Top Gen4 and Gen5 NVMe SSDs for PC, PS5, and Handheld Gaming Devices

PCIe Gen5 drives like WD Black SN8100 and Samsung 9100 Pro provide extreme speeds and low latency for advanced workloads.

Hardware by Tanisha Aria on Dec 02, 2025

NVMe SSDs are now necessary for better streaming, faster load times, and overall responsiveness in modern games that demand faster storage than ever.

The SSD market has never been more competitive, as companies are pushing the edges of what PCIe Gen4 and Gen5 can do. There are great choices for laptops, desktops, handhelds, and game devices that fit a range of budgets and workloads.

Top Gen4, Gen5 NVMe SSDs for PC, PS5, Handheld Gaming Devices, NoobFeed

WD Black SN7100: A New Gen4 Standout for Laptops

The WD Black SN7100 is a new Gen4 NVMe drive made for mainstream game laptops. Its single-sided layout is very helpful in systems with limited space. It has brand-new, high-speed Kioxia memory and WD's Polaris 3 driver, which together deliver fast performance while keeping temperatures low.

The fastest model, the 4TB, can read at 7000 MBps and write at 6700 MBps. The fastest types, the 1TB and 2TB, can read at 7250MBps and write at 6900MBps. Read speeds of 6800 MBps and write speeds of 5800 MBps are still good for the 500GB version.

Random 4K performance is surprisingly good, often breaking 100MBps in testing. The drive also stays very cool, reaching a high point of 48°C when properly cooled by the motherboard.

It's important to note that the SN7100 doesn't have any DRAM. Instead, it uses host memory cache technology. For normal laptop use, games, or making sure the system responds quickly, you won't notice any problems. However, if you often send huge files, a drive with specialized DRAM might still be better for you.

Prices range from $64 for 500GB to $100 for 1 TB, $175 for 2 TB, and $330 for 4 TB. This puts it between cheap and expensive options, but it has great thermals and is easy to use on one side. This drive works great for upgrading a laptop, ultrabook, or small gaming machine.

Crucial P310 (2280 & 2230): The Budget Performance Champion

At low prices, the Crucial P310 series delivers speeds almost as fast as top models. We believe it's one of the best deals in the US right now. The Phison E27T controller and Micron 232-layer QLC NAND are used by both the 2280 and 2230 types. They can read at up to 7100 MBps and write at up to 6000 MBps.

It starts at just $79 for 1TB, $62 for 500GB, $132 for 2TB, and $240 for 4TB. The full-size P3102280 is great for PCs or laptops. In real life, performance stays high until the write cache is full. The 2TB model can handle about 650GB of continuous writes before performance drops to 350MBps. You wouldn't push it that far for everyday tasks and games.

For handhelds like Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and others like them, the P3102230 version is the best way to improve them. The 2230 stays cool and maintains the same speed, even in its small 30mm form factor. It also responds very quickly. The price is $85 for 1TB and $130 for 2TB.

Random performance is better with TLC drives, but you won't notice a difference when playing games. Endurance is estimated at 220TBW per terabyte across all models. This is less than TLC but still safe for years of heavy gaming use.

Both types are a great deal because they come with a 5-year warranty, and Crucial has a history of making reliable products. This is the SSD you should get if you're on a tight budget or want to improve your mobile.

Top Gen4, Gen5 NVMe SSDs for PC, PS5, Handheld Gaming Devices, NoobFeed

WD Black SN850P: The Perfect Match for PS5

For the best compatibility when installing an SSD in a PS5, the WD Black SN850P was designed specifically for that. Basically, it's a tweaked SN850X with official PlayStation licensing and a heatsink that fits exactly and was made to work with the PS5's airflow pattern. Most sizes can read at 7,300 Mbps and write at 6,900 Mbps.

The 8TB model can read at 7200MBps, which is a little slower. This means that it works perfectly with Sony's consoles and has start times that are the same as or faster than the built-in storage in games like Spider-Man and Horizon.

The 1TB model costs $130, the 2TB model costs $219, and the 4TB model costs $399. There is an 8TB version for $720 for people who need the most space. All capacities come with a 5-year warranty and a high endurance rating of 600 TBW per terabyte.

Even though the regular SN850X might be cheaper, we suggest the SN850P to PS5 users because it is more compatible and helps keep the console's temperature stable in its small space.

PCIe Gen5 Flagships: WD Black SN8100 vs Samsung 9100 Pro

PCIe 5.0 drives are the fastest available, and both the WD Black SN8100 and the Samsung 9100 Pro are truly amazing. With the Silicon Motion SM2508 controller, the SN8100 can read at 14900 MBps and write at 14000 MBps across all sizes. Samsung's 9100 Pro can read at 14,700 MBps and write at 13,400 MBps.

The 4TB and 8TB models can go a little faster. There are versions of both drives with and without heatsinks. For long-term workloads, we suggest getting the types with heatsinks.

The SN8100 often beats the competition on random performance and heavy, sustained workloads like AI model loading and DirectStorage operations. Without a fan, it can get as cool as 85°C and draws only 7W on average for a Gen5 drive. 1TB costs $140, 2TB costs $224, 4TB costs $449, and 8TB costs $1000.

The Samsung 9100 Pro is a little more power-efficient than the 990 Pro. It claims to be 49% more efficient and uses about 9W when it's not in use. 1TB costs $135, 2TB costs $219, 4TB costs $417, and 8TB costs $899.

These prices are fair. Overall, the SN8100 is faster and cooler than the Samsung, but the Samsung is a better deal for larger sizes. Both drives offer almost instantaneous load times and cutting-edge model streaming for heavy tasks.

Top Gen4, Gen5 NVMe SSDs for PC, PS5, Handheld Gaming Devices, NoobFeed

High-End Gen4: WD Black SN850X vs Samsung 990 Pro

High-end PCIe 4.0 is still the best choice for most gamers because it has the best speed, thermals, and price. The WD Black SN850X can read at 7300 MBps and write at 6600 MBps across most sizes. The 8TB version can only read at 7200MBps, which is a little slower.

One TB costs $110, two TB cost $165, four TB cost $315, and eight TB cost $680. This drive is unique because it has a huge SLC cache—on the 2TB model, it can reach almost 600GB—that lets it keep running at top speeds for much longer than most drives.

It gets hot (around 80–85°C) under heavy stress, so a heatsink is helpful. Durability is great, with 600 TBW per terabyte for the smaller models and 300 TBW per terabyte for the 4TB and 8TB models.

In response, Samsung's 990 Pro offers slightly faster sequential speeds (7450 MBps reads and 6900 MBps writes) and excellent random IOPS performance (1.6 million reads and 1.55 million writes). Prices start at $110 for 1 TB, $186 for 2 TB, and $320 for 4 TB.

There isn't yet a choice for 8TB. Even though it's 4TB, it's single-sided, making it perfect for computers and the PS5. The Magician software from Samsung is better, but it needs a heatsink for better thermal performance, as the driver can reach 95°C without one.

Both drives come with a 5-year warranty and perform almost identically in real-world testing. The SN850X is better for gaming because it has lower latency and is cheaper. Still, the 990 Pro is better for creating content and multitasking.

Final Thoughts

In terms of game performance, Gen5 speeds are great, but most players don't need them. The WD Black SN7100 is a great choice for computers because it stays cool and has only one side. The Crucial P310 series offers the best value for money across both PCs and mobile devices.

The WD Black SN850P is confirmed to work with PS5s and has better cooling than other models. For the best overall speed, the WD Black SN850X and Samsung 990 Pro are still the best upgrades you can make. Since prices change frequently, waiting for a sale can save you a lot of money.

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