Top 8 Best 120GB SATA SSDs to buy in 2022 (SATA 2.5″ and M.2 SATA)
Table of Contents
Planning to upgrade your PC or Laptop with SSD?
Well, if you have low storage space requirements or if you have a low-end laptop, it may support only up to 128 GB SSD. So, here in this article, I am going to give you a list of the best 120GB SSD that you can buy in 2022.
Nowadays, Solid-State Drive is preferred by the majority of computer users, to acquire better system performance. Why HDD is replaced with SSD? The reason is it’s “Old Machinery” Hard Disk Drives includes different components such as Platters, Spindle, Actuator and so on.
Every part of the HDD must be functional; hence it leads to more power consumption. Also, the HDDs will normally have high latency periods when it comes to finding and accessing the information stored on their magnetic disks.
External Hard Drive/SSD Buying Guid…
Please enable JavaScript
External Hard Drive/SSD Buying Guide | 9 Points to Find Best External SSD/HDD
Moreover, Hard Disk Drives consume more time for bootup. The inconvenient Read/Write Speed of HDDs will eat up more time Importing/Exporting huge files from external drives. That’s not the end, you might be annoyed by some unwanted noise using a PC/Laptop, well the annoying sound is of “HDDs platter”.
I hope, now you are aware of why HDD is replaced with SSDs. Previously, it was just SATA SSDs but now you can acquire the “SATA M.2 SSDs” to upgrade your slim laptops.
Also Read: Full SSD Buying Guide 2021
SATA Solid-State Drive Vs SATA M.2 Solid State Drive
Well, there is no such big difference between SATA and SATA M.2 SSDs, the Read/Write Speed of both Solid-State are comparatively the same. Considering the Price factor and features, there is no big difference in both SSDs.
The only difference is the SIZE of the Solid-State Drives. In simple words, the M.2 Form Factor is way smaller than the 2.5″ form factor. The SATA SSDs are compatible with old PC and Laptops.
Whereas, SATA M.2 SSDs are meant for the latest PC and Laptops. You will find M.2 SSD slot in your latest Operating System’s Mother Board.
Note: Don’t get confused between the M.2 SATA and M.2 NVMe. NVMe drives will look similar to the M.2 SATA but actually, they are high-speed devices that will work only in PCIe NVMe-supported motherboards. Read this article for more information.
Benefits of SATA and SATA M.2 SSDs
Below-Stated, are some of the advantages that you obtain, once you upgrade your Operating System (PC/Laptop) with Compatible SSDs.
Once, you go through the SSD benefits, you will gain a relevant answer to the question “Why invest in SSD?”
- SATA M.2 and SATA Solid-State Drives are 10x faster compared to old Hard Disk Drives
- The lifespan of these SSDs and 5x more compared to HDDs.
- SSDs consume very low Power
- Provides enhanced Read/Write speed
- Helps Operating Systems stay away from overheating
- Effective Drives for Fast System bootup.
- Let’s you work with Peace “NO annoying sounds of Platters”
You can quickly launch highly intensive apps in your OS (PC/Laptop)
Moreover, upgrading the System with an internal SSD will improve the multitasking capabilities. However, upgrading the RAM along with SSD will be a good step toward the best results.
The only Disadvantage of the SATA and M.2 SSDs is, that it’s costlier compared to HDDs. However, you can acquire, 1TB, and 2TB SSDs for more storage. Else, you can upgrade your Operating System with average storage SSD as “Primary Storage” and make use of the internal HDDs as “Secondary Storage”. This process is simply known as the HDD+SSD combo which I have discussed in this article.
In simple words, the SATA SSDs are a little bit expensive because they are fast at the same time. So, the price totally worth it.
Best 120GB SATA SSDs
If you are using an old Laptop or PC, you can rely on SATA SSDs.
I have enlisted some of the most preferred “Top-Rated” SATA SSDs, go through each of them to settle down with the favorable SSD for your Operating System.
1.
Crucial MX500
Crucial MX500 SSD is one of the best compatible Internal SSD for MacBook Pro 2010. Upgrading your old Mac OS with the SSD will help you experience better system performance. The SSD is available in various storage spaces from 256GB to 2TB.
The MX500 comes with an SMI SM2258 controller with a single-core and 8-channels. 3D TLC NAND is used in this SSD with 64/96-layers. The NAND is manufactured by Micron and is known for its great performance.
Adaptive Thermal Protection of the Solid-State Drive will keep your Mac Pro 2010 away from Overheating. It includes effective Read and Write Speed, gain 10x speed for Import/Export huge files. Crucial MX500 SSD includes active garbage collection, which helps your Operating System with more storage.
Specification of Crucial MX500 SSD
- Internal Solid-State Drive
- External SSD dimension is 4.
06 x 0.28 x 2.76 inches - SSD Weight is 1.38 ounces
- Read Speed is up to 560MB/s
- Write Speed is up to 510MB/s
Pros
- Integrated Power Loss Immunity
- Multistep Data Integrity Algorithm
- Error Correction Code
- Self-Monitoring and Reporting Technology
- SATA 2.0 Backware compatibility
Cons
- May not be suitable for people who do huge file reading and writing
buy now on amazon
2.
Kingston A400
Kingston A400 2.5″ SSD
Kingston A400 is one of the best Top-Rated 120GB SSDs, highly-rated SATA SSD “Reliable SSD” to upgrade any desktop or laptop. The Body of the SATA 2.5″ Solid-State Drive is made up of metal, hence it’s a durable SSD.
The Kingston A400 is equipped with the Phison S11 controller which has a single-core and 8-channel architecture.
The company has used Toshiba’s TLC 2D/3D NAND with 32+ layers of NAND. with its higher capacity versions, you may see the uses of QLC and SMI NAND which is a bit disappointing.
You can also choose its M.2 SATA Form Factor with the same performance features but at a little bit higher price tag. We are going to discuss it below in this article.
You can launch highly intensive gaming or editing apps, within a fraction of time. The SSD is available in various storage spaces starting from 120GB to 2TB.
Specification of Kingston A400
- Internal Solid-State Drive
- SATA SSD dimension is 3.94 x 0.28 x 2.75 inches
- SSD Weight is 1.44 ounces
- Read Speed up to 500 MB/s
- Write Speed up to 450 MB/s
Pros
- Available in M.2 SATA and SATA 2.5″ Form Factors
- Backward compatibility with SATA 2.0
- 1 Million Hours MTBF
- Competitive Read/Write Speeds
Cons
- No Cloning Software
- No DRAM
- Around 32 Layers of NAND
- Slower Controller
buy now on amazon
3.
WD Green SATA SSD
WD Green WDS120G2G0A is one of the best choices for SATA SSD. No hard efforts are needed to upgrade the internal SATA Solid-State Drive. Just like the other SATA SSDs, this one can offer you a read speed up to 550MB/s with its SATA 3 protocol.
This SSD comes with the SMI SM2258XT controller with a single-core and 8 channels. However, the SSD has no DRAM buffer. The NAND is 2D TLC manufactured by SanDisk.
