How to choose an SSD drive for your computer

Hard drives (HDD) were used in personal computers as early as the 1980s. They were the best suited for storing digital information. Unlike floppy disks, punch cards, and magnetic tapes, hard drives had the largest memory capacity. They could hold much more data than any other devices.

Despite this advantage, HDDs had two drawbacks:

• Poor reliability;
• Low speed.

Poor reliability was due to the large number of moving parts in the design. Over time, the magnetic disks, read/write heads, and spindles wore out. As a result, computers began to malfunction and break down.

Low speed led to long load times for files, programs, and video games, and booting the Windows operating system could take several minutes. This problem was also tied to the design of HDDs. To speed up their operation, magnetic disks had to spin at 10,000 rpm or higher, but this further reduced reliability and lifespan.

To solve these problems, engineers created new storage devices – solid-state drives (SSDs). Unlike hard drives, SSDs have no moving parts. All data is stored on small chips placed on a separate board with a controller. This simple design greatly improved both the reliability and speed of the drives.

Despite the obvious advantages, SSDs were initially very unpopular due to their high price and small capacity, but in the early 2010s, this began to change, and today it is almost impossible to imagine a computer without a solid-state drive.

Modern SSDs are only slightly more expensive than hard drives, and their capacity of up to 2,000 GB is sufficient for most users. Additionally, with the release of the new generation of consoles like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, video games increasingly require SSDs for proper performance. All this has made solid-state drives very popular, and now our store shelves are full of a wide variety of models.

Today, we will discuss how to choose an SSD for your computer, which parameters to pay attention to, and who makes the best solid-state drives in the world.

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Form Factor

This parameter determines the shape and connection type of solid-state drives. SSDs come in two form factors: 2.5 and M.2.

2.5 Form Factor

This type of solid-state drive is housed in a plastic or metal casing and connects to the PC using two SATA cables: a narrow and a wide one. The narrow one is used for data transmission and connects to the motherboard, while the wide one is used to supply power and connects to the power supply unit of the PC.

M.2 Form Factor

An M.2 SSD is a small rectangular board. It is inserted into an M.2 slot on the motherboard without the use of any cables.

The width of this drive is 22 mm, and its length ranges from 30 to 110 mm, but today almost all M.2 drives are 80 mm long. Finding and purchasing an SSD with other dimensions is very difficult.

mSATA and PCI-E Add-in Card Form Factors

These SSDs are very rare, so we have placed them in a separate category.

mSATA is the same drive as the 2.5 form factor, but without a metal or plastic casing. It is inserted into an mSATA slot on the motherboard.

mSATA drives are not popular. They were previously installed in laptops, but today M.2 SSDs are used in laptops. They take up less space in the design and have better specifications.

A PCI-E Add-in Card form factor drive is a large separate board that is installed in an expansion slot on the motherboard. Users generally do not like these SSDs because they interfere with the graphics card.

Often, PCI-E Add-in Card drives are installed very close to the bottom of the graphics cards, obstructing air intake. As a result, the graphics cards overheat and fail more quickly. These SSDs also reduce the number of PCI-E lanes on motherboards, which may decrease the power of the graphics card on some boards.

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Connector and Connection Interface

Users often confuse the terms “connector” and “connection interface.” Let’s break down these terms so you don't make a mistake when choosing a solid-state drive for your PC.

The connector is also called the physical interface. It’s simply the way the SSD connects to the computer. There are five types of connectors:

• SATA – this is the connection where two SATA cables are used: a narrow one for data and a wide one for power.
• PCI-E – uses an expansion slot on the motherboard for connection.
• M.2 – the most compact connector that allows SSDs to be inserted directly into the motherboard of a computer or laptop.
• U.2 – this is the same connector as SATA but with more contact points. It is found only in server drives for the enterprise sector.
• mSATA – a smaller version of the standard SATA connector that allows the drive to be inserted into an mSATA slot on the motherboard. It is very rare today, mostly found in older laptops.

The connection interface is the method of data transmission. There are two types of interfaces:

• SATA – data is transmitted at speeds of up to 600 MB/s.
• PCI-E – data is transmitted via the NVMe protocol at speeds of up to 14,000 MB/s.

It is important to discuss PCI-E drives separately because their speed varies depending on the version of the computer bus. Let's take a closer look at what this is and how to determine it.

PCI-E Version

PCI-E is a computer bus that transmits data between the processor and the drive. The newer the bus, the faster the components of the PC can exchange information with each other.

The version of the bus determines its modernity. Currently, three versions are relevant:

• PCI-E 3.0 – maximum speed up to 4,000 MB/s.
• PCI-E 4.0 – maximum speed up to 8,000 MB/s.
• PCI-E 5.0 – maximum speed up to 14,000 MB/s.

The PCI-E version is always specified in the specifications of the SSD. To find it, simply type the name of the drive into your browser's search bar and visit the manufacturer's official website or any online store.

