PRO 2TB tops rated read speed at 14,700MB/s; the 990 PRO 2TB follows at 7,450MB/s, 97% apart. The spread runs down to the P310 2TB at 7,100MB/s.
How does the 990 PRO 2TB compare with the 9100 PRO 2TB on rated write speed?
Between the top two, it is 13,400MB/s on the 9100 PRO 2TB against 6,900MB/s on the 990 PRO 2TB, a 94% difference. The P310 2TB is at the other end of this group with 6,000MB/s.
Is the 9100 PRO 2TB worth paying more than the P310 2TB?
The spec sheets show rated read speed (14,700MB/s against 7,100MB/s) and rated write speed (13,400MB/s against 6,000MB/s) in its favour. Both sat in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked, so the gains in rated read speed and rated write speed cost little extra by tier.
What makes the NM790 2TB the Best Endurance Rating?
It earns the label for 1,500TBW at 7,400MB/s reads. It suits heavy writes on a budget.
Do the 990 PRO 2TB and the 9100 PRO 2TB differ on interface?
The 990 PRO 2TB, the NM790 2TB and the P310 2TB use PCIe 4.0 x4; the 9100 PRO 2TB uses PCIe 5.0 x4; the 990 EVO Plus 2TB uses PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2.
Beyond the specs, what sets the 990 PRO 2TB and the 9100 PRO 2TB apart?
The 990 PRO 2TB: near-maximum PCIe 4.0 performance, by Samsung's description. The 9100 PRO 2TB: in-house controller, DRAM and NAND. The NM790 2TB: a 1,500TBW endurance rating on the 2TB model.
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.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best 2TB Gen4 NVMe SSDs
- Related guideThe Best SSDs for a PC Build
- Related guideThe Best NVMe SSDs for Gaming
- Lower budgetThe Best Budget NVMe SSDs
- Similar guideThe Best 1TB NVMe SSDs by Endurance
- ExplainerNVMe vs SATA SSD
- ExplainerHow to Choose a SATA SSD
- Check compatibility: motherboardsMotherboard Chipsets Explained
- Similar guideThe Best 2TB Gaming SSDs by Price
- Topic hubAll ssds and storage guides
About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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