As today's AAA games demand ever more computing resources, PC gamers would be well served to upgrade their storage to increase both speed and capacity. At PCMag, we have been reviewing solid-state drives (SSDs) since the late 1990s, subjecting each to speed tests using our rigorous benchmark methods. We also evaluate them based on rated endurance, features, heatsink, software, and value. We've outlined our favorite tested SSDs for PC gaming below, with our best overall pick, Acer's PCI Express 4.0-based Predator GM7000, leading the list. We've also included our favorite PCI Express 5.0, PCI Express 3.0, and even SATA gaming SSDs. Our drive recommendations are followed by a guide to all you need to know about buying the right SSD for your gaming PC.
Overview
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![Acer Predator GM7000]()
Best Overall PCI Express 4.0 M.2 SSD for PC GamingAcer Predator GM7000
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![WD Black SN850X]()
Best High-Capacity PCI Express 4.0 M.2 Drive for PC GamingWD Black SN850X
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![Addlink AddGame A93]()
Best Budget PCI Express 4.0 M.2 SSD for PC GamingAddlink AddGame A93
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![Crucial T500]()
Best PCI Express 4.0 M.2 SSD for PC Gaming and Creative WorkCrucial T500
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![WD Black SN8100]()
Best PCI Express 5.0 M.2 SSD for PC GamingWD Black SN8100
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![Crucial P3]()
Best PCI Express 3.0 M.2 SSD for PC GamingCrucial P3
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![Samsung SSD 870 EVO]()
Best SATA 2.5-Inch SSD for PC GamingSamsung SSD 870 EVO
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![WD Black P50 Game Drive SSD]()
Best External SSD for PC GamingWD Black P50 Game Drive SSD
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
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![Acer Predator GM7000]()
Best Overall PCI Express 4.0 M.2 SSD for PC GamingAcer Predator GM7000
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The Acer Predator GM7000 performed well in our gaming as well as general-storage benchmarks. In addition to use with a desktop or laptop computer, the GM7000 easily meets Sony's specs for use as a secondary drive for the PlayStation 5; Acer offers an optional aluminum heatsink that is compact enough for PS5 use. The Predator also delivers 256-bit AES encryption, and includes Acronis True Image data cloning and backup software.
Who It's For
Gamers: The GM7000 turned in some of the fastest throughput speeds we have seen in a PCI Express 4 SSD, and did well in both gaming-centric and general-storage benchmark testing. It also easily meets Sony's specs for use as a secondary drive for the PlayStation 5. Acer sells an aluminum heatsink that is compact enough that when attached to the drive can fit in the spare M.2 slot of a PS5.
Creators and power users: As a feature-rich high-performance PCI Express 4 NVMe SSD, the GM7000 did very well in our general-storage testing, turning in some of our highest scores for a PCIe 4.0 stick in our Adobe program loading trace testing. This versatile SSD can be used with a PS5, a laptop, or a desktop computer. The Predator, which is available with or without a heatsink (it does ship with a graphene-embedded heat spreader), includes hardware-based encryption, plus a free download of Acronis True Image cloning software.
Specs & Configurations
Bus Type PCI Express 4.0 Capacity (Tested) 2 Controller Maker InnoGrit Interface (Computer Side) M.2 Type-2280 Internal Form Factor M.2 Type-2280 Internal or External Internal NAND Type TLC NVMe Support Rated Maximum Sequential Read 7400 Rated Maximum Sequential Write 6700 Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating 1200 Warranty Length 5 Learn More Acer Predator GM7000 Review -
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![WD Black SN850X]()
Best High-Capacity PCI Express 4.0 M.2 Drive for PC GamingWD Black SN850X
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Sandisk's WD Black SN850X (soon to be rebranded as the Sandisk Optimus GX Pro 850X), is an upgrade to Western Digital's high-performance PCI Express 4.0 NVMe internal gaming SSD, the SN850. The SN850X improves on an already excellent drive by giving buyers the option for an 8TB version (up from 4TB when we reviewed it) and an upgrade in flash-memory technology that boosts sequential read and write speeds. It turned in improved benchmark results in both gaming and general storage tests (including a new PC Labs record in the 3DMark Storage benchmark for a PCIe 4.0 SSD). You'll definitely want to use a heatsink with this speedster; it's available with or without one.
