Buying Guide
The Best M.2 2230 SSDs for Gaming
Three SSDs compared, from the FX953 1TB 2230 to the P310 2TB 2230, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
M.2 2230 drives fit handhelds like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally as well as some thin laptops. Every pick is a 2230 drive, ordered by read speed.
Our comparison rests on published figures for sequential read, sequential write and interface; where a maker leaves out sequential write, we say so, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Fastest Rated Read Speed
Crucial P310 2TB M.2 2230 SSD
The fastest rated read speed here (7,100MB/s).
Best for: Buyers who put rated read speed first.
Our take Check price for Crucial P310 2TB M.2 2230 SSD (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
Fikwot FX953 1TB M.2 2230 SSD
The lowest price of the group at our last check.
Best for: Keeping the cost under $250.
Our take Check price for Fikwot FX953 1TB M.2 2230 SSD (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
TEAMGROUP MP44S 1TB M.2 2230 SSD
An M.2 2230 size.
Best for: Buyers who want M.2 2230 size.
Our take Check price for TEAMGROUP MP44S 1TB M.2 2230 SSD (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The fastest rated read speed here (7,100MB/s). | Buyers who put rated read speed first. | Check price for Crucial P310 2TB M.2 2230 SSD (opens in a new tab) |
| The lowest price of the group at our last check. | Keeping the cost under $250. | Check price for Fikwot FX953 1TB M.2 2230 SSD (opens in a new tab) |
| An M.2 2230 size. | Buyers who want M.2 2230 size. | Check price for TEAMGROUP MP44S 1TB M.2 2230 SSD (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Fastest Rated Read Speed1 of 3
Crucial P310 2TB M.2 2230 SSD on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
What the P310 2TB 2230 brings to the table is an M.2 2230 size for the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, plus listed compatibility with the Steam Deck, ROG Ally and Surface.
Best for
- Buyers who put rated read speed first.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the FX953 1TB 2230 cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also offers a 7,100MB/s rated read speed and offers a 6,000MB/s rated write speed. Nothing else here matches its 7,100MB/s rated read speed; the FX953 1TB 2230 comes closest at 5,000MB/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. You also get this: 2TB capacity, the only one here. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the MP44S 1TB 2230.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,100MB/s
- Sequential write: 6,000MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4 (M.2 2230)
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- M.2 2230 size for the Steam Deck and ROG Ally
- Listed compatibility with the Steam Deck, ROG Ally and Surface
- 7,100MB/s rated reads
- Fastest rated read speed of the picks (7,100MB/s)
Cons
- Costs more than the FX953 1TB 2230 at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here2 of 3
Fikwot FX953 1TB M.2 2230 SSD on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The FX953 1TB 2230 stands out for an M.2 2230 size, and it adds a graphite heat-spreader label.
Best for
- Keeping the cost under $250.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: slower 5,000MB/s rated reads.
Why we like it
It also offers a 5,000MB/s rated read speed and is rated for 1TB. It also offers listed use in the Steam Deck. 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 3 picks at the time of writing, with the MP44S 1TB 2230 the next step up. There is no published rated write speed figure, whereas the P310 2TB 2230 offers 6,000MB/s.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 5,000MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4 (M.2 2230)
- Capacity: 1TB
Pros
- M.2 2230 size
- Graphite heat-spreader label
- Listed use in the Steam Deck
- The lowest price of the group at our last check
Cons
- Slower 5,000MB/s rated reads
- No published rated write speed
Also Consider3 of 3
TEAMGROUP MP44S 1TB M.2 2230 SSD on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
What the MP44S 1TB 2230 brings to the table is an M.2 2230 size, plus an SLC cache.
Best for
- Buyers who want M.2 2230 size.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: slower 5,000MB/s rated reads.
Why we like it
It also offers a 5,000MB/s rated read speed and offers a 3,500MB/s rated write speed. It matches the FX953 1TB 2230 on rated read speed (5,000MB/s). You also get a graphene heat-dissipation label.
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 3, between the cheaper FX953 1TB 2230 and the pricier P310 2TB 2230, at the time of writing. The trade-off is rated read speed; for more, the P310 2TB 2230 offers 7,100MB/s.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 5,000MB/s
- Sequential write: 3,500MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4 (M.2 2230)
- Capacity: 1TB
Pros
- M.2 2230 size
- SLC cache
- Graphene heat-dissipation label
Cons
- Slower 5,000MB/s rated reads
- Rated read speed trails the P310 2TB 2230 (7,100MB/s)
- Costs more than the FX953 1TB 2230 at the time of writing
How We Chose These M.2 2230 SSDs for Gaming
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- How these picks were ranked
- We compared three drives on rated read speed, rated write speed, interface and capacity as the makers state them. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 4 fields compared are stated for every pick, while rated write speed has gaps.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the P310 2TB 2230 to the MP44S 1TB 2230, state rated read speed, interface and capacity and share PCIe 4.0 x4 (M.2 2230) interface.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The FX953 1TB 2230 gives no rated write speed.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the FX953 1TB 2230 ($150 to $250) to the P310 2TB 2230 ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a M.2 2230 SSD for Gaming
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Rated read speed
Across these 3 picks rated read speed spans 5,000MB/s (the MP44S 1TB 2230) to 7,100MB/s (the P310 2TB 2230). The P310 2TB 2230 is the pick for rated read speed.
