Best SSD for gaming 2023

Having the best SSD for gaming will seriously improve your gaming experience, and give your system a speed boost when it comes to running and loading the latest PC games. A solid-state drive (SSD) runs off flash memory to write and read data digitally, and any system can benefit from swapping from an aging mechanical drive to a more modern SSD. Since the advent of the NVMe protocol, high-capacity M.2 drive storage has never been so small or affordable. But which gaming SSD is right for your needs?

There are plenty of excellent gaming SSDs on the market, from well-known brands like Samsung, Corsair, and Western Digital, as well as more niche options that still perform well. To help you choose the best SSD for gaming, we’ve benchmarked the latest (and fastest) solid-state drives, comparing their read and write speeds against one another.

The latest PC games can require high storage requirements, and that means it’s more important than ever to make sure that your gaming PC or gaming laptop has plenty of available space. Using years of PC gaming experience and our in-house testing expertise, we’ll help you find the best SSD for gaming available now.

Find the best SSD for gaming in 2023:

• WD Black SN850X – best SSD for PC gaming overall
• Samsung 980 – best PCIe 3.0 gaming SSD
• Samsung 870 EVO – best SATA SSD overall
• Crucial P5 Plus – top budget PCIe 4.0 drive
• WD Blue SN570 – best cheap PCIe 3.0 SSD
• Crucial MX500 – best cheap SATA SSD
• Gigabyte Aorus RGB M.2 NVMe SSD – best RGB gaming SSD
• SK Hynix Platnium P41 – best M.2 SSD for laptops
• Corsair EX100U – top external SSD
• Sabrent Rocket 2230 – best SSD for Steam Deck

1. WD Black SN850X

The best SSD for gaming overall is the WD Black SN850X.
Expect to pay $160-$700 (£154-£702).

WD Black SN850X specs:

Pros

• The fastest PCIe 4.0 gaming SSD
• Optional RGB heatsink
• Software ensures maximum performance with Game Mode 2.0

Cons

• A high-cost item
• Can run hot without a heatsink

The WD Black SN850X is the fastest SSD you can buy, making full use of its PCIe 4.0 interface with lightning-fast sequential read and write speeds of 7,300MB/s and 6,600MB/s, respectively.

This level of performance not only improves loading times in games, but you should notice your gaming PC boots faster and more quickly handles general tasks. You’ll always get the most out of the drive while playing games too, thanks to its Game Mode 2.0 toggle in the included software.

If you’re worried about potential thermal throttling impacting the WD Black SN850X, you can pick it up with an optional heatsink for peace of mind. Better still, the heatsink comes with a splash of RGB too, so it can look cool while staying cool.

2. Samsung 980

The best PCIe 3.0 SSD is the Samsung 980.
Expect to pay $53-$140 / £45-£94.

Samsung 980 specs:

Pros

• Fast PCIe 3.0 speeds
• Robust Samsung Magician software

Cons

• Outperformed by PCIe 4.0 drives
• No DRAM

The Samsung 980 is the perfect fit for anyone looking to upgrade their aging SATA hard drives or SSDs with something a bit nippier. The South Korean tech giant’s storage components have remained among the most desirable in the market for years, and it’s not hard to see why.

Using a PCIe 3.0 interface, the Samsung 980 delivers sequential read and write speeds that transform any sluggish gaming PC into a nippy machine. The SSD can be further enhanced through the use of Samsung Magician software, making it easy to get the most out of your new drive.

3. Samsung 870 EVO

The best SATA SSD is the Samsung 870 EVO.
Expect to pay $34-$270 (£30-£224).

Samsung 870 Evo specs:

Pros

• Still plenty fast for PC games
• High capacity options

Cons

• Slightly lofty price tag
• Much slower compared to NVMe drives

NVMe SSDs will undoubtedly replace their SATA brethren, but there’s still plenty of value to be had in drives that use the aging interface like the Samsung 870 EVO. While its sequential read and write speeds may seem paltry in the face of PCIe storage, it’s still plenty fast for most games and is undeniably faster than any hard drive.