Who It's For
Gamers: The SN850X is a highly capable choice as a PCI Express 4.0 SSD for gaming. It tallied a sky-high score for a PCIe 4.0 stick on the 3DMark Storage benchmark, which aggregates a drive's scores on various gaming-related tasks, such as installing and loading games, and saving their progress. It is now available in 4TB and 8TB versions, enabling you to host a massive gaming library with room to spare.
Creators and Power Users: The SN850X is a good choice for graphic-arts pros and power users, proving its mettle with impressive scores for a PCIe 4.0 SSD in both our general storage (PCMark 10 Overall Storage) and gaming-centric (3DMark Storage) benchmark tests. It tallied standout scores in our Adobe program loading trace testing. The SN850X is now available in capacities up to 8TB, letting you store a wealth of photos or videos, or a gaming library.
Specs & Configurations
Bus Type PCI Express 4.0 Capacity (Tested) 2 Controller Maker SanDisk Interface (Computer Side) M.2 Type-2280 Internal Form Factor M.2 Type-2280 Internal or External Internal NAND Type TLC NVMe Support Rated Maximum Sequential Read 7300 Rated Maximum Sequential Write 6600 Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating 1200 Warranty Length 5 Learn More WD Black SN850X Review -
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![Addlink AddGame A93]()
Best Budget PCI Express 4.0 M.2 SSD for PC GamingAddlink AddGame A93
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The modestly priced Addlink AddGame A93, a DRAM-less PCI Express 4 SSD with TLC NAND, is available in capacities up to 4TB. It produced solid benchmark scores compared with other PCIe 4 drives in our testing. The drive also ships with an aluminum heatsink attached, and is compatible with the Sony PlayStation 5.
Who It's For
PS5 users: The AddGame A93's aluminum heatsink is compact enough to fit in the secondary M.2 slot in a PlayStation 5. The A93, which comes in capacities up to 4TB, meets all of Sony's guidelines for a PS5-friendly SSD, and put up competitive numbers in the gaming-centric 3DMark Storage benchmark.
Upgraders: The A93 is a good replacement for an older PCI Express 4 SSD. Its DRAM-less architecture keeps its price down in all of its capacities, and it put up solid numbers in our benchmarking.
Specs & Configurations
Bus Type PCI Express 4.0 Capacity (Tested) 4 Controller Maker Maxio Technology Interface (Computer Side) M.2 Type-2280 Internal Form Factor M.2 Type-2280 Internal or External Internal NAND Type TLC NVMe Support Rated Maximum Sequential Read 7400 Rated Maximum Sequential Write 6500 Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating 3000 Warranty Length 5 Learn More Addlink AddGame A93 Review -
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Credit: Joseph Maldonado
![Crucial T500]()
Best PCI Express 4.0 M.2 SSD for PC Gaming and Creative WorkCrucial T500
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The Crucial T500 performed superbly against other elite PCI Express 4.0 SSDs in our benchmark testing, posting excellent results in both gaming and general-storage tests. The T500, available in capacities up to 4TB, meets the TCG Opal security standard, and comes with useful software. With the addition of a compact heatsink, the T500 can be used with the Sony PlayStation 5.
Who It’s For
Gamers: The T500 turned in impressive results on the 3DMark Storage gaming-oriented test, and you can configure it with a compact heatsink for use in a PlayStation 5. Unlike many recent M.2 SSDs, the T500 has a full DRAM cache (as well as a top-shelf Phison controller and 232-layer TLC NAND flash), which could give it an advantage in sustained large-file transfers, as well as in use with the PS5.
Upgraders: The Crucial T500 is for users willing to pay a little extra to get the best PCI Express 4.0 SSD performance. Its results in both the PCMark 10 Overall general-storage and 3DMark Storage gaming-centric benchmarks are superb.
Specs & Configurations
Bus Type PCI Express 4.0 Capacity (Tested) 2 Controller Maker Phison Interface (Computer Side) M.2 Type-2280 Internal Form Factor M.2 Type-2280 Internal or External Internal NAND Type TLC NVMe Support Rated Maximum Sequential Read 7400 Rated Maximum Sequential Write 7000 Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating 1200 Warranty Length 5 Learn More Crucial T500 Review -
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Credit: Joseph Maldonado
![WD Black SN8100]()
Best PCI Express 5.0 M.2 SSD for PC GamingWD Black SN8100
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Sandisk's WD Black SN8100, soon to be rebranded as the Sandisk Optimus GX Pro 8100, is among the best-performing internal SSDs we have reviewed to date. It is part of a new breed of PCI Express 5.0 SSDs designed for both performance and power efficiency, enabling its use without the massive heatsinks of yesteryear. It chalked up new high scores in Crystal DiskMark's sequential-throughput and 4K read tests, set a record high in our PCMark 10 Overall Storage testing, and came within a hair of a top score in the 3DMark Storage gaming benchmark. The SN8100 comes in capacities of up to 8TB.
