Internal SSDs that support the PCI Express (PCIe) 5.0 bus standard are, as a class, the fastest consumer solid-state drives available. (The best of them promise peak throughput speeds double those of mainstream PCI Express 4 sticks.) And people are demanding more of them—with SSD makers cranking out more than ever—even though a lot of current computer hardware can't meet the drives' highly specific requirements. How to tell if a PCIe 5.0 SSD is right for you? We've got answers, drawing from our deep experience testing SSDs. (We've been reviewing SSDs since the very first models, assessing drive speed using a variety of real-world and synthetic benchmarks.) Here's what to know about this latest cutting-edge iteration of flash storage. Our current top pick is the WD Black SN8100, an elite performer that's also energy-efficient, but we’ve got dialed-in recommendations for all kinds of users. Let's dig in.
Overview
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![WD Black SN8100]()
Best Overall PCI Express 5.0 SSD for Most UsersWD Black SN8100
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![Crucial T705]()
Best PCI Express 5.0 SSD With Included HeatsinkCrucial T705
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![Corsair MP700 Pro]()
Best Budget PCI Express 5.0 SSDCorsair MP700 Pro
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![Samsung 9100 Pro SSD]()
Best High-Capacity PCI Express 5.0 SSDSamsung 9100 Pro SSD
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![PNY XLR8 CS3150]()
Best PCI Express 5.0 SSD for GamersPNY XLR8 CS3150
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
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Credit: Joseph Maldonado
![WD Black SN8100]()
Best Overall PCI Express 5.0 SSD for Most UsersWD Black SN8100
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Sandisk's WD Black SN8100 is the best-performing internal consumer-grade SSD we have reviewed to date. It chalked up new high scores in Crystal DiskMark's sequential-throughput and 4K read tests, easily set a record high in our PCMark 10 Overall Storage testing, and came within a hair of a top score in our 3DMark Storage gaming benchmark. It comes in capacities of up to 8TB. The SN8100 is designed for both power efficiency and performance, enabling its use with compact heatsinks, such as the one bundled with it.
Who It's For
Power users: The WD SN8100 is designed for power users and creative pros seeking the best performance available in a solid-state drive. If you're interested in this drive, you should either already have a PCI Express 5.0-compatible desktop or be willing to invest in one. Alternatively, you could build a desktop rig with state-of-the-art hardware capable of delivering the performance this standard is designed to yield. It includes Acronis True Image backup and migration software, and meets the TCG/Opal V2.0 security standard.
Gamers: With sizzling throughput speeds and an elite score on the 3DMark Storage gaming-centric benchmark, the SN8100 is a good choice for a PCIe 5.0 gaming rig. The higher-capacity versions (4TB and 8TB) can hold a substantial gaming library.
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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Credit: Joseph Maldonado
![Crucial T705]()
Best PCI Express 5.0 SSD With Included HeatsinkCrucial T705
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Micron's Crucial T705 was the best-performing SSD we had ever seen when we reviewed it in early 2024, easily posting our then-best-ever scores in CrystalDiskMark throughput testing, the 3DMark Storage gaming-centric benchmark, and PCMark 10, which measures general storage performance. It remains among the high scorers on all these tests today. The T705 comes in capacities up to 4TB, and is available with or without a heatsink. Its AES 256-bit hardware-based encryption ensures your data is safe from brute-force attacks, too. As a mature product, the T705 is priced considerably lower than many more recent PCIe 5.0 SSDs, and that has remained the case even as its price and those of other SSDs have risen since late 2025.
Who It's For
Power users: The Crucial T705 is a great fit for users who have or plan to buy a PCIe 5-compatible desktop rig and who are looking for an elite-performing Gen 5 SSD at a relatively affordable price. The SSD's heat generation is such that you will either want to pair the barebones drive with your motherboard's heatsink or get the drive bundled with Crucial's (relatively tall) heatsink. Its AES 256-bit hardware-based encryption protects your data from bad actors.
