Buying Guide
The Best SSD for PC
From the 9100 Pro 1TB to the 990 Pro 2TB heatsink: five SSDs ranked on rated read speed and rated write speed, with who should skip each one.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
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 sequential write, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Also Consider
Corsair MP700 PRO XT 2TBThe highest rated writes among the drives here.
Best for: Buyers who want highest rated writes among the drives here.
Check price for Corsair MP700 PRO XT 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
Crucial T710 2TBMicron TLC NAND.
Best for: Buyers who want Micron TLC NAND.
Check price for Crucial T710 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
Kingston Fury Renegade G5 1TBA PCIe 5.0 M.2 2280 drive.
Best for: Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 2280 drive.
Check price for Kingston Fury Renegade G5 1TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
Samsung 9100 Pro 1TBUndercutting the Fury Renegade G5 1TB on price when we checked.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Fury Renegade G5 1TB.
Check price for Samsung 9100 Pro 1TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Samsung 990 Pro 2TB with HeatsinkThe top of this price range, adding a factory-fitted heatsink.
Best for: Spending more than the T710 2TB costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Check price for Samsung 990 Pro 2TB with Heatsink on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Also Consider1 of 5
Corsair MP700 PRO XT 2TB
The MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,900MB/s reads and 14,500MB/s writes, the fastest Corsair drive here.
Best for
- Buyers who want highest rated writes among the drives here.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed is a problem.
Why we like it
On rated read speed it ties with the T710 2TB at 14,900MB/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 Fury Renegade G5 1TB and below the T710 2TB at the time of writing.
Key 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 1TB at the time of writing
Strong Alternative2 of 5
Crucial T710 2TB
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. 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 990 Pro 2TB heatsink at the time of writing.
Key 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 1TB at the time of writing
Worth a Look3 of 5
Kingston Fury Renegade G5 1TB
What the Fury Renegade G5 1TB brings to the table is a PCIe 5.0 M.2 2280 drive.
Best for
- Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 2280 drive.
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 also offers a 14,800MB/s rated read speed and is rated for 1TB. Its 14,800MB/s rated read speed ranks third of 5 here, behind the MP700 PRO XT 2TB (14,900MB/s) and ahead of the 990 Pro 2TB heatsink (7,450MB/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 second of 5, between the cheaper 9100 Pro 1TB and the pricier MP700 PRO XT 2TB, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Sequential read
- 14,800MB/s
- Interface
- PCIe 5.0 x4
- Capacity
- 1TB
Pros
- PCIe 5.0 read speeds up to 14,800MB/s
- PCIe 5.0 M.2 2280 drive
- PCIe 5.0 x4 interface
- 1TB capacity
Cons
- Needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed
- Costs more than the 9100 Pro 1TB at the time of writing
The catch
The maker doesn't give its rated write speed; if that figure matters, the MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,500MB/s.
Lowest Price Here4 of 5
Samsung 9100 Pro 1TB
The 9100 Pro 1TB is built around a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface.
Best for
- Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Fury Renegade G5 1TB.
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
On the spec sheet, it offers a 14,700MB/s rated read speed and is rated for 1TB. Its 14,700MB/s rated read speed ranks fourth of 5 here, behind the MP700 PRO XT 2TB (14,900MB/s) and ahead of the 990 Pro 2TB heatsink (7,450MB/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. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Fury Renegade G5 1TB was the next step up.
Key specs
- Sequential read
- 14,700MB/s
- Interface
- PCIe 5.0 x4
- Capacity
- 1TB
Pros
- PCIe 5.0 read speeds up to 14,700MB/s
- PCIe 5.0 x4 interface
- Undercutting the Fury Renegade G5 1TB on price when we checked
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)
The catch
Buyers who need a confirmed rated write speed should compare it with the MP700 PRO XT 2TB, which offers 14,500MB/s.
Premium Pick5 of 5
Samsung 990 Pro 2TB with Heatsink
The 990 Pro 2TB heatsink stands out for a factory-fitted heatsink.
Best for
- Spending more than the T710 2TB costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Skip if
- Skip it if rated read speed matters most to you; the MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,900MB/s.
Why we like it
It also offers a 7,450MB/s rated read speed and is rated for 2TB. On rated read speed it trails the group at 7,450MB/s, while the MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,900MB/s. It is the only pick here with a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface; the MP700 PRO XT 2TB has a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface instead.
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. Only the T710 2TB came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks.
Key specs
- Sequential read
- 7,450MB/s
- Interface
- PCIe 4.0 x4
- Heatsink
- Included
- Capacity
- 2TB
Pros
- Heatsink included for boards without one
- Factory-fitted heatsink
- PCIe 4.0 x4 interface, the only one here
- The top of this price range, adding a factory-fitted heatsink
Cons
- Rated read speed trails the MP700 PRO XT 2TB (14,900MB/s)
- Costs more than the 9100 Pro 1TB at the time of writing
The catch
It gives ground on rated read speed, where the MP700 PRO XT 2TB offers 14,900MB/s.