If you prioritize capacity over speed, opting for the Samsung 870 EVO could be a smart move. You can pick it up in sizes that go all the way up to 4TB, meaning you won’t have to worry about rehoming your Steam library and it costs much less than any M.2 SSD with the same amount of space.

4. Crucial P5 Plus

The best cheap PCIe 4.0 SSD is the Crucial P5 Plus.
Expect to pay $75-$150 (£72 – £240).

Crucial P5 Plus specs:

Pros

• Super snappy read/write speeds
• Great endurance rating
• Five-year warranty

Cons

• Not the fastest drive in its class
• Could be more power efficient

PCIe 4.0 SSDs don’t have to cost a fortune, and Crucial’s P5 Plus proves you can pick up a drive with respectable performance without having to stretch your budget.

Not only does the Crucial P5 Plus boast read speeds up to 6,600MB/s but its two million-hour mean time to failure (MTTF) rating means it’s reliable to boot. Of course, it also comes with a five-year warranty, just in case its impressive endurance rating isn’t enough to incite confidence.

5. WD Blue SN570

The best cheap PCIe 3.0 SSD is the WD Blue SN570.
Expect to pay $30-$100 (£25-£90).

WD Blue SN570 specs:

Pros

• Full x4 PCIe 3 interface
• Great price-to-performance value
• 900TBW endurance

Cons

• No DRAM
• Boring design

WD is here to show that you can, in fact, have it all, as the Blue SN570 NVMe SSD boasts up to 2TB of storage, a solid 900TBW endurance, and respectable read and write speeds for one the lowest prices you’ll find.

Of course, it’s not the fastest drive out there, but it’s hands down the best you can get under $100 without sacrificing capacity, speed, or both. That makes it the perfect option for the best gaming PC on a budget.

6. Crucial MX500

The best cheap SATA SSD is the Crucial MX500.
Expect to pay $35-$219 (£27-£236).

Crucial MX500 specs:

Pros

• Competitive price
• Top read/write performance for SATA
• Good endurance

Cons

• Lower capacities are slower

The MX500 should be your go-to if you’re wanting the cheapest SSD possible, without compromising too much on quality. Because of its Micron parent company, Crucial is able to offer SSDs using its own high-quality memory for a great price.

The MX500 seriously undercuts its competition and while it’s not strictly the cheapest SSD on the market, it’s the most budget-friendly we can recommend as a worthwhile, quality purchase.

Read our Crucial MX500 review.

7. Gigabyte Aorus RGB M.2 NVMe SSD

The best RGB SSD is the Gigabyte Aorus RGB M.2 NVMe SSD.
Expect to pay up to $120 (£88).

Gigabyte Aorus RGB M.2 NVMe SSD specs:

Pros

• Best looking SSD with RGB
• Five-year warranty

Cons

• Not as fast as it is pretty
• Tops out at 512GB

SSDs usually aren’t the flashiest of components, often taking a back seat to RGB-clad items like graphics cards, the best CPU coolers, and the gaming RAM. But the Gigabyte Aorus RGB M.2 NVMe SSD is the outlier to that rule, with a stunning design that deserves to be on show.

If you don’t want to hide your M.2 drive under a shroud, the Gigabyte Aorus RGB M.2 NVMe SSD is the latest PC component to be RGB’d, with its strikingly bright and customizable heatsink. It’s not too overbearing and can add a bit of flare to your setup.

8. SK Hynix Platinum P41

The best M.2 SSD for laptops is the SK Hynix Platinum P41.
Expect to pay $90-$157 (£90-£157).

SK Hynix Platinum P41 specs:

Pros

• Compact form factor
• Five-year warranty
• Extraordinary 1,200TBW rating

Cons

• No heatsink

Even the best gaming laptop benefits from more storage, and the SK Hynix Platinum P41 SSD is perfect for increasing your on-the-go storage without compromising on spec. Featuring an in-house Aries controller, this drive is capable of read speeds up to 7,000MB/s, meaning it’ll run rings around SATA SSDs and many NVMe options.

In spite of its impressive speeds, the Platinum P41 features an equally impressive power efficiency rating, something that helps maintain peak performance within a toasty laptop environment. Naturally, this also means it’ll be kinder to your portable powerhouse’s battery, which could help you spend less time gaming next to a power outlet.

