Most popular drives are listed as well

Updated October 31, 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 outdated AHCI protocol.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 SX6000 Lite/Pro ADATA S40G ADATA SX8200/S11 ADATA S50 (Gen4)
ADATA SU650/SU655 Hynix S31 Crucial MX500
ADATA SU650/SU655 ADATA SX950U ADATA Falcon ADATA SX8100/S7 ADATA SX8200/S11 Pro ADATA S70/Blade (Gen4)
ADATA SU750/SU760 Team Vulcan Intel 545s
ADATA SU720/SU740 Addlink S20 ADATA Swordfish ADATA SX8800 ADATA S50 Lite (Gen4) Corsair MP600 (Gen4)
Crucial BX500 Kingston KC600
ADATA SU750/SU760 Gigabyte UD Pro ADATA S20G Kingston A2000 Addlink S70 Corsair MP600 Pro (Gen4)
HP S700 Lexar NS200
Crucial BX500 HP M700 (MLC) Crucial MP400 Intel 670p Corsair MP510 Crucial P5 Plus (Gen4)
HP M700 (MLC) PNY CS2311
Inland SATA HP S700 Pro Crucial P1/P2 Sabrent Rocket Q Crucial P5 Gigabyte Aorus (Gen4)
Hyundai Sapphire Samsung 860/870 EVO
Kingston A400/Q500 Kingston UV500 Gigabyte NVMe HP EX920 Inland Performance (Gen4)
Inland SATA SanDisk Ultra 3D
Mushkin Raw Mushkin Reactor (MLC) HP EX900 HP EX950 Inland Perf. Plus (Gen4)
Kingston A400/Q500 Seagate BarraCuda 120
Mushkin Source PNY CS1311 Inland Professional Hynix P31 Kingston KC3000 (Gen4)
Lexar NS100 WD Blue 3D
Patriot Burst Seagate BarraCuda Intel 660p/665p/670p Controllers: Inland Premium/Platinum Mushkin Alpha (Gen4)
Mushkin Raw
Patriot P200 Team Delta RGB Kingston A1000 Phison E12 Intel 760p Mushkin Delta (Gen4)
Mushkin Source
PNY CS900 Team L5 Lite 3D Lexar NM620 Realtek RTS5762 Kingston KC2000/KC2500 Patriot VP4100 (Gen4)
Patriot Burst SMI SM2263
PNY CS2311 MDSSD SBX/SBXe Lexar NM700 Patriot VP4300 (Gen4)
Patriot P200
Samsung 860/870 QVO Controllers: MSI Spatium M390 MDSSD BPX Pro Plextor M10P(GN) (Gen4)
SanDisk SSD Plus
SanDisk SSD Plus Marvell 88SS1074 Mushkin Helix-L Mushkin Pilot PNY CS4040 (Gen4)
SP A55/S55 Phison S12
SP A55/S55 Patriot Scorch Mushkin Pilot-E Sabrent Rocket 4.0 (Gen4)
Team AX1 SMI SM2258
(Storage/Light)
Team AX1/AX2 Plextor P300 Patriot VPN/VPR100 Sabrent Rocket 4.0 Plus (Gen4)
Controllers: Team CX1/CX2 SMI SM2259
Team CX1/CX2 Controllers: Samsung 980 Non-PRO Plextor M9P+ 970 EVO (Obsolete)
Marvell 88NV1120 Team GX1/GX2
Team EX2 Marvell 88SS1074 SP P32A80 PNY CS3030 970 EVO Plus
Maxio MAS0902A
Phison S11/T Team GX1/GX2 Phison S10 SP P34A60 Sabrent Rocket Samsung 970 Pro (MLC)
Phison S13/T Team Vulcan G SMI SM2258 Team MP32/MP33/Z330 Seagate Barra/Fire 510 Samsung 980 Pro
Realtek RTS5733 WD SN500/SN550 SK hynix P31 Seagate FireCuda 520 (Gen4)
SMI SM2258XT WD SN570 SP P34A80 SP US70 (Gen4)
SMI SM2259XT Team Cardea A440/Pro (Gen4)
WD SN750 SE Team Cardea II/Liquid
Team MP34/Z340 Team Cardea Zero/Z440 (Gen4)
WD SN750
Controllers:
InnoGrit IG5208/IG5216 WD SN850 (Gen4)
Realtek RTS5762DL
Realtek RTS5763DL Controllers:
SMI SM2263/XT Marvell 88SS1092 Controllers:
SMI SM2265 Phison E12/E12S InnoGrit IG5236
Phison E8/E8T SMI SM2262/EN Phison E16
Phison E13T SMI SM2267 Phison E18
Phison E15T SMI SM2264