Choosing an affordable SSD drive for a gaming PC and laptop. How to choose an SSD drive for a laptop: Basic rules

The market for equipment and components is replete with various options, among which it is very easy to get lost. IN lately SSD drives are becoming increasingly popular, despite their price category. In a number of parameters they outperform, and their diversity allows you to choose best option.

1. Decide on the main reason why you need to purchase the disk.
2. Initially, it would be useful to select several options for SSD drives, and then make a comparison. You should rely not only on the price issue, but also on the basic characteristics.
3. The price of a drive depends on its capacity. It is believed that the larger the size of the SSD disk, the higher the speed of its operation. In a situation where it is simply not possible to buy an expensive device for storing and recording information, it is better to give preference to SSD drives in the range of 64-240 gigabytes. They are quite affordable, and will please you with both capacity and speed.
4. To choose the right SSD drive for your computer, you should consider the “native” parameters. Its performance will vary depending on the technical specifications. Because of this, installing a flash drive on older PCs may not be a practical solution.
5. When choosing a drive, it is better to give preference to those options whose interface is SATA III or PCI-E. This option may be especially relevant for an SSD drive for a laptop; the information transfer speed will be very decent.
6. In some cases, it is better to purchase two different SSD drives, but each with a small maximum capacity. Installation on different devices , necessary programs, as well as saving various information will simplify the work. And it will reduce the risk of instant loss of all data if the drive fails.
7. When choosing a storage drive, based primarily on its capacity, you need to remember one more nuance. Many SSD drives noticeably reduce their initial performance when free space remains less than 70-75%.

SSD drive selection options

The manufacturer of the device also plays an important role. On modern market There is a huge selection, but you need to give preference to proven brands. Leading companies that have proven themselves include:

• Samsung, it is believed that their drives are the fastest;
• Intel, very reliable and quite durable devices, but are among the most expensive;
• Kingston, popular and relatively budget SSD drives;
• Plextor, they are on sale for a shorter period of time, but at the same time they differ in quality and speed of work;
• Crucial, this company, being a subsidiary of Micron, offers budget products based on controllers from Marvell.

1. Frome factor. When buying an SSD for a laptop, you should choose models from 2.5” and below. SSD disk for computer – 3.5 inches. For tablet computers – ultra-thin models (M5M).
2. Controller. It is better to choose an SSD with a controller from Marvell, Intel, MDX, SandForce.
3. Memory type. There are 3 types: SLC, MLC, TLC. The SLC type is the most successful choice, although it is more expensive than the other two. However, with it the service life of the drive will be 10-12 times longer.
4. IOPS. Responsible for the number of operations per second, this indicator affects the speed of the solid-state drive. The higher it is, the better SSD drive, but the price can also be steep.
5. Energy consumption data. If you are purchasing an SSD drive for a laptop or netbook, you should take one with a significantly lower value compared to other models.

SSD or HDD: which is better, what to give preference to

HDD represents a familiar hard drive, called a “hard” or hard drive. Its work is based on recording information on magnetic disks. This version of the device is used in personal computers, laptops and other similar equipment.

SSD is a “new generation” hard drive. It is a solid-state drive, it is based on microcircuits NAND flash memory, due to this, it is often called a “flash drive”. Suitable for various devices, but most often this drive is preferred in laptops, smartphones and netbooks.

The NAND memory interface is currently represented by the following models:

• Toggle DDR 2.0/ONFi 3.0 – 500 MB/s;
• ONFi 2X – 200 MB/s;
• Toggle DDR 1.0 – 166 MB/s;
• ONFi 1.0 – 50 MB/s.

It is difficult to answer unequivocally the question of which storage option is the best. Both devices have their pros and cons, including technical characteristics. Even based on the individual properties of an SSD disk and hard drive, one can draw a conclusion about the strengths and weaknesses of a particular device.

Based on the data given in the table, it can be seen that, depending on the basis, the advantages will be either on the side of the traditional hard drive, or on the SSD side. Additional important nuance within the framework of SSD drives is the fact that it is impossible to format this device, unlike a hard drive.

