Buying Guide
The Best Gaming SSDs With a Heatsink
Four PCIe 4.0 drives sold with a heatsink attached, for boards without M.2 shields and for the PS5 expansion bay.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read4 products evaluated
Fast PCIe 4.0 drives can slow down when they get hot. Many motherboards include M.2 heatsinks; if yours does not, or you are adding storage to a PS5, a drive with its own heatsink helps.
We compared speed, capacity and heatsink design from each listing; we did not benchmark these drives. Remove the board's own M.2 shield before fitting a drive with a heatsink.
Quick Picks
Our 4 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best SSD With Heatsink
WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB with Heatsink
2TB with 7,300MB/s reads and a heatsink.
Best for: Most gaming PCs and PS5s.
Our take Check price for WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB with Heatsink (opens in a new tab)
Largest Capacity
WD_BLACK SN850X 4TB with Heatsink
4TB with a heatsink.
Best for: Large game libraries.
Our take Check price for WD_BLACK SN850X 4TB with Heatsink (opens in a new tab)
Best Low-Profile Heatsink
Corsair MP600 PRO LPX 1TB
A low-profile heatsink sized for the PS5 bay.
Best for: PS5 storage and slim cases.
Our take Check price for Corsair MP600 PRO LPX 1TB (opens in a new tab)
Best 1TB Heatsink Pick
Corsair MP600 Elite 1TB with Heatsink
7,000MB/s reads and 6,500MB/s writes with a heatsink.
Best for: Smaller budgets.
Our take Check price for Corsair MP600 Elite 1TB with Heatsink (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2TB with 7,300MB/s reads and a heatsink. | Most gaming PCs and PS5s. | Check price for WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB with Heatsink (opens in a new tab) |
| 4TB with a heatsink. | Large game libraries. | Check price for WD_BLACK SN850X 4TB with Heatsink (opens in a new tab) |
| A low-profile heatsink sized for the PS5 bay. | PS5 storage and slim cases. | Check price for Corsair MP600 PRO LPX 1TB (opens in a new tab) |
| 7,000MB/s reads and 6,500MB/s writes with a heatsink. | Smaller budgets. | Check price for Corsair MP600 Elite 1TB with Heatsink (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Best SSD With Heatsink1 of 4
WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB with Heatsink on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The SN850X with heatsink offers 7,300MB/s reads and comes ready for boards without an M.2 cover.
Best for
- Most gaming PCs and PS5s.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the MP600 Elite 1TB, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
Skip the heatsink version if your board has one. On rated read speed it ties with the SN850X 4TB at 7,300MB/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. Remove the board's own M.2 cover or skip the drive's heatsink; you only need one. It was priced above the MP600 PRO LPX 1TB and below the SN850X 4TB at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,300MB/s
- Sequential write: 6,300MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Heatsink: Included
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- Heatsink included for boards without one
- Heatsink version suited to boards without an M.2 cover
- Rated read speed of 7,300MB/s, ahead of the MP600 PRO LPX 1TB
- 2TB capacity, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the MP600 Elite 1TB at the time of writing
Largest Capacity2 of 4
WD_BLACK SN850X 4TB with Heatsink on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The SN850X 4TB with heatsink offers 7,300MB/s reads ready for boards without an M.2 cover.
Best for
- Large game libraries.
Skip if
- Skip it if rated write speed matters most to you; the MP600 Elite 1TB offers 6,500MB/s.
Why we like it
It matches the SN850X 2TB on rated write speed (6,300MB/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.
