With modern AAA game install sizes routinely exceeding 100GB to 150GB—titles like Call of Duty: Warzone, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Star Wars Outlaws consume storage at an alarming rate—expanding your storage is no longer optional. Both modern PC titles utilizing DirectStorage and current-gen consoles require high-speed solid-state storage to stream high-resolution textures without hitching or pop-in.
However, buying an M.2 NVMe SSD is not as simple as picking the cheapest option on sale. Differences in PCIe generations, sequential read/write speeds, onboard DRAM caches, and thermal dissipation can drastically affect loading performance and drive longevity. Whether you are adding a secondary drive to your gaming PC or maximizing space on a PlayStation 5, this guide breaks down the best NVMe SSD upgrades across read speeds, thermal performance, and overall value per terabyte.
Key Metrics That Define Gaming SSD Performance
Before examining specific drive models, it is essential to understand the core technical specifications that actually dictate real-world gaming performance.
1. Sequential vs. Random Read Speeds
Manufacturers highlight sequential read speeds (e.g., 7,300 MB/s) on product packaging. Sequential speed measures how fast large, contiguous files—such as game asset packs—can be loaded into memory. Sony mandates a minimum sequential read speed of 5,500 MB/s for internal expansion drives in the PlayStation 5, as detailed in the official PlayStation M.2 SSD Requirements Guide.
However, random read IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) measures how quickly the drive locates thousands of tiny scattered files, such as texture shaders or script files. High random read performance is what eliminates micro-stutters during seamless open-world exploration.
2. The Role of DRAM Caches vs. DRAM-Less (HMB)
High-end NVMe drives feature dedicated onboard DRAM (Dynamic RAM) chips that store a map of where all data is located on the NAND flash memory. Drives with DRAM offer consistent performance even when the SSD is filled past 80% capacity.
Budget SSDs skip onboard DRAM to reduce cost, instead relying on Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology to borrow a tiny portion of your PC’s system RAM. While DRAM-less drives like the Lexar NM790 perform admirably for basic game loading, drives with dedicated DRAM caches maintain superior sustained write speeds during massive 100GB game downloads or file transfers.
3. Thermal Throttling and Heatsinks
Modern M.2 SSDs generate substantial heat under heavy load. When an SSD controller exceeds roughly 70°C to 75°C, it automatically throttles its speed down to SATA-like levels to prevent hardware damage.
- For PS5 Users: Sony strictly requires an effective cooling structure (heatsink). The combined thickness of the SSD and heatsink must not exceed 11.25mm to fit inside the expansion bay cover.
- For PC Users: Most modern motherboard manufacturers equip M.2 slots with thick aluminum heat spreaders, allowing you to buy “bare” SSDs without pre-attached heatsinks at a lower cost.
Top NVMe SSDs Compared: Specs & Benchmarks
To help you choose the ideal drive for your setup, the following table compares the top PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 5.0 drives on the market:
| Model | Interface | Peak Read Speed | DRAM Cache | Factory Heatsink | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 990 PRO | PCIe 4.0 x4 | 7,450 MB/s | Yes (LPDDR4) | Optional | Best Overall (PC & PS5) |
| WD_BLACK SN850X | PCIe 4.0 x4 | 7,300 MB/s | Yes (DDR4) | Optional (RGB) | Best Sustained Speed |
| Crucial T500 | PCIe 4.0 x4 | 7,300 MB/s | Yes (LPDDR4) | Optional | Best Value PCIe 4.0 |
| Lexar NM790 | PCIe 4.0 x4 | 7,400 MB/s | No (Uses HMB) | Optional | Budget PS5 / Secondary PC |
| Crucial T705 | PCIe 5.0 x4 | 14,500 MB/s | Yes (LPDDR4) | Required (High Profile) | Enthusiast PC Workstations |
Visualizing PS5 Game Load Times (In Seconds – Lower is Better)
Benchmarked loading high-texture levels in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.
Internal Factory PS5 SSD – 1.87 Seconds
Samsung 990 PRO (7,450 MB/s) – 1.42 Seconds
WD_BLACK SN850X (7,300 MB/s) – 1.45 Seconds
Budget Gen4 SSD (5,500 MB/s) – 2.10 Seconds
*High-tier Gen 4 drives consistently match or slightly beat the stock PS5 internal drive speed.
Is PCIe 5.0 Worth It for Gaming Yet?
With Gen5 NVMe drives like the Crucial T705 pushing sequential speeds past 14,000 MB/s, PC gamers often wonder if upgrading to PCIe 5.0 is necessary.
For pure gaming today, PCIe 5.0 is generally not worth the premium price tag. Current game engines and API implementations like Microsoft DirectStorage cannot saturate the full throughput of PCIe 4.0, let alone PCIe 5.0. In real-world tests published by hardware testing outlets like Tom’s Hardware, Gen5 drives shave less than half a second off game loading times compared to top-tier Gen4 drives.
Furthermore, PCIe 5.0 drives generate extreme heat, requiring tall passive heatsinks or loud active cooling fans that can interfere with large GPU clearance in desktop cases. Furthermore, consoles like the PS5 only operate on a PCIe Gen4 interface—installing a Gen5 drive in a PS5 will simply negotiate down to Gen4 speeds, wasting the drive’s potential.
Final Buying Recommendations
When selecting your next storage upgrade, target the 2TB capacity tier if possible—it currently offers the lowest price-per-gigabyte ratio across all manufacturers.
- Best Overall for PS5 & PC: WD_BLACK SN850X or Samsung 990 PRO. Both deliver unmatched reliability, full DRAM buffers, and optional low-profile heatsinks designed specifically to fit the PS5 drive bay.
- Best Budget Upgrade: Crucial T500 or Lexar NM790. Perfect for gamers who want top-tier sequential speeds for game storage without paying a premium.
- Best for Handheld PCs: If you are upgrading a Steam Deck or ROG Ally, standard 2280 M.2 drives will not fit. Look specifically for M.2 2230 form-factor drives such as the Corsair MP600 MINI or WD_BLACK SN770M.