Buying Guide
The Best SSD for OS
We weighed five SSDs on rated read speed and rated write speed; the 990 EVO Plus 1TB has the fastest rated read speed, and the NV3 1TB costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
An operating system drive needs fast random access more than huge capacity; 1TB to 2TB leaves room for apps. These NVMe SSDs are ordered from the lowest price.
Rankings weigh sequential read, sequential write and interface as the makers state them; we did not test these SSDs ourselves, 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
Crucial P310 1TB
An Acronis data migration bundle.
Best for: Buyers who want Acronis data migration bundle.
Our take Check price for Crucial P310 1TB (opens in a new tab)
Fastest Rated Read Speed
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB
The fastest rated read speed here (7,150MB/s).
Best for: Buyers who put rated read speed first.
Our take Check price for Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Crucial P310 2TB
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with an Acronis data migration bundle.
Best for: Buyers who want the most complete package.
Our take Check price for Crucial P310 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) |
| An Acronis data migration bundle. | Buyers who want Acronis data migration bundle. | Check price for Crucial P310 1TB (opens in a new tab) |
| The fastest rated read speed here (7,150MB/s). | Buyers who put rated read speed first. | Check price for Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with an Acronis data migration bundle. | Buyers who want the most complete package. | Check price for Crucial P310 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
- Skip it if rated read speed matters most to you; the 990 EVO Plus 1TB offers 7,150MB/s.
Why we like it
It includes Acronis cloning software, which makes moving an existing install easy. Its 6,000MB/s rated read speed is the slowest in this group; the 990 EVO Plus 1TB leads at 7,150MB/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. Another plus is 5-year warranty. It undercut the SN5100 1TB and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
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
- The cheapest way into this group, below the SN5100 1TB
Cons
- Rated read speed trails the 990 EVO Plus 1TB (7,150MB/s)
- No published rated write speed
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
- Its rated write speed is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
It matches the P310 1TB and the P310 2TB on rated read speed (7,100MB/s). It also offers 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. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper NV3 1TB and the pricier P310 1TB, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its rated write speed; if that figure matters, the 990 EVO Plus 1TB offers 6,300MB/s.
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 NV3 1TB
Cons
- No published rated write speed
- Costs more than the NV3 1TB at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
Crucial P310 1TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The P310 1TB stands out for an Acronis data migration bundle, and it adds a design that also suits handheld consoles.
Best for
- Buyers who want Acronis data migration bundle.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the NV3 1TB cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also offers a 7,100MB/s rated read speed and offers a 6,000MB/s rated write speed. It uses Micron's G8 NAND with thermal control and is up to twice as fast as Gen3 drives for boot and app launches. On rated read speed it ties with the SN5100 1TB and the P310 2TB 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. When we checked, only the SN5100 1TB and cheaper picks cost less, and the 990 EVO Plus 1TB cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,100MB/s
- Sequential write: 6,000MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Capacity: 1TB
Pros
- Acronis data migration bundle
- Design that also suits handheld consoles
- Rated read speed of 7,100MB/s, ahead of the NV3 1TB
Cons
- Costs more than the NV3 1TB at the time of writing
Fastest Rated Read Speed4 of 5
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The 990 EVO Plus 1TB stands out for a design that runs on PCIe 4.0 x4 or PCIe 5.0 x2 lanes, and it adds Samsung Magician software for firmware updates.
Best for
- Buyers who put rated read speed first.
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 a 7,150MB/s rated read speed and offers a 6,300MB/s rated write speed. On rated read speed it leads this guide at 7,150MB/s, ahead of the SN5100 1TB (7,100MB/s). Nothing else here matches its 6,300MB/s rated write speed; the P310 1TB comes closest at 6,000MB/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 fourth of 5, between the cheaper P310 1TB and the pricier P310 2TB, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,150MB/s
- Sequential write: 6,300MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2
- Capacity: 1TB
Pros
- Design that runs on PCIe 4.0 x4 or PCIe 5.0 x2 lanes
- Samsung Magician software for firmware updates
- Fastest rated read speed of the picks (7,150MB/s)
- Fastest rated write speed of the picks (6,300MB/s)
Cons
- Needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed
- Costs more than the NV3 1TB at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
Crucial P310 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The P310 2TB offers 7,100MB/s reads at one of the lowest 2TB prices here.
Best for
- Buyers who want the most complete package.
Skip if
- Skip it if rated write speed matters most to you; the 990 EVO Plus 1TB offers 6,300MB/s.
Why we like it
It matches the SN5100 1TB and the P310 1TB on rated read speed (7,100MB/s). On rated write speed it ties with the P310 1TB at 6,000MB/s. It also comes with an Acronis data migration bundle.
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 most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the 990 EVO Plus 1TB. If rated write speed is your priority, the 990 EVO Plus 1TB (6,300MB/s) is the stronger choice.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,100MB/s
- Sequential write: 6,000MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- Acronis data migration bundle
- One of the lowest 2TB prices here
- Rated read speed of 7,100MB/s, ahead of the NV3 1TB
- 2TB capacity, the only one here
Cons
- Rated write speed trails the 990 EVO Plus 1TB (6,300MB/s)
- Costs more than the NV3 1TB at the time of writing
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Design
- We checked interface, DRAM cache and heatsink options.
- Speed
- We compared rated sequential read and write speeds.
- Endurance
- We noted TBW ratings and warranty length where listed.
- Capacity
- We compared drives at the same capacity within each guide.
What to Look for in an SSD for OS
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Decide on rated read speed first
Among these picks, rated read speed runs from 6,000MB/s on the NV3 1TB to 7,150MB/s on the 990 EVO Plus 1TB. Match this to what you will actually do with it, then let price decide between the picks that qualify.
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.
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 an SSD for OS
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 Acronis data migration bundle | P310 1TB | An Acronis data migration bundle |
| Buyers who put rated read speed first | 990 EVO Plus 1TB | The fastest rated read speed here (7,150MB/s) |
| Buyers who want the most complete package | P310 2TB | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with an Acronis data migration bundle |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| 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 |
| P310 1TB | 7,100MB/s | 6,000MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | Not listed |
| 990 EVO Plus 1TB | 7,150MB/s | 6,300MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2 | Not listed |
| P310 2TB | 7,100MB/s | 6,000MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
Prices change often; these tiers reflect Amazon prices when this guide was updated.
| Price tier | Drives |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | NV3 1TB, SN5100 1TB, P310 1TB, 990 EVO Plus 1TB |
| About $250 to $500 | P310 2TB |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of these SSDs has the fastest rated write speed?
The 990 EVO Plus 1TB, at 6,300MB/s. The P310 1TB follows at 6,000MB/s, while the P310 2TB has 6,000MB/s.
What is the least I can spend on one of these SSDs?
At our last price check the NV3 1TB was the cheapest pick and the P310 2TB the most expensive; the SN5100 1TB was the next step up from the NV3 1TB.
Are DRAM-less SSDs bad?
No. Modern DRAM-less drives with HMB are fine for games; DRAM helps sustained heavy writes.
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 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 P310 1TB for an Acronis data migration bundle and the 990 EVO Plus 1TB for the fastest rated read speed here (7,150MB/s) if those matter more to you.
Put the OS on the fastest M.2 slot, usually the one wired to the CPU.