A fast device is now a popular product. We expect memory speeds to only increase in the coming years. Users of new computer builds are now using NVMe drives, which have become the norm. They are gradually becoming comparable to SATA SSDs in terms of cost, and the file transfer speed is several times faster.
For outdated systems, SATA SSDs are the best option, as they show excellent application speed results. Nevertheless, if you want to store a large collection of files, you will have to pay attention to traditional hard drives. They still offer the best value for money and quality.
Another important consideration is whether you can install the selected drive inside your laptop or computer. Next, we'll look at the best storage options depending on the purpose of the drive and its form factor.
Contents:
- The best high-performance SSD for enthusiasts
- The best mass storage SSD
- The best hard disk drive
- Where can I buy the best SDDs and HDDs for my personal computer?
The best high-performance SSD for enthusiasts
Let's take a look at the most popular SSDs that are suitable for enthusiasts. Such drives show excellent write and read speeds, which allows you to achieve better results.
Seagate FireCuda 530
Using 176-layer Micron TLC flash memory, the Seagate FireCuda 530 delivers sustained write speeds that are twice as fast as other popular PCIe 4.0 drives. When transferring small files, the drive loads the PCIe 4.0 interface at speeds up to approximately 7000MB/s. The Phison E18 controller is no longer the most efficient, but in terms of random performance, it is on par with other models.
There are two things that distinguish the Seagate drive even from competitors that use the same components, such as the Kingston KC3000, Corsair MP600 Pro XT, and Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus. Firstly, the endurance rating is 2550 terabytes of writing (TBW) for the 2TB version compared to about 1500 for competitors. Second, the three-year service on top of the 5-year warranty is a worthwhile option when the data on your drive is worth more to you than the drive itself.
The 2TB model, which writes files faster than a smaller capacity device, costs from $240. An elegant heatsink is available for $10. The 1 TB model has the same speed but costs half as much. The 500 GB device has a much slower write speed, which may be inferior to devices with a PCIe 3.0 interface. A 4TB model is also available.
The best for gamers WD Black SN850X
Western Digital has improved the SN850 Black in every way possible by offering users the new SN850X. This 2TB drive costs $230. The maximum write speed has been increased from 5GB/s in the previous version of the bus load level. Sustained data recording at speed has become more consistent.
Two great alternatives to SK Hynix and Samsung
The SK Hynix Platinum P41 works similarly to the SN850X, but is more efficient in some areas. The average cost of a 2TB device is $260, but there are already products on sale for $170. It doesn't have a specially made radiator, but there may still not be enough room for it in the laptop.
The Samsung 990 Pro offers record-breaking random read performance for an M.2 drive and consistent bus saturation performance. It is slower than the old 980 Pro when writing for long periods of time. This is due to the fact that the drive stays much cooler than its competitors when operating without a heatsink. This is why it is often used in laptops.
Like the SN850X models, Full Power Mode is designed for DirectStorage use. The main problem is the price: $290 for 2 TB is more expensive than the competition. Therefore, you can look for such a device on sale. This device is as good as the options discussed above.
The best option for older Western Digital AN1500 systems
If you have an older PC that doesn't support PCIe 4.0 or even an M.2 slot, you can still enjoy the speeds of PCIe 4.0. The Western Digital AN1500 plugs into your motherboard just like a graphics card and uses eight PCIe 3.0 lanes. This delivers a read speed of 6500MB/s, almost as fast as the best drives that use four PCIe 4.0 lanes.
The quoted write speed of about 4000 MB/s is less impressive, but still better than any M.2 PCIe 3.0 drive. In long writes, the AN1500 actually competes with the FireCuda 530, but it consumes much more power. At $281 for 2TB, it is close in price to the best M.2 SSDs. The device is much cheaper than buying a new PCIe 4.0 processor and motherboard along with a drive with similar performance.
The best mass storage SSD
In this section, we'll take a look at SSDs, which have become widespread. This is the best option for a desktop computer if you want a reliable drive for everyday tasks.
Samsung 970 Evo Plus
If your motherboard or CPU only supports PCIe 3.0 or if you don't transfer large files often, you can save money by choosing a high-quality PCIe 3.0 drive. Samsung 970 Evo Plus. The device is the best option in this situation.
