The Best High-Performance SSD For Gaming [2024]
In the ever-evolving world of gaming, where speed and performance are paramount, selecting the right SSD can make all the difference. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or just diving into the realm of pixels and polygons, our guide is your go-to resource for navigating the maze of options and discovering the storage solution that will elevate your gaming adventures to new heights.
Best SSD Storage For Gaming
When it comes to gaming, what truly matters is speed and performance. Keeping that in mind, our team at the Official Gaming Academy website has chosen the SSD below as the best for gaming.
SAMSUNG 990 PRO w/ Heatsink SSD
Samsung has responded strongly to competitors with the upgraded 980 Pro. The new features, like an RGB heatsink and a 4TB option, help Samsung reclaim the top spot for M.2 SSDs. The performance is outstanding, setting new records in areas like 4K random read. The drive remains consistent, power-efficient, and cool during testing. Samsung has improved its software for this drive, offering the best SSD toolbox. The drive comes with a reliable warranty and support. While the extra $20 for the heatsink and RGB is worthwhile, Samsung may lower the price soon. While there are faster PCIe 5.0 drives on the market, they come with a higher price tag. 
WD Black SN850X
WD has elevated its popular Black SN850 SSD with the Black SN850X, boasting an improved controller and updated flash technology for enhanced performance on the PCIe 4.0 interface. Competing effectively in the PCIe 4.0 market, the drive offers RGB heatsink options for the 1TB and 2TB versions, supported by WD’s reliable Dashboard application and a five-year warranty. While initially pricey, the Black SN850X’s costs have since decreased. Despite the incomplete feel of the Game Mode 2.0 feature in testing, WD promises improvement through future firmware updates. Overall, it stands as a compelling choice, especially if the Samsung 990 Pro is unavailable, and is recommended as the top pick for PS5 SSDs.
Crucial T500 Gaming SSD
Introducing the Crucial T500 SSD – Experience lightning speeds with impressive sequential reads/writes up to 7,400/7,000MB/s and rapid random read/writes up to 1.18M/1.44M IOPs. PS5 ready with an easy-to-install heatsink version (non-heatsink option available). Elevate your gaming with up to 16% faster game loading, quicker texture renders, and reduced CPU usage thanks to Microsoft DirectStorage. Perfect for content creation, enjoy up to 42% faster performance in apps, handle heavy workloads, and accelerate photo or video rendering. Plus, when you purchase and register the Crucial T500 SSD, you receive one month of Adobe Creative Cloud All-Apps plan for free!
Lexar Professional NM800 PRO
Introducing a state-of-the-art Next-Gen PCIe Gen4x4 SSD equipped with an integrated cooling heatsink, suitable for use with PlayStation 5 and PCs. The incorporated heatsink ensures superior performance, heightened power efficiency, and a notable 30% reduction in temperatures. Users can experience unprecedented speed through a PCIe Gen4x4 interface, achieving read speeds of up to 7500MB/s and write speeds of 6500MB/s in the M.2 2280 form factor. Powered by the latest 12nm controller, it delivers lower power consumption, contributing to an extended battery life. With resistance to shock and vibration and the absence of moving parts, this SSD is tailored for the needs of hardcore gamers, professionals, and creators. Supported by a five-year limited product warranty, this SSD elevates gaming and creative pursuits to new heights.