Who It's For
Gamers: The SN8100 holds the record for the highest sequential read and write scores we've ever seen in Crystal DiskMark testing, and a near-record score in the gaming-centric 3DMark Storage benchmark. Since we reviewed the SN8100, Sandisk has added a version of the drive with a compact heatsink as well as an 8TB version of the drive, which should hold a trove of AAA games.
Content creators: The SN8100 outperformed all previous SSDs we have reviewed in the Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro launch trace tests of the PCMark 10 benchmark. Its 4TB and 8TB versions should ensure that you have all the room you need for storing and working with video files.
Specs & Configurations
Bus Type PCI Express 5.0 Capacity (Tested) 2 Controller Maker Silicon Motion Interface (Computer Side) M.2 Type-2280 Internal Form Factor M.2 Type-2280 Internal or External Internal NAND Type TLC NVMe Support Rated Maximum Sequential Read 14900 Rated Maximum Sequential Write 14000 Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating 1200 Warranty Length 5 Learn More WD Black SN8100 Review -
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![Crucial P3]()
Best PCI Express 3.0 M.2 SSD for PC GamingCrucial P3
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Micron's Crucial P3 provides good performance at a modest price as a PCI Express 3.0 SSD to upgrade your system. The P3 offers higher capacities and much higher throughput speeds than the previous generation Crucial P2, at a lower cost per gigabyte, thanks to the company's switch from TLC to QLC flash memory for this drive. The controller lacks a DRAM cache, which causes a performance hit on some SSDs, especially with large file transfers, but the P3 generally scored well in the PCMark 10 benchmarks.
Who It's For
Users with older PCs: The Crucial P3 provides good performance in a PCI Express 3.0 NVMe SSD, and its QLC NAND flash memory keeps the P3's price down while allowing capacities up to 4TB. It's a spot-on pick for upgrading older PCs that don't support PCIe 4.0.
Bargain hunters: The Crucial P3 is a cost-effective SSD option for users who don't need the latest SSD speed, thanks to its PCI Express 3.0 interface and QLC NAND flash memory. Though it won't set any speed records, it performed well for a PCIe 3.0 SSD in our benchmarks.
Specs & Configurations
Bus Type PCI Express 3.0 x4 Capacity (Tested) 2 Controller Maker Phison Interface (Computer Side) M.2 Type-2280 Internal Form Factor M.2 Type-2280 Internal or External Internal NAND Type QLC NVMe Support Rated Maximum Sequential Read 3500 Rated Maximum Sequential Write 3000 Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating 440 Warranty Length 5 Learn More Crucial P3 Review -
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![Samsung SSD 870 EVO]()
Best SATA 2.5-Inch SSD for PC GamingSamsung SSD 870 EVO
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
SATA drives still have their place in the SSD world, as the primary storage in legacy systems and as supplementary storage in PCI Express M.2 systems; they're much faster than spinning hard drives. The Samsung SSD 870 EVO, our favorite SATA SSD, comes in capacities up to 4TB. In our benchmarking, the 870 EVO even did better than some PCI Express 3 M.2 SSDs.
Who It's For
Upgraders: If you want to replace or upgrade the SSD in a legacy SATA-based computer, the Samsung SSD 870 EVO is the best we have encountered. It did particularly well in the PCMark 10 Overall general-storage benchmark, in tasks like loading game levels, booting Windows, and launching creative programs like Adobe with simulated projects housed inside. It can also give you a boost in capacity, up to as much as 4TB.
Desktop users seeking extra capacity: If your desktop computer lacks a spare M.2 slot, you can boost its capacity by adding a SATA drive such as the 870 EVO, connecting its data and power cables to their appropriate motherboard sockets. Another alternative is to put the 870 EVO in an inexpensive SATA-drive housing, making it in effect an external drive that can be connected via a USB cable to your computer.