It includes SLC caching technology which gets you with an effective write speed. This internal SSD consumes half of the power, compared to the old Hard Disk Drives. Moreover, you can have routine health check-ups of the SSD, relying on WD SSD Dashboard Software. It will also help you to download the latest firmware updates.
Specification of WD Green WDS120G2G0A
- Internal Solid-State Drive
- SATA SSD dimension is 3.96 x 2.75 x 0.28 inches
- SSD Weight is 1.4 ounces
- Read Speed up to 540 MB/s
- Write Speed up to 430 MB/s
Pros
- Highly Shock Resistant
- SLC Caching Technology
- The write speed can be slower than the WD Blue
- Great in terms of power efficiency
- Available in M.
2 SATA and SATA 2.5″ Form Factors
Cons
- No DRAM
- Single-core controller
buy now on amazon
4.
SanDisk G27 SSD PLUS
SanDisk G27 is one of the most effective SATA Solid-State Drive, preferred by gamers, professionals & multitaskers. It holds a place in the list of Top-Rated 120GB SSDs due to it’s quality features.
SanDisk G27 internal SSD is meant for heavy workloads, which lets users experience with better speed and a swift functional operating system. If you’re fond of PC games or multitasking, the SanDisk G27 SATA SSD will be a great choice.
One of the best advantages of the Solid-State Drive is that “It won’t corrupt your stored files” hence, your data are safe, even the SATA SSDs bumps out from its holdings. The price of this SSD is way lower than its competitors. Also, the price-to-performance ratio is just amazing and that’s why this SSD is here on our list.
Specification of SanDisk G27 SSD PLUS
- Internal Solid-State Drive
- SATA SSD dimension is 0.28 x 3.96 x 2.75 inches
- SSD Weight is 1.12 ounces
- Read Speed up to 530 MB/s
- Write Speed up to 400 MB/s
Pros
- SLC caching
- Shock and Vibration-resistant
- Pretty Affordable
Cons
- Slower write speed (Up To 400MB/s)
- No DRAM
buy now on amazon
Best 120GB M.2 SATA SSDs (Top-Rated)
The M.2 Solid-State Drives are compatible with those Operating Systems, which include SATA M.2 slots in the motherboard. Mainly, preferred by those users who have new model Laptops and PC. I have enlisted some of the reliable SATA M.2 SSDs and their features. Insist you go through each of them so that you can choose the favorable SATA M.
2 SSD for your PC/Laptop.
Also Read: M.2 SSD Buyer’s Guide 2021
1.
Kingston A400 (M.2 SATA 2280 SSD)
Kingston A400 is one of the Best SATA M.2 SSD, preferred by the majority of customers due to its reliability and durability. I am personally using the Kingston A400 on my laptop and it’s offering great results.
The price of this SSD will be a little bit higher than the same A400 2.5″ SSD. But, when you get a compact design and light-weight, you can afford that price. Built-in with flash memory, hence your stored data are completely safe, even if you’re system turns off due to lack of power.
Specification of Kingston A400 M.2 SSD
- Internal Solid-State Drive
- SATA SSD dimension is 0.05 x 0.87 x 3.15 inches
- SSD Weight is 0.16 ounces
- Read Speed up to 500 MB/s
- Write Speed up to 450 MB/s
Pros
- Backward compatibility with SATA 2.
0 - 1 Million Hours MTBF
- Competitive Read/Write Speeds
Cons
- No Cloning Software
- No DRAM
- Around 32 Layers of NAND
buy now on amazon
2.
WD Green WDS120G2G0B (M.2 SATA SSD)
WD Green WDS120G2G0B is a reliable and durable SSD, compatible with the latest Laptops/PC. The internal SSD is built-in with SLC caching technology which gets you an impressive write speed. Once, you replace the HDD with the latest SATA M.2 SSD you can experience an enhanced overall System Performance.
The SATA M.2 SSD is light in weight and is Shock Resistant. As compared to the WD SATA 3 2.5″ SSD which we have discussed above, this one is just 5 USD expensive. So, if your laptop or desktop motherboard supports the M.2 form factor, you can surely go for this one. Moreover, you can rely on the WD SSD dashboard And Acronis software to have a routine health check-up for the SATA M.
2 SSD.
Specification of WD Green WDS120G2G0B M.2 SSD
- Internal Solid-State Drive
- SATA SSD dimension is 3.74 x 3.74 x 1.77 inches
- SSD Weight is 0.227 ounces
- Read Speed up to 540 MB/s
- Write Speed up to 430 MB/s
Pros
- SLC caching technology
- Highly Durable
- Power Effecient
Cons
- No DRAM
Features of WD Green WDS120G2G0B M.2 SSD
- Built-in with SLC caching technology
- Consumes very low power, provides better outputs
- Compatible SSD for latest laptops
- Reliable and Durable SATA M.2 SSD
- Shock-Resistant SATA M.2 SSD
buy now on amazon
3.
Mushkin Helix MKNSSDHL (M.2 SATA SSD)
Mushkin Helix SATA M.2 is included in the list of Top-Rated 120GB SSDs, due to its reliability and great performance.
It is mainly meant for those who are fond of PC games, professional editing, and multitaskers to perform heavy workloads in their Operating systems. It is one of the best reliable internal SSDs, compatible with the latest Laptops/PC.
Built-in with thermal protection, hence keeping your system away from overheating. You can perform multitasking, without System Lag. SSD does not include rotating parts such as HDD platters “No annoying Noise” work with peace.
Upgrading your Operating System with Mushkin HelixSATA M.2 SSD will let you gain 15x speed compared to HDD. Moreover, the lifespan of the SATA M.2 SSD is 5x compared to traditional Hard Drive Disks.
Specification of MKNSSDHL M.2 SSD
- Internal Solid-State Drive
- SATA SSD dimension is 3.15 x 0.87 x 0.15 inches
- SSD Weight is 0.247 ounces
- Read Speed up to 1,850 MB/s
- Write Speed up to 650 MB/s
Pros
- Supports HMB
- A Budget NVMe Drive
Cons
- No variant above 1TB
- No DRAM
Buy now on amazon
Conclusion
I’m glad to review the top-6 rated 120GB SSDs [SATA + M.
2 SATA], in this article. Go through each of the enlisted internal SSDs, so that you can recognize the utmost favorable Solid-State Drive to upgrade your Operating System.
Fastest SSDs in 2022: Best SATA & PCIe SSDs (December)
Home » Hardware » The Fastest Solid State Drives in 2022
Gaming PC Builder is reader-supported. When using links on our site to make a purchase, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Over the past decades of PC hardware evolution, no other upgrade has dramatically improved the overall user experience as much as the shift from hard drives to solid state drives. While the same cannot be said about upgrading from an older SSD to a more recent model, there are certainly performance gains to be had.
As of 2022, SSDs have long since saturated the SATA interface, as well as the much faster PCI Express (PCIe) 3.
0 counterparts. With PCIe 5.0 SSDs on the horizon, even the PCIe 4.0 interface is more or less maxed out by the best M.2 SSDs.
