How to Choose an NVMe SSD for Your PC or PS5 (2026 Guide)
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Why your storage upgrade matters more than you think
If your PC takes forever to boot, your favourite games stutter when loading a new area, or your PS5 keeps nagging you to delete something before you can install the next big title, the problem usually isn't your processor or your graphics card. It's your storage. Spinning hard drives and even older SATA SSDs simply can't keep up with modern games, large video files and today's operating systems.
An NVMe SSD is the single biggest "feel" upgrade you can make to a computer or a PS5. It's a small M.2-sized drive that plugs directly into a high-speed PCIe connection on your motherboard (or into the expansion slot underneath a PS5's cover), and it can move data many times faster than a traditional 2.5" SSD.
This guide explains what actually matters when you're shopping for an NVMe drive, walks you through a simple sizing method so you don't end up short on space six months later, and compares our current NVMe SSD range so you can see how the specs stack up against the price.
What is an NVMe SSD and why it matters
NVMe stands for Non-Volatile Memory Express. It's a communication protocol designed specifically for flash storage, built to take full advantage of the PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) bus that also carries data for your graphics card. Instead of squeezing data through the older, slower SATA interface that was originally designed for spinning hard drives, an NVMe drive talks to your system directly over PCIe lanes.
In practical terms, that means:
- Much faster sequential transfers — copying large files, loading game levels and installing software all happen in a fraction of the time.
- Far higher random I/O performance — this is what actually makes an operating system feel "snappy": opening apps, switching between programs and background tasks like antivirus scans or search indexing.
- A tiny physical footprint — most NVMe drives use the M.2 2280 form factor, a stick about the size of a piece of gum, with no cables required.
Because PCIe itself has gone through several generations (each roughly doubling the bandwidth of the last), "NVMe SSD" now covers a wide range of real-world speeds. That's why the specs below matter more than the label on the box.
Key specs explained
| Spec | Why it matters in practice |
|---|---|
| PCIe generation (Gen3 / Gen4 / Gen5) | Sets the maximum possible bandwidth. A Gen4 drive needs a Gen4 (or newer) M.2 slot to hit its rated speed — in an older Gen3 slot it will still work, just capped at Gen3 speeds. |
| Sequential read/write (MB/s) | How fast large, continuous files move — game installs, video exports, big file copies. Higher is better for these tasks, but most people won't notice much difference above roughly 5,000MB/s in everyday use. |
| Random IOPS (input/output operations per second) | This is the number that actually drives day-to-day "snappiness": booting, launching apps, and handling lots of small files at once. |
| TBW (terabytes written) / endurance rating | The total amount of data you can write to the drive over its life before it's considered worn out. Matters a lot for heavy workloads like video editing or a home server; largely irrelevant for typical gaming and everyday use, where you'll upgrade the whole PC long before you approach the limit. |
| NAND type (e.g. V-NAND TLC) | The physical memory technology. TLC (triple-level cell) is the mainstream, reliable choice used in almost all modern consumer drives. |
| Capacity | Modern AAA games routinely take up 50–150GB each, so this determines how many games, projects or media files you can keep installed at once. |
| Form factor (M.2 2280) | The physical size and connector. Almost all desktop and PS5-compatible NVMe drives are M.2 2280; check your motherboard or console manual if you're unsure. |
| Warranty / MTBF | A longer warranty (5 years is now common on quality drives) is a reasonable proxy for how confident the manufacturer is in long-term reliability. |
How to choose the right NVMe SSD
Use this checklist before you buy:
- Check what your device supports first. Look up your motherboard's M.2 slot generation (Gen3, Gen4 or Gen5), or for a PS5, Sony's official minimum speed requirement for expansion storage. A faster drive than your slot supports isn't wasted, it'll just run at the slot's maximum speed.