How We Chose
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- What we compared
- We compared five drives on rated read speed, rated write speed, interface and capacity as the makers state them. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 4 fields compared are stated for every pick, while rated write speed has gaps.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the MP700 PRO XT 2TB to the 990 Pro 2TB heatsink, state rated read speed, interface and capacity.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Fury Renegade G5 1TB, the 9100 Pro 1TB and the 990 Pro 2TB heatsink give no rated write speed.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the 9100 Pro 1TB ($150 to $250) to the 990 Pro 2TB heatsink ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in an SSD for PC
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Rated read speed
Here rated read speed runs from 7,450MB/s on the 990 Pro 2TB heatsink to 14,900MB/s on the MP700 PRO XT 2TB, a 100% spread. Start with the MP700 PRO XT 2TB if rated read speed decides it.
How much rated write speed you need
The MP700 PRO XT 2TB tops rated write speed at 14,500MB/s and the T710 2TB sits lowest at 13,800MB/s. The MP700 PRO XT 2TB is the pick for rated write speed. The Fury Renegade G5 1TB, the 9100 Pro 1TB and the 990 Pro 2TB heatsink give no rated write speed figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
An M.2 SSD installed on a motherboard Capacity
The MP700 PRO XT 2TB, the T710 2TB and the 990 Pro 2TB heatsink list 2TB; the Fury Renegade G5 1TB and the 9100 Pro 1TB list 1TB.
Features beyond the spec table
The Fury Renegade G5 1TB: a PCIe 5.0 M.2 2280 drive. The 9100 Pro 1TB: a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface. The 990 Pro 2TB heatsink: a factory-fitted heatsink.
An M.2 SSD going into a motherboard slot How much to spend
$150 to $250 buys the 9100 Pro 1TB and the Fury Renegade G5 1TB; $250 to $500 buys the MP700 PRO XT 2TB, the T710 2TB and the 990 Pro 2TB heatsink at our last check.
How to Choose an SSD for PC
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who want highest rated writes among the drives here | MP700 PRO XT 2TB | The highest rated writes among the drives here |
| Buyers who want Micron TLC NAND | T710 2TB | Micron TLC NAND |
| Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 2280 drive | Fury Renegade G5 1TB | A PCIe 5.0 M.2 2280 drive |
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Fury Renegade G5 1TB | 9100 Pro 1TB | Undercutting the Fury Renegade G5 1TB on price when we checked |
| Spending more than the T710 2TB costs for the fullest feature set in this group | 990 Pro 2TB heatsink | The top of this price range, adding a factory-fitted heatsink |
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. "Not listed" marks rated write speed where the Fury Renegade G5 1TB, the 9100 Pro 1TB and the 990 Pro 2TB heatsink leave the figure out.
| 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 |
| Fury Renegade G5 1TB | 14,800MB/s | Not listed | PCIe 5.0 x4 | 1TB |
| 9100 Pro 1TB | 14,700MB/s | Not listed | PCIe 5.0 x4 | 1TB |
| 990 Pro 2TB heatsink | 7,450MB/s | Not listed | PCIe 4.0 x4 | 2TB |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the 9100 Pro 1TB, sat in the $150 to $250 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the 990 Pro 2TB heatsink at $250 to $500; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Drives |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | 9100 Pro 1TB, Fury Renegade G5 1TB |
| About $250 to $500 | MP700 PRO XT 2TB, T710 2TB, 990 Pro 2TB heatsink |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the T710 2TB compare with the MP700 PRO XT 2TB on rated write speed?
Between the top two, it is 14,500MB/s on the MP700 PRO XT 2TB against 13,800MB/s on the T710 2TB, a 5% difference. No rated write speed figure is published for the Fury Renegade G5 1TB, the 9100 Pro 1TB and the 990 Pro 2TB heatsink, which leaves 2 of 5 picks ranked here.
Is the 990 Pro 2TB heatsink worth paying more than the 9100 Pro 1TB?
The 990 Pro 2TB heatsink matches or trails the 9100 Pro 1TB on rated read speed, so pay more only for a feature the spec sheet doesn't cover. The 9100 Pro 1TB leads on rated read speed (14,700MB/s). The 9100 Pro 1TB sat in the $150 to $250 tier and the 990 Pro 2TB heatsink in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked, with 3 other picks between them.
What makes the 9100 Pro 1TB the Lowest Price Here?
It earns the label for undercutting the Fury Renegade G5 1TB on price when we checked. It suits anyone who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Fury Renegade G5 1TB.
Do the MP700 PRO XT 2TB and the 990 Pro 2TB heatsink differ on interface?
The MP700 PRO XT 2TB, the T710 2TB, the Fury Renegade G5 1TB and the 9100 Pro 1TB use PCIe 5.0 x4; the 990 Pro 2TB heatsink uses PCIe 4.0 x4.
Beyond the specs, what sets the MP700 PRO XT 2TB and the T710 2TB apart?
The MP700 PRO XT 2TB: the highest rated writes among the drives here. The T710 2TB: Micron TLC NAND. The Fury Renegade G5 1TB: a PCIe 5.0 M.2 2280 drive.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the MP700 PRO XT 2TB, chosen for the highest rated writes among the drives here. Look at the T710 2TB for Micron TLC NAND, the Fury Renegade G5 1TB for a PCIe 5.0 M.2 2280 drive and the 9100 Pro 1TB for undercutting the Fury Renegade G5 1TB on price when we checked if those matter more to you.
Check whether your motherboard slot supports PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 before paying for speed.
Related Guides
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- Related guideThe Best 2TB Gen4 NVMe SSDs
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About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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