PC-Hardware

The best SSDs for laptops: our recommendations

Modern laptops benefit enormously from a fast and reliable SSD (Solid State Drive). Whether for gaming, professional applications or everyday work – the right SSD can noticeably improve performance, shorten loading times and optimize battery life. But with so many models and technologies available, the question arises: Which SSD is the best choice? In this article, we take a look at the current top SSDs for laptops, compare different interfaces such as NVMe and SATA and give tips on what to look out for when buying.

Also interesting:

The best SSDs for gaming laptops: Our recommendations

When it comes to SSDs for gaming laptops, the speed of the read and write rates is important. Most laptops offer space for one or two M.2 SSDs in 2280 format.

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.

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.

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 has been specially developed for the latest processors from Intel and AMD, but remains backwards compatible with older PCIe generations, allowing flexible integration into various systems.

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.

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. 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.

The best SSDs for office notebooks

For office notebooks or laptops for everyday use, speed tends to play a subordinate role. Values of 7,000 MB/s or more are not so important here, unless you often work with (very) large amounts of data.

Crucial T500

The Crucial T500 Gen4 NVMe SSD is a high-performance storage solution designed specifically for demanding applications such as gaming, video editing and 3D rendering. With sequential read and write speeds of up to 7,400 MB/s and 7,000 MB/s respectively, it enables faster booting, loading and saving of data. Available in capacities of 500 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB, the T500 provides ample storage space for large files and applications. Thanks to the PCIe® 4.0 NVMe M.2 (2280) interface, it is compatible with a wide range of laptops, desktop computers and workstations.

An outstanding feature of the T500 is the world’s first 232-layer TLC NAND, developed by Micron, which ensures improved energy efficiency. Compared to previous generations, the T500 offers a 40% higher power-to-performance ratio, meaning it delivers more performance with less power consumption. For PlayStation 5 owners, the T500 is also available with a low-profile heatsink for easy installation and optimal heat dissipation. In addition, the SSD supports Microsoft DirectStorage, which speeds up rendering and enables more detailed game textures. With a five-year limited warranty, the Crucial T500 Gen4 SSD offers a reliable and future-proof storage solution for a wide range of requirements.

Samsung 990 EVO

Samsung 990 EVO
Picture: Samsung

The Samsung 990 Evo SSD offers outstanding performance for demanding applications. With an impressive read and write speed of up to 5,000 MB/s respectively, it is ideal for high-end computing, gaming and content creation. This NVMe M.2 SSD uses the latest V-NAND technology from Samsung and offers high reliability and durability.

With a capacity of 1 TB, the Samsung 990 Evo enables fast access to large amounts of data and shortens loading times. Its optimized energy efficiency and improved heat dissipation ensure stable operation, even under load.

WD Blue SN580

WD Blue SN580
Image: Western Digital

The WD Blue SN580 NVMe SSD offers high performance for everyday PC applications and gaming. With PCIe Gen3 technology and a fast sequential read and write rate of up to 4,150 MB/s, it ensures fast system start-ups and efficient data processing. Its reliability is guaranteed by 3D NAND technology and temperature-controlled operation.

The SSD is available in various storage sizes and is particularly suitable for users who want to equip their PCs or laptops with a high-performance, cost-efficient storage solution.

Price-performance tip: Crucial P3 Plus

Crucial P3 Plus Cover picture

The Crucial P3 Plus is a latest generation NVMe SSD that offers impressive performance. With speeds of up to 5000 MB/s for read operations and 4200 MB/s for write operations, it is ideal for demanding applications, including gaming and content creation. This high performance is made possible by the modern PCIe Gen 4.0 standard, which makes the SSD significantly faster than older SATA models.

The Crucial P3 Plus is also particularly reliable and offers a long service life thanks to the integrated security functions such as 3D NAND technology. It is available in several storage capacities and thus enables flexible upgrades for PCs, laptops or consoles.

Price-performance tip: Samsung 980

Samsung 980
Picture: Samsung

The Samsung 980 NVMe SSD offers a high-performance storage solution with PCIe Gen 3.0 technology that enables fast read and write speeds. With a sequential read speed of up to 3500 MB/s and a write speed of up to 3000 MB/s, the SSD is ideal for gaming, content creation and performance-intensive applications. Thanks to the optimized 3D NAND technology, the 980 ensures improved durability and reliability.

