Buying Guide
The Best 2TB NVMe SSDs for Gaming
Six 2TB NVMe SSDs compared on PCIe generation, read and write speeds, DRAM cache and heatsinks, from value PCIe 4.0 to PCIe 5.0.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read6 products evaluated
An NVMe SSD makes the biggest difference to how quickly games and Windows load, and 2TB is a sensible size for a modern library. Above PCIe 4.0 speeds, game load times change little.
We compared six 2TB drives on PCIe generation, rated speeds, DRAM cache and heatsink options. This is a research-based comparison built from maker specifications; we did not test these parts ourselves.
Quick Picks
Our 6 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best Gaming SSD
Samsung 990 PRO 2TB
7,450MB/s reads with DRAM cache on PCIe 4.0.
Best for: Most gaming PCs.
Our take Check price for Samsung 990 PRO 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Best with a Heatsink
WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB with Heatsink
An included heatsink on a 7,300MB/s drive.
Best for: Boards without an M.2 cover.
Our take Check price for WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB with Heatsink (opens in a new tab)
Best Value
Lexar NM790 2TB
7,400MB/s reads and a 1,500TBW rating.
Best for: Budget builds that want speed.
Our take Check price for Lexar NM790 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Most Flexible Lanes
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB
Support for PCIe 4.0 x4 or PCIe 5.0 x2.
Best for: Boards that share M.2 lanes.
Our take Check price for Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Best PCIe 5.0 SSD
Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB
14,700MB/s reads with DRAM cache.
Best for: Creative work on a PCIe 5.0 board.
Our take Check price for Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Fastest Reads
WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB
14,900MB/s rated reads, the highest here.
Best for: Large file work on a PCIe 5.0 board.
Our take Check price for WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best Gaming SSD1 of 6
Samsung 990 PRO 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The 990 PRO sits near the top of PCIe 4.0 speeds at 7,450MB/s reads, with DRAM cache to hold speed under heavy writes.
Best for
- Most gaming PCs.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the NM790 2TB, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It is the drive to pick for a gaming PC. On rated read speed it sits mid-pack at 7,450MB/s: the SN8100 2TB offers 14,900MB/s, and the 990 EVO Plus 2TB comes in at 7,250MB/s. Its 6,900MB/s rated write speed ranks third of 6 here, behind the 9100 PRO 2TB (13,400MB/s) and ahead of the 990 EVO Plus 2TB (6,300MB/s).
Like the SN850X 2TB and NM790 2TB, it has a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface, while the SN8100 2TB uses a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface. It also offers near-maximum PCIe 4.0 performance, by Samsung's description. 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 9100 PRO 2TB and below the SN850X 2TB at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,450MB/s
- Sequential write: 6,900MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- DRAM cache: Yes
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- Onboard DRAM cache
- Near-maximum PCIe 4.0 performance, by Samsung's description
- Rated read speed of 7,450MB/s, ahead of the NM790 2TB
- 7,450MB/s reads with DRAM cache on PCIe 4.0
Cons
- Costs more than the NM790 2TB at the time of writing
Best with a Heatsink2 of 6
WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB with Heatsink on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The SN850X with heatsink offers 7,300MB/s reads and comes ready for boards without an M.2 cover.
Best for
- Boards without an M.2 cover.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the NM790 2TB, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
Skip the heatsink version if your board has one. On rated read speed it sits mid-pack at 7,300MB/s: the SN8100 2TB offers 14,900MB/s, and the 990 EVO Plus 2TB comes in at 7,250MB/s. Like the 990 PRO 2TB and NM790 2TB, it has a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface, while the 9100 PRO 2TB uses a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface.
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. It was priced above the 990 PRO 2TB and below the SN8100 2TB at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,300MB/s
- Sequential write: 6,300MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Heatsink: Included
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- Heatsink included for boards without one
- Heatsink version suited to boards without an M.2 cover
- Rated read speed of 7,300MB/s, ahead of the 990 EVO Plus 2TB
- An included heatsink on a 7,300MB/s drive
Cons
- Costs more than the NM790 2TB at the time of writing
Best Value3 of 6
Lexar NM790 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The NM790 reaches 7,400MB/s reads with a 1,500TBW rating and no DRAM, using host memory instead.
Best for
- Budget builds that want speed.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: no DRAM cache, unlike the 990 PRO 2TB.
Why we like it
For games that trade-off rarely shows. On rated read speed it sits mid-pack at 7,400MB/s: the SN8100 2TB offers 14,900MB/s, and the 990 EVO Plus 2TB comes in at 7,250MB/s. Its 6,500MB/s rated write speed ranks fourth of 6 here, behind the 9100 PRO 2TB (13,400MB/s) and ahead of the 990 EVO Plus 2TB (6,300MB/s).
Like the 990 PRO 2TB and SN850X 2TB, it has a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface, while the 990 EVO Plus 2TB uses a PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2 interface. It also offers lower power draw than DRAM-equipped Gen4 drives, by Lexar's figure. It cost the least of the 6 picks at the time of writing, with the 990 EVO Plus 2TB the next step up. What it gives up: no DRAM cache, unlike the 990 PRO 2TB; by contrast, the 990 PRO 2TB has it.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,400MB/s
- Sequential write: 6,500MB/s
- Endurance: 1,500TBW
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- DRAM cache: No (HMB)
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- 1,500TBW endurance rating on the 2TB model
- Lower power draw than DRAM-equipped Gen4 drives, by Lexar's figure
- Rated read speed of 7,400MB/s, ahead of the SN850X 2TB
- 7,400MB/s reads and a 1,500TBW rating
Cons
- No DRAM cache, unlike the 990 PRO 2TB
Most Flexible Lanes4 of 6
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The 990 EVO Plus can run on PCIe 4.0 x4 or PCIe 5.0 x2 lanes, which suits boards that share lanes.