Gamers: The T705 produced sizzling benchmark results in our testing, including the gaming-oriented 3DMark Storage test. The 4TB version should hold a substantial game library. The drive generates enough heat that you will want to use a heatsink with it, either the one that Micron offers, the one included with your motherboard, or another heavy-duty model.
Specs & Configurations
Bus Type PCI Express 5.0 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 14500 Rated Maximum Sequential Write 12700 Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating 1200 Warranty Length 5 Learn More Crucial T705 Review -
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![Corsair MP700 Pro]()
Best Budget PCI Express 5.0 SSDCorsair MP700 Pro
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
According to our benchmark tests, the Corsair MP700 Pro PCI Express 5.0 SSD is a strong performer. It is available in capacities up to 4TB and supports AES 256-bit hardware-based encryption, the gold standard in drive security. The MP700 Pro is available barebones or with a choice of fan-based heatsink (as we tested it) or a water block. Plus, its price has dropped considerably since we reviewed it in late 2023, making it a relative bargain in the premium drive class.
Who It's For
Power users: The MP700 Pro is an all-around performer as a PCIe 5 SSD, garnering top scores in the PCMark and 3DMark benchmarks, and supports AES 256-bit encryption. Corsair offers several heat-dissipation solutions for it.
Aesthetically minded makers and gamers: Among the heat-dissipation solutions Corsair offers for the MP700 Pro is its Hydro X water block. It can serve as the centerpiece of a liquid-cooling system, displayed inside a rig with a see-through case.
Specs & Configurations
Bus Type PCI Express 5.0 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 12400 Rated Maximum Sequential Write 11800 Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating 1400 Warranty Length 5 Learn More Corsair MP700 Pro Review -
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Credit: Joseph Maldonado
![Samsung 9100 Pro SSD]()
Best High-Capacity PCI Express 5.0 SSDSamsung 9100 Pro SSD
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Available in capacities up to 8TB, the Samsung 9100 Pro holds promise as the pinnacle of capacity for PCI Express 5.0 internal SSDs. In our testing, it showed blazing throughput—among the fastest sequential read and write scores we had tallied at the time of testing, and still impressive now—and it turned in one of our best-ever scores in the PCMark 10 Overall Storage benchmark, which aggregates a drive's speed in performing a number of common storage tasks. Need a cooling solution? For an extra $20 over the base price at each capacity, Samsung includes a heatsink, which is compact enough to use the SSD as the secondary drive in a PS5 (though it would revert to PCI Express 4.0 speeds).
Who It's For
Power users: The 9100 Pro is a good choice for users who have, or are willing to invest in, a PCI Express 5.0-compatible rig and are seeking massive capacity and elite performance in a Gen 5 SSD. It can be used with either the optional compact heatsink Samsung offers or the heatsink supplied with your motherboard.
Creative pros: The 9100 Pro performed well in our performance tests and should be a good fit for creative pros like photographers and videographers. Especially at its 4TB and 8TB capacities, the 9100 Pro can hold an enormous media library.
Specs & Configurations
Bus Type PCI Express 5.0 Capacity (Tested) 4 Controller Maker Samsung Internal Form Factor M.2 Type-2280 Internal or External Internal NAND Type TLC NVMe Support Rated Maximum Sequential Read 14800 Rated Maximum Sequential Write 13400 Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating 2400 Warranty Length 5 Learn More Samsung 9100 Pro SSD Review -
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![PNY XLR8 CS3150]()
Best PCI Express 5.0 SSD for GamersPNY XLR8 CS3150
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The PNY XLR8 CS3150 is a PCI Express 5.0 internal solid-state drive geared to gamers, with searing speeds (if you have the right hardware), a dual-fan heatsink, and RGB lighting on the bundled heatsink that you can set to a range of patterns using downloadable PNY software. (Of course, to see the lighting, you will need a desktop with a see-through case.) Although only its 1TB version is available, it comes in at a very reasonable price for a PCIe 5.0 SSD.
