Buying Guide
The Best PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSDs Up to 2TB
We weighed four SSDs on rated read speed and rated write speed; the MP700 PRO XT 2TB has the fastest rated write speed, and the 9100 PRO 2TB costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read4 products evaluated
PCIe 5.0 drives reach 14GB/s but need cooling. Every pick is a PCIe 5.0 drive of 2TB or less, ordered by read speed.
We ranked these SSDs on sequential read, sequential write and interface using manufacturer specifications; we did not test these SSDs ourselves, and where a maker leaves a figure out, we say so.
Quick Picks
Our 4 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)
Also Consider
Crucial T710 2TB
Micron TLC NAND.
Best for: Buyers who want Micron TLC NAND.
Our take Check price for Crucial T710 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB
The lowest price among these SSDs at the time of writing.
Best for: Keeping the budget tight.
Our take Check price for Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Corsair MP700 Elite 2TB
The top of this price range, adding DirectStorage support.
Best for: Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Our take Check price for Corsair MP700 Elite 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) |
| Micron TLC NAND. | Buyers who want Micron TLC NAND. | Check price for Crucial T710 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
| The lowest price among these SSDs at the time of writing. | Keeping the budget tight. | Check price for Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
| The top of this price range, adding DirectStorage support. | Spending more for the fullest feature set. | Check price for Corsair MP700 Elite 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Fastest Rated Write Speed1 of 4
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
It matches the T710 2TB on rated read speed (14,900MB/s). Its 14,500MB/s rated write speed is the fastest here; the T710 2TB comes next at 13,800MB/s. It also offers 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 9100 PRO 2TB and the T710 2TB, based on our last check.
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
- Costs more than the 9100 PRO 2TB at the time of writing
Also Consider2 of 4
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 Micron 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
It matches the MP700 PRO XT 2TB on rated read speed (14,900MB/s). On rated write speed it sits mid-pack at 13,800MB/s: the MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,500MB/s, and the MP700 Elite 2TB comes in at 8,500MB/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. Its price falls between the MP700 PRO XT 2TB and the MP700 Elite 2TB, based on our last check.
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
- Costs more than the 9100 PRO 2TB at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here3 of 4
Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The 9100 PRO doubles PCIe 4.0 speeds at 14,700MB/s reads with DRAM cache.
Best for
- Keeping the budget tight.
Skip if
- Pass on it if needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated spee rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It helps large file work more than game loading. Its 14,700MB/s rated read speed ranks third of 4 here, behind the MP700 PRO XT 2TB (14,900MB/s) and ahead of the MP700 Elite 2TB (10,000MB/s). On rated write speed it sits mid-pack at 13,400MB/s: the MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,500MB/s, and the MP700 Elite 2TB comes in at 8,500MB/s.
It also comes with in-house controller, DRAM and 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 undercut the MP700 PRO XT 2TB and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 14,700MB/s
- Sequential write: 13,400MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 5.0 x4
- DRAM cache: Yes
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- PCIe 5.0 read speeds up to 14,700MB/s
- Onboard DRAM cache
- In-house controller, DRAM and NAND
- Rated write speed of 13,400MB/s, ahead of the MP700 Elite 2TB
Cons
- Needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed
- Rated read speed of 14,700MB/s, behind the MP700 PRO XT 2TB (14,900MB/s)
Premium Pick4 of 4
Corsair MP700 Elite 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The MP700 Elite 2TB is a PCIe 5.0 drive rated for 10,000MB/s reads and 8,500MB/s writes.
Best for
- Spending more for the fullest feature set.
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
Its 10,000MB/s rated read speed is the slowest in this group; the MP700 PRO XT 2TB leads at 14,900MB/s. On rated write speed it trails the group at 8,500MB/s, while the MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,500MB/s. You also get DirectStorage support, high-density 3D TLC NAND and a lower price than the MP700 PRO 2TB.