- Size your capacity around real usage, not guesswork. A simple rule of thumb: add up the size of the 4–6 games or applications you use most, then double it for breathing room and future installs. For most gamers and PS5 owners, that means 1TB is the realistic minimum today, and 2TB is worth considering if you have a large library or don't want to constantly uninstall and reinstall titles.
- Match endurance (TBW) to your workload. Gamers and everyday users can safely ignore this — any modern drive will comfortably outlast the system it's in. If you're editing 4K/8K video, running a home server or doing heavy write-intensive work, look for a higher TBW rating relative to capacity.
- Factor in a heatsink if needed. High-speed NVMe drives generate meaningful heat under sustained load. Some motherboards include an M.2 heatsink built into the case; PS5 expansion slots specifically require a drive with a heatsink (either built-in or added separately) to avoid thermal throttling. Check what's included before you buy any accessories.
- Don't overspend on speed you can't use. If your system only has a Gen3 or Gen4 slot, a Gen5-capable drive won't show its full potential — in that case, a well-specced Gen4 drive is usually the smarter buy.
Common mistakes to avoid: buying a drive too small and having to migrate everything again within a year; assuming any M.2 drive will fit a PS5 without checking the heatsink requirement; and chasing headline sequential speed numbers while ignoring random IOPS, which matters more for how "fast" a system actually feels day to day.
Our pick: Samsung 990 Pro 1TB Gen4 NVMe SSD
The Samsung 990 Pro 1TB is a PCIe Gen 4.0 x4, NVMe 2.0 drive rated for sequential read speeds of up to 7,450MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 6,900MB/s, backed by 1,550K/1,200K random read/write IOPS. It carries a 600TBW endurance rating, a rated MTBF of 1.5 million hours, and Samsung's 5-year limited warranty (whichever comes first between the two).
What it does well: this is a genuine flagship-tier Gen4 drive — its sustained read/write speeds and random IOPS numbers sit at the top of the Gen4 class, which translates into fast game loads, quick large-file transfers and a very responsive system overall. Samsung explicitly lists PS5 compatibility as an intended use case.
Its limits, honestly: at 1TB, a modern game library fills up faster than most people expect — if you already own several large titles, budget for stepping up in capacity (see alternatives below). It's also a Gen4 drive, so a Gen5 slot won't push it beyond its native speed. And since the listing doesn't specify whether a heatsink is bundled, confirm your intended use (especially PS5 installation) meets the heatsink requirement before you buy.
Who should not buy this one: if you mainly browse the web, use office apps and don't play large modern games, this level of performance is overkill — a more affordable drive will feel just as fast in daily use. Priced at $579.99, it's aimed at gamers, PS5 owners and enthusiasts who want top-tier Gen4 performance rather than the cheapest way to add storage.
Alternatives in our range
All of the following are Samsung NVMe SSDs from the same lineup, so you can weigh up capacity and price against the 990 Pro above.
| Product | Interface | Seq. Read/Write | Endurance | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB | PCIe 4.0 x4 / 5.0 x2, NVMe 2.0 | 7,150 / 6,300 MB/s | 600TBW, 5-yr warranty | $499.99 | A cheaper entry point at the same 1TB capacity, with AES 256-bit hardware encryption |
| Samsung 990 Pro 1TB (our pick) | PCIe Gen4 x4, NVMe 2.0 | 7,450 / 6,900 MB/s | 600TBW, 5-yr warranty | $579.99 | Maximum Gen4 performance and IOPS at 1TB |
| Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB | PCIe 4.0 x4 / 5.0 x2, NVMe 2.0 | 7,250 / 6,300 MB/s | 1,200TBW, 5-yr warranty | $779.99 | Large game libraries or PS5 owners who don't want to manage storage |
| Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB | PCIe 4.0 x4 / 5.0 x2, NVMe 2.0 | 7,250 / 6,300 MB/s | 2,400TBW, 5-yr warranty | $1,509.99 | Content creators, media hoarders and home servers needing high capacity and endurance |
Note that the 990 EVO Plus models use a hybrid PCIe 4.0 x4 / 5.0 x2 interface, meaning they can run in either a Gen4 x4 slot or a Gen5 x2 slot — check which your system offers to know what real-world speed to expect.