Unlike the new Samsung 980 (not the Pro), the Evo Plus has built-in DRAM memory, so performance won't degrade when you fill up the memory. In addition, unlike other drives, it uses TLC flash memory, so the device won't slow down if you fill most of the free space at once.
The 970 Evo Plus is almost fully utilizing the PCIe 3.0 interface with read and write speeds of 3500MB/s and 3200MB/s respectively. The 2TB version costs $160, but there are decent 1TB and 500GB variants available on the market for $100 and $60, respectively.
If your system supports PCIe 4.0, the Samsung 980 Pro is a good step up at $180 for 2 TB, $110 for 1 TB, and $80 for 500 GB. A good alternative is the similarly performing but less efficient Crucial P5 Plus.
A reliable alternative to SATA for older PCs and laptops
The Crucial MX500 is the best option for your wallet if you need to upgrade an outdated SATA-only PC. This category of SSDs belongs to the consumer class. It is a great option for upgrading laptops, various PC builds, and increasing storage capacity.
The highest-performing SATA drives squeezed everything they could out of the interface many years ago, so the difference in speed between the top models is negligible. Currently, you can buy a 1 TB Crucial drive for about $80 or a half terabyte for $55.
The best hard disk drive
Here are the classic hard drives that have remained relevant for storing files for a long time. Now we'll take a look at the most optimal models at the moment.
Seagate IronWolf
Since SSDs have become affordable, we can't recommend HDDs as the main system disk. If you want an additional disk for storing large amounts of data, Seagate IronWolf NAS drives are the best option.
Currently, IronWolf hard disk drives are state-of-the-art consumer HDDs that use PMR (perpendicular magnetic recording) platters. The drives operate at 7200 rpm. A single drive with a 3.5-inch form factor can hold up to 18 TB of data.
These drives are optimized for NAS, so they are not cheap. The devices are designed to withstand the resource-intensive workloads associated with constant read and write operations for days on end. They are reliable products that perform well and have a large capacity.
There are more expensive versions of IronWolf Pro and Exos, which are used for server work. They are more resistant to vibration than performance.
You can find IronWolf hard drives in 8/10/12/16/18 TB (7200 RPM, 256MB cache), 6 TB (5600 RPM, 256MB cache), 1/2/3 TB (5900 RPM, 256MB cache) capacities. These drives utilize conventional magnetic recording (CMR) technology instead of sequential magnetic recording (SMR). Therefore, you won't get the performance loss during writing associated with SMR, which manufacturers use to produce cheaper drives. This results in a higher cost compared to budget drives. For example, an 8TB IronWolf drive will cost you approximately $160, while a Barracuda drive of the same capacity can be purchased for $120.
A worthy alternative to WD Red Plus
WD has added a "Plus" tier to its NAS Red 3.5-inch hard drive series following the SMR/CMR controversy. These CMR drives are competitively priced compared to Seagate IronWolf for the entire 2/3/4/6/8/10/12/14 TB model range. At the same time, there are slight differences in performance, including rotational speed and cache size.
The WD Red Plus drives offer more cache capacity in lower capacity models, but the Seagate IronWolf line comes with a 5-year warranty, as opposed to WD's 3-year warranty on the Red Plus series.
A budget option for a hard disk
If you just need a low-cost hard drive, the Seagate Barracuda lineup has plenty of options to give you the most storage for your money. The spacious 2TB model is available for as little as $50. You can also double the space with the 4TB version for $68. The Barracuda is also available in 1TB, 3TB, 6TB, and 8TB capacities.
The 2TB Barracuda model is the best option in terms of speed. The HDD spins at 7200 rpm and has 256 MB of cache. The 1TB model spins at the same speed, but includes only 64MB of cache. The 3TB and higher models slow down to 5400 rpm, but we think this is reasonable for the price. A larger cache is convenient for storing frequently used files without having to store them on a slower disk.
Where to buy the best SDD and HDD for your personal computer
A large selection of all kinds of drives for computers and laptops is available in the Artline online store. It offers all the disk models we have reviewed in this article. Depending on your needs and budget, you can choose the best SSD and HDD option. The proposed drives will be able to effectively solve their tasks.