Introduction
Whether it’s a laptop or desktop, PCIe 4.0 SSDs began to become widespread in 2022. Based on read/write speeds, they can be categorized into entry-level, mid-to-high-end, and flagship models. PCIe 4.0 SSDs are faster than PCIe 3.0 SSDs in both sequential read/write and 4K random read/write performance, with prices generally comparable to those of PCIe 3.0 SSDs. PCIe 4.0 SSDs started to see price increases in 2024. They stay the top choice for upgrading laptops and DIY PCs. Many PCIe 4.0 SSDs offer great value for money.
History of PCIe 4.0 Controllers
When AMD released its 3000 series processors, it introduced support for PCIe 4.0 SSDs, which doubled the bandwidth compared to PCIe 3.0.
The development of PCIe 4.0 controllers began with Phison, who collaborated with AMD to create the Phison PS5016-E16 controller. The first product using this controller was the Seagate FireCuda 520 SSD. While it offered better performance than PCIe 3.0 SSDs, the improvement in user experience was not instantly noticeable. After two or three years of development, PCIe 4.0 SSDs flourished, and now there are many brands producing PCIe 4.0 controllers, like SanDisk (Western Digital), Samsung, and others.
Mainstream PCIe 4.0 Controllers
Samsung, Western Digital, and SK hynix do not sell their own controllers externally. As a result, their memory chips can only be found in their own brand products.
Samsung: Pascal controller (e.g., 990 PRO), Elpis controller (e.g., Samsung 980 PRO)
Western Digital: SanDisk series controllers (e.g., 20-82-10081-A1S, 20-82-10034-A0, etc.)
SK hynix: ACNS075 controller (e.g., SK hynix P41)
SSD Brands
In-house Chip Brands:
Western Digital/SanDisk (SanDisk chips, acquired by Western Digital)
Samsung (Self-developed controllers, self-developed chips)
SOLIDIGM (A collaboration between SK hynix and Intel)
SK hynix (SK hynix chips)
Kioxia (Former Toshiba brand)
Crucial (Micron)
Other brands: Acer, Kingston, Lexar, HP, etc. For the best value in terms of money and performance, check the controller and memory chip solutions.
Recommended PCIe 4.0 SSDs:
Flagship Model: Top-tier Read Speed with Cache
▶ Samsung 990 PRO
- Sequential Read/Write: Read speed 7450MB/s, Write speed 6900MB/s
- Random Read/Write: Read speed 1200K IOPS, Write speed 1550K IOPS
- Appearance: Single-sided NAND
- Controller Chip: Samsung’s self-developed PASCAL controller
- Flash Memory: 7th Gen V-NAND 3-bit TLC
- Technology: NVMe 1.4 standard
- Warranty Lifespan: 600TB
- DRAM Cache: 1GB
- Capacity: 1TB
PCIe 4.0 Top-tier SSD, featuring Samsung’s self-developed controller and Samsung’s in-house memory chips, offers better performance than the Samsung 980 PRO. It also handles 4K random read/write quite well. Yet, as a flagship model, it comes at a higher price—1TB costs $749, and 2TB costs $1299.
▶ Western Digital WD_BLACK SN850X
- Sequential Read/Write: Read speed 7300MB/s, Write speed 6300MB/s
- Random Read/Write: Read speed 800K IOPS, Write speed 1100K IOPS
- Appearance: Single-sided NAND, black PCB
- Controller Chip: SanDisk’s in-house controller
- Flash Memory: SanDisk 3D TLC NAND
- Technology: NVMe 1.4 standard
- Warranty Lifespan: 1TB: 600TBW, 2TB: 1200TBW, 4TB: 2400TBW
- DRAM Cache: 1GB
- Capacity: 1TB
- Compatibility: Suitable for both laptops and desktops
Western Digital is a leading flash memory manufacturer. They develop their own wafers and controllers. The company focuses deeply on flash memory research. It is one of the few companies in the world with these capabilities, and Western Digital is one of them. WD_BLACK is Western Digital’s high-end series of SSDs, and the SN850X is the flagship product within the WD_BLACK lineup. This SSD excels in temperature control and 4K random read/write performance. It also supports advanced technologies like preload and adaptive thermal efficiency. These technologies enhance performance in gaming, esports, and productivity scenarios.