Additional advantages of an SSD drive

1. Almost completely silent.
2. Strength and impact resistance.
3. Does not respond to vibrations.
4. Does not heat up during operation.
5. The risk of failure is small, in contrast to the propensity for HDD failures.
6. Light weight.
7. Work is carried out simultaneously using several channels of information transmission.
8. A device with an installed SSD will work without interruption in a multitasking situation ( open browser, information download started computer game, virus checking, etc.).

Brief overview of the best SSD drive models

Capacious and relatively budget model, which is quite popular among buyers. Distinctive feature, which is noted in many reviews about the device - the speed of working with data is 70 MB/s higher than the numbers indicated in the certificate. Owners of the drive note that starting the OS and opening “heavy” programs does not take more than 10 seconds. But, unfortunately, this particular model of SSD drive is difficult to work with information in full, without compression.

Controller: SandForce.

Write and read speed: up to 450 MB/s.

From factor: 2.5 inches.

Memory type: MLC.

Price range from 6,000 rubles to 9,000 rubles.

An affordable drive that features a large cache and V-NAND memory. The minimum warranty period for the device is 3 years. The device has TurboWrite capability. The line of these SSD drives includes models whose capacity reaches one terabyte. In size and appearance, it is a very small, thin device, weighing no more than 66 g.

Controller: Samsung (MGX/MEX).

Interface: SATA III.

Reading speed: 540 MB/s.

Write speed: 520 MB/s.

Price range from 7,500 rubles to 10,500 rubles.

Suitable for experienced users, as well as for devices that are experiencing heavy load in the process of work. According to reviews, it is the SanDisk Extreme PRO SSD drive that does not lose its original data input and output speed throughout the entire time of use. The device operates based on the SATA III interface. However this SSD drive not intended for use on servers.

From factor: 2,5’’.

Memory type: MLC.

Reading speed: 550 MB/s.

Write speed: 520 MB/s.

Price range from 9,000 rubles to 11,600 rubles.

Choosing a solid state drive is a responsible and difficult process. However, based on important criteria and having a clear idea of ​​the final goal for which the purchase is being made, choosing the best option will be much easier.

• Small M.2 (NGFF) or mSATA SSD
• Need an SSD for your laptop?
• How to transfer an operating system to an SSD?

How to choose an SSD for a computer?

If your computer is modern or completely new, then be sure to pay attention - these are the fastest drives with a logical interface specially designed for SSDs. Details below in the appropriate section. But most often, we are talking about a 2.5” disk with SATA 6Gb/s. In any case, a solid-state drive is many times faster than any hard drive, and NVMe SSD- dozens of times. The case may not have a bay for 2.5" drives - this is not a problem, you just need an adapter from 2.5" to 3.5". To save money, you can use.

The best high-performance SSD drives

Distinguish fast disk it's almost impossible to distinguish from slow by eye, even old SATA-II from SATA-III. But sometimes speed is important. Who needs tests of solid-state drives - we have plenty of them, NICS tests drives. Comparing SSD performance will help you choose and buy an SSD with the fastest speed characteristics.

Choosing the optimal size of SSD drive

It's easy! Windows 10 will take you 30-40 GB, 8-16-32 GB for hibernation, 8-16 GB for the swap file, office programs 5-10 GB and each game another 10-50 GB. In fact, the minimum volume is 120 or 128 GB, comfortable, allowing you not to save every gigabyte - 240 or 256 GB. On SSD drive and 480 - 512 GB, you can install applications and games without looking back, but if you need to dump everything in a row - photos, music, movies, etc. - there are SSDs of terabytes and higher, if necessary. It is worth remembering that prices for SSD drives directly depend on their capacity, and the larger the memory capacity, the higher their cost.

Small M.2 SSD (NGFF) and mSATA

The fastest growing SSD market, thanks to NVMe Boot technology - instantly launches modern PCs using the fastest M.2 NVMe SSDs with a PCIe interface. Plus, you can install the drive directly on a compatible motherboard, which is important for compact systems. The corresponding M.2 connector and its parameters should be indicated in the description of the motherboard. When installing an NVMe SSD, be sure to ensure that the motherboard supports this technology, otherwise you will not be able to install the OS on the SSD. The situation is the same in laptops, but there may not be information about M.2, mSATA and NVMe, and if there is, it will be scanty - see below about SSDs for a laptop. The mSATA form factor is gradually fading into the background and is practically not found on new motherboards and laptops.