How much rated write speed you need
Here rated write speed runs from 3,500MB/s on the MP44S 1TB 2230 to 6,000MB/s on the P310 2TB 2230, a 71% spread. If rated write speed is your first filter, the P310 2TB 2230 sets the ceiling at 6,000MB/s. The FX953 1TB 2230 gives no rated write speed figure, so 2 of 3 picks are compared here.
Features beyond the spec table
The P310 2TB 2230: listed compatibility with the Steam Deck, ROG Ally and Surface. The FX953 1TB 2230: a graphite heat-spreader label. The MP44S 1TB 2230: an SLC cache.
Where your budget lands
$150 to $250 buys the FX953 1TB 2230 and the MP44S 1TB 2230; $250 to $500 buys the P310 2TB 2230 at our last check.
Match the pick to your priority
Buyers who put rated read speed first: the P310 2TB 2230. Keeping the cost under $250: the FX953 1TB 2230.
How to Choose a M.2 2230 SSD for Gaming
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put rated read speed first | P310 2TB 2230 | The fastest rated read speed here (7,100MB/s) |
| Keeping the cost under $250 | FX953 1TB 2230 | The lowest price of the group at our last check |
| Buyers who want M.2 2230 size | MP44S 1TB 2230 | An M.2 2230 size |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The P310 2TB 2230 leads on rated read speed at 7,100MB/s, ahead of the FX953 1TB 2230 at 5,000MB/s. "Not listed" marks rated write speed where the FX953 1TB 2230 leaves the figure out.
| Drive | Sequential read | Sequential write | Interface | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P310 2TB 2230 | 7,100MB/s | 6,000MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 (M.2 2230) | 2TB |
| FX953 1TB 2230 | 5,000MB/s | Not listed | PCIe 4.0 x4 (M.2 2230) | 1TB |
| MP44S 1TB 2230 | 5,000MB/s | 3,500MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 (M.2 2230) | 1TB |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the FX953 1TB 2230, sat in the $150 to $250 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the P310 2TB 2230 at $250 to $500; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Drives |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | FX953 1TB 2230, MP44S 1TB 2230 |
| About $250 to $500 | P310 2TB 2230 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the FX953 1TB 2230 compare with the P310 2TB 2230 on rated read speed?
Between the top two, it is 7,100MB/s on the P310 2TB 2230 against 5,000MB/s on the FX953 1TB 2230, a 42% difference.
Is the P310 2TB 2230 ahead of the MP44S 1TB 2230 on rated write speed?
The P310 2TB 2230 leads at 6,000MB/s, with the MP44S 1TB 2230 at 3,500MB/s. The FX953 1TB 2230 doesn't state a rated write speed figure, so it sits outside this comparison; 2 of 3 picks are ranked.
Is the P310 2TB 2230 worth paying more than the FX953 1TB 2230?
The spec sheets show rated read speed (7,100MB/s against 5,000MB/s) in its favour. The FX953 1TB 2230 sat in the $150 to $250 tier and the P310 2TB 2230 in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked, with 1 other pick between them; pay the difference only if rated read speed decides your purchase.
What makes the P310 2TB 2230 the Fastest Rated Read Speed?
It earns the label for the fastest rated read speed here (7,100MB/s). The FX953 1TB 2230 is next on rated read speed at 5,000MB/s, so this pick's 7,100MB/s is 42% further out. The FX953 1TB 2230, the cheapest pick, sat in the $150 to $250 tier against $250 to $500 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It suits anyone who puts rated read speed first.
Do the P310 2TB 2230 and the FX953 1TB 2230 differ on capacity?
The P310 2TB 2230 uses 2TB; the FX953 1TB 2230 and the MP44S 1TB 2230 use 1TB.
Beyond the specs, what sets the P310 2TB 2230 and the FX953 1TB 2230 apart?
The P310 2TB 2230: an M.2 2230 size for the Steam Deck and ROG Ally. The FX953 1TB 2230: an M.2 2230 size. The MP44S 1TB 2230: an M.2 2230 size.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the P310 2TB 2230, chosen for the fastest rated read speed here (7,100MB/s). Look at the FX953 1TB 2230 for the lowest price of the group at our last check and the MP44S 1TB 2230 for an M.2 2230 size if those matter more to you.
Check whether your handheld or laptop is single-sided only.