Key Points
- SSDs are digital storage technology that use flash memory and have better performance and durability than traditional hard disk drives.
- SATA SSDs are the most common type of SSD and offer decent performance, while M.2 SSDs are the fastest option on the market.
- NVMe SSDs are the fastest SSDs available and can reach speeds of up to 7,000MB/s.
- Installing an M.2 SSD in a PCIe slot is possible with an adapter, but the full speed may not be utilized on older computers.
- For upgrading an old system, a cheap SATA SSD is recommended, while for building a new system, an NVMe M.2 SSD is the best option.
So, you’re looking to upgrade your computer’s hard drive to an SSD and are overwhelmed with the number of choices. There are many types of SSDs on the market and not all have the same performance and connection types.
In this article, we will describe the types of SSDs on the market and list the pros and cons of each one. If you’re not familiar with PC parts, terms such as PCIe, NvMe, SATA, and M.2, can make your head spin. When you’re done reading this article, you’ll know the ins and outs of SSDs.
What Is an SSD?
To start, SSD stands for Solid-State Drive, a digital storage technology that uses flash memory. Unlike traditional hard drives, an SSD does have any moving parts. Generally speaking, SSDs have much better performance than traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) and they’re much more durable. If you want to learn how SSDs compare to HDDs, read this article. In addition, SSDs are also much more compact and lighter than HDDs, which makes them perfect for small devices. These days, most smart devices such as laptops, PCs, and phones use SSDs for storage.
What you need to know is that all SSDs use the same technology for storing data. The only difference is their form factor and interface. Certain connectors offer better performance than others. SATA is the most common connection type, which was designed for traditional hard drives, and adopted by SSD manufacturers. SSDs that connect directly to the motherboard are usually the fastest.
Let’s take a look at the different types of SSDs are how they compare. It’s common for people to make the mistake of confusing SSDs with their form factors and interfaces.
Types of SSDs
| SSD Interface | SATA | PCIe NVMe |
| SSD Technology | SATA | NVMe, SATA |
| SSD Form Factor | 2.5-inch, mSATA | M.2 |
| Average Speeds | 500MB/s read, 300MB/s write | Up to 7,000MB/s |
| Price | Entry-level | Mid-range |
SATA SSD
SATA is a protocol as well as a connector. The first version of SATA was designed in 2000 and it’s still in use today. SATA SSDs are the most common because they offer decent performance and they can use existing SATA ports. Traditional HDDs also use SATA cables.
Most SATA SSDs have a form factor of 2.5 inches. Virtually every PC motherboard on the market has multiple SATA ports because it’s the oldest and most common connector for data storage. SATA SSDs use the SATA interface and SATA cables to connect to the motherboard. SATA SSDs require a cable for power and another one for transferring data.
The speed of SATA SSDs varies depending on the manufacturer and build quality. However, most SATA SSDs have a read speed of around 500MBps and a write speed of 300MBps. For most people, that’s more than enough.
While SATA SSDs offer excellent performance, their speed is limited by the SATA connector and cable. However, these are a good option for replacing old HDDs because they’re much faster and use the same cable and connectors.
- 4TB
- Black
- Compatible with laptops and desktops
- Shock : 1,500 G & 0.5 ms (Half sine)
- Meet the demands of every task from everyday computing to 8K video processing, with up to 2,400 TBW
M.2 SSD
M.2 is a form factor, and it’s designed to fit the M.2 port. Unlike SATA SSDs, M.2 SSDs don’t require cables. To install an M.2 SSD, simply slide it into an M.2 slot on your motherboard and hold it in place with one screw. The drive is also powered by the M.2 port, so there’s no need for cables. Since M.2 SSDs connect directly to the motherboard, they’re the fastest option on the market.
These are the smallest SSDs on the market and they deliver incredible performance. The downside is your motherboard must have an available M.2 port. Most modern motherboards have at least one M.2 port, but old motherboards might not have one. These SSDs can offer blazing-fast speeds, which we will compare in the next section.
However, not all M.2 SSDs are created equal. There are some that use the SATA communication protocol, even though they’re designed to fit into the M.2 slot. SATA M.2 SSDs are no longer recommended because they’re significantly slower than NVMe SSDs. To give you an idea, most SATA M.2 SSDs have a maximum transfer speed of 500MB/s, the same as using a SATA cable. If you want to learn more about SATA and NVMe, read this article.
