Buying Guide
The Best High-Performance SSDs
Five SSDs ranked on rated read speed and rated write speed; the P510 1TB is the cheapest route in.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 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 write, the guide says so rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Also Consider
Corsair MP700 PRO XT 2TBThe highest rated writes among the drives here.
Best for: Buyers who want highest rated writes among the drives here.
Check price for Corsair MP700 PRO XT 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Crucial T710 2TBThe highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with Micron TLC NAND.
Best for: Buyers who want Micron TLC NAND and can spend more than the MP700 PRO XT 2TB costs.
Check price for Crucial T710 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
Corsair MP700 Pro 1TBNVMe 2.0 over PCIe Gen5.
Best for: Buyers who want NVMe 2.0 over PCIe Gen5.
Check price for Corsair MP700 Pro 1TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
Crucial P510 1TBThe lowest price among these SSDs at the time of writing.
Best for: Spending as little as possible, with the MP700 Elite 1TB the next step up.
Check price for Crucial P510 1TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
Corsair MP700 Elite 1TBHigh-density 3D TLC NAND.
Best for: Buyers who want high-density 3D TLC NAND.
Check price for Corsair MP700 Elite 1TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The highest rated writes among the drives here. | Buyers who want highest rated writes among the drives here. | Check price for Corsair MP700 PRO XT 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with Micron TLC NAND. | Buyers who want Micron TLC NAND and can spend more than the MP700 PRO XT 2TB costs. | Check price for Crucial T710 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| NVMe 2.0 over PCIe Gen5. | Buyers who want NVMe 2.0 over PCIe Gen5. | Check price for Corsair MP700 Pro 1TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The lowest price among these SSDs at the time of writing. | Spending as little as possible, with the MP700 Elite 1TB the next step up. | Check price for Crucial P510 1TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| High-density 3D TLC NAND. | Buyers who want high-density 3D TLC NAND. | Check price for Corsair MP700 Elite 1TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Also Consider1 of 5
Corsair MP700 PRO XT 2TB
The MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,900MB/s reads and 14,500MB/s writes, the fastest Corsair drive here.
Best for
- Buyers who want highest rated writes among the drives here.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed is a problem.
Why we like it
It matches the T710 2TB on rated read speed (14,900MB/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. Its price falls between the MP700 Pro 1TB and the T710 2TB, based on our last check.
Key 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 P510 1TB at the time of writing
Premium Pick2 of 5
Crucial T710 2TB
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 Micron TLC NAND and can spend more than the MP700 PRO XT 2TB costs.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed is a problem.
Why we like it
It matches the MP700 PRO XT 2TB on rated read speed (14,900MB/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. You also get this: 5-year warranty. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the MP700 PRO XT 2TB.
Key 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
- Costs more than the P510 1TB at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
Corsair MP700 Pro 1TB
The MP700 Pro 1TB stands out for NVMe 2.0 over PCIe Gen5.
Best for
- Buyers who want NVMe 2.0 over PCIe Gen5.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed.
Why we like it
It also offers an 11,700MB/s rated read speed and is rated for 1TB. Its 11,700MB/s rated read speed ranks third of 5 here, behind the MP700 PRO XT 2TB (14,900MB/s) and ahead of the MP700 Elite 1TB (10,000MB/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.
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. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper MP700 Elite 1TB and the pricier MP700 PRO XT 2TB, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Sequential read
- 11,700MB/s
- Interface
- PCIe 5.0 x4
- Capacity
- 1TB
Pros
- NVMe 2.0 over PCIe Gen5
- Rated read speed of 11,700MB/s, ahead of the P510 1TB
- PCIe 5.0 x4 interface
- 1TB capacity
Cons
- Needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed
- Costs more than the P510 1TB at the time of writing
The catch
The maker doesn't give its rated write speed; if that figure matters, the MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,500MB/s.
Lowest Price Here4 of 5
Crucial P510 1TB
What the P510 1TB brings to the table is TLC NAND on a PCIe 5.0 interface.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible, with the MP700 Elite 1TB the next step up.
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
It also offers an 11,000MB/s rated read speed and is rated for 1TB. Its 11,000MB/s rated read speed ranks fourth of 5 here, behind the MP700 PRO XT 2TB (14,900MB/s) and ahead of the MP700 Elite 1TB (10,000MB/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.
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 undercut the MP700 Elite 1TB and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Sequential read
- 11,000MB/s
- Interface
- PCIe 5.0 x4
- Capacity
- 1TB
Pros
- TLC NAND on a PCIe 5.0 interface
- Rated read speed of 11,000MB/s, ahead of the MP700 Elite 1TB
- The lowest price among these SSDs at the time of writing
Cons
- Needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed
- Rated read speed of 11,000MB/s, behind the MP700 PRO XT 2TB (14,900MB/s)
The catch
The maker doesn't give its rated write speed; if that figure matters, the MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,500MB/s.
Worth a Look5 of 5
Corsair MP700 Elite 1TB
The MP700 Elite 1TB is built around high-density 3D TLC NAND.
Best for
- Buyers who want high-density 3D 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 the spec sheet, it offers a 10,000MB/s rated read speed and is rated for 1TB. Its 10,000MB/s rated read speed is the slowest in this group; the MP700 PRO XT 2TB leads at 14,900MB/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. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper P510 1TB and the pricier MP700 Pro 1TB, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Sequential read
- 10,000MB/s
- Interface
- PCIe 5.0 x4
- Capacity
- 1TB
Pros
- High-density 3D TLC NAND
- 10,000MB/s rated read speed
- PCIe 5.0 x4 interface
- 1TB capacity
Cons
- Needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed
- Rated read speed trails the MP700 PRO XT 2TB (14,900MB/s)
- Costs more than the P510 1TB at the time of writing
The catch
The trade-off is rated read speed; for more, the MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,900MB/s.