The Best SSDs in December 2022
This page is intended as a rough guide to the best SSDs on the market in the common form factors supported by consumer motherboards, i.e. 2.5″ (SATA) and M.2 (PCIe/NVMe). Of course, what is “best” in your case will depend on your use case to some extent.
To keep it simple, rankings are based on an average of read/write transfer rates. Additional weight is given to drives with high random performance, as this is typically associated with the best real-world performance. For a more complete story, also check out the reviews linked to in the descriptions.
First, a quick look at the drives that we consider leaders in their respective form factors. They don’t necessarily represent the best value but are definitely some of the speediest storage devices that you can use in your PC build today.
Product
Fastest 2.
5-inch SATA
Seagate FireCuda 120 SSD 1TB Internal Solid State Drive – SATA 6Gb/s 3D TLC for Gaming PC Laptop (ZA1000GM10001)
Fastest M.2 PCIe Gen4
SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD 1TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 Internal Solid State Hard Drive, Fastest Speed for Gaming, Heat Control, Direct Storage and Memory Expansion for Video Editing, Heavy Graphics, MZ-V9P1T0B/AM
Image
Sequential read (max., MB/s)
560 MB/s
7,450 MB/s
Sequential write (max., MB/s)
530 MB/s
6,900 MB/s
Random read IOPS (4K/QD32)
100,000 IOPS
1,200,000
Random write IOPS (4K/QD32)
90,000 IOPS
1,550,000
Warranty
5 years
5 Years
Endurance rating
1,400 TBW (1 TB)
600 TBW
MSRP (1TB)
$189.99
$169.99
Check Price
View on Amazon
View on Amazon
Fastest 2.
5-inch SATA
Product
Seagate FireCuda 120 SSD 1TB Internal Solid State Drive – SATA 6Gb/s 3D TLC for Gaming PC Laptop (ZA1000GM10001)
Image
Sequential read (max., MB/s)
560 MB/s
Sequential write (max., MB/s)
530 MB/s
Random read IOPS (4K/QD32)
100,000 IOPS
Random write IOPS (4K/QD32)
90,000 IOPS
Warranty
5 years
Endurance rating
1,400 TBW (1 TB)
MSRP (1TB)
$189.99
Check Price
View on Amazon
Fastest M.2 PCIe Gen4
Product
SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD 1TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 Internal Solid State Hard Drive, Fastest Speed for Gaming, Heat Control, Direct Storage and Memory Expansion for Video Editing, Heavy Graphics, MZ-V9P1T0B/AM
Image
Sequential read (max., MB/s)
7,450 MB/s
Sequential write (max.
, MB/s)
6,900 MB/s
Random read IOPS (4K/QD32)
1,200,000
Random write IOPS (4K/QD32)
1,550,000
Warranty
5 Years
Endurance rating
600 TBW
MSRP (1TB)
$169.99
Check Price
View on Amazon
Last update on 2022-12-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The 2.5″ SATA market has been mostly static in recent years. One exception is Seagate’s FireCuda 120, which managed to eke out some additional gains from the bandwidth-limited interface when it arrived in 2020.
However, the fastest SSDs at this time all require a PCIe 4.0 (Gen4) interface and an M.2 slot. As of mid-2022, drives using the latest 176-layer TLC NAND are leading the high-end market, and the Samsung 990 PRO is one of the best performers. As it was just launched, it is however still hovering around its MSRP, meaning that it tends to be significantly more expensive compared to the closest competitors.
The latest high-end systems from 2022 are even equipped with a PCIe 5.
0 (Gen5) interface. But there are still no Gen5 SSDs on the market at the time of writing.
For our more complete list of SSDs, we will start with legacy 2.5″ SATA drives, which are all bandwidth-restricted compared to more modern interfaces/protocols such as PCI-express/NVMe. If your computer has an available NVMe-capable PCIe M.2 slot, this is the form factor you should be looking at first.
Quick links
Best 2.5″ SATA SSDs
Best M.2 PCIe/NVMe SSDs
Best SATA SSDs (2.5-inch)
1. Seagate FireCuda 120
Available Capacities: 500GB – 4TB
Interface: SATA 6Gbps
560 MB/s read (1TB)
540 MB/s write (1TB)
Endurance Rating (1TB): 1,200 TBW
Besides Samsung, Seagate is one of the very few manufacturers that are still actively developing new products in the high-end SATA space. Seagate was quick to take advantage of the Phison S12 controller that was released in the middle of 2020, and the result was the impressive FireCuda 120.
This drive outperforms the old performance leader Samsung 860 PRO in several key areas while being considerably less expensive since it uses TLC instead of MLC NAND. Sequential performance is at the top of the charts, as are its 100K read and 90K random write IOPS. Endurance should not be an issue either, with the 4TB model offering an endurance rating of no less than 5,600 TBW (terabytes written).
Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK
Reviews: TweakTown, StorageReview
2. Samsung 870 EVO
Available Capacities: 250GB – 4TB
Interface: SATA 6Gbps
560 MB/s read (1TB)
530 MB/s write (1TB)
Endurance Rating (1TB): 600 TBW
New releases in the high-end SATA SSD market are rare events these days. Most of the efforts recently have gone into building cheap DRAMless SATA drives based on ever more cost-effective types of NAND. One notable exception – launched in early 2021 – is the Samsung 870 EVO, which is a continuation of Samsung’s long-running and extremely popular EVO series.
Considering the bandwidth cap imposed by the SATA interface, any sort of revolutionary performance gains are no longer possible. Nevertheless, thanks to Samsung’s refined MKX controller and new high-density 128-layer 3D TLC NAND, the 870 EVO offers minor improvements over its class-leading predecessors. In most benchmarks, it is not quite on par with the FireCuda 120, but it is typically close.
Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK
Reviews: LegitReviews
3. Samsung 860 PRO
Available Capacities: 256GB – 4TB
560 MB/s read
550 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 1,200 TBW
This list has been maintained for many years now and Samsung has been at the top for most of the time, starting with the somewhat legendary 840 Pro. As of 2022, the 860 PRO is still one of the best and quite possibly one of the most reliable.
If previous Samsungs are an indication, the 300 TBW (terabytes/total bytes written) rating for the 256 GB model up to 4,800 TBW for the 4 TB model (all use durable MLC NAND), might be conservative estimates.
This, coupled with a 5-year warranty and great overall performance, makes the 860 Pro look very attractive overall. Unfortunately, its MLC memory chips also make it a lot more expensive than its main rivals.
Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK
Reviews: AnandTech, Notebookcheck
4. Samsung 860 EVO
Available Capacities: 250GB – 4TB
550 MB/s read
520 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 600 TBW
The 860 EVO is the successor of Samsung’s incredibly successful 850 EVO. It’s a great alternative to the 860 PRO, as it is significantly less expensive and you will hardly notice the performance difference in real-world use.
It performs very well considering it’s a TLC-based SSD. Moreover, it offers excellent endurance numbers at precisely half those of the 860 Pro at equivalent capacities (i.e. still better than most competitors), as well as a 5-year warranty.
Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK
Reviews: TweakTown
5.
