PC-Hardware

The best SSDs for gaming PCs in 2025

With the help of a solid state drive (SSD), you can give your PC setup an effective speed boost. Gamers in particular will be delighted with this method. After all, an SSD always means faster loading times and smoother gameplay. However, when looking for SSDs, it’s easy to lose track. That’s why we’d like to explain in this tutorial which SSDs you should consider for your gaming PC.

The best SSDs for gaming PCs in 2025

Samsung 990 Pro

Samsung 990 Pro
Picture: Samsung

The Samsung 990 Pro is a high-performance NVMe SSD designed specifically for demanding applications. With an impressive read speed of up to 7,450 MB/s and write speeds of up to 6,900 MB/s, it makes optimum use of PCIe 4.0 technology. This makes it ideal for gaming, 4K video editing and other data-intensive tasks where speed is crucial.

Thanks to the new Samsung V-NAND technology and the improved controller, the 990 Pro not only delivers impressive performance, but also high energy efficiency. This ensures that the SSD generates less heat, which, in combination with an optional heat sink, keeps it reliable and stable – even during sustained high performance. The compact M.2 design makes it compatible with a wide range of devices, including modern laptops, desktop PCs and consoles.

In addition, the Samsung Magician software offers numerous optimization options and security features. This makes it easy to manage performance and firmware, while users benefit from a five-year warranty and a lifespan of up to 1,200 TBW (Terabytes Written). The 990 Pro is therefore one of the best options for anyone looking for maximum speed and reliability.

WD Black SN850X

WD_BLACK SN850X
Image: Western Digital

The WD Black SN850X NVMe SSD is a high-performance storage solution designed specifically for gamers and content creators. With impressive speed and reliability, it offers exceptional performance to handle demanding tasks. With read speeds of up to 7,300 MB/s, the SSD ensures extremely short load times and a seamless user experience, even during intensive gaming sessions or data-intensive applications.

The SSD is available in various capacities from 1 TB to 4 TB, so that users have enough storage space for games, videos or other data as required. Thanks to its support for PCIe Gen4 technology, the WD Black SN850X achieves outstanding performance while being backwards compatible with older PCIe generations. In addition, the integrated heatsink helps to keep operating temperatures low and ensure reliability over extended periods of use.

Additional features such as the WD_BLACK Dashboard software offer advanced functionality, including real-time performance monitoring and optimization options for gaming modes. The WD Black SN850X is therefore the ideal choice for users who want to get the most out of their hardware and are looking for an SSD that is uncompromisingly designed for speed, stability and longevity.

PCIe 5.0 tip: Crucial T705

Crucial T705

The Crucial T705 Gen5 SSD sets new standards in storage technology, offering impressive sequential read and write speeds of up to 14,500 and 12,700 MB/s respectively. This outstanding performance enables gamers, creatives and professionals to tackle even the most demanding tasks with ease. Thanks to the PCIe® 5.0 NVMe M.2 2280 interface and the use of Micron® 232-layer TLC NAND, the T705 is ideally equipped for current and future applications.

Available in capacities of 1 TB, 2 TB and 4 TB, the Crucial T705 offers sufficient storage space for large amounts of data. A special highlight is the optional premium heat sink made of aluminum and copper, which ensures efficient heat dissipation and thus guarantees constant high performance without fan noise. A version without a heat sink is also available for systems with existing cooling mechanisms.

The Crucial T705 is specifically designed for the latest Intel® and AMD processors, but remains backwards compatible with older PCIe generations, allowing flexible integration into different systems. Crucial underlines its confidence in the longevity and reliability of this product with a five-year limited warranty. The T705 is therefore a future-proof investment for anyone who demands the highest levels of speed and performance.

Price-performance tip: Samsung 980 Pro

If you want to save a little money, go for the equally fast predecessor of the 990 Pro: The Samsung 980 Pro is a powerful NVMe SSD that uses PCIe Gen 4.0 technology to offer users lightning-fast read and write speeds. With a maximum sequential read speed of up to 7,000 MB/s and a write speed of up to 5,000 MB/s, it enables superior performance that is particularly beneficial for demanding applications such as gaming, content creation and data processing. This SSD is suitable for use in high-end PCs, laptops and even consoles that support PCIe Gen 4.0.

The Samsung 980 Pro relies on high-performance V-NAND technology and an optimized controller to ensure high reliability and longevity. With a TBW (Terabytes Written) of 1,200 TB and a 5-year warranty, it offers users a long-term solution for storage-intensive tasks. Samsung Magician software allows users to easily monitor and manage the performance and health of the SSD to ensure the best possible utilization.

Another notable feature of the Samsung 980 Pro is its compact design, which is an energy-efficient solution despite its high performance. It offers excellent cooling through an integrated heat spreader, which prevents overheating and ensures consistently high performance over longer periods of time. This SSD is therefore a perfect choice for users who require high speed as well as reliability and durability.

Price-performance tip: Crucial T500

The Crucial T500 is a high-performance PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD that is particularly notable for its high speed and heat dissipation components. With a read speed of up to 5000 MB/s and a write rate of up to 4200 MB/s, it ensures rapid data transfer. Ideal for demanding applications such as gaming, 4K video editing and professional software, it uses Gen4 technology, which enables faster data transfers than previous Gen3 models.

For added protection, the Crucial T500 has an integrated heat sink that prevents overheating and keeps performance consistently high even in intensive usage scenarios. This is particularly important for use in modern PCs and consoles, where high data rates are required to guarantee a smooth user experience. The design is geared towards efficiency so that users can benefit not only from the speed but also from the longevity of the SSD.

