Most popular drives are listed as well

Updated March 23, 2021 You should choose a SSDs tend to get faster from left to right on this guide. Drives
as their related hardware
SSD based on its on the right are perfectly capable of filling roles to the left
Organization Hardware configurations. Refer to my list or
intended role. but will be sup-optimal in performance profile, cost, or both.
spreadsheet for further delineation.

Selecting a SSD

Budget & Performance SATA SSDs usually

have DRAM. DRAM improves performance SATA SSDs use the SATA NVMe SSDs use the PCIe DRAM is not as dire a requirement for NVMe
and endurance and is optimal for mixed interface (physical or logical) and SATA NVMe interface and the newer NVMe drives due to the improved protocol. Some
DRAM DRAM
workloads, such as OS usage. outdated AHCI protocol. (2.5" or M.2) (PCIe M.2) protocol. drives can use system memory (HMB) as well.

Storage SATA SSDs are suitable for Light SATA SSDs are suitable for OS usage Budget SATA SSDs are suitable Moderate SATA SSDs are Performance SATA SSDs are Budget NVMe SSDs are entry-level, Moderate NVMe SSDs are in- Consumer NVMe SSDs are
superior to Budget in some Prosumer NVMe SSDs are
general data storage or games. in machines with light usage, such as old for varied use including OS. the best SATA drives on the SATA replacement, or mobile/ between Budget and Consumer high-performance desktop
way while being more specialized drives useful for
Generally larger in capacity and not or secondary PCs. Generally smaller in Cheaper alternative. market, suitable for anything. HTPC-oriented. Usually four- with elements of both. Capable of choices for the very best
affordable than Performance. content creation or workstation-
the primary drive. capacity and therefore TLC-based. channel controllers with QLC or TLC any usage. Cheaper alternative. everyday experience. type tasks. They often have a
and limited or no DRAM.
cost premium especially for
Gen4.

Storage SATA Light SATA Budget SATA Moderate SATA Performance SATA Budget NVMe Moderate NVMe Consumer NVMe Prosumer NVMe

ADATA SU630/SU635 ADATA SU800/SX850 ADATA S40G ADATA SX8200/S11 ADATA S50 (Gen4)
ADATA SU650/SU655 Hynix S31 Crucial MX500 ADATA SX6000 Lite/Pro
ADATA SU650/SU655 ADATA SX950U ADATA SX8100/S7 ADATA SX8200/S11 Pro Corsair MP600 (Gen4)
ADATA SU750/SU760 Team Vulcan Intel 545s ADATA Falcon
ADATA SU720/SU740 Addlink S20 ADATA SX8800 ADATA S50 Lite (Gen4) Gigabyte Aorus (Gen4)
Crucial BX500 Kingston KC600 ADATA Swordfish
ADATA SU750/SU760 Gigabyte UD Pro Kingston A2000 Addlink S70 Inland Performance (Gen4)
HP S700 Lexar NS200 ADATA S20G
Crucial BX500 HP M700 (MLC) Intel 670p Corsair MP510 Patriot VP4100 (Gen4)
HP M700 (MLC) PNY CS2311 Crucial MP400
Inland SATA HP S700 Pro Sabrent Rocket Q Crucial P5 PNY CS4040 (Gen4)
Hyundai Sapphire Samsung 860/870 EVO Crucial P1/P2
Kingston A400/Q500 Kingston UV500 HP EX920 Sabrent Rocket 4.0 (Gen4)
Inland SATA SanDisk Ultra 3D Gigabyte NVMe
Mushkin Raw Mushkin Reactor (MLC) HP EX950 Sabrent Rocket 4.0 Plus
Kingston A400/Q500 Seagate BarraCuda 120 HP EX900
Mushkin Source PNY CS1311 Hynix P31 (Gen4)
Lexar NS100 WD Blue 3D Inland Professional Controllers:
Patriot Burst Seagate BarraCuda Inland Premium/Platinum 970 EVO (Obsolete)
Mushkin Raw Intel 660p/665p Phison E12
Patriot P200 Team Delta RGB Intel 760p 970 EVO Plus
Mushkin Source Kingston A1000 Realtek RTS5762
PNY CS900 Team L5 Lite 3D SMI SM2263 Kingston KC2000/KC2500 Samsung 970 Pro (MLC)
Patriot Burst MDSSD SBX/SBXe
PNY CS2311 Controllers: Lexar NM700 Samsung 980 Pro
Patriot P200 Marvell 88SS1074 Mushkin Helix-L
Samsung 860/870 QVO MDSSD BPX Pro Seagate FireCuda 520 (Gen4)
SanDisk SSD Plus Controllers: Phison S12 Patriot Scorch
SanDisk SSD Plus Mushkin Pilot SP US70 (Gen4)
SP A55/S55 Marvell 88SS1074 SMI SM2258 Plextor P300
SP A55/S55 Mushkin Pilot-E Team Cardea Zero/Z440
Team AX1 Phison S10 SMI SM2259
SP P32A80
(Storage/Light)
Team AX1/AX2 SMI SM2258 Patriot VPN/VPR100 (Gen4)
Controllers: Team CX1/CX2 SP P34A60
Team CX1/CX2 Controllers: Plextor M9P+ WD SN750
Marvell 88NV1120 Team GX1/GX2 Team MP32/MP33/Z330
Team EX2 Marvell 88SS1092 PNY CS3030 WD SN850 (Gen4)
Maxio MAS0902A WD SN500/SN550
Phison S11/T Team GX1/GX2 Phison E12/E12S Sabrent Rocket
Phison S13/T SMI SM2262/EN Seagate Barra/Fire 510
Team Vulcan G SMI SM2267
Realtek RTS5733 Controllers:
SK hynix P31
SMI SM2258XT Controllers: Phison E16
SP P34A80 Phison E18
SMI SM2259XT Realtek RTS5762DL
Realtek RTS5763DL
Team Cardea II/Liquid SMI SM2264
SMI SM2263/XT Team MP34/Z340
Phison E8/E8T
Phison E13T