Thanks to typical Samsung software solutions such as the Samsung Magician software, users can easily manage the SSD and optimize performance. The 980 is also energy efficient and offers improved heat dissipation, keeping durability and performance stable over long periods of time.

Buying SSDs: What formats are available?

Solid state drives (SSDs) have established themselves as the standard for fast and reliable storage solutions. But when buying an SSD, many people are faced with the question: Which format is the right one? In addition to different storage capacities and speeds, there are also different designs that are more suitable depending on the intended use. In this article, we take a look at the most common SSD formats and explain what is important when buying.

2.5-inch SATA SSD – The classic replacement for HDDs

The 2.5-inch SATA SSD is the most widely used format and is particularly suitable for replacing conventional hard disks (HDDs). These SSDs use the SATA connection and are compatible with almost all laptops and desktop PCs. Their maximum speed is around 550 MB/s, which is sufficient for everyday applications and gaming.

Advantages:

  • High compatibility with older and new devices
  • Easy installation thanks to SATA connection
  • Less expensive than NVMe SSDs

Disadvantages:

  • Slower than NVMe models
  • Requires space in the case, which can be problematic in compact laptops

M.2 SSD – Compact and versatile solution

M.2 SSDs are significantly smaller than 2.5-inch SSDs and are plugged directly into the mainboard. They are available in two variants: with SATA or NVMe interface. While M.2 SATA SSDs offer similar speeds to conventional 2.5-inch SSDs, NVMe SSDs with a PCIe connection are considerably faster.

Advantages:

  • Compact design saves space in the housing
  • NVMe variants enable extremely high speeds (up to 7,000 MB/s)
  • No additional cable management required

Disadvantages:

  • Higher prices for NVMe SSDs
  • Not every motherboard supports all M.2 interfaces

PCIe SSD – High performance for enthusiasts

PCIe SSDs are inserted directly into a PCIe slot on the mainboard and offer maximum transfer rates. They are mainly used in high-end PCs, for example for professional applications such as video rendering or high-end gaming. However, these are rather rare and of little interest.

External SSDs – flexible memory expansion

External SSDs are ideal for users looking for a portable solution. These usually use a USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt interface and offer high speed for mobile use, for example for backing up data or working on the move.

Advantages:

  • Plug-and-play without internal installation
  • Robust and shock-resistant compared to HDDs

Disadvantages:

  • Speed depends on the USB interface
  • Higher cost per GB than internal SSDs

Conclusion

Choosing the right SSD format depends heavily on the intended use. While 2.5-inch SATA SSDs are a solid and inexpensive option for many users, M.2 and PCIe SSDs offer enormous performance advantages. External SSDs, on the other hand, are a good choice for mobile users who value flexibility. If you do your research before buying and choose the right format, you can benefit from a significant increase in performance.

The best SSDs for laptops: what you should look out for when buying

A fast SSD can significantly improve the performance of a laptop. Faster boot times, shorter loading times for programs and an overall more responsive system are just some of the benefits. But what should you look out for when buying an SSD for your laptop? In this article, we present the best SSDs for laptops and explain which factors play a role.

2.5-inch SATA SSD – Solid choice for upgrades

The 2.5-inch SATA SSD is a common choice when it comes to replacing an old hard drive. These SSDs are easy to install and offer a noticeable increase in performance.

Advantages:

  • High compatibility with older and new laptops
  • Good price-performance ratio
  • Easy installation

Disadvantages:

  • Slower than NVMe models
  • SATA interface limits the speed

M.2 SSD – Space-saving and powerful

M.2 SSDs are particularly suitable for modern laptops as they are plugged directly into the mainboard. They are available as SATA and NVMe variants, with NVMe SSDs being significantly faster.

Advantages:

  • Compact design saves space
  • NVMe variants offer extremely high speeds
  • No additional cable management required

Disadvantages:

  • Higher price for NVMe SSDs
  • Not all laptops support every M.2 interface

What to look out for when buying an SSD?

The following factors play a decisive role when buying an SSD for a laptop:

  • Compatibility: Check whether the laptop supports SATA or M.2/PCIe
  • Capacity: At least 500 GB for optimal use
  • Speed: NVMe SSDs are significantly faster than SATA SSDs
  • Price-performance ratio: Choose the best model depending on your budget and use case

The best models

There are some top models that are suitable for upgrading your laptop. At SSD-Guru.de you will find a list of SSDs that are best suited for your laptop.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button