SanDisk Ultra 3D
Available Capacities: 250GB – 4TB
Interface: SATA 6Gbps
560 MB/s read
530 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 400 TBW
The Ultra 3D from Flash SanDisk (now a subsidiary of Western Digital) delivers excellent performance at a reasonable price point. It has now been around for a few years but is still a popular choice due to its attractive mix of good performance and usually a lower price than the Samsung 860 EVO. Its sequential read speeds of 550 MB/s and write speeds of 530 MB/s are complemented by very good random read/write figures as well (95K/84K IOPS).
SanDisk uses a controller from Marvell 88SS1074 in the Ultra 3D SSD, in combination with 64-layer TLC NAND. This makes it identical to the WD Blue SSD in everything but the name.
Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK
Reviews: HotHardware, AnandTech
6. Crucial MX500
Available Capacities: 250GB – 2TB
Interface: SATA 3 6Gbps
560 MB/s read
510 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 360 TBW
Crucial’s MX500 uses TLC NAND and also offers great performance at an attractive price point.
It’s available in capacities of up to 2 TB. Like the 860 EVO, the MX500 is backed by a 5-year warranty, but its endurance rating is lower than both the 860 EVO and the SanDisk Ultra 3D. It starts at 100 TBW for the 250 GB model and ranges up to 700 TBW for the 2 TB model, which should still be more than sufficient for the average user.
The MX500 can compete with the 860 series in many areas, but rarely (if ever) surpass it. However, the price/performance ratio is excellent so this drive is a good choice for most SATA-limited systems.
Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK
Reviews: AnandTech, Guru3D
7. Kingston KC600
Available Capacities: 256GB – 2TB
Interface: SATA 6Gbps
550 MB/s read
520 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 600 TBW
Kingston’s KC600 was launched in 2019 and comes with a Silicon Motion SM2259 controller and 96-layer 3D TLC NAND from Micron.
Although it is a bit more expensive than many of its competitors, it does offer hardware-based 256-bit AES encryption, making it an interesting option for business users. The overall specs are also excellent.
Performance-wise, it’s slightly slower than the Samsung 860 series but still in the high-end SATA territory. Random performance is up to 90,000/80,000 IOPS (read/write). Another plus is that the endurance ratings are on par with the best.
Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK
Reviews: Hexus.net
8. SK Hynix Gold S31
Available Capacities: 250GB – 1TB
Interface: SATA 6GBps
560 MB/s read
525 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 600 TBW
South Korean SK Hynix is one of the world’s largest memory manufacturers but is mainly known for its DRAM, such as DDR4 modules and GDDR6 chips for graphics cards. However, the company is also an experienced supplier of NAND Flash, including complete SSDs, for OEMs.
Now, SK Hynix releases SSDs under its own brand, and this SATA drive is one of the first. The SK Hynix Gold S31 has been very well received and immediately established itself among the leaders in the segment. Like most high-end SATA SSDs, it will saturate the interface, but it also tends to compete with (and in some cases surpass) drives like the Samsung 860 EVO and Crucial MX500 in real-world tests.
Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK
Reviews: TweakTown, AnandTech
9. Mushkin Source II
Available Capacities: 120GB – 2TB
Interface: SATA 3 6GBps
560 MB/s read
515 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 400 TBW
The original Mushkin Source was and is positioned as an entry-level SATA SSD. But now that many high-end MLC-based drives have disappeared from the market in favor of cheaper alternatives, the Source has risen in the charts.
More recently, the Source was replaced by the Source-II, which is similar but based on the updated Silicon Motion SM2259XT (originally SM2258XT) controller and TLC NAND.
Its sequential performance remains more than adequate compared to the competition. Random performance is 75K/75K read/write (1TB model).
Check prices: Amazon, Newegg
10. Crucial BX500
Available Capacities: 240 GB – 2 TB
540 MB/s read
500 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 360 TBW
There is a wide variety of entry-level, DRAMless SATA SSDs on the market. Some of the cheapest models are not particularly attractive even from a price/performance perspective, but the popular Crucial BX500 performs better than many of its competitors. Although it can’t quite compete with the high-end alternatives, the affordable BX500 is fast enough to be sufficient for most SATA use cases.
Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK
M.2 NVMe Drives
See also: our new, up-to-date listing of the fastest M.2 SSDs.
1. Samsung 990 PRO
Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Available Capacities: 1TB, 2TB
7,450 MB/s read (1TB)
6,900 MB/s write (1TB)
The 990 PRO is Samsung’s latest flagship in the high-end PCIe 4.
0 category. It was launched as recently as November 2022 and marks the manufacturer’s return to the top of the benchmark charts. This is made possible by Samsung’s proprietary Pascal controller and in-house 176-layer V-NAND 2000 MT memory circuitry.
What particularly stands out with the 990 PRO’s specs is not so much its sequential performance – which, like other leading SSDs, mostly maxes out the available Gen4 bandwidth – but random performance. Even the 1TB capacity offers an eye-watering 1.55M random write IOPS. This is apparently enough to give it a slight lead over the competition in several (but not all) benchmarks.
Check prices (1TB): Amazon, Amazon UK, Newegg
Reviews: TweakTown, HotHardware
2. SK Hynix Platinum P41
Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Available Capacities: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
7,000 MB/s read (1TB)
6,500 MB/s write (1TB)
The SK Hynix Platinum P41 was introduced in May 2022 and availability is still limited at the time of writing.
It has however already made a strong impression on hardware editors and there seems to be no doubt that it is among the fastest SSDs yet in the consumer space. SK Hynix is the second-largest memory manufacturer on the planet but has mostly been supplying chips in an OEM capacity until quite recently. The Platinum P41 is entirely based on SK Hynix parts, including the controller, and this seems to be enough to outpace the Phison E18 lineup and other competitors in several real-world benchmarks.
Check prices (1TB): Amazon, Amazon UK
3. WD Black SN850X
Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Available Capacities: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
7,300 MB/s read (1TB)
6,300 MB/s write (1TB)
Launched in 2020,
When it arrived in 2020, the WD Black SN850 was quite possibly the fastest SSD on the market for some time. And to be fair it is still among the best, although several competitors have caught up with and surpassed it.
To remedy this situation, Western Digital has now released a successor known as the WD Black SN850X. The main difference with this updated version is that it ships with higher-density memory chips in the form of 112-layer BiCS 5 NAND. This has boosted random read/write performance from 1M/720K IOPS with the original SN850 to 1.2M/1.1M IOPS in the 2 TB SN850X.
As a result, the SN850X is (again) one of the best SSDs, as evidenced in real-world benchmarks such as PC Mark 10 and 3DMark.
Check prices (1TB): Amazon, Newegg
Reviews: TweakTown
4. Kingston KC3000
Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Available Capacities: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
7,300 MB/s read (1TB)
6,000 MB/s write (1TB)
Phison’s E18 controller and Micron’s new 176-layer TLC NAND emerged as a winning combination in late 2021. The Seagate FireCuda 530 was first to top the charts using this combo, and now Kingston is doing the same with its brand new KC3000 SSD.