▶ SK hynix P41
- Sequential Read/Write: Sequential read speed 7000MB/s, Sequential write speed 6500MB/s
- Random Read/Write: Read speed 1400K IOPS, Write speed 1300K IOPS
- Controller Chip: SK hynix self-developed controller
- Flash Memory: SK hynix 176-layer NAND flash
- Independent Cache: 1GB DRAM cache
- Warranty Lifespan: 750TBW
- Capacity: 1TB
The performance specifications of the SK hynix P41 are essentially the same as the SOLIDIGM P44 Pro. The 1TB version has 1400K IOPS for 4K random read speed. It has 1300K IOPS for write speed. The lifespan is 750TBW. In simple terms, it is just a rebranded version of the SOLIDIGM P44 Pro. The SOLIDIGM P44 Pro has now been discontinued.
▶ Crucial (Micron) T500 Pro
- Read/Write Speeds: Sequential write speed 6800MB/s, Sequential read speed 7300MB/s
- Random Read/Write: Read speed 1150K IOPS, Write speed 1440K IOPS
- Controller Chip: Phison PS5025-E25 controller
- Flash Memory: Micron 232-layer 3D TLC NAND
- Warranty Lifespan: 600TBW
- DRAM Cache: 1GB
- Capacity: 1TB
- Compatibility: Suitable for both laptops and desktops
The Crucial T500 SSD uses Micron’s in-house 232-layer TLC NAND, paired with the Phison PS5025-E25 controller. Its 4K random read/write performance is excellent. Its sequential read/write performance is also excellent. Its price is quite competitive. It is lower priced than other models. Additionally, the 2TB version is priced under a thousand yuan. This makes it one of the most cost-effective flagship models now available.
Cost-effective Model: Without Cache
▶ Western Digital WD_BLACK SN7100
- Sequential Read/Write: Sequential read speed 7250MB/s, Sequential write speed 6900MB/s
- Random Read/Write: Read speed 1000K IOPS, Write speed 1400K IOPS
- Controller Chip: Western Digital’s in-house controller
- Flash Memory: Western Digital TLC 3D NAND
- Independent Cache: No DRAM cache
- Warranty Lifespan: 600TBW
- Capacity: 1TB
The Western Digital SN7100 is a PCIe 4.0 SSD with flagship-level read/write speeds, branded under the WD_BLACK series. It uses in-house controllers and NAND chips, achieving speeds close to the flagship SN850X. It offers excellent stability and reliability, and features a single-sided NAND design. The SN7100 has low power consumption, making it particularly suitable for laptops, PS5, handheld gaming consoles, and desktop DIY setups. It can be considered an upgraded version of the SN770.
▶ Samsung 990 EVO Plus
- Sequential Read/Write: Sequential read speed 7150MB/s, Sequential write speed 6300MB/s
- Random Read/Write: Read speed 850K IOPS, Write speed 1350K IOPS
- Controller Chip: Samsung’s self-developed controller
- Flash Memory: Samsung V-NAND TLC
- Independent Cache: No DRAM cache (HMB technology)
- Warranty Lifespan: 600TBW
- Capacity: 1TB
Samsung’s new SSD offers excellent value for money at its current price. It uses TLC NAND chips and is compatible with PCIe 5.0. The 2TB version achieves 4K random read/write speeds of 1000K IOPS or higher.
▶ Western Digital WD Blue SN5000
- Read/Write Speeds: Sequential write speed 4900MB/s, Sequential read speed 5150MB/s
- Random Read/Write: Read speed 730K IOPS, Write speed 770K IOPS
- Appearance: Single-sided NAND, blue PCB
- Controller Chip: Western Digital’s in-house controller
- Flash Memory: Western Digital 3D TLC NAND
- Warranty Lifespan: 600TBW
- DRAM Cache: No cache
- Capacity: 1TB
Western Digital is one of the few flash memory manufacturers capable of producing both its own controllers and NAND chips. WD Blue is the mainstream series of Western Digital’s SSDs. The SN5000 model is positioned as a mid-to-high-end SSD, offering excellent temperature control, stability, and strong performance. Its single-sided NAND design makes it particularly suitable for upgrading laptops. The price of around $400 offers great value for money.
