Buying Guide
The Best SSD for PC
From the 9100 PRO 2TB to the T705 4TB: 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
An NVMe SSD is the biggest speed upgrade for an older PC. These are ordered by listed read speed.
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 warranty, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Our 5 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
Crucial T705 4TB
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with Micron TLC NAND.
Best for: Buyers who want the most complete package.
Our take Check price for Crucial T705 4TB (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
Corsair MP700 PRO 2TB
High-density TLC NAND.
Best for: Buyers who want high-density TLC NAND.
Our take Check price for Corsair MP700 PRO 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 highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with Micron TLC NAND. | Buyers who want the most complete package. | Check price for Crucial T705 4TB (opens in a new tab) |
| High-density TLC NAND. | Buyers who want high-density TLC NAND. | Check price for Corsair MP700 PRO 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Fastest Rated Write Speed1 of 5
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
On rated read speed it ties with the T710 2TB at 14,900MB/s. Nothing else here matches its 14,500MB/s rated write speed; the T710 2TB comes closest 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. It was priced above the 9100 PRO 2TB and below the T710 2TB at the time of writing.
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 5
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
- 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
On rated read speed it ties with the MP700 PRO XT 2TB at 14,900MB/s. Its 13,800MB/s rated write speed ranks second of 5 here, behind the MP700 PRO XT 2TB (14,500MB/s) and ahead of the MP700 PRO 2TB (11,800MB/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. It was priced above the MP700 PRO XT 2TB and below the MP700 PRO 2TB at the time of writing.
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 5
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
- 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 helps large file work more than game loading. On rated read speed it sits mid-pack at 14,700MB/s: the MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,900MB/s, and the MP700 PRO 2TB comes in at 12,400MB/s. Its 13,400MB/s rated write speed ranks third of 5 here, behind the MP700 PRO XT 2TB (14,500MB/s) and ahead of the MP700 PRO 2TB (11,800MB/s).
It also offers 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. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the MP700 PRO XT 2TB was closest.
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 T705 4TB
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 5
Crucial T705 4TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The T705 4TB is a PCIe 5.0 drive with 14,100MB/s reads, Micron TLC NAND and a five-year warranty.
Best for
- Buyers who want the most complete package.
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 needs a Gen5 slot and good cooling. On rated read speed it sits mid-pack at 14,100MB/s: the MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,900MB/s, and the MP700 PRO 2TB comes in at 12,400MB/s. Its 12,600MB/s rated write speed ranks fourth of 5 here, behind the MP700 PRO XT 2TB (14,500MB/s) and ahead of the MP700 PRO 2TB (11,800MB/s).
You also get an Acronis True Image and Adobe software 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. 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. Only the MP700 PRO 2TB came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 14,100MB/s
- Sequential write: 12,600MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 5.0 x4
- Warranty: 5-year
- Capacity: 4TB
Pros
- PCIe 5.0 read speeds up to 14,100MB/s
- 5-year warranty
- Micron TLC NAND
- Acronis True Image and Adobe software bundle
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
Strong Alternative5 of 5
Corsair MP700 PRO 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The MP700 PRO 2TB is a PCIe 5.0 drive rated for 12,400MB/s reads and 11,800MB/s writes.
Best for
- Buyers who want high-density 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
Its 12,400MB/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 11,800MB/s, while the MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,500MB/s. It also comes with high-density TLC NAND and NVMe 2.0 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. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper T710 2TB and the pricier T705 4TB, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 12,400MB/s
- Sequential write: 11,800MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 5.0 x4
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- High-density TLC NAND
- NVMe 2.0 support
- 12,400MB/s rated reads on PCIe 5.0
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.
- Endurance
- We noted TBW ratings and warranty length where listed.
- Design
- We checked interface, DRAM cache and heatsink options.
- Capacity
- We compared drives at the same capacity within each guide.
- Speed
- We compared rated sequential read and write speeds.
What to Look for in an SSD for PC
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Decide on rated write speed first
Among these picks, rated write speed runs from 11,800MB/s on the MP700 PRO 2TB to 14,500MB/s on the MP700 PRO XT 2TB. Match this to what you will actually do with it, then let price decide between the picks that qualify.
PCIe 4.0 is enough for games
Game load times barely change between fast PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 5.0 drives. PCIe 5.0 helps large file copies and creative work.
DRAM cache helps heavy use
Drives with DRAM cache hold speed better under long writes. DRAM-less drives with HMB are fine for games.
Cool the drive
Fast drives throttle when hot. Use the motherboard's M.2 heatsink or a heatsink version of the drive.
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.
How to Choose an SSD for PC
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 |
| Buyers who want the most complete package | T705 4TB | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with Micron TLC NAND |
| Buyers who want high-density TLC NAND | MP700 PRO 2TB | High-density TLC NAND |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Drive | Sequential read | Sequential write | Interface | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MP700 PRO XT 2TB | 14,900MB/s | 14,500MB/s | PCIe 5.0 x4 | Not listed |
| T710 2TB | 14,900MB/s | 13,800MB/s | PCIe 5.0 x4 | 5-year |
| 9100 PRO 2TB | 14,700MB/s | 13,400MB/s | PCIe 5.0 x4 | Not listed |
| T705 4TB | 14,100MB/s | 12,600MB/s | PCIe 5.0 x4 | 5-year |
| MP700 PRO 2TB | 12,400MB/s | 11,800MB/s | PCIe 5.0 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 $250 to $500 | 9100 PRO 2TB, MP700 PRO XT 2TB, T710 2TB, MP700 PRO 2TB |
| About $500 to $1000 | T705 4TB |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of these SSDs has the fastest rated read speed?
The MP700 PRO XT 2TB leads at 14,900MB/s, ahead of the T710 2TB at 14,900MB/s; the MP700 PRO 2TB sits at the other end with 12,400MB/s.
What is the least I can spend on one of these SSDs?
At our last price check the 9100 PRO 2TB was the cheapest pick and the T705 4TB the most expensive; the MP700 PRO XT 2TB was the next step up from the 9100 PRO 2TB.
Are DRAM-less SSDs bad?
No. Modern DRAM-less drives with HMB are fine for games; DRAM helps sustained heavy writes.
Can I clone my old drive to a new SSD?
Yes. Most makers offer free cloning software; check the drive maker's site.
Do I need an SSD heatsink?
Use one on fast drives. Most boards include M.2 heatsinks; otherwise buy the heatsink version.
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 T705 4TB for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with Micron TLC NAND if those matter more to you.
Check whether your motherboard slot supports PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 before paying for speed.