On paper, the FireCuda 530 and KC3000 (unsurprisingly) come with nearly identical specs, but the KC3000 is slightly ahead in most benchmarks.
In other words, if you are looking to pair your PCIe Gen4-compatible system with the fastest possible SSD, this is a strong contender for most use cases. This drive and the FireCuda 530 appear to perform particularly well in gaming loads. The only disadvantage of choosing the Kingston over the Seagate model is the KC3000’s lower endurance rating, at 800 TBW versus the FireCuda’s 1,275 TBW (1 TB capacity).
Check prices (1TB): Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK
Reviews: Tom’s Hardware, StorageReview
5. Seagate FireCuda 530
Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Available Capacities: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
7,300 MB/s read (1TB)
6,000 MB/s write (1TB)
As previously mentioned, the Seagate FireCuda 530 uses the same Phison E18 controller and 176-layer TLC NAND combo but falls ever-so-slightly behind Kingston’s KC3000 in most benchmarks.
This does not change the fact that the FireCuda 530 is an exceptionally fast SSD, and it also comes with excellent endurance ratings: 1,275 TBW with the 1 TB model and 2,550 TBW with the 2 TB capacity.
Check prices (1TB): Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK
Reviews: StorageReview, TweakTown
6. Corsair MP600 PRO XT
Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Available Capacities: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
7,100 MB/s read (1TB)
5,800 MB/s write (1TB)
As its name implies, the Corsair MP600 PRO XT is an updated version of the MP600 PRO (non-XT). The main difference is that this model has been updated with the same high-density memory chips as the first two drives mentioned above. Consequently, it offers about the same performance, with sequential transfer rates of up to 7,100 MB/s (read) and 5,800 MB/s (write) for the 1TB version. Much like its main competitors, however, the 2TB and 4TB capacities are a bit faster in terms of sequential write performance (6,800 MB/s) and up to 1,000,000 IOPS random reads.
Check prices (1TB): Amazon, Newegg
7. WD Black SN850
Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Available Capacities: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
7,000 MB/s read (1TB)
5,300 MB/s write (1TB)
Western Digital’s SN850 offers sequential transfer rates of up to 7,000 MB/s (read) and 5,000 MB/s (write), while 4K random performance is up to 1,000,000 IOPS. This is enough to outperform the Seagate FireCuda 530 in some synthetic benchmarks, and it’s also slightly ahead of the Samsung 980 PRO overall.
Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK
Reviews: AnandTech
8. HP FX900 Pro
Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Available Capacities: 512B, 1TB, 2TB
7,400 MB/s read (1TB)
6,400 MB/s write (1TB)
The HP FX900 Pro arrived in March 2022 and is based on the IG5236 Rainier controller from InnoGrit. This makes it similar to the Acer Predator GM7000 and XPG Gammix S70 (see below), but the HP FX900 Pro uses high-density 176-layer Micron NAND memory, resulting in improved performance.
It particularly outshines its competitors in the random read/write area, where the 2TB capacity offers well over a million IOPS.
Check prices: Amazon
Reviews: AnandTech
9. Acer Predator GM7000
Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Available Capacities: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
7,400 MB/s read (1TB)
6,400 MB/s write (1TB)
Launched in 2021, the Acer Predator GM7000 was one of the first M.2 SSDs to use the InnoGrit IG5236 Rainier controller. However, the GM7000 uses lower-density 96-layer NAND and is therefore not quite on par with its HP counterpart.
This doesn’t change the fact that the Predator GM7000 is a very fast SSD. It offers extremely high sequential transfer rates, as well as random reads/writes at 400/1K IOPS and 700K/700K for the 1TB and 2TB capacities, respectively.
Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK
10.
Samsung 970 EVO Plus (Best Gen3 SSD)
Interface: PCIe Gen3 x4 NVMe
Available Capacities: 250 GB, 500 GB, 1 TB
3500MB/s read
3300MB/s write
Instead of launching an entirely new model, Samsung updated its popular 970 EVO lineup with the 970 EVO in 2019.
As the name implies, it is basically an improved version of the same SSD, using the same controller but denser, 96-layer TLC NAND, and some additional tweaks. The improvements are particularly noticeable in terms of write performance. Sequential transfer rates are up from 2,500 MB/s to 3,300 MB/s, meaning that it outperforms the 970 PRO in some cases.
According to Samsung, random write performance with the 970 EVO Plus has been improved by as much as 57% compared to the previous EVO.
Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK
Summary and Clarifications
We’ve tried our best to compile the most comprehensive list of SSDs available and used this to create the lists you see above. Since there are new drives launched each month, we will update our list and ratings regularly. Also, if you think we’ve omitted something or need correction, don’t hesitate to leave a comment!
Lots of abbreviations and technical terms are used on product pages and SSD discussions.
If you are new to them they will, needless to say, be totally incomprehensible. We will attempt to explain some of them here.
What Does SLC, MLC, TLC, and QLC Mean?
An SSDs performance, as well as its life span, is to a large extent determined by the quality of the memory cells. Higher-quality memory not only performs better but can also be erased and written to a larger number of times before it wears out.
SLC (single-level cell) NAND Flash memory is more durable than MLC (multi-level cell, two bits per cell), which in turn is more durable than TLC (triple-level cell) NAND.
Over the past few years, QLC (quad-level cell) drives such as the Samsung QVO have also become available. Additional bits per cell affect performance negatively because it makes the cells considerably more error-prone. There are clever technologies that compensate for this, but in the end, there is no substitute for higher-quality NAND.
As is often the case, high-end memory chips are more expensive to produce. There are no SSDs based on SLC memory in the market today (it has always been prohibitively expensive), and very few that use MLC. Samsung’s PRO lineup is an exception, excluding the 980 PRO, which is a TLC drive.
SSD endurance: What is MTBF and TBW?
MTBF is short for “mean time before failure” and is more relevant for conventional hard drives than SSDs, which have no mechanical parts that are prone to failure over time. TBW (terabytes written or total bytes written) is much more useful. This will give you is an indication of how much data can be written to the drive before it wears out. This is affected by the drive’s capacity, spare capacity (so-called overprovisioning), and the quality of the NAND memory chips.
For a drive with a 300 TBW rating, 300 TB is the amount of data that the manufacturer guarantees can be written to it (usually in a mutually exclusive number of years).
This is not to say that an SSD will necessarily fail after this amount of data has been written. It is part of the warranty terms and an indication of its relative endurance.
Production Processes
Unlike other parts such as a CPU/GPU, a smaller production process as measured in nanometers (nm), is not a strong selling point, as this results in lower durability, all else being equal. For the average home or office user, durability is rarely an issue, since most SSDs are likely to outlive the rest of the computer by a fair margin. Just don’t rely on low-cost drives with cheap NAND in a server or other environment with a high continuous workload.
Best 120 GB M.2 SSDs for PC or Laptop
|
A selection of the best 120-128 GB M.2 SSDs for your PC or laptop. |
In the last selection, we talked about why it is so important to have an SSD drive in any modern computer or laptop. We also noted that due to the huge drop in prices for them, buying a solid state drive is now more profitable than ever.