▶ Western Digital WD Blue SN580
- Read/Write Speeds: Read speed 4150MB/s, Write speed 4150MB/s
- Random Read/Write: Read speed 600K IOPS, Write speed 750K IOPS
- Controller Chip: SanDisk’s in-house controller
- Flash Memory: SanDisk 3D TLC NAND
- Capacity: 1TB (all models feature a single-sided NAND design)
- DRAM Cache: Hybrid SLC cache (dynamic/static) without DRAM
- Warranty Lifespan: 5 years
- Endurance: 600TBW
The WD Blue SN580 is an upgraded version of the WD Blue SN570, featuring nCache 4.0 technology and a hybrid SLC caching architecture. With solid read/write speeds and a DRAM-less design that reduces power consumption, this SSD is an excellent choice. The 1TB model offers a durability of 600TBW, while the 2TB model reaches 900TBW. It has excellent temperature control and stability. The SN580 also features single-sided NAND for capacities ranging from 500GB to 2TB. This design makes it ideal for upgrading thin and light laptops. The 1TB version is priced around $400, which is great value for a solid-state drive with strong stability.
▶ Seagate FireCuda 520
- Read/Write Speeds: Sequential write speed 4850MB/s, Sequential read speed 5000MB/s
- Random Read/Write: Read speed 760K IOPS, Write speed 700K IOPS
- Controller Chip: Phison PS5016-E16 controller
- Flash Memory: Toshiba 96-layer BiCS4 3D TLC NAND
- Warranty Lifespan: 600TBW
- DRAM Cache: No cache
- Capacity: 1TB
A distinctive feature of PCIe 4.0 SSDs is the three-year RESCUE data recovery service offered directly by the manufacturer. This SSD model has been updated to feature single-sided NAND, and the new version offers great value for money. Seagate competes closely with Western Digital in the mechanical hard drive market. But, it does not produce its own controllers. It also lacks its own NAND chips for solid-state drives.
Other flagship models with cache:
▶ Kingston KC3000
- Read/Write Speeds: Sequential read speed 7000MB/s, Sequential write speed 6000MB/s
- Random Read/Write: Read speed 900K IOPS, Write speed 1000K IOPS
- Controller Chip: Phison PS5018-E18 controller
- Flash Memory: Micron 176-layer B47R TLC NAND
- DRAM Cache: 1GB Samsung
- Warranty Lifespan: 800TBW
- Capacity: 1TB
The Phison PS5018-E18 controller is used in PCIe 4.0 flagship models. At present, the price is around $699. This cost is comparable to the Samsung 990 PRO and Western Digital SN850X. Thus, this model is not highly recommended due to its lack of cost-effectiveness.
There are also some third- and fourth-tier SSD brands worth checking out.
In the past, there were many PCIe 4.0 SSDs under $400 for 1TB, but the prices have gone up now. The main difference is that they have weaker controllers. They also use more generic NAND chips, which can lead to shorter lifespan. Still, for high-cost-performance gaming drives, they are still very good options. If you have important data, do not use these SSDs. The official controller and NAND chips have been announced at launch. But, you don’t know when they can change. The controllers and NAND used in these drives can be switched relatively freely. These drives are fine for gaming, but not for storing critical data.
Low-price PCIe 4.0 Options: PCIe 4.0 is becoming more competitive, and if you’re on a budget, this can be a good choice. Still, prices have started to rise again this year. To achieve the best cost-performance in this price range, use the Phison 1602 controller. Combine this with the Yangtze Memory 232-layer TLC NAND. This combination is highly recommended. The 2TB version is especially recommended because it’s also a single-sided NAND. This makes it compatible even with laptops.
QLC NAND SSDs:
- Intel P3Plus/P310
- Fantech S500Q
- Lexar NQ790
- SOLIDIGM P41 PLUS
- Kingston NV2/NV3 Series
- ZhiTai Ti600 Series
- Beinwei CS2241
- Bawi NV7200
- ADATA S60PRO
- SanDisk Performance Enhanced Version
These models all feature QLC NAND. If they are priced affordably, they can be considered, as they have minimal impact on gaming performance.
Recommended Models:
- For Laptop Expansion (Best Cost-Performance): WD SN7100/SN770/SN5000. Samsung 990 EVO Plus. SanDisk Ultra Extreme. Kioxia SD10. Seagate FireCuda 520. ZhiTai TiPro7100. Acer Predator GM7. Lexar Battle God, etc.
- For Gaming Laptop Main Drive Upgrade: Samsung 990 PRO, WD SN850X, SK hynix P41.
- For DIY PC Builds: Samsung 990 PRO, WD SN850X, Micron T500, ZhiTai TiPro7000, Kioxia SE10, Acer Predator GM7000.