Choosing a reliable SSD for a server or workstation

Such drives require reliability, increased write and rewrite life, and the ability to easily handle multiple input/output operations (IOPS). The most difficult situation is a database server, where data can be constantly rewritten several times. SSD volumes per day. For such cases, you need to purchase SSDs suitable for database servers. Usually the same 2.5” SSDs are installed in servers, but if Hot Swap baskets are designed only for 3.5”, then you will have to either replace the basket with a compatible one, or use special adapters that replicate the dimensions and location of the 3.5” HDD interface. Prices for SSD drives for corporate systems based on NAND flash are much higher, and it is best to choose them based on resource (TBW) and the number of rewrites of the entire SSD volume per day (DWPD). Separately, it is worth mentioning the Intel Optane SSD based on 3D XPoint - this is a completely new level of speed and resource. Based on this technology, Intel makes fast and reliable SSDs for workstations, for gamers and enthusiasts, and, of course, high-speed server solid-state drives.

How much SSD resource will be enough to solve your problems?

It's very simple: "life" solid state drives shrinks every time you write new information to it. If you have personal computer, which you turn on once a day in the evening, after work, then you can buy... any SSD disk, because any modern SSD has sufficient resource for household use and simple office tasks, regardless of the type of memory cells (3D MLC, 3D TLC and other). Low prices for SSD drives make them accessible to every PC or laptop user. If the work involves creating large files, working with photos/videos, then you can and should choose more resourceful SSDs. For example, half the SSD capacity per day for recording (0.5 DWPD) is already a very good indicator of reliability for workstations, computers for designers or photographers.

Need an SSD for your laptop?

Usually we are talking about replacing a 2.5” HDD with a solid-state drive. Just make sure that the hard drive is accessible, that the hard drive has a SATA interface, and measure the thickness of the drive. If it's 9 mm, any will do. If the thickness is 7 mm, then it is better to choose a thin 7 mm SATA SSD to fit exactly. More complex cases do not have a clear solution - you need to find out which solid-state or hard drive is installed and whether it can be replaced, and this is not always easy. If your laptop has an optical drive, you can replace it with an SSD using it - this is very convenient and allows you to leave the old drive in the laptop.

How to transfer an operating system to an SSD drive?

The easiest way is to buy an SSD drive with special software for transferring the OS. You can also use third-party software to clone the drive, for example, Acronis True Image.

These days, SSD drives are becoming increasingly popular. They work much faster than the usual traditional HDDs, and their reliability and price are optimal for ordinary users. SSDs are used to store data in personal computers, laptops and even tablets.

But there are various manufacturers and various devices. It may be difficult for a novice user to choose required device. In this article, we have collected some tips on which SSD drive to choose in 2018, as well as an overview of the best devices.

Flash memory replaces fragile and bulky traditional disc everywhere. It is much easier to use a silent SSD, which looks like a regular chip, instead of a 100 revolutions per second hard drive. The second reason for replacement is greater speed SSD operation. Data will be read or written at speeds hundreds of times faster than on a magnetic hard drive.

SSD drives store data in non-volatile flash memory cells. We can say that this is RAM that retains its contents after a reboot. Thanks to high speed, the computer will respond to clicks much faster.

How to buy SSD?

As for the price, now SSD drives have become much more affordable. But when choosing, you need to pay attention not only to price, but also to speed and reliability. Three flash memory technologies are used to produce SSDs: SLC, MLC and TLC. SLT disks are more expensive, but the most reliable, one bit of information is written to one memory cell, MLC technology allows you to write two bits, it is cheaper, but does not last so long.

The next technology, TLC, is even cheaper and allows three bits of information to be written into one cell, but has an even shorter service life and even lower performance. The ideal solution would be MLC. You need to find a compromise between price, reliability and speed.

There are also several options for connecting SSD drives. Flash memory has a very high operating speed, and increasingly the bottleneck is not the speed of working with the memory, but the speed of the connection interface. Now M.2 PCIe type drives are gaining popularity, they provide maximum speed, but are still very expensive, so for most users the best solution There will be an SSD connection via a SATA III interface, which is capable of delivering speeds of up to 6 Gbit/s (or 750 MB/s).

