The 5 Best NVMe SSDs for Gaming

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Austin Carroll is a writer and web designer from Eugene, Oregon. He's been at HGG for five years and maintains an active role designing and develop... Read more

Reviewed by Benjamin Barr

Seeking the latest storage options for your PC or laptop? Well, the best NVMe SSD options are built with cutting-edge tech, ensuring lightning-fast data transfers and load times. They’re also small and lightweight, yet packed full of storage space. The result? Great gaming and overall performance that’s accessible and convenient.

This article takes you through the latest generation of SSDs that are designed to work alongside PCI-e expansion slots. As such, we’ve curated the 5 best NVMe SSDs on the market, with choices for desktop, laptop, and gaming machines. We’ll also peek at the technology and major benefits behind this top-tier storage standard. Ready to take one for a drive? Let’s get started.

Top 5: Best NVMe SSD

First, let’s take a look at the top NVMe SSDs on the market.

1. Samsung SSD 970 PRO

Our pick for best NVMe SSD for gaming

The Samsung SSD 970 PRO is the go to SSD for PC gaming. That’s because it’s built atop Samsung’s industry leading V-NAND tech, which offers blazing-fast read speeds up to 3,500 MB/s. Moreover, it’s packed with Samsung Magician for seamless file transfers, and dynamic thermal guard for performance and safety, even in the most resource-intensive game matches.

Snapshot:

Storage: 500GB or 1TB
Data Transfer Speeds: 2,280 MB/s
Connectivity: M.2 PCI-e x4; PC compatible
Features: Samsung V-NAND technology and Dynamic Thermal Guard

2. Crucial P1 NVMe SSD

Our pick for best smart NVMe SSD

If you’re seeking a smart NVMe SSD that can monitor itself during straining activities, the Crucial P1 is the perfect option. It also boasts Micron 3D NAND technology for excellent read & write speeds, as well as RAIN for enhanced performance. Load up to 1 terabyte of data, including all your favorite games, and watch your system fly.

Snapshot:

Storage: 500GB or 1TB
Data Transfer Speeds: 2,000 MB/s
Connectivity: M.2 PCI-e x4; PC & Mac compatible
Features: Micron 3D NAND and SMART technology

3. Sabrent Rocket NVMe SSD

Our pick for best NVMe SSD for the money

If you drive a hard bargain, the Sabrant Rocket NVMe SSD is a great choice for you. That because MSRPs under $50, and it doesn’t skimp on features. In fact, you can look forward to SMART and TRIM commands for better performance, Wear Leveling and Bad Block Management for data protection, and so much more. Overall, it’s a speedy drive that’s perfect for hardcore gaming on a budget.

Snapshot:

Storage: 256GB to 2TB
Data Transfer Speeds: 3,400MB/s
Connectivity: M.2 PCI-e x4; PC compatible
Features: Advanced wear leveling and over-provision

4. Silicon Power NVMe M.2 SSD

Our pick for best M.2 NVMe SSD

The Silicon Power SSD provides an ultra slim form factor that fits perfectly into PC & Mac desktop and notebook devices. Despite its small size, it boasts full RAID support for extra durability and data safety, even under high strain situations such as overclocking. An excellent choice from a reputable manufacturer.

Snapshot:

Storage: 128GB to 512GB
Data Transfer Speeds: 3,400MB/s
Connectivity: M.2 PCI-e x4; PC & Mac compatible
Features: RAID engine for data integrity

5. ADATA XPG Pro NVMe SSD

Our pick for best NVMe SSD for laptop

Designed for notebooks, the ADATA XPG works alongside the ExpressCard PCI-e x4 Slot to deliver unrivalled speed and performance. In fact, the ADATA NVMe SSD features the highest data transfer speeds on our list! That makes it ideal for the most strenuous apps and games, including animation, editing, and more.

Snapshot:

Storage: 128GB to 1TB
Data Transfer Speeds: 3,500MB/s
Connectivity: Express Card & M.2 PCI-e x4; PC compatible
Features: Ideal for intense applications and gaming

What is an NVMe SSD?

NVMe SSD stands for non-volatile memory express solid state drive. Quite a mouthful, eh? In simpler terms, it refers to the latest generation of flash memory storage options for desktop and laptop computers. NVMe SSDs use the new PCI-e interface to connect and communicate with the motherboard and critical hardware within your device. The result? Read and write data transfers that are up to 3x faster than conventional SATA drives.

This is a huge boon during resource-heavy tasks that require continuous communication from all the hardware within a PC. The main benefactors of NVMe SSDs include designers, programmers, and gamers! It’s true – gaming machines can benefit from an NVMe SSD with a significant speed and performance boost. And that’s just a taste of what the latest solid state drives have to offer.

Benefits of NVMe SSDs

There are a number of benefits to snagging a NVMe SSD for your PC or laptop:

Lightning-fast data access for speedy load times. NVMe SSDs allow users to access their data near-instantly, ensuring speedy boot-ups and virtually zero loading screens.
Safe and reliable. Since there are no moving parts within SSDs, the likelihood of hardware failure is significantly decreased when compared to conventional hard drives.
Future-proof & full of storage. Not only are NVMe SSDs ultra small and convenient, they’re packed with the latest tech protocols for a long lifespan. Plus, there’s no shortage of storage space, with top options exceeding one terabyte!
Great performance & quick transfers. Overall, you can expect enhanced performance with quick data transfers for streamlined computing.

Choosing the Best NVMe SSD for Your Setup

Let’s have a look at the main considerations that go into choosing the best NVMe SSD for your machine:

Compatibility
Size
Brand
Cost

It’s crucial to pick an NVMe SSD that works with your machine. The wrong size, fit, or technology will make the drive a glorified paperweight. Fortunately, it’s easy to ensure compatibility by using the Amazon Confirmed Fit feature from your favorite product listing or going to the manufacturer site.

Still, you’ll need to pick an SSD that has enough memory to store all your favorite games and programs. The team at HGG recommends choosing a reputable brand with at least half a terabyte of storage, as these are relatively affordable and big enough for most users. If you want to go bigger, keep in mind that the price rises substantially with each additional gigabyte.