Buying Guide
The Best M.2 SSDs With Heatsinks
Three SSDs ranked on rated read speed and rated write speed, where the MP600 Elite 2TB has the fastest rated write speed, and it also costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
A built-in heatsink keeps a fast M.2 drive from throttling and suits boards with no heatsink. Every pick ships with a heatsink, ordered by read speed.
The order reflects sequential read, sequential write and interface from maker specifications; a missing heatsink is flagged, not filled in rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Also Consider
WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB with Heatsink
A heatsink version suited to boards without an M.2 cover.
Best for: Buyers who want heatsink version suited to boards without an M.2 cover.
Our take Check price for WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB with Heatsink (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
WD_BLACK SN850X 4TB with Heatsink
The top of this price range, adding a heatsink version suited to boards without an M.2 cover.
Best for: Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Our take Check price for WD_BLACK SN850X 4TB with Heatsink (opens in a new tab)
Fastest Rated Write Speed
Corsair MP600 Elite 2TB
The fastest rated write speed here (6,500MB/s).
Best for: Buyers who put rated write speed first.
Our take Check price for Corsair MP600 Elite 2TB (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| A heatsink version suited to boards without an M.2 cover. | Buyers who want heatsink version suited to boards without an M.2 cover. | Check price for WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB with Heatsink (opens in a new tab) |
| The top of this price range, adding a heatsink version suited to boards without an M.2 cover. | Spending more for the fullest feature set. | Check price for WD_BLACK SN850X 4TB with Heatsink (opens in a new tab) |
| The fastest rated write speed here (6,500MB/s). | Buyers who put rated write speed first. | Check price for Corsair MP600 Elite 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Also Consider1 of 3
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
- Buyers who want heatsink version suited to boards without an M.2 cover.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the MP600 Elite 2TB 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. When we checked, only the MP600 Elite 2TB cost less, and the SN850X 4TB cost more.
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 Elite 2TB
Cons
- Costs more than the MP600 Elite 2TB at the time of writing
Premium Pick2 of 3
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
- Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Skip if
- Skip it if rated write speed matters most to you; the MP600 Elite 2TB 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. At our last price check it topped the group, with the SN850X 2TB the nearest cheaper option. Rated write speed is its weakest area, and the MP600 Elite 2TB covers it better at 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 Elite 2TB
- 4TB capacity, the only one here
Cons
- Rated write speed trails the MP600 Elite 2TB (6,500MB/s)
- Costs more than the MP600 Elite 2TB at the time of writing
Fastest Rated Write Speed3 of 3
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
- Buyers who put rated write speed first.
Skip if
- Skip it if rated read speed matters most to you; the SN850X 2TB offers 7,300MB/s.
Why we like it
Its 7,000MB/s rated read speed is the slowest in this group; the SN850X 2TB leads at 7,300MB/s. Its 6,500MB/s rated write speed is the fastest here; the SN850X 2TB comes next at 6,300MB/s. You also get 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. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the SN850X 2TB was the next step up.
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
- 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 M.2 SSDs With Heatsinks
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- How these picks were ranked
- We lined up three drives on rated read speed, rated write speed, interface and heatsink as the makers state them. We did not test them in-house.
- What every pick has in common
- All 3, from the SN850X 2TB to the MP600 Elite 2TB, state rated read speed, rated write speed and interface and share PCIe 4.0 x4 interface.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The MP600 Elite 2TB gives no heatsink.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the MP600 Elite 2TB ($250 to $500) to the SN850X 4TB ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a M.2 SSD With Heatsinks
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Rated read speed
Here rated read speed runs from 7,000MB/s on the MP600 Elite 2TB to 7,300MB/s on the SN850X 2TB. Start with the SN850X 2TB if rated read speed decides it.
Rated write speed across these picks
Here rated write speed runs from 6,300MB/s on the SN850X 4TB to 6,500MB/s on the MP600 Elite 2TB. The MP600 Elite 2TB is the pick for rated write speed.
Capacity
The SN850X 2TB and the MP600 Elite 2TB list 2TB; the SN850X 4TB lists 4TB. Settle this first, then compare prices.
Extras that separate them
The SN850X 2TB: a heatsink version suited to boards without an M.2 cover. The MP600 Elite 2TB: a bare drive for boards with their own M.2 heatsink.
Budget
$250 to $500 buys the MP600 Elite 2TB and the SN850X 2TB; $500 to $1000 buys the SN850X 4TB at our last check.
How to Choose a M.2 SSD With Heatsinks
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who want heatsink version suited to boards without an M.2 cover | SN850X 2TB | A heatsink version suited to boards without an M.2 cover |
| Spending more for the fullest feature set | SN850X 4TB | The top of this price range, adding a heatsink version suited to boards without an M.2 cover |
| Buyers who put rated write speed first | MP600 Elite 2TB | The fastest rated write speed here (6,500MB/s) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The SN850X 2TB leads on rated read speed at 7,300MB/s, ahead of the SN850X 4TB at 7,300MB/s. "Not listed" means the maker leaves that figure out.
| 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 Elite 2TB | 7,000MB/s | 6,500MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The MP600 Elite 2TB was the lowest-priced pick and the SN850X 4TB the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Drives |
|---|---|
| About $250 to $500 | MP600 Elite 2TB, SN850X 2TB |
| About $500 to $1000 | SN850X 4TB |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the SN850X 2TB compare with the MP600 Elite 2TB on rated write speed?
The MP600 Elite 2TB leads at 6,500MB/s, with the SN850X 2TB at 6,300MB/s.
What does the SN850X 4TB add over the MP600 Elite 2TB?
On paper it adds rated read speed (7,300MB/s against 7,000MB/s). It does not win everywhere: the MP600 Elite 2TB still leads on rated write speed (6,500MB/s). The MP600 Elite 2TB was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if those gains matter to you.
Why is the MP600 Elite 2TB our Fastest Rated Write Speed pick?
It earns the label for the fastest rated write speed here (6,500MB/s). It suits anyone who put rated write speed first.
Does the SN850X 2TB have heatsink, and which others do?
The SN850X 2TB and the SN850X 4TB have it. The maker of the MP600 Elite 2TB doesn't say.
What extras do the SN850X 2TB and the SN850X 4TB include?
The SN850X 2TB: a heatsink version suited to boards without an M.2 cover. The SN850X 4TB: a heatsink version suited to boards without an M.2 cover. The MP600 Elite 2TB: high-density 3D TLC NAND.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the SN850X 2TB, chosen for a heatsink version suited to boards without an M.2 cover. Look at the SN850X 4TB for the top of this price range, adding a heatsink version suited to boards without an M.2 cover and the MP600 Elite 2TB for the fastest rated write speed here (6,500MB/s) if those matter more to you.
Check clearance under a GPU before using a tall heatsink.