In this article we will look at the best SSD drives of 2018 SATA type, since PCIe will still be very expensive for most users. If you are a laptop user, then you will also need to pay attention to the size of the SSD. All SSDs reviewed have a 2.5-inch form factor and a size of 69.9x100.1x7mm. Now let's move on to the list of the best SSD drives of 2018.

Best SSD drives 2018

1. Samsung 850 Evo

This SSD drive is available in capacities of 120, 250, 500 GB. This is not a new solution on the market, but it can compete with many budget drives. The 500 GB version can be found for $150.

It uses the cheapest data storage technology - TLC, three bits per cell. But in addition to it, the original Samsung-V technology, which provides greater reliability and speed. The carrier performs well in tests and outperforms many competitors.

2. Toshiba Q300 480GB

The new Toshiba Q300 SSD is cheaper than other competitors, but provides excellent data processing speed. It also uses Toshiba's own technology, which combines TLC storage cells and SLC cache to improve performance.

You can choose a volume of 120, 240, 480 and 960 GB. You can find a 480GB version for $100. Other drives offering the same speed are slightly more expensive. The manufacturer provides a three-year warranty normal operation. Read/write speed in tests: 563.9 MB/sec.

3. Samsung 960 Pro

Samsung 960 Pro M.2 gives maximum performance, but is quite expensive. To connect it, you will need a modern motherboard with PCIe support. You can purchase SAMSUNG 960 PRO 512 GB in M2 version for $329 and $149 for SATA version.

For data storage, Samsung's V-NAND technology is used along with MLC cell packaging technology, which ensures high reliability and performance. In tests, this media is capable of delivering up to 1984.1 MB/sec.

4. Samsung 960 Evo

This M2 form factor drive provides very high read and write speeds, even faster than Pro version and it is more affordable than its counterpart. The same technology, Samsung-V-NAND and MLC cells are used to store information.

Among the additional features supported here AES encryption 256 and TCG-Opal 2.0. You can purchase the Samsung 960 Evo 1GB for $400. Read/write speed reaches 2457.4 MB/sec. This is the best ssd 2018.

5. SanDisk Extreme Pro 480 GB

This is one of the most reliable SSDs. SanDisk Extreme Pro comes with a 10-year warranty and delivers excellent performance.

The device memory is divided into two parts, one of them is a high-performance dynamic cache based on SLC cells and persistent storage of the MLC type. This ensures maximum speed. The drives are available in three sizes: 120, 240 and 960 GB, all in the traditional SATA form factor. The price of SanDisk Extreme Pro 480 GB is about $200, and the operating speed is 525 MB/sec.

6. Kingston KC400 SSDNow

This is an excellent SSD that allows you to get maximum speed. It is available in 128, 256, 512 GB and 1 TB variants. You can find SSD size 512 GB for $153.

It uses a Phison 3110 controller with read/write error protection, as well as additional technologies to extend service life. The drive is capable of reading/writing speeds of up to 557 MB/sec.

7.WD Blue SSD 1TB

Very fast but expensive SSD. Available in 250GB, 500GB and 1TB capacity options. A 1 TB disk costs $320. You can also choose the SATA III or M2 form factor.

The TLC cell type is used to store data, recording three bits per cell. But in addition to TLC, a high-speed cache of SLC cells is used here. This combination gives high reliability and speed. The read/write speed for the disk fluctuates around 508.3 Mbit/sec.

8. PNY CS2211 240GB

The PNY CS2211 is a more affordable SSD for those looking to replace old hard disk. A 240GB device can be purchased for $69. The manufacturer provides a four-year warranty.

MLC technology is used to store data, allowing two bits to be written into one cell. This perfect solution for SSD drives. The read/write speed of this disk is 526.7 MB/sec.

9. OCZ ARC 100 240 GB

SSD disk from OCZ is available in capacities of 100, 120, 240 and 480 GB. You can purchase the 240GB version for $80. Initially the company made very bad SSD drives, but then it was acquired by Thoshiba and things got much better. The media comes with a three-year warranty.

It uses an Indilinx Barefoot 3 controller, which has 512 MB of DDR3 memory for fast cache and gives excellent operating speed. The device can deliver read speeds of 489 MB/s and write speeds of up to 447 MB/s.

10. Kingston HyperX Savage 480 GB

SSD drives from Kingston are capable of delivering excellent performance at relatively affordable price. It uses a Savage controller, which uses a quad-core processor with eight data channels. The manufacturing process for one memory cell is 19 nm. Read speed is 358 MB/s and write speed is 370 MB/s.