We will not repeat ourselves, but only add that many experts predict a significant jump in prices for SSD drives in the near future, as it was once with RAM and not so long ago with video cards. Therefore, do not delay, if you have been thinking about purchasing an SSD for a long time, now is the time.
We, in turn, will help you not to get lost in a huge assortment and choose from a variety of models the best in terms of price / quality ratio, taking into account their real speed and durability. nine0007
In our article on choosing an SSD drive, you can understand in detail all their parameters. In this selection, we will simply recommend specific models, briefly explaining their main characteristics.
It is advisable to read the article in the order presented, since at the beginning we just explain everything so that you understand how one drive differs from another and can decide for yourself whether it is worth overpaying for it. You can then use the content to quickly jump to the desired model.
nine0007
Content
Content
- 1. Selection criteria
- 2. WD Green PC SSD 120 GB
- 3. Plextor PX-128M8VG
- 4. Adata XPG SX6000 Lite
- 5. ADATAM 28GB
- 6. Kingston UV500 M.2 120 GB
- 7. Transcend 110S 128GB
- 8. Sandisk X600 128 GB
- 9. Intel 760p 128 GB
- 10. Links
0
Criteria 1. Criteria 1.
In order for you to understand what we were guided by when compiling this selection and by what criteria we chose SSD drives, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the following information. nine0007
Here are the popular M.2 Compact Format SSDs that are best suited for motherboards with this connector, especially laptops.
Only 2280 size SSD drives (width 22 mm, length 80 mm) were included in the selection, as this is the most popular and modern format. It is these SSDs that are installed in the vast majority of PCs and laptops.
All drives shown use only state-of-the-art TLC 3D NAND or MLC 3D NAND memory.
Models based on the outdated planar TLC and MLC memory, as well as on the super-budget and unreliable QLC were excluded. nine0007 All of them have proven themselves in terms of quality (they do not bug and rarely fail), they have positive reviews on technical portals, specialized forums and a lot of positive user feedback.
Reviews and tests of SSDs on serious technical portals and forums can be found using the «Links» section.
The differences relate to the memory, controller and buffer size used in a particular model, which affects the speed and rewriting resource (durability) of a particular SSD. nine0007
We will give all this in the technical specifications and comment in detail, comparing the differences between the next more expensive model and the previous one, so that you understand whether it is worth overpaying for it.
Accordingly, SSDs are presented in order from cheap to more expensive and by choosing any of them you will get a good quality drive.
Well, whether it is worth overpaying for speed and resource, you will decide for yourself based on our recommendations and based on your budget. 2.WD GREEN PC SSD 120 GB
The first high-quality entry-level entry from the well-known drive manufacturer Western Digital, which includes the former SanDisk company, which has extensive experience in the development of solid state drives.
Specifications WD GREEN PC SSD 120 GB
WDS120G1G0B WDS120G2G0B Capacity 120 GB 120 GB Memory type TLC 3D NAND TLC 3D NAND Interface SATA SATA Reading speed 540 MB/s 545 MB/s Write speed 430 MB/s 310 MB/s* 4K Read Speed 37K IOPS — 4K recording speed 63K IOPS — Buffer capacity — — Controller Silicon Motion SM2258XT SanDisk Overwrite resource 40 TB — Warranty 3 years 3 years You can find more technical information about different SSD models in the «Links» section.
This disc is presented in two versions, the first one is no longer produced, but it can still be found on sale, the second one is an updated version. nine0007
Both models have a capacity of 120 GB, which means that, taking into account the actual amount available to the user (about 112 GB), after installing the system (with the next updates), the most necessary programs and the need to reserve 20% of free space (the necessary margin for optimal performance) will remain only about 40 GB. This will allow you to install 2-3 small games or one medium sized game. But even one big game may no longer fit, so we do not recommend an SSD of this size for games, but only as an option for an office (documents, Internet) or multimedia PC (video, simple games). For games, preference should be given to a more capacious model of 240-512 GB (depending on the volume, number of games and budget). nine0007
TLC 3D NAND is the sweet spot between the more expensive, faster, and more durable MLC 3D NAND and the cheaper, slower, and faster wear-out QLC.
This is the best option for a home PC. MLC memory is used in professional tasks where the SSD is completely overwritten within a day. And QLC memory is very budget and unreliable, so we do not recommend such SSDs. This drive, despite being installed in an M.2 slot, has an interface (bus and communication protocol) SATA, which is supported by all motherboards and laptops equipped with an M.2 slot. There are also faster M.2 SSDs that use the PCI-E (x2 or x4) bus and usually work with the NVMe protocol (optimized for SSDs). But they are more expensive and require support from the motherboard or laptop. However, in practice, this will not bring a real performance increase to the average user, as our tests prove in a comparative review of SATA and NVMe drives. And for such a volume of SSD, this is not relevant. nine0007
As for speed, for the first version of this SSD, the maximum linear (sequential) read and write speeds were indicated in the official specification and are 540/430 MB / s, respectively.
These are pretty good figures for a budget drive, although the real speed in some scenarios can be much lower, and we’ll talk about that later. For the second version of the drive, the manufacturer indicated only the maximum read speed (545 MB / s), other parameters are not given, and below we will make an assumption why. But from unofficial sources, the maximum write speed is known, which is lower than that of the first version and is up to 310 MB / s. In reality, this figure is even slightly lower (according to tests up to 280 MB / s), but this does not really matter, since in ordinary computers (not servers and professional workstations), according to statistics, the number of read operations is 20 times higher than the number of write operations . Therefore, for ordinary users, it is the reading speed that is more important, which affects the loading of the system, programs and games. nine0007
The rate of random reading / writing of small files (about 4 KB in size) that make up the operating system and programs is more important and indirectly indicates how much the filling of one SSD is more powerful than another.
In this case, the first version of WD GREEN has average values of 37 and 63 thousand input/output operations per second (IOPS), while for the second they are not indicated at all. For inexpensive SSDs, these values range from 20 (bad) to 75 (good) IOPS. As in the previous case, the speed of reading is more important. nine0007 Unfortunately, both versions of SSD do not have an additional buffer based on fast DRAM (DDR3 or DDR4) memory. On the one hand, the absence of a buffer speeds up the copying of small files and eliminates their loss in the event of a failure (system hang or PC power failure), since they are immediately written to the permanent SSD flash memory, without falling into an intermediate volatile buffer (it is reset when the PC is rebooted) . On the other hand, the buffer significantly speeds up writing large files to the SSD during long write operations (for example, when installing a game). Without it, the speed can quickly drop to even several times lower than that of a conventional hard disk drive (HDD).
So the presence of a buffer is still desirable, but more relevant on larger SSDs. nine0007 The first modification of the SSD uses a budget single-core controller SM2258XT from the manufacturer of economy segment controllers Silicon Motion, which copes well with the load from one application. But if you run several programs at once that actively use the SSD, then the speed and responsiveness of the system will noticeably decrease. The second version uses a SanDisk controller and, judging by the fact that its characteristics are not advertised, it is old and not very successful. This is also evidenced by lower speed indicators (according to test results), which are bashfully omitted from the official specification. nine0007
You can download information about all the controllers used in the SSD in the «Links» section.