Specs & Configurations
Bus Type Serial ATA Capacity (Tested) 4 Controller Maker Samsung Interface (Computer Side) SATA Internal Form Factor 2.5-Inch Internal or External Internal NAND Type TLC Rated Maximum Sequential Read 560 Rated Maximum Sequential Write 530 Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating 2400 Warranty Length 5 Learn More Samsung SSD 870 EVO Review -
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![WD Black P50 Game Drive SSD]()
Best External SSD for PC GamingWD Black P50 Game Drive SSD
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Not only can the WD Black P50 Game Drive SSD store up to 2TB of AAA games (or other files) and transfer them over its speedy USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface, but it's also built to look like the sort of shipping container you might find in post-apocalyptic wasteland FPS games. The P50 provides a good mix of speed and capacity while hewing to a gamer aesthetic.
Who It's For
Gamers: This USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 external SSD is styled with its target gamer audience in mind, as a small, thick, black rectangle with ribbed sides and prominent hex screws in each corner, resembling the sort of shipping container frequently found in FPS games. The branding is consistent with this theme, with a stylized font and a layout that evokes a utilitarian label of contents. The P50 comes in capacities up to 2TB, roomy enough to hold more than a dozen AAA games of typical size.
Collectors of geek toys: Not only is the P50 fast and capacious as an external SSD, but it also makes a good conversation piece for those whose tastes or decor tend toward the nerdy. I'm not much of a gamer, but I could see the P50 having a place alongside my Spider-Man hard drive, Rubik's cubes, smart telescopes, "Star Trek" posters, 3D-printed Yoda heads, and other assorted gewgaws.
Specs & Configurations
Bus Type PCI Express 3.0 x4 Capacity (Tested) 1 Interface (Computer Side) USB-C Internal or External External NAND Type TLC NVMe Support Rated Maximum Sequential Read 2000 Rated Maximum Sequential Write 2000 Warranty Length 5 Learn More WD Black P50 Game Drive SSD Review -
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5.0 Exemplary |
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4.0 Excellent |
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Best For | Best Overall PCI Express 4.0 M.2 SSD for PC Gaming | Best High-Capacity PCI Express 4.0 M.2 Drive for PC Gaming | Best Budget PCI Express 4.0 M.2 SSD for PC Gaming | Best PCI Express 4.0 M.2 SSD for PC Gaming and Creative Work | Best PCI Express 5.0 M.2 SSD for PC Gaming | Best PCI Express 3.0 M.2 SSD for PC Gaming | Best SATA 2.5-Inch SSD for PC Gaming | Best External SSD for PC Gaming | Best Overall PCI Express 4.0 M.2 SSD for PC Gaming | Best High-Capacity PCI Express 4.0 M.2 Drive for PC Gaming | Best Budget PCI Express 4.0 M.2 SSD for PC Gaming |
Internal or External | Internal | Internal | Internal | Internal | Internal | Internal | Internal | External | Internal | Internal | Internal |
Internal Form Factor | M.2 Type-2280 | M.2 Type-2280 | M.2 Type-2280 | M.2 Type-2280 | M.2 Type-2280 | M.2 Type-2280 | 2.5-Inch | M.2 Type-2280 | M.2 Type-2280 | M.2 Type-2280 | |
Interface (Computer Side) | M.2 Type-2280 | M.2 Type-2280 | M.2 Type-2280 | M.2 Type-2280 | M.2 Type-2280 | M.2 Type-2280 | SATA | USB-C | M.2 Type-2280 | M.2 Type-2280 | M.2 Type-2280 |
Capacity (Tested) | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
NAND Type | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC | QLC | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC |
Controller Maker | InnoGrit | SanDisk | Maxio Technology | Phison | Silicon Motion | Phison | Samsung | InnoGrit | SanDisk | Maxio Technology | |
Bus Type | PCI Express 4.0 | PCI Express 4.0 | PCI Express 4.0 | PCI Express 4.0 | PCI Express 5.0 | PCI Express 3.0 x4 | Serial ATA | PCI Express 3.0 x4 | PCI Express 4.0 | PCI Express 4.0 | PCI Express 4.0 |
NVMe Support | |||||||||||
Rated Maximum Sequential Read | 7400 | 7300 | 7400 | 7400 | 14900 | 3500 | 560 | 2000 | 7400 | 7300 | 7400 |
Rated Maximum Sequential Write | 6700 | 6600 | 6500 | 7000 | 14000 | 3000 | 530 | 2000 | 6700 | 6600 | 6500 |
Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating | 1200 | 1200 | 3000 | 1200 | 1200 | 440 | 2400 | 1200 | 1200 | 3000 | |
Warranty Length | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Buying Guide: The Best SSDs for PC Gaming in 2026