Conclusions

In this article we looked at best ssd wheels 2018. There are cheaper, budget options, as well as expensive, but high-performance ones. Now you know which one ssd is better choose 2018 and if you were planning to upgrade your equipment, now you know what to do.

SSD drives are becoming more and more popular today and everyone more users have a desire to install this productive device on their laptop or desktop PC. Fortunately, recently the prices for such devices have seriously decreased, but SSDs still remain quite expensive compared to HDDs. However, if high performance is important to you and you are not afraid of the cost, then believe me, this device will not disappoint you. In this article we will tell you how to choose an SSD drive for a laptop, what parameters and technical characteristics you should initially pay attention to.

Benefits of purchasing

Purchasing an SSD for a computer is one of the most important steps to increase system performance, as well as the speed of working with data. On such a device, accessing information occurs much faster.

Important! Replacement outdated HDD a more modern device will bring a greater increase in power than even increasing the amount of memory or installing a new processor.

The advantages of a solid-state drive for a laptop include the following:

• Increasing the speed of data access, which will significantly speed up the launch of programs. Before you worry about changing the configuration of your PC, it makes sense to take preventive measures. They will take you some time, but can be very effective. Find out.
• The small size of most devices (except for portable models), allowing you to easily select an SSD for both a small 10-inch netbook and for large laptop with 17 inch display.
• Light weight, which is especially important when used on a laptop PC.
• Reduced power consumption, which should increase the laptop's average battery life.
• High level of reliability of SSD operation.

Important! Among the disadvantages that can be noted with solid-state drives, attention is paid to their rather short resource: approximately 3000-5000 cycles. For normal home use, this time is equivalent to approximately 8 years of work.

Volume

Before choosing an SSD drive for your laptop, you need to decide how much capacity you need. Typically, SSD is used as system disk to install the operating system:

• Determine how much space your operating system currently takes up. Estimate how much space you will need for related programs. If you are a fan of playing games, then this is also worth considering.

Important! It is already difficult to find SSDs with a capacity of up to 60 GB in stores. The minimum cost for such a disk will be approximately the same as for HDD drive 1 TB in size.

• Basically, if you don't plan to install large number different programs, a 60 GB SSD will be enough for you to use as a system one. However, if funds allow, then it is better to pay attention to disks with a capacity of 128 GB or more.
• It is worth remembering that some SSDs reduce their performance when filled above 70%. That is why the disk should be taken with a reserve.
• Also pay attention to the peculiarity of such devices, which is that SSD large power have a high data transfer rate. Especially regarding recording.
• The difference in speed between a 128 GB drive and a 512 GB drive of the same model can be up to three times. This difference is due to the fact that SSD controller uses all memory crystals simultaneously. One model uses the same memory crystals, so less capacity means fewer crystals, and fewer crystals means lower speed.

Important! Don't confuse memory crystals with memory chips. Each chip may contain several crystals. That is, drives of different capacities may have the same number of chips, but the number of crystals will be different.

Manufacturers indicate this difference in transfer speed in the specifications of drive models. Therefore, before purchasing a disk, carefully study its specifications - perhaps a disk of suitable size will not be as fast as you need.

Important! And the speed of any PC depends on the efficiency of the cooling system. So be sure to read about:

Interface

When answering the question of which SSD to choose for a laptop, it is worth paying considerable attention to the interface.

SATA

Today, all SSDs are produced with a SATA 3 interface. If you suddenly come across drives with a SATA2 interface, then it is no longer worth buying such devices. But many users still have many PCs on which motherboards with a SATA 2 or even SATA 1 controller are installed.

On such devices you can safely install a drive with a SATA 3 interface, but you just need to take into account that in this case real speed will be significantly lower than the declared characteristics.

Important! This problem can be solved by purchasing a separate SATA controller 3 and connecting it to motherboard. In any case, a device with SATA 3 interfaces will be the best choice.

PCI-Express

Nowadays, drive models made in the form of a PCI-express card have begun to appear, for example, PlextorM6e. IN in this case You simply install the drive board into the PCI-e slot, and then enjoy the operation of the drive.