The first SSD has a small rewrite resource of 40 TB compared to other drives of this size, which, however, allows you to overwrite 37.4 GB of data daily during the entire warranty period of 3 years.
So don’t worry about this. However, more expensive SSDs can have a warranty of 5 years and this is already a significant advantage, since they fail more on power than due to flash memory wear. For the second modification, the resource is not even indicated, which may indicate the installation of cheaper memory chips or is associated with the same non-optimal controller. nine0007 In general, there is a reduction in the cost of production in the second version of WD GREEN, which makes it a dubious choice. But if you come across the first one, you can safely take it — it’s a budget, but quite high-quality SSD with average parameters from a reliable manufacturer.
SSD WD Green SSD M.2 WDS120G2G0B3. Plextor PX-128M8VG
A good budget SSD from a well-established manufacturer, most of the SSDs from which turned out to be extremely successful in terms of price / quality ratio. nine0007
Features Plextor PX-128M8VG
Volume 128 GB Memory type TLC 3D NAND Interface SATA Reading speed 560 MB/s Write speed 400 MB/s 4K Read Speed 60K IOPS 4K recording speed 70K IOPS Buffer capacity 256 MB Controller Silicon Motion SM2258 Overwrite resource 70 TB Warranty 3 years The first thing worth noting is that it has increased by 8 GB compared to the previous model, which, given the small SSD, will be very useful.
In terms of maximum read speed, this SSD is slightly faster (560 vs. 540 MB / s), and in terms of write speed is slightly slower (400 vs. 430 MB / s) of the first version of WD GREEN. But the main thing is that the speed of reading small files is much higher here (60 versus 37 IOPS) and this is a good sign. nine0007
In addition, there is a full-fledged DRAM buffer, so the drawdown in speed in real work for this SSD is much lower. Although it uses a similar controller from Silicon Motion — SM2258, which differs from the version with the prefix «XT» only in support for working with buffer memory.
The claimed overwriting resource for this model is also much larger (70 vs. 40 TB), which is already a normal typical value for an SSD of this size. In general, it is better than even the first version from WD GREEN in everything, except for the same 3-year warranty and will be a more preferable choice. nine0211 SSD Plextor M8VG PX-128M8VG
4. ADATA XPG SX6000 Lite 128GB
The first model that we could recommend from the budget, but high-quality and popular ADATA brand, and immediately from the high-performance XPG series.
Features ADATA XPG SX6000 Lite 128GB
Volume 128 GB Memory type TLC 3D NAND Interface PCI-E 3.0 x4 (NVMe) Reading speed 1800 MB/s Write speed 600 MB/s 4K Read Speed 100K IOPS 4K recording speed 130K IOPS Buffer capacity — Controller Realtek RTS5763DL Overwrite resource 60 TB Warranty 5 years This SSD is fundamentally different from the previous ones, as it is built on a faster PCI-E x4 interface with a sharp margin both in linear read / write speed (1800/600 versus 560/400 MB / s) and in random operations with small files (100/130 vs 60/70 K IOPS).
Comparative cost of this drive is given only by the lack of a full-fledged DRAM buffer, its role is played by the computer’s RAM, which can be used for this purpose by the mid-range RTS5763DL controller from Realtek. nine0007
If you can argue about the usefulness of such speeds, then the 5-year warranty is definitely a significant advantage. So if your M.2 slot has support for PCI-E drives, then this is a great option.
SSD A-Data XPG SX6000 Lite M.2 ASX6000LNP-128GT-C5. ADATA Ultimate SU800 M.2 128GB
Another solid representative of ADATA drives, but in this case not distinguished by outstanding characteristics.
Specification ADATA Ultimate SU800 M.2 128GB
Volume 128 GB Memory type TLC 3D NAND Interface SATA Reading speed 560 MB/s Write speed 300 MB/s 4K Read Speed 50K IOPS 4K recording speed 75K IOPS Buffer capacity 128 MB Controller Silicon Motion SM2258 Overwrite resource 100 TB Warranty 3 years The main advantages include only the presence of a DRAM buffer and a good flash memory with a large rewriting resource.
Also, this SSD can use up to 30% of free space as a so-called SLC cache, which significantly speeds up write operations. nine0007 Yes, the maximum write speed here is low, but it will sag much less than WD GREEN without a buffer. With the speed of working with small files, everything is also fine here.
In general, this SSD can be recommended for purchase if you have not found Plextor (it is still better), and your ADATA XPG PCI-E drive does not support your M.2 slot.
SSD A-Data Ultimate SU800 M.2 ASU800NS38-128GT-C6. Kingston UV500 M.2 120 GB
Unremarkable in terms of speed performance, but having one advantage of an SSD from the unimportant Kingston brand. nine0007
Features Kingston UV500 M.2 120 GB
Volume 120 GB Memory type TLC 3D NAND Interface SATA Reading speed 520 MB/s Write speed 320 MB/s 4K Read Speed 18K IOPS 4K recording speed 79K IOPS Buffer capacity — Controller Marvell 88SS1074 Overwrite resource 60 TB Warranty 5 years In general, Kingston SSDs are «famous» for their slowness (as the drive fills up, the speed rapidly degrades), so we usually do not recommend them.
This is especially noticeable in the speed of random reading of small files, the lack of a buffer and the use of the weakest controller 88SS1074, although from the respected developer Marvell (they have very powerful top controllers). nine0007 The only positive here is the 5-year warranty period, making this SSD suitable for laptops that have an M.2 connector that supports only the SATA interface. High speeds are not needed there, but there is an increased risk of premature SSD failure due to overheating from other components and poor heat dissipation. So a longer warranty won’t hurt.
SSD Kingston UV500 M.2 SUV500M8/120G7. Transcend 110S 128GB
We generally do not recommend Transcend’s 2.5″ SSDs, as they are not friendly with all PC power supplies (go to sleep and do not wake up) which is confirmed by our experience. In addition, this manufacturer has been playing in the SSD market not so long ago and until recently it did not have models that are somehow better than analogues from more experienced competitors.
nine0007 But with M.2 format drives, everything is different, since they do not require a separate power supply, which means they are not tied to a power supply unit and they do not have such problems. The brand itself deserves attention due to the high quality of workmanship, plus more interesting models have begun to be produced under it.
Specifications Transcend 110S 128GB
Volume 128 GB Memory type TLC 3D NAND Interface PCI-E 3.0 x4 (NVMe) Reading speed 1600 MB/s Write speed 400 MB/s 4K Read Speed 90K IOPS 4K recording speed 90K IOPS Buffer capacity — Controller Silicon Motion SM2263XT Overwrite resource 50 TB Warranty 5 years If you can’t find ADATA XPG in your stores, but you definitely want a PCI-E drive, then this option is also suitable, especially if the price is tasty.
After all, it also has fairly high speed parameters, especially with regard to the speed of reading and working with small files. It also does not have a DRAM buffer, which is not good and leads to performance degradation during long read/write operations, especially small files. But HBM technology is used, borrowing a small part of the RAM for these purposes. This somewhat improves the situation and is a compromise option for an SSD with a good price / speed ratio. nine0007
In any case, normal daily use will not be affected. But it uses a faster dual-core controller compared to budget SATA SSDs. This improves the speed of processing requests from several applications at once.