This makes it an excellent choice for users who need a lot of storage space and at the same time rely on high performance and reliability. In terms of price, the SSD is a competitive option for users who do not want to compromise on speed and quality.

Price-performance tip: ADATA XPG GAMMIX S70 BLADE

The ADATA XPG GAMMIX S70 BLADE is a high-performance NVMe SSD based on the latest PCIe 4.0 technologies and designed for high-end computing and gaming applications. With an impressive maximum read and write speed of up to 7,400 MB/s and 6,400 MB/s, the SSD sets new standards in terms of performance. This high speed enables lightning-fast loading times for games, fast access to large amounts of data and overall smoother use, even with resource-intensive applications.

The GAMMIX S70 BLADE uses advanced 3D NAND Flash technology and offers outstanding durability and a long service life. Featuring a robust design, the SSD is ideal for use in demanding gaming PCs, workstations or laptops that require reliable and fast data storage. The heatsink-free design ensures that it can also be easily accommodated in more compact housings without compromising on cooling or performance.

Thanks to advanced features such as LDPC ECC (Low-Density Parity Check Error-Correction) and S.M.A.R.T. monitoring, the XPG GAMMIX S70 BLADE ensures that data integrity and system stability are always guaranteed. Available in a range of capacities to suit individual requirements, it is the perfect choice for users who need both speed and reliability.

Best SATA SSD: Crucial MX500

The Crucial MX500 is a reliable SATA SSD. It comes with a read performance of up to 560 MB/s and a write performance of up to 510 MB/s, making it an excellent choice for users looking for a noticeable increase in system speed. Thanks to the integration of a powerful DRAM cache memory and the intelligent TLC NAND technology, the MX500 ensures constant performance with low latency.

With an extended 5-year warranty and a TBW (Total Bytes Written) of up to 360 TB, the Crucial MX500 ensures long-term and stable use, even under intensive use. The integrated “Integrated Power Loss Immunity” also ensures that no data is lost in the event of a sudden power failure, providing additional protection for important information.

Thanks to the 2.5-inch form factor, the Crucial MX500 is compatible with a wide range of desktops and laptops, making it a flexible storage solution for almost any application. In addition, users benefit from easy installation and comprehensive software support, making it easier to manage and monitor the SSD. Whether as an upgrade to an existing system or as the primary storage for a new configuration, the Crucial MX500 offers an excellent blend of performance, durability and value for money.

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SSDs are a blessing for every gaming PC

Forget classic mechanical hard disks (HDDs). These only mean unnecessarily long loading times for your PC setup and bring other annoying side effects with them. Even though these old-fashioned storage media are now available at extremely low prices, you should opt for modern flash memory in the form of an SSD. This is not only much faster than an HDD. SSDs are also much more robust and quieter to boot. Incidentally, a corresponding speed boost does not necessarily result from a new connection. There are also SSDs that still use the classic SATA connection, which is also used by older HDDs. This results in a decisive advantage: you can also give PC setups that are already a few years old a makeover. But how can SSDs be so much faster despite an outdated SATA connection? The reason for this is the low access times with which SSDs outperform classic HDDs by far.

Looking for a fast hard disk? You can’t get past an SSD

If you are now looking for a reliable storage medium for your gaming PC, there is no alternative to an SSD. Of course, you can still buy HDDs today at a reasonable price, but the money you save cannot be compared to the disadvantages of a hard disk. If it is too expensive for you, then at least opt for a combination of HDD and SSD. Use the classic HDD as a storage location for documents, photos and movies. However, you should install the operating system, your games and the most important programs on the SSD. This guarantees short loading times and a fast system start. SSDs now also come in different storage sizes. So you have to decide how much memory is important to you.

The different SSDs

Not all SSDs are the same. This can be said not only in terms of performance, but now also in terms of size. The classic SSD is the one in the 2.5 inch form factor. Its dimensions are similar to those of a classic SSD. Accordingly, it is usually used when you want to separate an old PC from the HDD and connect it to an SSD. Like a normal HDD, SSDs in the 2.5 inch form factor also use a power cable and a data cable for the connection. The so-called SATA 3 interface is used for data transfer. This enables transfer rates of just under 550 megabytes per second at peak times.

The difference in size between 2.5 inch and M.2 SSDs is considerable

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In contrast, M.2 SSDs are more modern and faster. In addition to SATA 3, these also rely on so-called PCI Express (PCIe) as an interface. This is where the big advantage becomes clear. M.2 SSDs are able to communicate with both interfaces. But you should pay close attention to this when buying. If your PC has an M.2 slot that does not support SATA, there may be compatibility problems with an unsuitable SSD. If you have the choice between an SSD in the 2.5 inch or M.2 form factor, it is advisable to opt for the smaller SSD. Not only does it offer more performance, it also takes up far less space in the housing. No cables are required, which improves the general ventilation of the housing. The most common size for M.2 SSDs is 22 mm wide and 80 mm long. For this reason, you will often find the number sequence “2280” in the product name. The first two digits stand for the width, digits 3 and 4 in turn stand for the length of the SSD.

Is speed important for gaming?

SSD manufacturers primarily advertise their read and write speeds. But are these really that important for gaming? To put it simply, this is where the wheat is separated from the chaff. If you want high speeds, there’s no getting around an M.2 SSD with a PCIe connection and the use of an NVMe protocol. After all, these are many times faster. In terms of speed, you should make sure that you don’t spend too much money on the SSD. This is at least the case if you really want to use the computer exclusively or mainly for gaming. In this case, we recommend a comparatively inexpensive model that relies on SATA. After all, you won’t see a noticeable difference when gaming. The situation is different if you frequently process large amounts of data on your PC. In this case, it may well pay off to go for a more expensive and faster SSD.

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