Memory type

There are three types of memory that are used to create solid-state drives:

• SLC is a type of memory in which each physical cell stores 1 bit of data. Its advantage is durability and higher operating speed. The disadvantage is the high cost.

Important! The old type is extremely rare on sale.

• MLC is a type of memory in which each physical cell stores 2 bits of data. Such cells can be located in different states charge, which increases the volume.

Important! The disadvantage of this type of memory is that it increases access time and reduces service life compared to SLC memory. The operating time of such a drive is on average no more than 3 years, but at the same time they are cheaper. This is the most popular type of memory.

• TLC is a type of memory that stores 3 bits of data in each physical cell. It is the newest type of memory.

Important! Since drives based on SLC memory have a small capacity and a high price, drives with MLC memory are mostly found on sale. Devices with TLC memory have just begun to appear on the market.

Taking into account the fact that drives based on MLC memory are a more reliable and proven option, when purchasing, you should give preference to this species memory.

Important! When planning to improve your computer, take care of its internal cleanliness. To do this, select from our review.

Controller

The main part of the SSD is the controller. The reliability, quality and speed of the drive depend on it, so when choosing an SSD drive for a laptop, you should pay attention to this parameter. There are several types of controllers on the modern market:

• SandForce is the most popular type of controller and one of the fastest. They dominate the budget SSD category. Even Intel makes some SSDs based on these controllers. Its work is based on the principle of data compression, which is performed before writing to disk. All this makes it possible to increase performance and reduce memory access time. Compressed data takes up less space, which reduces the number of cell accesses, resulting in longer disk life.

Important! These controllers have some not very pleasant feature - after the drive is full and then cleaned, the write speed is not restored to its original values. In addition, operation speed decreases if the drive is too full. At the same time, SandForce has excellent recording speed and highly compressible information.

• Intel - these controllers, due to their reliability, are often used in workstations and servers. What prevents Intel from becoming a market leader is its not very high write speed.
• Marvell is a widely used controller. Models of this company 88SS9174 and 88SS9187 are used in high-performance SSDs from different companies. For example, some of the fastest SSD drives in the world, PlextorM5 and CrucialM550, use these controllers.

Important! It is considered one of the fastest and most inexpensive in the world. The speed is not much faster than SandForce, but it can work with it on an equal footing.

• Phison - this manufacturer has long been known for its controllers for flash drives. More recently, it has started to conquer the SSD market. Its drives are used in budget models.
• MDX - created by Samsung and used in its drives. It has good speed results, which gives it the opportunity to be a worthy competitor in the SSD market.
• Indilinx is a controller that shows very good write and read speeds. Perfectly optimized to work with SSD. Currently, the company of the same name belongs to OCZ, so all drives from this company are manufactured on the basis of this controller.

Important! Each of the presented controllers has its own characteristics - strengths and weaknesses. When choosing an ssd drive for a laptop, you should pay attention to SandForc, Intel, Indilinx, Marvell.

Manufacturers

There are many SSD manufacturers represented on the modern PC device market, but among all the diversity we can highlight five main manufacturers who have captured most of the market and collect decent solid state drives. In principle, you can buy a disk from any of these companies:

• Intel produces drives from its own memory and selects the best memory for its SSDs. And the manufacturer also assembles some of these drives based on its own controllers. The drives from this company are very reliable and high quality, but quite expensive. Mainly used on servers.
• Crucial (a division of Micron) produces flash memory together with Intel. So, the company makes disks based on its memory. It differs from Intel in that it is aimed at more budget segment. Crucial uses its Marvell memory and controllers.
• Plextor is a Japanese company that doesn't actually make the drives itself—they are assembled for it by a company called Lite-on. At the same time, the discs are very good. They use Marvell controllers and Intel-Micron memory. The PlextorM5 Pro drive is considered one of the fastest today, even though it is no longer young.
• Samsung is a leader in the SSD market. The company itself assembles both controllers and memory. Therefore, the disks are 100% our own.
• Sandisk - some drive models from this manufacturer show very good performance.

Video material

Despite the fact that the SATA interface is far from the most advanced option for connecting drives today, even years after the appearance of SATA SSDs, it remains in demand. Manufacturers understand this, therefore, along with the latest NVMe SSDs, they continue to produce solid-state solutions based on SATA.

