Buying Guide
The Best High-Performance SSDs
Three SSDs ranked on rated read speed and rated write speed, where the MP700 PRO XT 2TB has the fastest rated write speed, and it also costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
PCIe 5.0 drives double Gen4 read speeds for large file work. Every pick is a PCIe 5.0 drive, ordered by read speed.
Rankings weigh sequential read, sequential write and interface as the makers state them; if a maker skips sequential read, the guide says so rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Fastest Rated Write Speed
Corsair MP700 PRO XT 2TB
The fastest rated write speed here (14,500MB/s).
Best for: Buyers who put rated write speed first.
Our take Check price for Corsair MP700 PRO XT 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Crucial T710 2TB
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with Micron TLC NAND.
Best for: Buyers who want the most complete package.
Our take Check price for Crucial T710 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Kingston FURY Renegade G5 2TB
Rated writes up to 14,000MB/s.
Best for: Buyers who want rated writes up to 14,000MB/s.
Our take Check price for Kingston FURY Renegade G5 2TB (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The fastest rated write speed here (14,500MB/s). | Buyers who put rated write speed first. | Check price for Corsair MP700 PRO XT 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with Micron TLC NAND. | Buyers who want the most complete package. | Check price for Crucial T710 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
| Rated writes up to 14,000MB/s. | Buyers who want rated writes up to 14,000MB/s. | Check price for Kingston FURY Renegade G5 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Fastest Rated Write Speed1 of 3
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
- Buyers who put rated write speed first.
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 14,500MB/s rated write speed; the FURY Renegade G5 comes closest at 14,000MB/s. You also get 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. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the FURY Renegade G5 was the next step up.
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
Premium Pick2 of 3
Crucial T710 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The T710 2TB is a PCIe 5.0 drive rated for 14,900MB/s reads and 13,800MB/s writes with a five-year warranty.
Best for
- Buyers who want the most complete package.
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
On rated write speed it trails the group at 13,800MB/s, while the MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,500MB/s. It also offers Micron TLC 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. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the FURY Renegade G5.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 14,900MB/s
- Sequential write: 13,800MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 5.0 x4
- Warranty: 5-year
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- PCIe 5.0 read speeds up to 14,900MB/s
- 5-year warranty
- Micron TLC NAND
- Five-year warranty
Cons
- Needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed
- Rated write speed trails the MP700 PRO XT 2TB (14,500MB/s)
- Costs more than the MP700 PRO XT 2TB at the time of writing
Also Consider3 of 3
Kingston FURY Renegade G5 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The FURY Renegade G5 is built around rated writes up to 14,000MB/s.
Best for
- Buyers who want rated writes up to 14,000MB/s.
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
On the spec sheet, it offers a 14,000MB/s rated write speed and is rated for 2TB. Its 14,000MB/s rated write speed ranks second of 3 here, behind the MP700 PRO XT 2TB (14,500MB/s) and ahead of the T710 2TB (13,800MB/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.
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 MP700 PRO XT 2TB and below the T710 2TB at the time of writing. There is no published rated read speed figure, whereas the MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,900MB/s.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential write: 14,000MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 5.0 x4
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- Rated writes up to 14,000MB/s
- Rated write speed of 14,000MB/s, ahead of the T710 2TB
- PCIe 5.0 x4 interface
- 2TB capacity
Cons
- Needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed
- No published rated read speed
- Costs more than the MP700 PRO XT 2TB at the time of writing
How We Chose These High-Performance SSDs
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Endurance
- We noted TBW ratings and warranty length where listed.
- Capacity
- We compared drives at the same capacity within each guide.
- Speed
- We compared rated sequential read and write speeds.
- Design
- We checked interface, DRAM cache and heatsink options.
What to Look for in a High-Performance 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.
DRAM cache helps heavy use
Drives with DRAM cache hold speed better under long writes. DRAM-less drives with HMB are fine for games.
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.
How to Choose a High-Performance SSD
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put rated write speed first | MP700 PRO XT 2TB | The fastest rated write speed here (14,500MB/s) |
| Buyers who want the most complete package | T710 2TB | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with Micron TLC NAND |
| Buyers who want rated writes up to 14,000MB/s | FURY Renegade G5 | Rated writes up to 14,000MB/s |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
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 |
| T710 2TB | 14,900MB/s | 13,800MB/s | PCIe 5.0 x4 | 2TB |
| FURY Renegade G5 | Not listed | 14,000MB/s | PCIe 5.0 x4 | 2TB |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of these SSDs has the fastest rated write speed?
The MP700 PRO XT 2TB, at 14,500MB/s. The FURY Renegade G5 follows at 14,000MB/s, while the T710 2TB has 13,800MB/s.
What is the least I can spend on one of these SSDs?
The MP700 PRO XT 2TB cost the least when we checked, and the T710 2TB sat at the top of the range. Prices move often, so check the current listing before buying.
How much storage do I need for games?
2TB suits most players; 4TB suits large libraries without uninstalling.
Do I need an SSD heatsink?
Use one on fast drives. Most boards include M.2 heatsinks; otherwise buy the heatsink version.
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.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the MP700 PRO XT 2TB, chosen for the fastest rated write speed here (14,500MB/s). Look at the T710 2TB for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with Micron TLC NAND and the FURY Renegade G5 for rated writes up to 14,000MB/s if those matter more to you.
Gen5 drives run hot; use the motherboard's M.2 heatsink.