Remove the board's own M.2 cover or skip the drive's heatsink; you only need one. Only the SN850X 2TB came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 4 picks. It gives ground on rated write speed, where the MP600 Elite 1TB offers 6,500MB/s.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,300MB/s
- Sequential write: 6,300MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Heatsink: Included
- Capacity: 4TB
Pros
- Heatsink included for boards without one
- Heatsink version suited to boards without an M.2 cover
- Rated read speed of 7,300MB/s, ahead of the MP600 PRO LPX 1TB
- 4TB capacity, the only one here
Cons
- Rated write speed trails the MP600 Elite 1TB (6,500MB/s)
- Costs more than the MP600 Elite 1TB at the time of writing
Best Low-Profile Heatsink3 of 4
Corsair MP600 PRO LPX 1TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Corsair's MP600 PRO LPX pairs a PCIe 4.0 drive with a low-profile heatsink sized to fit the PS5 bay as well as a desktop M.2 slot.
Best for
- PS5 storage and slim cases.
Skip if
- Pass if a published rated write speed matters; this one has none.
Why we like it
It has 7,100MB/s reads. On rated read speed it sits mid-pack at 7,100MB/s: the SN850X 2TB offers 7,300MB/s, and the MP600 Elite 1TB comes in at 7,000MB/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. Remove the board's own M.2 cover or skip the drive's heatsink; you only need one. It was priced above the MP600 Elite 1TB and below the SN850X 2TB at the time of writing. There is no published rated write speed figure, whereas the MP600 Elite 1TB offers 6,500MB/s.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,100MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Heatsink: Included
- Capacity: 1TB
Pros
- Heatsink included for boards without one
- Low-profile heatsink sized for the PS5 bay
- Rated read speed of 7,100MB/s, ahead of the MP600 Elite 1TB
Cons
- No published rated write speed
- Costs more than the MP600 Elite 1TB at the time of writing
Best 1TB Heatsink Pick4 of 4
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
- Smaller budgets.
Skip if
- Skip it if rated read speed matters most to you; the SN850X 2TB offers 7,300MB/s.
Why we like it
On rated read speed it trails the group at 7,000MB/s, while the SN850X 2TB offers 7,300MB/s. On rated write speed it leads this guide at 6,500MB/s, ahead of the SN850X 2TB (6,300MB/s). It also offers 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. Remove the board's own M.2 cover or skip the drive's heatsink; you only need one. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the MP600 PRO LPX 1TB was closest.
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
- Fastest rated write speed of the picks (6,500MB/s)
Cons
- Rated read speed trails the SN850X 2TB (7,300MB/s)
How We Chose These SSDs With Heatsink
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- 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.
- Design
- We checked interface, DRAM cache and heatsink options.
What to Look for in an SSD With Heatsink
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
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.
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.
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.
How to Choose an SSD With Heatsink
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most gaming PCs and PS5s | SN850X 2TB | 2TB with 7,300MB/s reads and a heatsink |
| Large game libraries | SN850X 4TB | 4TB with a heatsink |
| PS5 storage and slim cases | MP600 PRO LPX 1TB | A low-profile heatsink sized for the PS5 bay |
| Smaller budgets | MP600 Elite 1TB | 7,000MB/s reads and 6,500MB/s writes with a heatsink |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Drive | Sequential read | Sequential write | Interface | Heatsink |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SN850X 2TB | 7,300MB/s | 6,300MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | Included |
| SN850X 4TB | 7,300MB/s | 6,300MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | Included |
| MP600 PRO LPX 1TB | 7,100MB/s | Not listed | PCIe 4.0 x4 | Included |
| MP600 Elite 1TB | 7,000MB/s | 6,500MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | Included |
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 | MP600 Elite 1TB, MP600 PRO LPX 1TB, SN850X 2TB |
| About $500 to $1000 | SN850X 4TB |
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.
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.
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.
Are DRAM-less SSDs bad?
No. Modern DRAM-less drives with HMB are fine for games; DRAM helps sustained heavy writes.
Bottom Line
The WD Black SN850X 2TB with heatsink suits most gaming PCs and PS5s, and the 4TB version holds larger libraries. The Corsair MP600 PRO LPX has the lowest-profile heatsink, and the MP600 Elite 1TB is the smaller-budget option.