Best for
- Boards that share M.2 lanes.
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
Its 7,250MB/s reads keep it close to the fastest Gen4 drives. Its 7,250MB/s rated read speed is the slowest in this group; the SN8100 2TB leads at 14,900MB/s. On rated write speed it ties with the SN850X 2TB at 6,300MB/s.
A PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2 interface is unique to it among these picks, while the SN8100 2TB uses a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface. It also comes with Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 caching for large transfers and firmware updates through Samsung Magician software. 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 NM790 2TB and the 9100 PRO 2TB, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 7,250MB/s
- Sequential write: 6,300MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- Design that runs on PCIe 4.0 x4 or PCIe 5.0 x2 lanes
- Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 caching for large transfers
- Firmware updates through Samsung Magician software
Cons
- Needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed
- Rated read speed trails the SN8100 2TB (14,900MB/s)
- Rated write speed trails the 9100 PRO 2TB (13,400MB/s)
Best PCIe 5.0 SSD5 of 6
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
- Creative work on a PCIe 5.0 board.
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 helps large file work more than game loading. Its 14,700MB/s rated read speed ranks second of 6 here, behind the SN8100 2TB (14,900MB/s) and ahead of the 990 EVO Plus 2TB (7,250MB/s). On rated write speed it leads this guide at 13,400MB/s, ahead of the SN8100 2TB (11,000MB/s).
It shares a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface with the SN8100 2TB; the 990 EVO Plus 2TB goes with a PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2 interface. You also get 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. On price it sat third of 6, between the cheaper 990 EVO Plus 2TB and the pricier 990 PRO 2TB, 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
- Fastest rated write speed of the picks (13,400MB/s)
Cons
- Needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed
- Costs more than the NM790 2TB at the time of writing
Fastest Reads6 of 6
WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The SN8100 lists the fastest reads here at 14,900MB/s.
Best for
- Large file work on a PCIe 5.0 board.
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
Like the 9100 PRO, it needs a PCIe 5.0 slot to reach them. Nothing else here matches its 14,900MB/s rated read speed; the 9100 PRO 2TB comes closest at 14,700MB/s. On rated write speed it sits mid-pack at 11,000MB/s: the 9100 PRO 2TB offers 13,400MB/s, and the 990 EVO Plus 2TB comes in at 6,300MB/s.
It shares a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface with the 9100 PRO 2TB; the 990 EVO Plus 2TB goes with a PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2 interface. 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 was the highest-priced of the 6 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the SN850X 2TB and the rest.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 14,900MB/s
- Sequential write: 11,000MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 5.0 x4
- Capacity: 2TB
Pros
- PCIe 5.0 read speeds up to 14,900MB/s
- Rated write speeds up to 11,000MB/s
- Rated write speed of 11,000MB/s, ahead of the 990 PRO 2TB
- 14,900MB/s rated reads, the highest here
Cons
- Needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speed
- Costs more than the NM790 2TB at the time of writing
How We Chose These SSDs for Gaming
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Endurance
- We noted TBW ratings and warranty length where listed.
- Speed
- We compared rated sequential read and write speeds.
- Design
- We checked interface, DRAM cache and heatsink options.
- Capacity
- We compared drives at the same capacity within each guide.
What to Look for in an SSD for Gaming
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
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.
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.
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.
How to Choose an SSD for Gaming
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most gaming PCs | 990 PRO 2TB | 7,450MB/s reads with DRAM cache on PCIe 4.0 |
| Boards without an M.2 cover | SN850X 2TB | An included heatsink on a 7,300MB/s drive |
| Budget builds that want speed | NM790 2TB | 7,400MB/s reads and a 1,500TBW rating |
| Boards that share M.2 lanes | 990 EVO Plus 2TB | Support for PCIe 4.0 x4 or PCIe 5.0 x2 |
| Creative work on a PCIe 5.0 board | 9100 PRO 2TB | 14,700MB/s reads with DRAM cache |
| Large file work on a PCIe 5.0 board | SN8100 2TB | 14,900MB/s rated reads, the highest here |
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Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Drive | Sequential read | Sequential write | Interface | DRAM cache |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 PRO 2TB | 7,450MB/s | 6,900MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | Yes |
| SN850X 2TB | 7,300MB/s | 6,300MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | Not listed |
| NM790 2TB | 7,400MB/s | 6,500MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | No (HMB) |
| 990 EVO Plus 2TB | 7,250MB/s | 6,300MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2 | Not listed |
| 9100 PRO 2TB | 14,700MB/s | 13,400MB/s | PCIe 5.0 x4 | Yes |
| SN8100 2TB | 14,900MB/s | 11,000MB/s | PCIe 5.0 x4 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are DRAM-less SSDs bad?
No. Modern DRAM-less drives with HMB are fine for games; DRAM helps sustained heavy writes.
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.
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.
Can I use these in a PS5?
PCIe 4.0 M.2 drives work in a PS5 with a heatsink that fits the bay. Check Sony's size limits.
How much storage do I need for games?
2TB suits most players; 4TB suits large libraries without uninstalling.
Bottom Line
The Samsung 990 PRO is the pick for gaming, the WD_BLACK SN850X suits boards without a heatsink, and the Lexar NM790 is the value choice.
The Samsung 990 EVO Plus is flexible on lanes, and the Samsung 9100 PRO and WD_BLACK SN8100 are for PCIe 5.0 builds.