Who It's For
Gamers: The XLR8 CS3150's dual-fan heatsink keeps this PCI Express 5.0 SSD cool. It racked up impressive scores in the 3DMark Storage benchmark, which aggregates a drive's results in performing a number of gaming-related tasks.
DIYers: The XLR8 CS3150 is ideal for makers looking to build a Gen 5 rig with a see-through case to show off the blinged-out, RGB-lit components inside, as the drive features programmable RGB lighting. The SSD's active (fan-based) cooling should keep thermal throttling in check.
Specs & Configurations
Bus Type PCI Express 5.0 Capacity (Tested) 1 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 11500 Rated Maximum Sequential Write 8500 Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating 700 Warranty Length 5 Learn More PNY XLR8 CS3150 Review -
Compare Specs
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Rating |
5.0 Exemplary |
5.0 Exemplary |
4.5 Outstanding |
3.5 Good |
4.0 Excellent |
5.0 Exemplary |
5.0 Exemplary |
4.5 Outstanding |
Best For | Best Overall PCI Express 5.0 SSD for Most Users | Best PCI Express 5.0 SSD With Included Heatsink | Best Budget PCI Express 5.0 SSD | Best High-Capacity PCI Express 5.0 SSD | Best PCI Express 5.0 SSD for Gamers | Best Overall PCI Express 5.0 SSD for Most Users | Best PCI Express 5.0 SSD With Included Heatsink | Best Budget PCI Express 5.0 SSD |
Internal or External | Internal | Internal | Internal | Internal | Internal | 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 | 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 | M.2 Type-2280 | |
Capacity (Tested) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
NAND Type | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC |
Controller Maker | Silicon Motion | Phison | Phison | Samsung | Phison | Silicon Motion | Phison | Phison |
Bus Type | PCI Express 5.0 | PCI Express 5.0 | PCI Express 5.0 | PCI Express 5.0 | PCI Express 5.0 | PCI Express 5.0 | PCI Express 5.0 | PCI Express 5.0 |
NVMe Support | ||||||||
Rated Maximum Sequential Read | 14900 | 14500 | 12400 | 14800 | 11500 | 14900 | 14500 | 12400 |
Rated Maximum Sequential Write | 14000 | 12700 | 11800 | 13400 | 8500 | 14000 | 12700 | 11800 |
Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating | 1200 | 1200 | 1400 | 2400 | 700 | 1200 | 1200 | 1400 |
Warranty Length | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Buying Guide: The Best PCI Express 5.0 SSDs for 2026
PCI Express 5.0 (aka PCI Express 5, PCIe 5.0, or Gen 5) internal SSDs have come into their own in the past couple of years, and we have seen at least one PCIe 5.0 drive from all the major SSD manufacturers. The standard effectively doubles an SSD's throughput speed over the previous generation when paired with the right hardware. This is despite the fact that only a select group of recent computers, primarily desktops, have M.2 slots that support this standard. Recent advances in SSD heat management should help pave the way for greater adoption of Gen 5 products and their integration into both desktops and laptops.
Pricing, though, could prove an obstacle to many potential buyers. Since PCI Express 5.0 SSDs became widely available in 2023, these speedsters have been priced somewhat higher than PCIe 4.0 sticks. That's still the case, but since late 2025, SSD prices have surged due to the global memory shortage, with no relief in sight. Although the 1TB versions of some older or budget Gen 5 sticks can be had for prices in the $200 range (or less), most sell for at least $300, with 2TB models generally in the $400 range, 4TB SSDs for around $800, and 8TB drives starting at about $2,000.
Are you ready for a PCI Express 5 SSD? And which model is best for you? Here we answer these questions and give you the lowdown on these high-flying storage devices.
What Does 'PCI Express 5.0' Signify?