- M.2 2280
- 8 flash memory channels that support PCIe 3.1 x4 and NVMe 1.3
- Read/write speeds up to 3,200 Mbps/1,800 Mbps
- Compatible with all Windows PCs
- eSATA connectivity
NVMe SSD
NVMe stands for Non-Volatile Memory Express, and it’s a protocol for accessing storage, it’s not a form factor or interface. This technology is intended to directly communicate with a computer’s CPU, bypassing any limitations imposed by the motherboard. It uses the same high-speed connector as other components such as graphics cards.
When you see the term “NVMe” before an SSD, it means that SSD is compatible with the NVMe technology. NVMe SSDs are the fastest on the market. Since NVMe is a technology, it can come in a variety of form factors. For example, there are NVMe M.2 SSDs. The NVMe SSDs can reach incredible speeds, often in the range of 7,000mb/s. To get peak performance, an NVMe drive should be installed on a motherboard that supports PCIe 4.0 or higher.
- Form Factor: M.2 2280
- Interface: PCI-Express 3.0 x4, NVMe 1.3
- Total capacity: 512GB
- Sequential read speed: up to 1700 MB/s
- Memory Storage Capacity: 512GB
Can You Install an M.2 SSD in a PCIe Slot?
If you’re looking to upgrade an old computer, you might be wondering if you can install an NVMe M.2 SSD in a PCI slot. As it turns out, it is possible, but you need to buy an M.2 to PCIe adapter. This trick has the potential to drastically improve the performance of your computer. It should also be faster than installing a SATA SSD with SATA cables. However, if your computer is particularly old and has a dated CPU, it might not be able to take advantage of the full speed of the NVMe M.2 SSD.
Either way, to install an M.2 SSD in a PCI slot, insert the M.2 SSD into the adapter and make sure to secure it in place with the included screw. Now, insert the adapter into the PCI slot on your computer. From there, start your computer, open Disk Management, and initialize the new storage. To make this new drive your boot drive, you will need a USB disk to install Windows. Even on old computers, PCI slots can support high data transfer speeds, often much faster than SATA connectors.
- Compatible with motherboards with PCIe x16/x8/x4 cards
- NVMe bus interface
- Supports SSD form factor M.2 M-Key (It is not compatible with B-Key)
- Includes necessary screws and screwdriver
Which SSD Should You Buy?
If you’re still not sure which SSD is right for you, we will make it simple. If you’re upgrading an old system that doesn’t have an M.2 interface, you can buy a cheap SATA SSD. It will be much faster than an old HDD and it should be more than enough for basic usage.
Having said that, if you want to build a new system, the best storage option would be an NVMe M.2 SSD. These are the fastest on the market and they’re not as expensive as they once were. Take a look at our list of recommended SSDs here.
We don’t recommend SATA SSDs unless you need lots of bulk storage. Installing SATA SSDs can be a hassle because you need two cables for each drive. With NVMe M.2 drives, you just pop them into the M.2 slot and you’re good to go. No cable management is needed.
- SAMSUNG 870 EVO 4TB 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal SSD
- 4TB
- Black
- Compatible with laptops and desktops
- Shock : 1,500 G & 0.5 ms (Half sine)
- Meet the demands of every task from everyday computing to 8K video processing, with up to 2,400 TBW
- HP EX920 M.2 1TB PCIe 3.1 X4 Nvme 3D TLC NAND Internal SSD
- M.2 2280
- 8 flash memory channels that support PCIe 3.1 x4 and NVMe 1.3
- Read/write speeds up to 3,200 Mbps/1,800 Mbps
- Compatible with all Windows PCs
- eSATA connectivity
- Gigabyte NVMe 1.3/ M.2/ PCIe 3.0x4/ 512GB SSD
- Form Factor: M.2 2280
- Interface: PCI-Express 3.0 x4, NVMe 1.3
- Total capacity: 512GB
- Sequential read speed: up to 1700 MB/s
- Memory Storage Capacity: 512GB
- SABRENT NVMe M.2 SSD to PCIe X16/X8/X4 Card with Aluminum Heat Sink (EC-PCIE)
- Compatible with motherboards with PCIe x16/x8/x4 cards
- NVMe bus interface
- Supports SSD form factor M.2 M-Key (It is not compatible with B-Key)
- Includes necessary screws and screwdriver
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