Setup and usage tips
- For PS5 owners: update your console's system software to the latest version before installing any expansion SSD — Sony has periodically changed drive compatibility and requirements through firmware updates.
- Check the heatsink requirement for your specific installation (PS5 expansion slot or a motherboard without a built-in M.2 heatsink) and add one if it isn't already fitted.
- Update your motherboard's BIOS/UEFI before installing a new NVMe drive, particularly on older boards — this avoids boot detection issues with newer, faster drives.
- Use the manufacturer's management software (Samsung Magician, in this case) to check drive health, confirm firmware is current, and enable performance features.
- Enable TRIM in your operating system so the drive can manage deleted data efficiently and maintain performance over time — this is on by default in current versions of Windows for NVMe drives.
- Mount it correctly — seat the drive fully in the M.2 slot at the correct angle before securing the retention screw, and make sure any heatsink doesn't obstruct neighbouring components.
- If cloning from an old drive, use dedicated cloning software rather than a fresh reinstall if you want to keep your existing setup, then verify the new drive boots correctly before removing the old one.
Who is it for
- PC gamers who want faster level loads and shorter install/patch times
- PS5 owners who have run out of console storage and want to keep more games installed at once
- Anyone upgrading an older PC from a hard drive or SATA SSD who wants the single biggest "feels faster" upgrade available
- Content creators working with large video or photo files who need fast, reliable scratch storage
- Small-business users running workloads that benefit from fast random I/O, such as databases or virtual machines
- Home server or NAS builders who need higher-endurance storage for constant read/write activity
FAQ
Will a Gen4 SSD work in an older Gen3 slot, or a newer Gen5 slot?
Yes. NVMe drives are backward and forward compatible across PCIe generations — a Gen4 drive in a Gen3 slot will simply run at Gen3 speeds, and in a Gen5 slot it will run at its native Gen4 speed.
Do I need a heatsink for a PS5 SSD?
PS5 expansion storage requires the drive to have a heatsink, whether that's built into the drive or added as a separate accessory, to avoid thermal throttling during sustained use. Always confirm this before installing.
How much storage do I actually need?
For most gamers and PS5 owners, 1TB is a realistic minimum today given that many modern games are 50–150GB each. If you keep a large library installed at once rather than uninstalling between sessions, 2TB or more will save you ongoing management hassle.
Does TBW (endurance) matter for normal gaming or office use?
Not really. TBW ratings on modern consumer drives are high enough that typical gaming, browsing and office workloads won't come close to the limit over the drive's practical lifespan. It matters far more for heavy, continuous write workloads like video editing or servers.
What's the practical difference between the 990 Pro and the 990 EVO Plus?
The 990 Pro is a pure PCIe Gen4 x4 drive with the highest random IOPS in this range, aimed at buyers who want maximum Gen4 performance. The 990 EVO Plus models use a hybrid PCIe 4.0 x4 / 5.0 x2 interface and are available in larger capacities, offering strong performance at a lower cost per drive at the same 1TB tier.
Can I use one of these drives in a laptop?
If your laptop has a free M.2 NVMe slot supporting the relevant PCIe generation, yes. Check your laptop's documentation for supported drive length (these are the common M.2 2280 size) and confirm the manufacturer allows user storage upgrades.
Will a faster drive make my whole PC feel faster, or just game loading?
Both, to different degrees. Sequential speed mostly affects large file transfers and game/level loading, while random IOPS — which is generally strong across this whole range — is what makes everyday tasks like booting, launching apps and multitasking feel more responsive.
Ready to upgrade your storage?
Take a look at the Samsung 990 Pro 1TB or browse our full range of drives in Storage & Drives to compare capacities and find the right fit for your PC or PS5. Not sure which one suits your setup? Get in touch via our contact page and we're happy to help you choose.