PCI Express 5.0 is the fifth iteration of PCI (for Peripheral Component Interconnect) Express, a bus and interface standard that governs how certain hardware components (including SSDs) within a computer are connected and transfer data. Recent generations of this standard have effectively doubled the top possible transfer rate per "lane" (or data pathway) over each previous iteration.
PCI Express 5.0 was announced in 2019, and the first consumer PCIe 5.0 SSDs hit the market in early 2023. The fastest four-lane (aka "x4") Gen 5 SSDs we have reviewed have manufacturer-rated sequential read speeds of around 14,800MBps and sequential write speeds of about 14,000MBps. That's up from the rated 7,400MBps read speeds and 7,000MBps write speeds of the top PCI Express 4.0 x4 SSDs we've tested.
(Credit: Joseph Maldnado)These blistering throughput numbers aside, raw speed isn't everything. In addition to testing an SSD's sequential read and write speeds, as well as 4K random read and write speeds, with the Crystal DiskMark benchmark, we also use PCMark 10, which measures a drive's aptitude in performing a variety of general storage functions, and 3DMark Storage, which tests an SSD's mettle in carrying out various gaming-related tasks. Particularly in PCMark 10—which we see as the best test of a drive's real-world performance—there is less of a generation gap between PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 4.0, with elite Gen 4 SSDs sometimes tallying scores that rival or even exceed those of lower-end Gen 5 sticks.
Who Are PCI Express 5.0 SSDs Meant For?
Gen 5 SSDs have largely targeted gamers, power users, and content creators. All of the PCIe 5.0 SSDs we have encountered so far are in the M.2 Type-2280 (80mm-long) "gumstick" format; shorter Type-2230, Type-2242, and Type-2260 varieties haven't surfaced yet. Most have Phison controllers, while a few have had Silicon Motion, Samsung, or SK Hynix controllers. All have had 200-plus-layer TLC NAND flash memory cells, generally from Micron.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)While many of these SSDs have had chips on both sides of the printed circuit board, many recent entries have been one-sided, which can be a boon to pairing them with a compact heatsink. Many early Gen 5 SSDs came with hefty (and sometimes actively cooled) heatsinks to tame the heat that these speedsters generate. But as time goes on and the energy efficiency of Gen 5 SSDs improves, heatsinks have become more and more compact. That will enable increased use of PCIe 5.0 SSDs in laptops, but for now, they are mostly of interest to desktop PC builders or upgraders.
Like any SSD, though, they're also meant for folks who need more storage space that's fast to access. Many Gen 5 SSDs now come in capacities up to 8TB.
What Does My PC Need to Run a PCI Express 5.0 SSD?
PCIe 5.0 SSDs promise a major throughput speed boost over PCIe 4.0 drives, but you can take full advantage of it only if you have up-to-date hardware that supports the standard. Recent enthusiast desktops and a few high-end laptops are likely to be PCIe 5.0-ready off the shelf, but otherwise, you may have to build your own PC from the ground up or update an existing system to gain the connectivity required.
For a desktop, you will need an Intel 12th Gen or later Core CPU with a motherboard based on Intel's Z690 or Z790 chipset or later; or an AMD Ryzen 7000 or 9000 processor with an AM5 motherboard built around an X670, X670E, or B650E chipset, or later ones. (Few laptops will have PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots at all at the moment, except at the very high end, and even fewer with one not already occupied.)
A really important point, though: Just because you have one of those desktop chipsets doesn't guarantee that the motherboard maker actually implemented a PCIe 5.0-capable M.2 SSD slot or slots. That's up to the board maker, so check your system's or motherboard's specs and documentation to make sure you actually have such a slot before investing in one of these drives. Some boards have PCIe 5.0 expansion slots for graphics cards and other PCI Express cards, but you specifically need a PCIe 5.0-capable M.2 slot.
Do note that PCI Express 5.0 is backward-compatible with previous versions of the standard. That means you could run a Gen 5 SSD in a PCIe 4.0 or even PCIe 3.0 M.2 slot, but its throughput speeds would top out at those of the earlier standard.
