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Updated September 11, 2024 in About SSD

PCIe 5.0 SSDs are the gold standard for data storage — for peak-performance gamers, creators, and professionals who want to be part of the next-gen revolution in gaming and content creation.

Harnessing the power of PCIe 5.0, Gen5 SSDs promise:

  • The fastest data transfer times — Gen5 SSD speeds are up to 2x faster than Gen4
  • Boosted in-game performance when paired with DDR5 and high-performance graphics cards, taking advantage of new technologies such as DirectStorage. DirectStorage enables future applications to be designed to take advantage of blazing Gen5 SSD performance
  • Backward compatibility with Gen3 and Gen4 computer hardware

Micron Technology, the parent company of Crucial, is leading this new era, thanks to their 232-Layer 3D NAND.

Micron has collaborated with Phison, AMD, Intel and motherboard manufacturers to enable the Gen5 ecosystem. Some of the first Gen5 SSDs to be released to market are powered by Micron 232-Layer 3D NAND.

Sign up for our newsletter and be the first to hear about future Crucial Gen5 SSDs.

What is PCIe 5.0?

PCIe 5.0 is the latest iteration of the PCIe data transfer interface standard, which offers bandwidth capabilities of 32GT/s, compared to Gen4’s bandwidth limit of 16GT/s.

Below are the CPUs capable of harnessing PCIe Gen5’s lightning-fast data transfer speeds:

  1. Intel® Core™ 12th generation CPU ("Alder Lake") – released in November 2021
  2. Intel® Core™ 13th generation CPU ("Raptor Lake") – released in October 2022
  3. AMD’s Ryzen 7000-series Zen 4 CPU – released late 2022
  4. Please check with your motherboard compatibility

Find out what else you'll need to upgrade to benefit from PCIe 5.0. 

Micron — pioneering PCIe Gen5

Micron is a key driving force to enable the Gen5 ecosystem, thanks to their revolutionary 232-Layer 3D NAND, and their collaboration with key partners.

CES 2023 - Micron enabling Gen5 ecosystem

In July 2022, Micron shipped the world's first 232-Layer 3D NAND, providing unrivalled data input/output (I/O) speed of 2.4GB/s per second – about 50% faster than the next best NAND.

Each layer is also denser (14.6Gb/mm² if you want the numbers), so higher capacity data storage can be created for a smaller physical space.

Together, the number, density, size, and power efficiency of these layers have made Micron 232-layer memory today's go-to for data-centric workloads – including artificial intelligence, unstructured databases, real-time analytics, and cloud computing.

This same technology will help bring Crucial's first Gen5 SSD to life.

How fast are Gen5 SSDs?

Crucial’s Gen 5 SSDs are impressively fast, offering significant improvements over previous generations. They can achieve read speeds of up to 14,500 MB/s and write speeds of up to 12,700 MB/s. 

New features such as DirectStorage will, for the first time, allow GPUs to use an SSD to boost the performance of games and other data-intensive applications by reducing load times and CPU utilization.   

This means that a Gen5 SSD will not only support faster gaming performance, but also photo and video editing, rendering, VFX, and 2D and 3D CAD/CAM applications 

Gen5 SSDs will quickly become the new gold standard for professional gaming, and the go-to storage solutions for tomorrow's gamers.

Who would benefit from Gen5 SSDs?

In the future, Gen5 SSDs will pioneer technology for enthusiasts who demand the best from their applications, such as enthusiasts, gamers, and creatives alike.

PC Enthusiasts

Enthusiasts who've invested in an Intel 13th Generation or AMD Ryzen 7000 Series CPU and compatible motherboard will greatly benefit from the increased Gen5 SSD speeds!

PC enthusiats

Ultimate Gamers

Gamers who demand low latency and faster load times from their games will love the advanced technology and next-level speeds of the Gen5 SSD.

PC enthusiats

Digital Creators

Creators and professionals working with large amounts of data, such as audio and video rendering, will need a fast, reliable storage and the Gen5 SSD is the perfect solution.

man looking at computer working on photo editing

Where can I buy a PCIe Gen5 SSD?

Crucial launched our first Gen 5 SSD, the Crucial T700 NVMe SSD, on May 30, 2023. This SSD is known for its impressive read speeds of nearly 12 GB/s, making it one of the fastest Gen 5 SSDs available upon it's launch.

Since then, Crucial has launched it's fastest Gen 5 SSD the Crucial T705 NVMe SSD on February 20, 2024. 

To keep up with all the latest updates, news, and Crucial PCIe 5.0 SSD release dates, sign up for our newsletter.

Crucial PCIe SSDs

Not ready to upgrade to Gen5 quite yet? Crucial has a strong Gen4 performance product – the T500. The Crucial T500 SSD with heatsink delivers remarkable speed and data protection with sequential reads up to 6600MB/s for transformative computing. It’s engineered for hardcore gamers, professionals, and creatives who demand high-performance computing.

FAQs

  • What's the difference between Gen 5 SSDs and Gen 4 SSDs?

    The main difference between Gen 5 and Gen 4 SSDs is their speed and performance. Gen 5 SSDs are much faster, offering up to around 2.5 times the read speeds and up to 5 times the write speeds compared to Gen 4 SSDs, depending on the SSD. This makes them ideal for tasks that require quick data access and large file transfers, like video editing in 4K or 8K. Gen 5 SSDs also handle more data with fewer PCIe lanes, which is great if you have multiple PCIe devices in your system. However, these benefits come with a higher price tag and increased power consumption, often requiring better cooling solutions.

  • Can you put a PCIe 4.0 NVMe in a PCIe 5.0 NVMe slot?

    Yes, you can definitely use a PCIe 4.0 device in a PCIe 5.0 slot. PCIe slots are designed to be backward and forward compatible, so a PCIe 4.0 device will work just fine in a PCIe 5.0 slot. However, the device will only operate at PCIe 4.0 speeds, not taking advantage of the higher speeds offered by PCIe 5.0. This compatibility allows you to upgrade your system gradually without needing to replace all your components at once.

  • Are PCIe 6.0 NVMe SSDs out yet?

    As of now, PCIe 6.0 SSDs are not yet available on the market. The first PCIe 6.0 hardware is expected to launch in 2024/2025. Companies like Micron are preparing to release PCIe 6.0 SSDs, initially targeting data centers. Consumer availability will likely follow after that.

  • Are Gen 5 SSDs worth it?

    Gen 5 SSDs can be worth the investment, but it largely depends on your specific needs and the tasks you perform on your computer.

    These SSDs are designed for users who engage in very heavy tasks that require rapid data access and large file transfers. For example, if you’re involved in 4K or 8K video editing, 3D rendering, or running complex simulations, the significantly faster read and write speeds of Gen 5 SSDs can greatly enhance your productivity and efficiency. However, if your system does not have a Gen 5 slot, these SSDs will be limited to the speeds of the lower generation slot, making the investment less worthwhile.

    To determine what slot your system has, you can use tools like the Crucial System Scanner or Upgrade Selector, which can help you identify the best upgrade options for your specific setup.

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