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 T710 2TB.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 10,000MB/s
- Sequential write: 8,500MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 5.0 x4
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- DirectStorage support
- High-density 3D TLC NAND
- Lower price than the MP700 PRO 2TB
- The top of this price range, adding DirectStorage support
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 9100 PRO 2TB at the time of writing
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- The figures behind the order
- We compared four drives on rated read speed, rated write speed, interface and capacity as the makers state them. We did not test them in-house.
- What every pick has in common
- All 4, from the MP700 PRO XT 2TB to the MP700 Elite 2TB, state rated read speed, rated write speed and interface and share PCIe 5.0 x4 interface and 2TB capacity.
- Who each pick suits
- The MP700 PRO XT 2TB for the fastest rated write speed here (14,500MB/s); the T710 2TB for micron TLC NAND; the 9100 PRO 2TB for the lowest price among these SSDs at the time of writing.
- Price range
- From the 9100 PRO 2TB to the MP700 Elite 2TB, all sat in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSDs Up to 2TB
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Rated read speed
Here rated read speed runs from 10,000MB/s on the MP700 Elite 2TB to 14,900MB/s on the MP700 PRO XT 2TB. Start with the MP700 PRO XT 2TB if rated read speed decides it.
Rated write speed across these picks
Here rated write speed runs from 8,500MB/s on the MP700 Elite 2TB to 14,500MB/s on the MP700 PRO XT 2TB. The MP700 PRO XT 2TB is the pick for rated write speed.
Extras that separate them
The T710 2TB: a five-year warranty. The 9100 PRO 2TB: in-house controller, DRAM and NAND. The MP700 Elite 2TB: high-density 3D TLC NAND.
How much to spend
All 4 sat in one tier when we checked, from the 9100 PRO 2TB at the low end to the MP700 Elite 2TB at the top, so decide on features first.
Start from what matters most
Buyers who put rated write speed first: the MP700 PRO XT 2TB. Keeping the budget tight: the 9100 PRO 2TB. Spending more for the fullest feature set: the MP700 Elite 2TB.
How to Choose a PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSDs Up to 2TB
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 Micron TLC NAND | T710 2TB | Micron TLC NAND |
| Keeping the budget tight | 9100 PRO 2TB | The lowest price among these SSDs at the time of writing |
| Spending more for the fullest feature set | MP700 Elite 2TB | The top of this price range, adding DirectStorage support |
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.
| 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 |
| 9100 PRO 2TB | 14,700MB/s | 13,400MB/s | PCIe 5.0 x4 | 2TB |
| MP700 Elite 2TB | 10,000MB/s | 8,500MB/s | PCIe 5.0 x4 | 2TB |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the MP700 PRO XT 2TB ahead of the T710 2TB on rated write speed?
The MP700 PRO XT 2TB leads at 14,500MB/s, with the T710 2TB at 13,800MB/s. The MP700 Elite 2TB is at the other end of this group with 8,500MB/s.
What does the MP700 Elite 2TB add over the 9100 PRO 2TB?
On the figures both makers state, it adds little. It does not win everywhere: the 9100 PRO 2TB still leads on rated read speed (14,700MB/s) and rated write speed (13,400MB/s). The 9100 PRO 2TB was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if a feature outside the spec sheet matters to you.
Why is the MP700 PRO XT 2TB our Fastest Rated Write Speed pick?
It earns the label for the fastest rated write speed here (14,500MB/s). It suits anyone who put rated write speed first.
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 9100 PRO 2TB: in-house controller, DRAM and NAND.
Should I pick the MP700 PRO XT 2TB or the MP700 Elite 2TB?
The MP700 PRO XT 2TB suits buyers who put rated write speed first; the MP700 Elite 2TB suits spending more for the fullest feature set.
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 Micron TLC NAND, the 9100 PRO 2TB for the lowest price among these SSDs at the time of writing and the MP700 Elite 2TB for the top of this price range, adding DirectStorage support if those matter more to you.
Use the heatsink on your board or the one supplied.