Thermals: Managing Heat With PCI Express 5.0
When PCIe 5 SSDs first hit the consumer market in early 2023, they were all about raw speed, but with sizzling throughput came a lot of heat to deal with. Manufacturers developed a range of strategies to dissipate the heat and prevent thermal throttling. When an SSD's temperature climbs to a certain point, the drive's controller "throttles" the SSD, dialing back its speed to prevent damage. That, of course, adversely affects performance. For quick data transfers, this may not arise, but for sustained ones, it'll kick in if the SSD isn't adequately cooled.
How, then, to cool a hot-running SSD? Gen 5 heatsinks have included passive cooling solutions (most common, these are heatsinks with an array of aluminum fins to conduct and radiate the heat away from the drive), active heatsinks using fans (less common), and even the occasional liquid-based systems to be integrated into a desktop that has a custom liquid-cooling get-up (rare). Many of these heatsinks are way larger than those supplied with earlier generations of drives. Some SSD makers sell the heatsink as a separate accessory.
That's because, as an alternative, in many cases you can use the heatsink provided with a desktop rig (or with a motherboard, if bought separately) for its Gen 5 M.2 slot. Many motherboards with PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots include a robust heatsink for that slot or slots, with an eye toward the possibility of a hotter-running drive taking up residence.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)As PCIe 5 drives enter the mainstream, and the first laptops with PCIe 5 M.2 slots are becoming available, SSD manufacturers have been focusing more on reducing heat at the source, improving the energy efficiency of their products so they can be used with much more compact heatsinks—including heatsinks that allow an SSD equipped with one to fit in the secondary M.2 slot of a PlayStation 5. (Note: As the PS5's spare M.2 slot is PCI Express 4, a PCI Express 5 drive's throughput will be limited to PCIe 4 speeds, up to around 7,500MBps sequential read and 7,000MBps sequential write. So there's no special reason to use a PCIe 5.0 drive in there.)
Another approach to cooling is the DRAM-less SSD, in which the controller lacks a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cache, instead relying on the computer's host memory buffer (aka HMB, residing in the main system RAM) for caching. DRAM-less SSDs can be energy-efficient and cost-effective, but the ones we have seen so far have been modest performers, with many of their benchmark results no better than top-performing previous-generation (PCI Express 4.0) SSDs.
Other energy-efficiency attempts have involved using modified controllers and improving NAND flash memory as well as firmware. Some of these efforts are paying off; a few recent PCI Express 5 SSDs have indeed shown that energy efficiency and effective heat management need not come at the expense of performance.
What's Next for PCI Express?
The advent of such cool, energy-efficient Gen 5 speedsters should help pave the way for much greater adoption of these drives in desktops and laptops designed to support them. This development will also help manufacturers design SSDs for PCI Express 6, a standard expected to further double throughput speeds but which hasn't yet appeared in any products. And if that weren't enough, PCI-SIG—the community that has been instrumental in developing and enhancing the PCI standard—released in June 2025 the specs for PCI Express 7, which doubles the data rate over PCIe 6.
Should you worry about any of these future flavors of PCIe now? Definitely not. PCIe 5.0 in SSDs is only now gaining momentum, and it'll be years before future PCIe specs are relevant to consumer SSDs. And today, even PCIe 4.0, never mind 5.0, SSDs are fast enough for most folks.
Ready to Buy the Right PCIe 5 SSD for You?
This guide should equip you with everything you need to make the right choice now. Take a look at the spec breakout and the pros and cons of each of our recommended models. These are, of course, all internal M.2 drives; if that's not what you're after, you can also check out our roundups of the best external SSDs, as well as the best external hard drives for Macs and the overall best external hard drives.
And if you determine you need an internal SSD but you're not ready to take the Gen 5 plunge, also check out our roundup of the best PCIe Express SSDs overall (lots of PCIe 4.0 drives, there), as well as our picks for the best M.2 drives.