Regardless of which connection interface you choose, the addition of an SSD drive to a gaming PC will significantly add performance to the entire system as a whole. operating system will start up faster, programs will have a shorter launch time, and game locations will load much more quickly.

It is clear that HDD can still remain a high-capacity storage for storing heavy media files, but a solid-state drive simply must become the basis of a PC. Their cost today is not so fabulous as to deny oneself a colossal increase in productivity.

Solid state drives today have several form factors: 2.5-inch SATA SSDs, PCIe expansion cards and compact M.2 drives. For gaming, the best drive is one that combines acceptable capacity, high performance, reliability, and an affordable price.

In terms of cost, it is more logical to opt for SSDs connected via a SATA interface or inexpensive devices operating using the NVMe protocol. We have selected several solutions that meet these requirements and can add power to your gaming computer or laptop.

Best Affordable SSD: Samsung 850 EVO 500GB

What does the term "best" mean when talking about a storage device? Best Value price and quality, great performance or great feature set? The ideal SSD for a gaming PC should have an excellent price/performance/reliability ratio and meet these requirements.

Samsung is the only SSD manufacturer that fully manages production process: The company's engineers develop the controller, program the firmware, produce NAND flash memory and create the finished product without the involvement of third-party developers. In addition, Samsung provides a five-year warranty on its drive.

1.

: 540 MB/s

: 510 MB/s

: 520 MB/s

: 496 MB/s

: 0.036 ms;

: 0.027 ms;

Overall rating: 96.2

Price/quality ratio: 73

Samsung 850 EVO is available in capacities of 120, 250, 500 GB, as well as 1, 2, 4 TB. Even though it is not the most affordable or fast SSD in every test, it has proven itself to be very reliable. Other discs can also boast high speeds data transfer, but in terms of overall performance, reliability and cost, the EVO is superior to many.

Average retail price: 10,000 rubles

Best Budget NVMe SSD: Intel SSD 760p 512GB

It's no secret that the performance of NVMe drives is three times higher than that of SATA SSDs. If you're thinking about upgrading from an older PC, you'll likely be stuck with SATA, but newer platforms Intel based And AMD platforms support work with M.2 drives. If you're the owner of a new PC and want to maximize performance, M.2 storage is the perfect choice.

The read/write speeds of the Intel SSD 760p 512GB are up to 3230/1625 MB/s, respectively. In the case of resource-intensive workloads, these figures may decrease slightly, but even so, the performance will be superior to SATA solutions. When it comes to gaming, you'll hardly notice the difference between the Intel SSD 760p and the Samsung 850 EVO 500GB, but it will be faster in other operations.

If you want to receive maximum level performance in any other tasks besides games, and at the same time equipping your PC with a modern M.2-drive Intel SSD 760p 512GB will become good decision, if you take into account the price/performance ratio.

Average retail price: 13,800 rubles

Best High-End SSD: Samsung 850 Pro 512GB

It is the fastest among SATA SSDs, but it also has a decent price. Think twice before purchasing one: it may be wiser to buy an NVM drive from Intel from our selection - it costs less. But, if you are upgrading an old PC that does not support M.2 solutions, you still want to achieve maximum performance, this will be a disk.

Samsung 850 PRO uses more durable cells compared to 850 EVO MLC memory. Plus, the manufacturer provides a ten-year warranty on the device, which is twice as long as in the case of the previous version from the EVO series. In addition, it is one of the fastest SATA SSDs with a capacity of 512 GB. And the cost of 16,000 rubles is quite tolerable for the High-End class.

1.

Average read speed (compressible data)

: 551 MB/s

: 518 MB/s

: 526 MB/s

: 496 MB/s

: 0.036 ms;

: 0.023 ms;

The Polish manufacturer GOODRAM is one of the few that positions its SSDs as gaming ones. Its cost is 3,000 rubles less than the penultimate model (about 13,000 rubles), which immediately makes it a tasty purchase for any gamer. True, unlike the Samsung PRO series drive, it comes with a five-year warranty.

The drive is slightly faster than the competitive model from Samsung in terms of reading and writing speed, so its purchase will be even more justified when choosing a device upper class. Access time is also faster here, and this becomes an additional argument in favor of the Polish product. And in general, during our tests, Iridium Pro showed very good results.

Average retail price: 13,000 rubles