Buying Guide
The Best Corsair SSDs
Five Corsair MP600 and MP700 NVMe drives compared on read and write speed, interface and heatsinks.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Corsair's NVMe drives split into the Gen4 MP600 range and the Gen5 MP700 range.
We compared five Corsair drives. This is a research-based comparison built from maker specifications and retailer listings; we did not test these parts ourselves.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Fastest
Corsair MP700 PRO XT 2TB
14,900MB/s reads and 14,500MB/s writes.
Best for: Gen5 M.2 slots.
Our take Check price for Corsair MP700 PRO XT 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Worth Considering
Corsair MP700 PRO 2TB
The MP700 PRO 2TB is a PCIe 5.0 drive rated for 12,400MB/s reads and 11,800MB/s writes.
Best for: Buyers who want high-density tlc nand.
Our take Check price for Corsair MP700 PRO 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Best Gen4
Corsair MP600 Elite 2TB
7,000MB/s reads on TLC NAND at 2TB.
Best for: Any current board.
Our take Check price for Corsair MP600 Elite 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Best With Heatsink
Corsair MP600 Elite 1TB with Heatsink
A heatsink with 7,000MB/s reads.
Best for: Boards without an M.2 heatsink.
Our take Check price for Corsair MP600 Elite 1TB with Heatsink (opens in a new tab)
Well-Rounded Choice
Corsair MP700 Elite 2TB
The MP700 Elite 2TB is a PCIe 5.0 drive rated for 10,000MB/s reads and 8,500MB/s writes.
Best for: Buyers who want directstorage support.
Our take Check price for Corsair MP700 Elite 2TB (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14,900MB/s reads and 14,500MB/s writes. | Gen5 M.2 slots. | Check price for Corsair MP700 PRO XT 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
| The MP700 PRO 2TB is a PCIe 5.0 drive rated for 12,400MB/s reads and 11,800MB/s writes. | Buyers who want high-density tlc nand. | Check price for Corsair MP700 PRO 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
| 7,000MB/s reads on TLC NAND at 2TB. | Any current board. | Check price for Corsair MP600 Elite 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
| A heatsink with 7,000MB/s reads. | Boards without an M.2 heatsink. | Check price for Corsair MP600 Elite 1TB with Heatsink (opens in a new tab) |
| The MP700 Elite 2TB is a PCIe 5.0 drive rated for 10,000MB/s reads and 8,500MB/s writes. | Buyers who want directstorage support. | Check price for Corsair MP700 Elite 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Fastest1 of 5
Corsair MP700 PRO XT 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,900MB/s reads and 14,500MB/s writes, the fastest Corsair drive here.
Best for
- Gen5 M.2 slots.
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
Nothing else here matches its 14,900MB/s rated read speed; the MP700 PRO 2TB comes closest at 12,400MB/s. It shares a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface with the MP700 PRO 2TB and MP700 Elite 2TB; the MP600 Elite 1TB goes with a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface. It also comes with the highest rated writes among the drives here and DirectStorage support.
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. Its price falls between the MP600 Elite 2TB and the MP700 Elite 2TB, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 14,900MB/s
- Sequential write: 14,500MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 5.0 x4
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- PCIe 5.0 read speeds up to 14,900MB/s
- The highest rated writes among the drives here
- DirectStorage support
- Fastest rated write speed of the picks (14,500MB/s)
Cons
- Needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed
- Costs more than the MP600 Elite 1TB at the time of writing
Worth Considering2 of 5
Corsair MP700 PRO 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The MP700 PRO 2TB is a PCIe 5.0 drive rated for 12,400MB/s reads and 11,800MB/s writes.
Best for
- Buyers who want high-density tlc nand.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed.
Why we like it
On rated read speed it sits mid-pack at 12,400MB/s: the MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,900MB/s, and the MP600 Elite 1TB comes in at 7,000MB/s. Its 11,800MB/s rated write speed ranks second of 5 here, behind the MP700 PRO XT 2TB (14,500MB/s) and ahead of the MP600 Elite 1TB (6,500MB/s). Like the MP700 PRO XT 2TB and MP700 Elite 2TB, it has a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface, while the MP600 Elite 2TB uses a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface.
It also comes with high-density TLC NAND and NVMe 2.0 support. 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. At our last price check it topped the group, with the MP700 Elite 2TB the nearest cheaper option.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 12,400MB/s
- Sequential write: 11,800MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 5.0 x4
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- High-density TLC NAND
- NVMe 2.0 support
- 12,400MB/s rated reads on PCIe 5.0
- Rated read speed of 12,400MB/s, ahead of the MP700 Elite 2TB
Cons
- Needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed
- Costs more than the MP600 Elite 1TB at the time of writing
Best Gen43 of 5
Corsair MP600 Elite 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The MP600 Elite 2TB offers 7,000MB/s reads and 6,500MB/s writes on TLC NAND as a bare drive.
