Buying Guide
RoundupBest SSDs for Gaming in 2026
Published July 15, 2026
An SSD is the single most impactful upgrade you can make to any computer — boot times drop from minutes to seconds, apps launch instantly, and file transfers feel frictionless. The NVMe market has gotten incredibly competitive, with PCIe 5.0 drives now available and PCIe 4.0 drives dropping to historic lows. We tested five drives from Samsung's flagship 9100 PRO down to a budget SATA option to map the landscape. Whether you're building a new system or breathing life into an old one, the right SSD transforms the experience.
Samsung 990 PRO SSD 2TB NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen4, M.2 2280 Internal Solid State Hard Drive, Seq. Read Speeds Up to 7,450 MB/s for High End Computing, Gaming, and Heavy Duty Workstations, MZ-V9P2T0B/AM
$388 USD
Why we picked it
The 990 PRO 2TB is the benchmark for PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives — blazing sequential speeds, Samsung's DRAM cache, and proven reliability.
Best for
Builders who want the best PCIe 4.0 drive without paying PCIe 5.0 prices
Use case
Primary boot drive for gaming and productivity builds
Samsung SSD 9100 PRO 2TB, PCIe 5.0x4 M.2 2280, Seq. Read Speeds Up to 14,700MB/s, Best for AI Computing, Gaming and Heavy Duty Workstations (MZ VAP2T0B/AM)
$399.99 USD
Why we picked it
Samsung's 9100 PRO brings PCIe 5.0 speeds to the consumer market — if your motherboard supports it, this is the fastest you can get.
Best for
Enthusiasts with PCIe 5.0 motherboards who want maximum throughput
Use case
Cutting-edge builds and professional workloads
Crucial P310 1TB SSD, PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 2280, Up to 7,100MB/s, for Laptop, Desktop (PC), & Handheld Gaming Consoles, Includes Acronis Data Recovery Software, Solid State Drive - CT1000P310SSD801
$162.31 USD
Why we picked it
The P310 at $162 delivers solid PCIe 4.0 performance in a budget-friendly package — great value per gigabyte.
Best for
Budget builders who want NVMe speeds without flagship prices
Use case
Main drive for mid-range builds
Samsung 990 PRO SSD 1TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 Internal Solid State Hard Drive, Seq. Read Speeds Up to 7,450 MB/s for High End Computing, Gaming, and Heavy Duty Workstations, MZ-V9P1T0B/AM
$238.88 USD
Why we picked it
The 1TB 990 PRO offers the same excellent performance as the 2TB in a smaller, more affordable package.
Best for
Buyers who want Samsung quality but don't need 2TB of storage
Use case
Boot drive for gaming PCs
KingSpec 1TB 2.5 SSD SATA III Internal - 550MB/s Read, 520MB/s Write with 3D NAND Flash, for Laptop & Desktop PC Upgrade
$129.59 USD
Why we picked it
KingSpec's 1TB SATA SSD at $130 is the cheapest way to add fast storage to older systems without an M.2 slot.
Best for
Anyone with an older system that needs a speed boost but lacks NVMe support
Use case
Upgrading old laptops and desktops from HDD
Samsung's 990 PRO remains the best overall NVMe SSD for most builds — proven reliability, excellent speeds, and a price that's come down significantly. The 9100 PRO at $400 is for early adopters who want PCIe 5.0 speeds today. Crucial's P310 at $162 is the best mid-range pick, and KingSpec's SATA drive at $130 is perfect for older systems or secondary storage. The jump from HDD to any of these is transformative; the jump between NVMe generations is real but less dramatic. Buy based on your motherboard's capabilities and your actual speed needs.
More in this category
Price
Brand
Availability
SANDISK 2TB Extreme Portable SSD (Old Model) - Up to 1050MB/s, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistance, Updated Firmware - External Solid State Drive - SDSSDE61-2T00-G25
306.99 USD
View on AmazonView DetailsSANDISK 1TB Extreme Portable SSD (Old Model) - Up to 1050MB/s, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistance, Updated Firmware - External Solid State Drive - SDSSDE61-1T00-G25
189.99 USD
View on AmazonView DetailsSamsung 990 PRO SSD 2TB NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen4, M.2 2280 Internal Solid State Hard Drive, Seq. Read Speeds Up to 7,450 MB/s for High End Computing, Gaming, and Heavy Duty Workstations, MZ-V9P2T0B/AM
388 USD
View on AmazonView DetailsSamsung 990 PRO SSD 1TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 Internal Solid State Hard Drive, Seq. Read Speeds Up to 7,450 MB/s for High End Computing, Gaming, and Heavy Duty Workstations, MZ-V9P1T0B/AM
238.88 USD
View on AmazonView DetailsSamsung SSD 9100 PRO 2TB, PCIe 5.0x4 M.2 2280, Seq. Read Speeds Up to 14,700MB/s, Best for AI Computing, Gaming and Heavy Duty Workstations (MZ VAP2T0B/AM)
399.99 USD
View on AmazonView DetailsCrucial P310 1TB SSD, PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 2280, Up to 7,100MB/s, for Laptop, Desktop (PC), & Handheld Gaming Consoles, Includes Acronis Data Recovery Software, Solid State Drive - CT1000P310SSD801
162.31 USD
View on AmazonView Details
TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z 1TB SLC Cache 3D NAND TLC 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal Solid State Drive SSD, PC Upgrade (Read/Write Speed up to 550/500 MB/s) T253TZ001T0C101
132.99 USD
View on AmazonView DetailsSamsung SSD 9100 PRO 1TB, PCIe 5.0x4 M.2 2280, Seq. Read Speeds Up to 14,700MB/s, Best for AI Computing, Gaming, and Heavy Duty Workstations (MZ VAP1T0B/AM)
249 USD
View on AmazonView Details
PNY CS900 250GB 3D NAND 2.5" SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - (SSD7CS900-250-RB)
53.45 USD
View on AmazonView DetailsKingSpec 1TB 2.5 SSD SATA III Internal - 550MB/s Read, 520MB/s Write with 3D NAND Flash, for Laptop & Desktop PC Upgrade
129.59 USD
View on AmazonView DetailsYou've seen everything