How We Chose These High-Performance SSDs
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- What we compared
- We set side by side five drives on rated read speed, rated write speed, interface and capacity from manufacturer specifications. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 4 fields compared are stated for every pick, while rated write speed has gaps.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the MP700 PRO XT 2TB to the MP700 Elite 1TB, state rated read speed, interface and capacity and share PCIe 5.0 x4 interface.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The MP700 Pro 1TB, the P510 1TB and the MP700 Elite 1TB give no rated write speed.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the P510 1TB ($150 to $250) to the T710 2TB ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a High-Performance SSD
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Rated read speed
Across these 5 picks rated read speed spans 10,000MB/s (the MP700 Elite 1TB) to 14,900MB/s (the MP700 PRO XT 2TB). If rated read speed is your first filter, the MP700 PRO XT 2TB sets the ceiling at 14,900MB/s.
Rated write speed across these picks
The MP700 PRO XT 2TB tops rated write speed at 14,500MB/s and the T710 2TB sits lowest at 13,800MB/s. The MP700 PRO XT 2TB is the pick for rated write speed. The MP700 Pro 1TB, the P510 1TB and the MP700 Elite 1TB give no rated write speed figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
The M.2 slot and standoff on a motherboard Extras that separate them
The MP700 Pro 1TB: NVMe 2.0 over PCIe Gen5. The P510 1TB: TLC NAND on a PCIe 5.0 interface. The MP700 Elite 1TB: high-density 3D TLC NAND.
Where your budget lands
$150 to $250 buys the P510 1TB; $250 to $500 buys the MP700 Elite 1TB, the MP700 Pro 1TB, the MP700 PRO XT 2TB and the T710 2TB at our last check.
An M.2 SSD installed in a laptop Start from what matters most
Buyers who want Micron TLC NAND and can spend more than the MP700 PRO XT 2TB costs: the T710 2TB. Spending as little as possible, with the MP700 Elite 1TB the next step up: the P510 1TB.
How to Choose a High-Performance SSD
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who want highest rated writes among the drives here | MP700 PRO XT 2TB | The highest rated writes among the drives here |
| Buyers who want Micron TLC NAND and can spend more than the MP700 PRO XT 2TB costs | T710 2TB | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with Micron TLC NAND |
| Buyers who want NVMe 2.0 over PCIe Gen5 | MP700 Pro 1TB | NVMe 2.0 over PCIe Gen5 |
| Spending as little as possible, with the MP700 Elite 1TB the next step up | P510 1TB | The lowest price among these SSDs at the time of writing |
| Buyers who want high-density 3D TLC NAND | MP700 Elite 1TB | High-density 3D TLC NAND |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The MP700 PRO XT 2TB leads on rated read speed at 14,900MB/s, ahead of the T710 2TB at 14,900MB/s. "Not listed" marks rated write speed where the MP700 Pro 1TB, the P510 1TB and the MP700 Elite 1TB leave the figure out.
| 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 |
| MP700 Pro 1TB | 11,700MB/s | Not listed | PCIe 5.0 x4 | 1TB |
| P510 1TB | 11,000MB/s | Not listed | PCIe 5.0 x4 | 1TB |
| MP700 Elite 1TB | 10,000MB/s | Not listed | PCIe 5.0 x4 | 1TB |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The P510 1TB was the lowest-priced pick ($150 to $250) and the T710 2TB the highest ($250 to $500) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Drives |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | P510 1TB |
| About $250 to $500 | MP700 Elite 1TB, MP700 Pro 1TB, MP700 PRO XT 2TB, T710 2TB |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the fastest rated write speed: the MP700 PRO XT 2TB or the T710 2TB?
The MP700 PRO XT 2TB tops rated write speed at 14,500MB/s; the T710 2TB follows at 13,800MB/s, 5% apart. The MP700 Pro 1TB, the P510 1TB and the MP700 Elite 1TB are left out of this ranking because their rated write speed isn't stated; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
What does the T710 2TB add over the P510 1TB?
The spec sheets show rated read speed (14,900MB/s against 11,000MB/s) in its favour. On our last price check the P510 1TB was in the $150 to $250 tier and the T710 2TB in the $250 to $500 tier, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if rated read speed decides your purchase.
Why is the P510 1TB our Lowest Price Here pick?
It carries the badge for the lowest price among these SSDs at the time of writing. It makes sense for spending as little as possible, with the MP700 Elite 1TB the next step up.
Do the MP700 PRO XT 2TB and the MP700 Pro 1TB differ on capacity?
The MP700 PRO XT 2TB and the T710 2TB use 2TB; the MP700 Pro 1TB, the P510 1TB and the MP700 Elite 1TB use 1TB.
What extras do the MP700 PRO XT 2TB and the T710 2TB include?
The MP700 PRO XT 2TB: the highest rated writes among the drives here. The T710 2TB: Micron TLC NAND. The MP700 Pro 1TB: NVMe 2.0 over PCIe Gen5.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the MP700 PRO XT 2TB, chosen for the highest rated writes among the drives here. Look at the T710 2TB for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with Micron TLC NAND, the MP700 Pro 1TB for NVMe 2.0 over PCIe Gen5 and the P510 1TB for the lowest price among these SSDs at the time of writing if those matter more to you.
Gen5 drives run hot; use the motherboard's M.2 heatsink.
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About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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