In recent years, we've seen amazing advances in raw SSD transfer speeds (as measured by the Crystal DiskMark benchmark), especially with some of the latest PCI Express 4.0 and 5.0 NVMe internal drives. (If you're not up on SSD acronyms and abbreviations, check out our glossary of SSD terminology.) Consider sequential read and write speeds, which measure throughput for best-case, straight-line transfers of large files. In testing, today's PCIe 4.0 read speeds can exceed (and write speeds can approach) a scorching 7,000 megabits per second (MBps) with drives on an optimized PC. PCI Express 5.0 SSDs can be much faster still than PCIe 4.0, but since many fewer (and only the latest) PCs support this newest standard, you may need to build a rig with the necessary components from scratch to take advantage of their potential. Whichever way you go, installing a new SSD in your PC can help boost overall and game-specific performance.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Speed is most important for a boot drive, which hosts your PC's operating system and from which games have traditionally been run. Secondary drives, whether internal or external, have tended to be slower and have higher capacity—they're often used to store game libraries—but you can get a fast, high-capacity secondary drive and run games from it if you have the right expansion slot and are willing to pay the price.
More important than raw throughput, however, is how quickly a drive can load games. Our testing with UL's PCMark 10 measures the load speeds of the internal SSDs we review for three AAA games: Battlefield 5, Overwatch, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. Crystal DiskMark also measures read and write speeds for 4K-block-size files (a common trait of program-level files in game-loading scenarios).
The newest SSD test in our arsenal, UL's 3DMark Gaming Benchmark, measures installation, loading, playing, saving, and/or copying speeds for various top-tier titles, including the abovementioned trio, plus The Outer Worlds and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. We've bolstered our test results database by running this new benchmark on recent drives we have had in-house, and run it on all gaming and general-purpose internal and external SSDs we review going forward.
Should I Get an Internal SSD, or an External SSD, for Gaming Use?
People shopping for the best SSD for a gaming computer generally look to internal drives using the M.2 "stick of gum" form factor. PCI Express 4.0 NVMe SSDs offer fast throughput speeds, but your system may not have an M.2 slot that supports that bus type. Although PCIe 4.0 SSDs are backward-compatible with motherboards that support PCI Express 3.0, to achieve anything close to their rated peak speeds, you'll need a motherboard and chipset that support PCI Express 4.0. (For much more on the nuances of M.2, see our deep-dive roundup on the Best M.2 SSDs.)
(Credit: Molly Flores)PCI Express 4.0 support is found on late-model desktop motherboards for AMD Ryzen processors, as well as Intel Z590-chipset and later boards designed for 10th Generation and later Intel desktop processors. Many boards with Intel's 12th Gen "Alder Lake" platform and later, as well as the latest AMD motherboards with AM5 sockets, also support the latest PCI Express spec, PCI Express 5.0, which effectively doubles the potential peak bandwidth of PCIe 4.0 and offers approximately double the sequential read and write speeds of the fastest PCIe 4.0 SSDs.
The very important thing to bear in mind with PCIe 5.0, though, is that just because a motherboard and its chipset may support the PCIe 5.0 bus, it does not mean the board is necessarily equipped with a PCIe 5.0-capable M.2 slot for SSDs. Some late-model boards with the latest chipsets may not actually have a 5.0 M.2 slot you can leverage, only PCIe 4.0-capable ones. Or a motherboard may support a PCIe 5.0-capable PCIe expansion card (for graphics cards and the like), but have no PCIe 5.0-capable M.2 slot. One does not guarantee the presence of the other. Examine the board specs carefully!
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)PCIe 4.0 slots and support are widespread on recent motherboards, and you can still find plenty of capable M.2 SSDs that support the older PCIe 3.0 bus and have done well in our gaming testing. So even if you have an older motherboard with only M.2 PCIe 3.0 slots, it's still worth considering an upgrade if you're still rocking a platter hard drive. And even if you don't have a spare M.2 slot (or any at all), a motherboard port with the familiar Serial ATA (SATA) interface can help by hosting a secondary 2.5-inch SATA SSD, or even a hard drive, for game storage. (Note: A further possibility with older motherboards is that they might have an M.2 slot that supports only the SATA bus, not PCIe. These were a thing for a time, some years ago.)