Its resource allows you to overwrite 20% of the volume (25 GB) per day during the 5-year warranty period, which is enough for most users. So such a decision has the right to life.
Transcend SSD 110S TS128GMTE110S8. SanDisk X600 128 GB
After the takeover of SanDisk, Western Digital decided to keep some of the more successful models under this brand.
Specifications SanDisk X600 128 GB
Volume 128 GB Memory type TLC 3D NAND Interface SATA Reading speed 530 MB/s Write speed 490 MB/s 4K Read Speed 82K IOPS 4K recording speed 74K IOPS Buffer capacity — Controller Silicon Motion SM2263XT Overwrite resource 72 TB Warranty 5 years In this collection, this is the first SATA drive with such a high write speed, as well as a fairly decent speed for working with small files. Yes, there is no DRAM buffer here, but HBM technology is used to cache the address space in the RAM. nine0007
Real tests show a relatively small drop in performance (up to 315 MB / s) when the SLC cache is exhausted in long write operations, which is an excellent indicator among drives of a similar price category.
A controller powerful enough for a budget SSD, a long rewriting resource and a warranty period make it possible to recommend this solid-state drive for use both in a computer and in a laptop.
SSD SanDisk X600 M.2 SD9SN8W-128G9. Intel 760p 128 GB
Well, the last uncompromising option both in terms of quality and speed characteristics from the largest and most famous corporation.
Specification Intel 760p 128 GB
Volume 128 GB Memory type TLC 3D NAND Interface PCI-E 3.1 x4 (NVMe) Reading speed nine0005 1640 MB/s
Write speed 650 MB/s 4K Read Speed 105K IOPS 4K recording speed 160K IOPS Buffer capacity 256 MB Controller Silicon Motion SM2262 Overwrite resource 72 TB Warranty 5 years It’s worth noting that Intel’s SSDs have not always been successful, but they are great at learning from their mistakes and fixing them quickly.
The 760p series has become one of the most successful in the history of the company and this SSD demonstrates the highest speed parameters among 120-128 GB SSDs. There is a full-fledged DRAM buffer here, and the SM2262 controller is an improved version of the SM2260, the firmware for which Intel wrote almost from scratch, which made it possible to squeeze the maximum out of it. nine0007
If you want the best SSD and you’re happy with that size, then you won’t find anything better, as the leader in the face of Samsung has abandoned the production of SSDs under 250 GB.
SSD Intel 760p M.2 SSDPEKKW128G8XTBelow you will find links to technical portals and forums with SSD reviews, SSD specifications and resource, as well as a detailed description of the controllers used in the SSD.
If you liked the article, please support our site and share the link to it in social networks
The best SSD drives.
SSD Key Features Overview
Solid state drives have been widely available to users for many years, and having an SSD in a computer has become a must for all but the most extreme budget computer builders.
But when you go online to buy an SSD, you’re bombarded with complex specifications: M.2? DRAM? NAND? What does all of this mean? In this article, we will try to answer these questions, and at the end we will give some tips on buying the best SSD drive. nine0211
SSD size
Consumer SSDs typically come in three sizes: 2.5″ , M.2 , or PCIe expansion card. Let’s look at each form factor, its pros and cons.
2.5″
Let’s start with 2.5″, it’s the same size as a laptop hard drive, and nowadays every modern case has slots for a 2.5″ drive. In most cases, wider hard drive bays will also support 2.5″ drives. These 2.5″ SSDs are usually the cheapest, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the worst. They use SATA power cables and SATA data cables, just like hard drives. nine0007
In conclusion, 2.
5-inch drives are a good starting point for those looking to purchase an SSD. There is a good chance that you are familiar with the size; they have the widest availability; and almost any case will be compatible. PCIe add-on card
SSDs are also available as an add-on card. These are more «premium» and tend to cost more. But there is a reason for this: because you install these cards in a PCIe x16 or x4 slot, their bandwidth is much higher than SATA SSDs. This then leads to greater performance. These SSDs are less common than any of the other types listed here and (once again) tend to be expensive! nine0007Moreover, if you have already installed a GPU and your motherboard does not have a second x16 slot, you will not be able to install an SSD using x16. However, if you need a blazing fast SSD, have a big budget, and have enough space for it, then such SSDs might be a great fit for the PC build .
M.
2
A more popular form factor than the expansion card just described is M.2: like SSDs with expansion cards, M.2 SSDs use PCIe interfaces instead of SATA. However, there are notable differences between M.2 SSDs and both other types, both in size and installation location. M.2 SSDs are generally the smallest of the three (they look like baby RAM drives) and you mount them in separate M.2 SSD slots on the motherboard. nine0006
They are generally very fast due to the PCIe interface and are usually cheaper than add-on cards, making for a good midrange. However, you will need a motherboard with an M.2 slot. However, most modern motherboards (even some budget ones) have at least one of these ports. If you’re upgrading from an old office PC, chances are good that M.2 won’t work for you. But if you’re building a new PC and want to choose a fast yet affordable SSD as your primary drive, then M.2 is an interesting option! nine0007
3 levels of recommendation SSD
But which SSD is better? It depends entirely on the purpose of the SSD.
Perhaps you need a cheap boot SSD, or a «fast and good» SSD as your primary drive, or one for high-level storage. So, let’s look at 3 different options for SSD types, each of which is accompanied by recommendations and some explanations. Cheap Boot SSD
Most people on a budget just want a drive that’s noticeably faster than a hard drive while still giving good bang for your buck. They are planning to use this drive for their OS and possibly their most used programs. Most super-budget SSDs don’t use DRAM and have around 120GB of free space. But there are slightly price-up options that double the storage to ~240GB and feature DRAM, so that would be our baseline for this category. nine0211
Two SSDs are therefore recommended: Samsung’s 860 Evo or Crucial’s MX500 (2.5″ 250GB options). Because prices can vary and a single drive can be very expensive, we make these two recommendations. Both usually cost less than $50 in the US, both have more than enough space for your OS and programs, and both have DRAM! Since almost all SSDs at this budget don’t have DRAM, it’s good to see that they are.
Fast main drive at a reasonable price
Most gamers like to have a large and fast SSD with plenty of room for all their games, OS and a few other key programs. Despite being reasonably priced, 1TB M.2 drives can be really interesting for this purpose. Again, I have to recommend Samsung’s 860 Evo, but this time the M.2 1TB variant.
With good speeds and under $150 this is a great drive at a reasonable price. It has enough space for the average gamer and is faster than the «budget» SSDs listed above! What more could you want as a PC gamer? nine0007
The best of the best
Now, of course, some people just need high speeds and lots of space. They want the best of the best. I could just recommend an insanely expensive SSD like Samsung’s 2TB 960 pro, but those SSDs come at ridiculous prices. While we’re going to pick the «best of the best», I’m still trying to stay reasonable with the price here.
