XDA - SSD reviews

Seagate FireCuda 540 review: The world's most durable PCIe 5.0 SSD

Matthew Connatser — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 13:00:26 GMT

While many companies are chasing top-end performance or great cooling to make the best PCIe 5.0 SSD, Seagate is after something else: endurance. Its FireCuda 540 SSD isn't the fastest among PCIe 5.0 drives, but at 1000TBW per terabyte, it's definitely the most durable by far. If you want an SSD that will last you years without even failing a little, the FireCuda 540 is the SSD for you.

Corsair MP600 Pro NH review: Dethroning the 990 Pro as the fastest PCIe 4.0 SSD

Matthew Connatser — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 13:30:27 GMT

Although PCIe 5.0 SSDs are just now coming onto the scene, PCIe 4.0 drives are still very much relevant and will continue to be some of the best SSDs for at least a year. Among PCIe 4.0 SSDs, Samsung's 990 Pro has reigned as the fastest SSD (or at least tied as the top with WD's SN850X), and I was pretty confident that it would remain that way forever when I reviewed it back in April.

MSI Spatium M570 SSD review: A decent drive that can't quite match up to its peers

Matthew Connatser — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 13:00:27 GMT

The first generation of PCIe 5.0 SSDs is finally upon us, and what started as a trickle of drives earlier this year has quickly become a flood. Tons of companies are attempting to make the best M.2 PCIe 5.0 SSDs for consumers, and while MSI is a relative newcomer to SSDs, that hasn't stopped the company from launching the Spatium M570. The M570 is a definite upgrade over PCIe 4.0 SSDs, but it's not quite the fastest PCIe 5.0 SSD you can buy.

Sabrent Rocket 2230 SSD review: The fastest drive for the Steam Deck and ROG Ally

Matthew Connatser — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 13:00:23 GMT

While most of the best SSDs are the standard finger-sized models, small laptops and handheld gaming devices like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally can't use them since they're just too large. After the Steam Deck launched, it spurred SSD companies into action to deliver some new, high-performance 2230-sized SSDs for these tiny devices. Sabrent's Rocket 2230 is positioned as one of the highest-end SSDs in this tiny form factor, and it lives up to the hype. If you have a Steam Deck or especially an ROG Ally, this is the SSD you'll want for the best performance.

Crucial T700 SSD review: The king of PCIe Gen5 SSDs

Palash Volvoikar — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 13:00:25 GMT

PCIe 5.0 SSDs were supposed to be one of the key components in the new generation of computers, but they took longer to arrive than the other next-gen parts like DDR5 RAM. Well, they’re finally here, but is it a good time to upgrade? Of course, you will need the latest generation hardware to use one, including a PCIe 5.0-supported motherboard. But if you’re looking at an upgrade, you should check out the Crucial T700 SSD. It's one of the first 5.0 SSDs on the market and promises all the speed and performance of this new generation of PC storage. It’s available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities, and with or without a fanless heatsink. It’s one of the best PCIe 5.0 SSDs you can buy right now, but it may not quite be a necessary upgrade for many people.

Corsair MP600 Mini review: A reliable, quick SSD for your Steam Deck or Asus ROG Ally

Adam Conway — Sun, 16 Jul 2023 13:00:19 GMT

Storage is one of the most important components of any device, but it's especially important for gaming. It not only allows you to have all of your games in one place, but it also, in part, dictates how quickly games can load. Even if you have the best processor and the best GPU, a 7,200 RPM hard drive will make apps and games load slowly. That's why if you're adding extra storage to a handheld gaming console like the Steam Deck or Asus ROG Ally, you'll not only need extra storage but fast speeds.

Solidigm P41 Plus SSD review: SSD drivers actually make a difference

Matthew Connatser — Sat, 13 May 2023 13:00:17 GMT

There's a lot of brands in the SSD arena, from titans like Samsung to newcomers like Solidigm, which was founded in late 2021 and thus hasn't had much time to make a name for itself yet. However, Solidigm isn't really a new company; when Intel sold off its SSD division to SK Hynix, it was rebranded to Solidigm, and still advertises the popular budget 660p and 670p drives on its website.

Samsung 990 Pro SSD review: The pinnacle of Gen 4 SSD performance

Matthew Connatser — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 13:00:16 GMT

The first PCIe 4.0-enabled SSDs (or Gen 4 drives) launched in 2019. Today, we're seeing the beginning of the PCIe 5.0 era, with the first consumer-grade Gen 5 drives about to hit store shelves. But that doesn't mean PCIe 4.0 SSDs are now paperweights. Lots of PCs don't support PCIe 5.0 drives, and even some brand-new devices only go up to PCIe 4.0. If you're limited to that older interface and you need the fastest drive possible, then Samsung's 990 Pro is your best bet.

Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD review: A rugged alternative to the T7 and T7 Touch

Cale Hunt — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 15:00:17 GMT

Samsung's T7 is one of the best portable SSDs on the market. It's compact, it's fast, it's available in various capacities and colors, and it's competitively priced. But it's not quite the complete package. That's why Samsung introduced the T7 Touch a few years ago, which essentially added a fingerprint reader to the standard T7 to boost security. Samsung wasn't done there, knowing that its customers working in rugged conditions would want something equally up to the task.

Crucial MX500 SSD review: Good, but not great storage for your PC

Richard Devine — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 15:00:12 GMT

There was a time when adding large quantities of storage to your PC would require using 3.5-inch hard drives. However, they're large, clunky, and slow, so it felt like you were dragging your files through a molasses swamp. But they got the job done.