Most popular drives are listed as well

You should choose a SSDs tend to get faster from left to right on this guide. Drives
as their related hardware
SSD based on its on the right are perfectly capable of filling roles to the left
Organization Hardware configurations. Refer to my list or
intended role. but will be sup-optimal in performance profile, cost, or both.
spreadsheet for further delineation.

Selecting a SSD

Budget & Performance SATA SSDs usually

have DRAM. DRAM improves performance SATA SSDs use the SATA NVMe SSDs use the PCIe DRAM is not as dire a requirement for NVMe
and endurance and is optimal for mixed interface (physical or logical) and SATA NVMe interface and the newer NVMe drives due to the improved protocol. Some
DRAM DRAM
workloads, such as OS usage. outdated AHCI protocol. (2.5" or M.2) (PCIe M.2) protocol. drives can use system memory (HMB) as well.

Storage SATA SSDs are suitable for
general data storage or games.
Generally larger in capacity and not
the primary drive.
Light SATA SSDs are suitable for OS usage
in machines with light usage, such as old
or secondary PCs. Generally smaller in
capacity and therefore TLC-based.
Budget SATA SSDs are suitable
for varied use including OS.
Cheaper alternative.
Performance SATA SSDs are Budget NVMe SSDs are entry-level,
the best SATA drives on the SATA replacement, or mobile/
market, suitable for anything. HTPC-oriented. Usually four-
channel controllers with QLC or TLC
and limited or no DRAM.
Moderate NVMe SSDs are in-
between Budget and Consumer
with elements of both. Capable of
any usage. Cheaper alternative.
Consumer NVMe SSDs are
high-performance desktop
choices for the very best
everyday experience.
Prosumer NVMe SSDs are
specialized drives useful for
content creation or workstation-
type tasks. They generally have
some unique features or design.
Prosumer & Consumer NVMe
SSDs are flexible, all-around
performers capable of any task.
Generally the very best drives.

Storage SATA Light SATA Budget SATA Performance SATA Budget NVMe Moderate NVMe Consumer NVMe Prosumer NVMe P & C NVMe

(Storage/Light) ADATA SU630/SU635 ADATA SU650/SU655 ADATA SU800/SX850 Crucial MX500 ADATA SX6000 Lite/Pro ADATA S40G ADATA SX8200/S11 ADATA S50 Samsung 970 EVO
Controllers: ADATA SU650/SU655 ADATA SU750/SU760 ADATA SX950U Intel 545s ADATA SX8100 ADATA SX8200/S11 Pro Corsair MP600 Samsung 970 EVO Plus
Crucial P1
Marvell 88NV1120 ADATA SU750/SU760 Crucial BX500 Addlink S20 Kingston KC600 HP EX900 ADATA SX8800 Addlink S70 Gigabyte Gen4 Aorus
Maxio MAS0902A
Phison S11/T
Crucial BX500 HP S700 Gigabyte UD Pro Lexar NS200 Inland Professional Kingston A2000 Corsair MP510 Inland Performance
Phison S13/T Inland SATA HP M700 (MLC) HP M700 (MLC) Samsung 860 EVO Intel 660p/665p Sabrent Rocket Q HP EX920 Patriot VP4100
Realtek RTS5733 Kingston A400/Q500 Hyundai Sapphire HP S700 Pro SanDisk Ultra 3D Kingston A1000 HP EX950 PNY CS4040
SMI SM2258XT Mushkin Raw Inland SATA Hynix Gold S31 Team Vulcan MDSSD SBX/SBXe Controllers: Inland Premium Sabrent Rocket 4.0
SMI SM2259XT Mushkin Source Kingston A400/Q500 Kingston UV500 WD Blue 3D Phison E12S Intel 760p Samsung 970 Pro (MLC)
Mushkin Helix-L
Patriot Burst Lexar NS100 Mushkin Reactor (MLC) Realtek RTS5762 Kingston KC2000 Seagate FireCuda 520
Patriot Scorch
Patriot P200 Mushkin Raw PNY CS1311 Controllers: SMI SM2263
SP P32A80 MDSSD BPX Pro Team Cardea Zero
PNY CS900 Mushkin Source Seagate BarraCuda Marvell 88SS1074 Mushkin Pilot WD SN750
SMI SM2258 SP P34A60
PNY CS2311 Patriot Burst Team Delta RGB Team MP32 Mushkin Pilot-E
SMI SM2259
Samsung 860 QVO Patriot P200 Team L5 Lite 3D WD SN500/SN550 Patriot VPN/VPR100 Controllers:
SanDisk SSD Plus PNY CS2311 PNY CS3030 Phison E16
SP A55/S55 SanDisk SSD Plus Controllers: Sabrent Rocket
Marvell 88SS1074 Controllers:
Team GX1/GX2 SP A55/S55 Realtek RTS5763DL Seagate Barra/Fire 510
Phison S10/S12
Team GX1/GX2 SMI SM2263/XT SP P34A80
SMI SM2258
Phison E8/E8T Team Cardea II/Liquid
Phison E13T Team MP34

Controllers:
Phison E12/E12S
SMI SM2262/EN