Another option for secondary storage is an external SSD, which can provide additional capacity for holding games. You don't need an open M.2 slot or SATA port, just a spare USB port. Just be sure that your gaming PC has the proper interface to fully support the drive you're eyeing: The fastest external SSDs offer USB4 connectivity, with sequential read and write speeds up to 40Gbps, or USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, rated for up to 20Gbps. These will be via one or two designated USB Type-C ports.
Recommended by Our Editors
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The catch is that relatively few computers have USB-C ports that natively support those two high-speed flavors of USB, so if you have a desktop, you may need to add an expansion card that supports the standard. Plugged into most of today's PCs, one of those USB 20Gbps or 40Gbps drives might otherwise default to USB 3.2 Gen 2, with peak read and write speeds of about 10Gbps. That's still fine; just know what you're paying for and if you'll be able to leverage it to the fullest.
Is a 2.5-Inch SATA Drive Worth It for Gaming?
Very much so, depending on the situation! Depending on the age of your rig and what slots and internal ports you have available, a solid-state drive with the older SATA interface and 2.5-inch hard-drive-style design may be a sensible option.
SATA SSDs' throughput can't hope to compare with those of PCI Express devices (they top out just around 550MB per second), but the best SATA drives do relatively well in game loading and 4K read/write testing, and they're still way faster than any hard drive. Their advantages are a low price and (often) a relatively high capacity.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)And don't count out platter drives just yet. Although this roundup is devoted to SSDs, which easily outstrip lumbering hard drives in overall speed and game-loading performance, platter-based drives still have a role in gaming. Because of their often enormous capacities and relatively low cost per gigabyte, hard drives can be great places to store game libraries, though, as a first choice, you wouldn't want to run games from such a drive if you care about load speeds. But for cheap raw storage of loads of seldom-played or legacy games, hard drives can still be handy.
SSD Heatsinks: Ways to Beat the Heat
When it comes to M.2 SSDs in particular, phrases like blazing fast or blistering speed can be literal. Gaming SSDs, especially PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives rated at 5,000MBps or more, as well as any PCIe 5.0 SSD, tend to generate a lot of heat. That can lead to "throttling" (slowdowns that help protect the drive from overheating), which can cause a performance hit and potentially reduce a drive's lifespan. Drive makers take a variety of approaches to heat management, ranging from firmware-based solutions to SSD designs that reduce power consumption without slowing performance.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Physical solutions include thin heat spreaders, which are generally affixed to the top of M.2 SSDs using adhesive. Some are made from graphene, which has high thermal conductivity and can dissipate heat across its entire surface.
Also popular are more traditional heatsinks, most of which use multiple aluminum fins to increase surface area for heat dissipation. Heatsinks are often tall, making them practical only in desktops (which have room for airflow around the M.2 slots) rather than laptop PCs. Lately, drive manufacturers have been designing more compact heatsinks to fit laptops. Some drives come with stuck-on or removable heatsinks, and others may offer aftermarket heatsinks as accessories. The problem of heat dissipation is compounded for PCI Express 5.0 SSDs, with rated throughput speeds of up to 14,000MBps, nearly double that of the fastest PCIe 4.0 SSDs. These require heavy-duty (and generally large) cooling solutions.
(Credit: Tony Hoffman)There's also another, more fleeting kind of cool worth addressing. Are you a desktop PC upgrader? If the rest of your rig is tricked out with cool RGB lighting effects, there's no reason your solid-state drive shouldn't be, too. A handful of external and internal SSDs offer their own lighting effects, usually compatible with popular RGB control software. You'll want to choose an M.2 slot or a SATA drive bay for the drive visible from outside the case. (As pictured above, you can find external USB SSDs that have tricked-out lighting, too.)
Ready to Buy the Right SSD for Your Gaming PC?
So there you have it: our picks for the best M.2 SSDs for gaming, plus a smattering of SATA options and USB externals. Whether you have a desktop or a laptop, and whether you're after an attached-heatsink design or one with blinged-out RGB lighting, you don't need a whole brand-new rig to kick up your gaming. One of these drives can do it. We've also provided a spec breakout of our top picks. Dig on in.