Buying Guide
The Best PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs for Gaming
From the NV3 1TB to the MP600 CORE XT 2TB: five SSDs ranked on rated read speed and rated write speed, with who should skip each one.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
PCIe 4.0 drives load games as fast as most players can use and cost less than PCIe 5.0. Every pick is a PCIe 4.0 drive with DRAM, ordered from the lowest price.
We sorted these picks by sequential read, sequential write and interface, working from the makers' own data; nothing here was tested in-house, and if a maker skips sequential write, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
Kingston NV3 1TB
The cheapest way into this group, below the SN5100 1TB.
Best for: Spending as little as possible.
Our take Check price for Kingston NV3 1TB (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
WD Blue SN5100 1TB
A five-year limited warranty.
Best for: Buyers who want five-year limited warranty.
Our take Check price for WD Blue SN5100 1TB (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
WD Blue SN5100 2TB
A five-year limited warranty.
Best for: Buyers who want five-year limited warranty.
Our take Check price for WD Blue SN5100 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
TEAMGROUP MP44 2TB
SLC caching for bursts of writes.
Best for: Buyers who want SLC caching for bursts of writes.
Our take Check price for TEAMGROUP MP44 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Corsair MP600 CORE XT 2TB
QLC NAND, which trades sustained write speed for price at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor.
Our take Check price for Corsair MP600 CORE XT 2TB (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The cheapest way into this group, below the SN5100 1TB. | Spending as little as possible. | Check price for Kingston NV3 1TB (opens in a new tab) |
| A five-year limited warranty. | Buyers who want five-year limited warranty. | Check price for WD Blue SN5100 1TB (opens in a new tab) |
| A five-year limited warranty. | Buyers who want five-year limited warranty. | Check price for WD Blue SN5100 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
| SLC caching for bursts of writes. | Buyers who want SLC caching for bursts of writes. | Check price for TEAMGROUP MP44 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
| QLC NAND, which trades sustained write speed for price at the highest price in the group. | Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor. | Check price for Corsair MP600 CORE XT 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
Kingston NV3 1TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The NV3 1TB offers 6,000MB/s reads at the lowest 1TB price here, the trade being slower rated reads.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible.
Skip if
- Pass on it if rated read speed of 6,000MB/s, behind the SN5100 1TB (7,100MB/s rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It includes Acronis cloning software, which makes moving an existing install easy. On rated read speed it sits mid-pack at 6,000MB/s: the SN5100 1TB offers 7,100MB/s, and the MP600 CORE XT 2TB comes in at 5,900MB/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.
It runs at full speed in any PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot and still works, slower, in a PCIe 3.0 slot. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the SN5100 1TB was closest. If you want a confirmed rated write speed, look to the MP44 2TB instead: it offers 6,000MB/s, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 6,000MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Warranty: 5-year
- Capacity: 1TB
Pros
- 5-year warranty
- The lowest price among the 1TB drives here
- 6,000MB/s rated reads on PCIe 4.0
- Rated read speed of 6,000MB/s, ahead of the MP600 CORE XT 2TB
Cons
- Rated read speed of 6,000MB/s, behind the SN5100 1TB (7,100MB/s)
Also Consider2 of 5
WD Blue SN5100 1TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The SN5100 1TB offers 7,100MB/s reads with a five-year warranty at a low price.
Best for
- Buyers who want five-year limited warranty.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the NV3 1TB cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
On rated read speed it ties with the SN5100 2TB at 7,100MB/s. You also get the lowest price among the 1TB TLC-class drives here. 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. When we checked, only the NV3 1TB cost less, and the SN5100 2TB cost more. If you want a confirmed rated write speed, look to the MP44 2TB instead: it offers 6,000MB/s, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,100MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Warranty: 5-year
- Capacity: 1TB
Pros
- 5-year warranty
- Five-year limited warranty
- The lowest price among the 1TB TLC-class drives here
- Rated read speed of 7,100MB/s, ahead of the MP44 2TB
Cons
- Costs more than the NV3 1TB at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
WD Blue SN5100 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The SN5100 2TB offers 7,100MB/s reads with a five-year warranty.
Best for
- Buyers who want five-year limited warranty.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the NV3 1TB, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It reads at up to 7,100MB/s, about 30% faster than WD's previous generation. Note that WD has replaced it with the SanDisk Optimus 5100. On rated read speed it ties with the SN5100 1TB at 7,100MB/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. It was priced above the SN5100 1TB and below the MP44 2TB at the time of writing. There is no published rated write speed figure, whereas the MP44 2TB offers 6,000MB/s.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,100MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Warranty: 5-year
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- 5-year warranty
- Five-year limited warranty
- Rated read speed of 7,100MB/s, ahead of the MP44 2TB
Cons
- Costs more than the NV3 1TB at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
TEAMGROUP MP44 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The MP44 2TB offers 7,000MB/s reads and 6,000MB/s writes with a slim graphene label.
Best for
- Buyers who want SLC caching for bursts of writes.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the NV3 1TB, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
A graphene label helps spread heat, which works alongside a motherboard heatsink. Its 7,000MB/s rated read speed ranks third of 5 here, behind the SN5100 1TB (7,100MB/s) and ahead of the MP600 CORE XT 2TB (5,900MB/s). It also comes with SLC caching for bursts of writes.
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 fourth of 5, between the cheaper SN5100 2TB and the pricier MP600 CORE XT 2TB, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,000MB/s
- Sequential write: 6,000MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- SLC caching for bursts of writes
- Slim graphene label for laptops
- 7,000MB/s rated reads
- Rated read speed of 7,000MB/s, ahead of the NV3 1TB
Cons
- Costs more than the NV3 1TB at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
Corsair MP600 CORE XT 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
What the MP600 CORE XT 2TB brings to the table is QLC NAND, which trades sustained write speed for price.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor.