9. Corsair EX100U

The best external SSD for gaming is the Corsair EX100U.
Expect to pay $70-$385 (£75-£390).

Corsair EX100U specs:

Pros

• Three times faster than SATA SSDs
• Compact design
• USB Type-C connection

Cons

• No dust or water resistance
• No USB-A adaptor
• Included cable is a bit short

The other SSDs on this list will live inside your rig, but if you’re wise, you’ll also keep backup external storage on standby. The Corsair EX100U is both small and speedy, making it the perfect storage solution for when you’re on the go.

It’s worth noting that the Corasir EX100U uses a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface, which allows it to offer read and write speeds faster lightyears ahead of SATA. However, don’t worry if you don’t have a built-in USB-C port in your machine as it comes with a USB-A adapter.

10. Sabrent Rocket 2230

The best Steam Deck SSD is the Sabrent Rocket 2230.
Expect to pay $50-£160 (£50-£150).

Sabrent Rocket 2230 specs:

Pros

• Right size for Steam Deck
• Great specs
• Durable

Cons

• Requires opening up your Deck

If you’ve already had a peek inside Valve’s handheld, you’ll already know that a standard M.2 SSD isn’t going to fit. Thankfully, the Sabrent Rocket 2230 is exactly the right size, so you won’t have to make any weird modifications to expand your on-the-go storage.

The Sabrent Rocket 2230 might be dinky enough to fit inside the Steam Deck, but it still packs a solid-state punch. The PCIe 4.0 drive boasts up to 4,750MB/s read speeds, and you’ll be able to write up to 4,300MB/s to the compact SSD. Despite its size, 1TB models are also available, meaning you could bring an even greater chunk of your Steam library with you on your travels.

Looking for more portable add-ons? Check out our best Steam Deck accessories list to enhance your handheld gaming PC.

What are the benefits of using an SSD?

Solid-state drives are inherently faster than traditional mechanical drives, mostly due to the fact they feature no moving parts. So, by replacing your old hard drive with even the cheapest SSD, you can expect fast boot times, speedy file transfer rates, and even enhanced gaming performance. However, installing a new storage drive won’t make your gaming PC faster if you’re still rocking old components elsewhere.

SATA vs NVMe SSDs

SATA drives have been around for a while longer, and while they offer lower read and write speeds than you’ll find on an NVMe-based drive, the price per GB is much lower. This makes them the perfect choice if you want a high-capacity solid-state drive for storing your Steam library, or if you’re going for a budget PC build. Plus, the speeds are still significantly better than a conventional hard drive.

What is an add-in card SSD?

Add-in card SSDs look a little bit like graphics cards, and they connect to your PC via PCIe. While they use the same standard as M.2, PCIe options boast compatibility over M.2, as you won’t need a motherboard with a newer socket type to upgrade from SATA.

Which capacity SSD should I get?

A higher-capacity SSD will cost more, so consider how much you want to spend. Not all of the best PC games benefit from being installed on an SSD, so you don’t necessarily need a drive as big as your secondary storage. Some of the SSD options in this guide start at 250GB capacity, but if you can afford it, we recommend getting a 1TB SSD to future-proof your system for longer. You can get an SSD up to 4TB, but this is expensive. If you just want an SSD to install Windows onto, then a 512GB capacity is sufficient.

What’s the best SSD brand?

We trust all of the SSD brands in our guide (otherwise we wouldn’t have included them). Western Digital and Samsung are well known for being reliable and long-lasting, but we also recommend checking the retailer and manufacturer warranty when you buy an SSD, as some will offer extended warranty periods of up to three of five years – providing peace of mind in the unlikely event that your gaming SSD fails.

Can you put a PCIe 5.0 SSD in a PCIe 4.0 slot?

PCIe 4.0 is both backward compatible and forwards compatible, meaning you can use a PCIe 3.0 drive with the newer format and vice versa. It’s worth noting in both instances, your performance will be constricted by the 3.0 standard’s limitations.

For more help building your ideal gaming PC, check out our list of the best gaming cards, which will help you find the right graphics card.