Buying Guide
The Best 4TB NVMe SSDs
We weighed three SSDs on rated read speed and rated write speed; the NM790 4TB has the fastest rated read speed, and the SN5000 4TB costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
A 4TB NVMe SSD holds a large game library in one slot. Every pick offers 4TB.
Rankings weigh sequential read, sequential write and endurance as the makers state them; we did not test these SSDs ourselves, and if a maker skips sequential write, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
WD Blue SN5000 4TB
The cheapest way into this group, below the NM790 4TB.
Best for: Keeping the budget tight.
Our take Check price for WD Blue SN5000 4TB (opens in a new tab)
Fastest Rated Read Speed
Lexar NM790 4TB
The fastest rated read speed here (7,400MB/s).
Best for: Buyers who put rated read speed first.
Our take Check price for Lexar NM790 4TB (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB
The top of this price range, adding a design that runs on PCIe 4.0 x4 or PCIe 5.0 x2 lanes.
Best for: Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Our take Check price for Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The cheapest way into this group, below the NM790 4TB. | Keeping the budget tight. | Check price for WD Blue SN5000 4TB (opens in a new tab) |
| The fastest rated read speed here (7,400MB/s). | Buyers who put rated read speed first. | Check price for Lexar NM790 4TB (opens in a new tab) |
| The top of this price range, adding a design that runs on PCIe 4.0 x4 or PCIe 5.0 x2 lanes. | Spending more for the fullest feature set. | Check price for Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
WD Blue SN5000 4TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The WD Blue SN5000 is the slowest drive here at 5,500MB/s reads, but still loads games quickly.
Best for
- Keeping the budget tight.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: slower 5,500MB/s rated reads.
Why we like it
It is the budget way to 4TB. Its 5,500MB/s rated read speed is the slowest in this group; the NM790 4TB leads at 7,400MB/s. It shares a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface with the NM790 4TB; the 990 EVO Plus 4TB goes with a PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2 interface.
You also get a 1,200TBW endurance rating on the 4TB model, Acronis True Image for Western Digital migration software and a lower price per terabyte than performance drives. 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 was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the NM790 4TB was the next step up.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 5,500MB/s
- Endurance: 1,200TBW
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Capacity: 4TB
Pros
- 1,200TBW endurance rating on the 4TB model
- Acronis True Image for Western Digital migration software
- Lower price per terabyte than performance drives
- The cheapest way into this group, below the NM790 4TB
Cons
- Slower 5,500MB/s rated reads
- Rated read speed trails the NM790 4TB (7,400MB/s)
- No published rated write speed
Fastest Rated Read Speed2 of 3
Lexar NM790 4TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The NM790 4TB offers a 3,000TBW rating, the highest here, with 7,400MB/s reads.
Best for
- Buyers who put rated read speed first.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the SN5000 4TB cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It is DRAM-less, which rarely matters for games. Its 7,400MB/s rated read speed is the fastest here; the 990 EVO Plus 4TB comes next at 7,250MB/s. Like the SN5000 4TB, it has a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface, while the 990 EVO Plus 4TB uses a PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2 interface.
It also offers 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. It runs at full speed in any PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot and still works, slower, in a PCIe 3.0 slot. It was priced above the SN5000 4TB and below the 990 EVO Plus 4TB at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,400MB/s
- Sequential write: 6,500MB/s
- Endurance: 3,000TBW
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- DRAM cache: No (HMB)
- Capacity: 4TB
Pros
- 3,000TBW endurance rating
- Lower power draw than DRAM-equipped Gen4 drives, by Lexar's figure
- Fastest rated read speed of the picks (7,400MB/s)
- Fastest rated write speed of the picks (6,500MB/s)
Cons
- Costs more than the SN5000 4TB at the time of writing
Premium Pick3 of 3
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The 990 EVO Plus 4TB runs on PCIe 4.0 x4 or PCIe 5.0 x2 with 7,250MB/s reads, a good fit for secondary M.2 slots.
Best for
- Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Skip if
- Pass on it if needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated spee rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
On rated read speed it sits mid-pack at 7,250MB/s: the NM790 4TB offers 7,400MB/s, and the SN5000 4TB comes in at 5,500MB/s. It also comes with 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. Only the NM790 4TB came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 3 picks. There is no published rated endurance figure, whereas the NM790 4TB offers 3,000TBW.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,250MB/s
- Sequential write: 6,300MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2
- Capacity: 4TB
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 SN5000 4TB
Cons
- Needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed
- No published rated endurance
- Costs more than the SN5000 4TB at the time of writing
How We Chose These 4TB NVMe SSDs
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Endurance
- We noted TBW ratings and warranty length where listed.
- Speed
- We compared rated sequential read and write speeds.
- Capacity
- We compared drives at the same capacity within each guide.
- Design
- We checked interface, DRAM cache and heatsink options.
What to Look for in a 4TB NVMe SSD
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cool the drive
Fast drives throttle when hot. Use the motherboard's M.2 heatsink or a heatsink version of the drive.
DRAM cache helps heavy use
Drives with DRAM cache hold speed better under long writes. DRAM-less drives with HMB are fine for games.
How to Choose a 4TB NVMe SSD
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the budget tight | SN5000 4TB | The cheapest way into this group, below the NM790 4TB |
| Buyers who put rated read speed first | NM790 4TB | The fastest rated read speed here (7,400MB/s) |
| Spending more for the fullest feature set | 990 EVO Plus 4TB | The top of this price range, adding a design that runs on PCIe 4.0 x4 or PCIe 5.0 x2 lanes |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Drive | Sequential read | Sequential write | Endurance | Interface |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SN5000 4TB | 5,500MB/s | Not listed | 1,200TBW | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| NM790 4TB | 7,400MB/s | 6,500MB/s | 3,000TBW | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| 990 EVO Plus 4TB | 7,250MB/s | 6,300MB/s | Not listed | PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
Prices change often; these tiers reflect Amazon prices when this guide was updated.
| Price tier | Drives |
|---|---|
| About $250 to $500 | SN5000 4TB |
| About $500 to $1000 | NM790 4TB, 990 EVO Plus 4TB |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do these SSDs compare on rated read speed?
The NM790 4TB, at 7,400MB/s. The 990 EVO Plus 4TB follows at 7,250MB/s, while the SN5000 4TB has 5,500MB/s.
Which is the cheapest pick in this guide?
The SN5000 4TB. It undercut the NM790 4TB when we checked, while the 990 EVO Plus 4TB cost the most of the group.
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.
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.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the SN5000 4TB, chosen for the cheapest way into this group, below the NM790 4TB. Look at the NM790 4TB for the fastest rated read speed here (7,400MB/s) and the 990 EVO Plus 4TB for the top of this price range, adding a design that runs on PCIe 4.0 x4 or PCIe 5.0 x2 lanes if those matter more to you.
Check the TBW rating if you write large files often.