Skip if
- Skip it if rated read speed matters most to you; the SN5100 1TB offers 7,100MB/s.
Why we like it
It also offers a 5,900MB/s rated read speed and offers a 5,000MB/s rated write speed. Its 5,900MB/s rated read speed is the slowest in this group; the SN5100 1TB leads at 7,100MB/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. It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the MP44 2TB and the rest.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 5,900MB/s
- Sequential write: 5,000MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- QLC NAND, which trades sustained write speed for price
- QLC NAND, which trades sustained write speed for price at the highest price in the group
- 5,900MB/s rated read speed
- 5,000MB/s rated write speed
Cons
- Rated read speed trails the SN5100 1TB (7,100MB/s)
- Costs more than the NV3 1TB at the time of writing
How We Chose These PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs for Gaming
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- The figures behind the order
- We lined up five drives on rated read speed, rated write speed, interface and warranty, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the NV3 1TB to the MP600 CORE XT 2TB, state rated read speed, interface and capacity and share PCIe 4.0 x4 interface.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The NV3 1TB, the SN5100 1TB and the SN5100 2TB give no rated write speed; the MP44 2TB and the MP600 CORE XT 2TB give no warranty.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the NV3 1TB ($150 to $250) to the MP600 CORE XT 2TB ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD for Gaming
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much rated read speed you need
Here rated read speed runs from 5,900MB/s on the MP600 CORE XT 2TB to 7,100MB/s on the SN5100 1TB. The SN5100 1TB is the pick for rated read speed.
Rated write speed across these picks
Here rated write speed runs from 5,000MB/s on the MP600 CORE XT 2TB to 6,000MB/s on the MP44 2TB. Start with the MP44 2TB if rated write speed decides it. No figure for the NV3 1TB, the SN5100 1TB and the SN5100 2TB.
Features beyond the spec table
The SN5100 2TB: a five-year limited warranty. The MP44 2TB: a slim graphene label for laptops. The MP600 CORE XT 2TB: QLC NAND, which trades sustained write speed for price.
Where your budget lands
$150 to $250 buys the NV3 1TB and the SN5100 1TB; $250 to $500 buys the SN5100 2TB, the MP44 2TB and the MP600 CORE XT 2TB at our last check.
Match the pick to your priority
Spending as little as possible: the NV3 1TB. Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor: the MP600 CORE XT 2TB.
How to Choose a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD for Gaming
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spending as little as possible | NV3 1TB | The cheapest way into this group, below the SN5100 1TB |
| Buyers who want five-year limited warranty | SN5100 1TB | A five-year limited warranty |
| Buyers who want five-year limited warranty | SN5100 2TB | A five-year limited warranty |
| Buyers who want SLC caching for bursts of writes | MP44 2TB | SLC caching for bursts of writes |
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor | MP600 CORE XT 2TB | QLC NAND, which trades sustained write speed for price at the highest price in the group |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The SN5100 1TB leads on rated read speed at 7,100MB/s, ahead of the SN5100 2TB at 7,100MB/s. "Not listed" means the maker leaves that figure out.
| Drive | Sequential read | Sequential write | Interface | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NV3 1TB | 6,000MB/s | Not listed | PCIe 4.0 x4 | 5-year |
| SN5100 1TB | 7,100MB/s | Not listed | PCIe 4.0 x4 | 5-year |
| SN5100 2TB | 7,100MB/s | Not listed | PCIe 4.0 x4 | 5-year |
| MP44 2TB | 7,000MB/s | 6,000MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | Not listed |
| MP600 CORE XT 2TB | 5,900MB/s | 5,000MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The NV3 1TB was the lowest-priced pick and the MP600 CORE XT 2TB the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Drives |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | NV3 1TB, SN5100 1TB |
| About $250 to $500 | SN5100 2TB, MP44 2TB, MP600 CORE XT 2TB |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the MP600 CORE XT 2TB compare with the MP44 2TB on rated write speed?
The MP44 2TB leads at 6,000MB/s, with the MP600 CORE XT 2TB at 5,000MB/s. The NV3 1TB, the SN5100 1TB and the SN5100 2TB don't state a figure, so they sit outside this comparison.
Is the MP600 CORE XT 2TB worth paying more than the NV3 1TB?
On the figures both makers state, it adds little. It does not win everywhere: the NV3 1TB still leads on rated read speed (6,000MB/s). The NV3 1TB was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if a feature outside the spec sheet matters to you.
What makes the NV3 1TB the Lowest Price Here?
It earns the label for the cheapest way into this group, below the SN5100 1TB. It suits spending as little as possible.
Do the NV3 1TB and the SN5100 2TB differ on capacity?
The NV3 1TB and the SN5100 1TB use 1TB; the SN5100 2TB, the MP44 2TB and the MP600 CORE XT 2TB use 2TB.
Beyond the specs, what sets the NV3 1TB and the SN5100 1TB apart?
The NV3 1TB: the lowest price among the 1TB drives here. The SN5100 1TB: a five-year limited warranty. The SN5100 2TB: a five-year limited warranty.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the NV3 1TB, chosen for the cheapest way into this group, below the SN5100 1TB. Look at the SN5100 1TB for a five-year limited warranty, the SN5100 2TB for a five-year limited warranty and the MP44 2TB for SLC caching for bursts of writes if those matter more to you.
Use the motherboard's CPU-linked M.2 slot for the main drive.