Best for
- Any current board.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the MP600 Elite 1TB was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It matches the MP600 Elite 1TB on rated read speed (7,000MB/s). On rated write speed it ties with the MP600 Elite 1TB at 6,500MB/s. It shares a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface with the MP600 Elite 1TB; the MP700 Elite 2TB goes with a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface.
It also comes with high-density 3D TLC NAND and a bare drive for boards with their own M.2 heatsink. 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. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper MP600 Elite 1TB and the pricier MP700 PRO XT 2TB, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,000MB/s
- Sequential write: 6,500MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- High-density 3D TLC NAND
- Bare drive for boards with their own M.2 heatsink
- 7,000MB/s reads on TLC NAND at 2TB
Cons
- Costs more than the MP600 Elite 1TB at the time of writing
Best With Heatsink4 of 5
Corsair MP600 Elite 1TB with Heatsink on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The MP600 Elite 1TB offers 7,000MB/s reads and 6,500MB/s writes on TLC NAND, with a heatsink.
Best for
- Boards without an M.2 heatsink.
Skip if
- Skip it if rated read speed matters most to you; the MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,900MB/s.
Why we like it
On rated read speed it ties with the MP600 Elite 2TB at 7,000MB/s. It matches the MP600 Elite 2TB on rated write speed (6,500MB/s). Like the MP600 Elite 2TB, it has a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface, while the MP700 PRO XT 2TB uses a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface.
It also comes with high-density 3D TLC NAND and a heatsink version listed for PS5. 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.
No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the MP600 Elite 2TB was closest. Rated read speed is its weakest area, and the MP700 PRO XT 2TB covers it better at 14,900MB/s.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,000MB/s
- Sequential write: 6,500MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Heatsink: Included
- Capacity: 1TB
Pros
- Heatsink included for boards without one
- High-density 3D TLC NAND
- Heatsink version listed for PS5
- 1TB capacity, the only one here
Cons
- Rated read speed trails the MP700 PRO XT 2TB (14,900MB/s)
Well-Rounded Choice5 of 5
Corsair MP700 Elite 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The MP700 Elite 2TB is a PCIe 5.0 drive rated for 10,000MB/s reads and 8,500MB/s writes.
Best for
- Buyers who want directstorage support.
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
Its 10,000MB/s rated read speed ranks third of 5 here, behind the MP700 PRO XT 2TB (14,900MB/s) and ahead of the MP600 Elite 1TB (7,000MB/s). On rated write speed it sits mid-pack at 8,500MB/s: the MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,500MB/s, and the MP600 Elite 1TB comes in at 6,500MB/s. It shares a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface with the MP700 PRO XT 2TB and MP700 PRO 2TB; the MP600 Elite 1TB goes with a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface.
It also comes with DirectStorage support, high-density 3D TLC NAND and a lower price than the MP700 PRO 2TB. 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 MP700 PRO XT 2TB and the MP700 PRO 2TB, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 10,000MB/s
- Sequential write: 8,500MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 5.0 x4
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- DirectStorage support
- High-density 3D TLC NAND
- Lower price than the MP700 PRO 2TB
- Rated read speed of 10,000MB/s, ahead of the MP600 Elite 2TB
Cons
- Needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed
- Costs more than the MP600 Elite 1TB at the time of writing
How We Chose These Corsair SSDs
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Design
- We checked interface, DRAM cache and heatsink options.
- Capacity
- We compared drives at the same capacity within each guide.
- Speed
- We compared rated sequential read and write speeds.
- Endurance
- We noted TBW ratings and warranty length where listed.
What to Look for in a Corsair 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.
Cool the drive
Fast drives throttle when hot. Use the motherboard's M.2 heatsink or a heatsink version of the drive.
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.
DRAM cache helps heavy use
Drives with DRAM cache hold speed better under long writes. DRAM-less drives with HMB are fine for games.
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.
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.
How to Choose a Corsair SSD
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Gen5 M.2 slots | MP700 PRO XT 2TB | 14,900MB/s reads and 14,500MB/s writes |
| Any current board | MP600 Elite 2TB | 7,000MB/s reads on TLC NAND at 2TB |
| Boards without an M.2 heatsink | MP600 Elite 1TB | A heatsink with 7,000MB/s reads |
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Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Drive | Sequential read | Sequential write | Interface | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MP700 PRO XT 2TB | 14,900MB/s | 14,500MB/s | PCIe 5.0 x4 | 2TB |
| MP700 PRO 2TB | 12,400MB/s | 11,800MB/s | PCIe 5.0 x4 | 2TB |
| MP600 Elite 2TB | 7,000MB/s | 6,500MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | 2TB |
| MP600 Elite 1TB | 7,000MB/s | 6,500MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | 1TB |
| MP700 Elite 2TB | 10,000MB/s | 8,500MB/s | PCIe 5.0 x4 | 2TB |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
Bottom Line
The MP700 PRO XT is the fastest for Gen5 slots. The MP600 Elite 2TB suits most boards, and the MP700 Elite is the lower-cost Gen5 option.