Keep in mind that the PCI-E version of the drive and motherboard must match. Otherwise, you'll get a lower speed than the one specified in the specifications. For example, if you insert a Samsung 980 PRO SSD with PCI-E 4.0 into an MSI PRO H610M-E motherboard with PCI-E 3.0 for drives, the SSD speed will drop by half.

Also, note that the PCI-E version can differ for the graphics card and the drive. For example, the MSI PRO H610M-E motherboard has PCI-E 4.0 for the graphics card but PCI-E 3.0 for the solid-state drive. So always check which PCI-E version the motherboard supports for the SSD. Otherwise, the drive’s speed will decrease.

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Read and Write Speeds

It is commonly believed that the higher the read and write speeds, the faster the drives work, but this is not entirely true. We will discuss these characteristics in detail and explain why they are not so important when choosing an SSD.

Read Speed

This characteristic affects how quickly the SSD can open and access a file. For example, if you try to open a file that is several gigabytes in size, a drive with higher read speed will open it faster.

This characteristic is important for users who regularly work with large files, such as video editors. To allow editing programs to open heavy video files faster, it's better to choose drives with higher read speeds.

Write Speed

This characteristic affects how quickly files will be written to the SSD. For example, when transferring files from a flash drive or another storage device.

As with the previous parameter, write speed is important for users who regularly transfer large volumes of data to their computer. For example, for video editors. Video files shot in high resolution can be tens, sometimes hundreds, of gigabytes in size. Waiting for them to transfer to the computer is not an option. Therefore, choose drives with high write speeds so that files transfer faster.

Why Write Speed Is Always Lower Than Advertised

Imagine this situation: to transfer large files quickly from a flash drive to an SSD, you buy an expensive Gigabyte AORUS Gen5 10,000 SSD with PCI-E 5.0. You insert the flash drive into the computer, start transferring the data, and for the first few seconds, the write speed indeed reaches 9,500 MB/s, as advertised in the specifications. After a while, the speed drops to 500 MB/s, which is typical for budget SATA drives.

Why does this happen? Did the manufacturer deceive you? Actually, no. This is a normal situation for all SSDs, and the main reason is the filled SLC cache. We will explain what this is and how it works, but first, let's go over some theory. Otherwise, it will be difficult to understand what the SLC cache is.

What Is the SLC Cache?

Data is written to SSDs in memory chips made up of small electronic cells.

Early solid-state drives wrote one bit of information to each cell. This type of memory was called SLC (Single Level Cell).

To increase the capacity of SSDs, the number of electronic cells had to be increased, but this was expensive and very difficult. Engineers then decided to store more bits of information in each cell. This led to the creation of new types of memory:

• MLC (Multi Level Cell) – 2 bits of information per cell;
• TLC (Triple Level Cell) – 3 bits of information per cell;
• QLC (Quad Level Cell) – 4 bits of information per cell;

The problem with these new types of memory became apparent quickly: to write the new bits of information properly, the controller first had to read the data from the cells and check if there was free space. This took a lot of time, and the write speed dropped significantly.

SLC memory did not have this problem. The controller did not need to waste time reading the memory since one bit of information was always written to a single cell.

To solve this problem, engineers came up with a trick. They decided to first write data in SLC mode, meaning one bit per cell, and once the cells were filled, they began writing data in other modes.

Let's return to the example of the Gigabyte AORUS Gen5 10,000 SSD, which uses TLC memory. When we started transferring data to it, the data was written in SLC mode, one bit per cell. This is when the speed was at its maximum. After the cells were filled, the controller started checking the data in the cells and only then wrote new data. This is when the speed dropped.

In conclusion, the manufacturer was not deceiving anyone. They specified the maximum write speed but did not mention that once the SLC cache is filled, the drive's performance will drop. But it’s not the manufacturer’s fault. This is how every modern SSD behaves. No one makes high-capacity SSDs with SLC memory. It's just not cost-effective.

Also, remember that the maximum speed will return to its original value. After the write operation, the controller will optimize the memory cells, and next time, data will again be written in SLC format, followed by slower modes.

Presence of a DRAM Cache

The presence of a DRAM cache – a memory module for the SSD that stores partition tables – also significantly affects the write speed. This cache works just like RAM for the central processor. The DRAM chip stores temporary files that the controller needs to operate efficiently.

Budget SSDs do not have a DRAM cache, and temporary files are stored in the computer's RAM. This significantly reduces the drive's speed after the SLC cache is filled. Therefore, if you need maximum write speed, always check for the presence of a DRAM cache.

RND4K Q1T1 – Random Read Speed for 4KB Block Size

We learned that read speed affects how quickly files open, and write speed affects how quickly files are transferred to the drive. The problem is that none of these characteristics indicate how fast video games, programs, and operating systems will load, and this is very important. Solid-state drives are mainly purchased to speed up the operation of a computer or laptop.

To estimate the speed of operating system and application loading, you need to look at another characteristic called "random read speed for 4KB block size operations." SSD manufacturers usually don't list this parameter in the specifications, but you can easily find it in reviews online.

To check the speeds, reviewers use the "CrystalDiskMark" program. You need to look at the numbers in the lower left corner of the application next to the "RND4K Q1T1" label. This will be the random read speed for 4KB block operations.

High-quality SSDs should have the following values:

• SATA – about 30-40 MB/s;
• PCI-E 3.0 – about 50-60 MB/s;
• PCI-E 4.0 – about 70-80 MB/s.

These numbers are much lower than the read and write speeds that manufacturers boast about. For example, the Samsung 980 PRO with a 1TB capacity has a read speed of 7,000 MB/s, while its random read speed for 4KB operations is around 85 MB/s.

This happens because operating systems and computer applications consist of a huge number of subprograms that are lightweight. The drives have to load them sequentially, one by one, which takes a lot of time.

Random Read Speed of PCI-E 5.0 Drives

SSD drives with PCI-E 5.0 connectivity have appeared recently, and they boast read speeds above 10,000 MB/s. This is very impressive, but their random read speeds are on the same level as PCI-E 4.0 drives.

For example, the Samsung 980 PRO has an RND4K Q1T1 speed of around 85 MB/s, while the Gigabyte AORUS Gen5 10,000 has only 80 MB/s. Therefore, it’s not worth considering PCI-E 5.0 SSDs for purchase today. Their time has not yet come.

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Which SSD Controller is Best

The controller is the brain of the solid-state drive. It largely determines the characteristics of the SSD. It handles everything:

• cache management;
• error correction;
• data reading and writing;
• memory cell optimization;
• detecting damaged blocks, and more.

Today, many companies manufacture controllers for SSD drives: Marvell, Phison, InnoGrit, SandForce, Silicon Motion, and others. But the best ones are from Samsung and Western Digital (WD). The controllers from these companies are the most reliable and have the best speed characteristics. Therefore, when purchasing an SSD, prioritize those from these two manufacturers. But keep in mind that some Western Digital models come with budget controllers from other companies. So always check which controller is installed in the drive for your PC.

Presence of a Heatsink

PCI-E drives generate a lot of heat. To extend their lifespan and avoid throttling—speed reduction due to overheating—metal heatsinks are needed. They are installed on the drives via thermal pads and effectively dissipate excess heat.

Some manufacturers produce SSD drives with built-in heatsinks, but not all of them do. Many companies rely on the fact that your motherboard will come with built-in heatsinks. Today, even budget motherboards include them.

If your motherboard does not have metallic heatsinks for SSDs, you can always buy them separately. They are inexpensive and available at all computer stores.

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Which SSD Do You Need for a Gaming PC

The new generation gaming consoles, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, were released in 2020. Their main feature was fast PCI-E 4.0 SSDs. This also led to PC games starting to require installation on solid-state drives.

Many people believe that if consoles have fast NVMe SSDs, computers should have the same kind of drives, but in reality, this is not the case. Modern PC games are not demanding when it comes to SSD speed. Therefore, budget drives with SATA connectivity can be considered for purchase.

This is because games on consoles use the “DirectStorage” technology. It allows data to be transferred directly from fast PCI-E SSDs to RAM, bypassing the central processor. PC games do not use this technology. Therefore, even with the fastest PCI-E 4.0 SSDs, level loading speed on PCs is almost no different from budget SATA drives.

Only one game on PC supports the DirectStorage technology – Forspoken. No other project supports this technology, so it’s not worth overpaying for a high-speed SSD for gaming.

What Happens If You Install a Modern Game on a Hard Drive Instead of an SSD

The following problems are most commonly encountered:

• long level loading times;
• appearance of objects out of thin air;
• texture switching from low resolution to high resolution right in front of the player’s camera.

These problems significantly disrupt the gaming experience. Therefore, in a modern PC, games should definitely be installed on solid-state drives.

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Top SSDs of 2023

To save you time, we’ve listed the top five SSD drives of 2023 that we can confidently recommend for purchase.

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Conclusion

To choose an SSD for your PC, you need to:

• Select the drive form factor;
• Check what connection interface your motherboard supports;
• Choose the appropriate connection interface;
• If you work with large files, pay attention to sequential read/write speeds and whether the SSD has DRAM;
• If you don't work with large files, focus on RND4K Q1T1 – the random read speed of 4KB blocks;
• If you choose a PCI-E SSD, make sure you have a heatsink for cooling;
• Prioritize models from Samsung and Western Digital – they offer the highest-quality controllers;
• If the SSD is mainly for gaming, there’s no need to overpay for ultra-fast models.

Which SSDs are used in HYPERPC computers

HYPERPC computers are equipped only with high-speed SSDs featuring PCI-E interfaces. These ensure fast loading of the operating system, software, and games.

Need something special? Build your own PC or choose from stock.