Greater storage space, as well as faster reads and write and shorter access times, are in constant demand and various companies are coming up with new technologies to meet this great demand. One such technology is the Solid-state drive.

A solid-state drive is an assembly of integrated circuits that are used to store data persistently. It uses flash memory. SSD comes under the secondary storage category in the hierarchy of computer storage.

The SSDs are significantly faster than the traditional hard drive used. They have fast throughput and shorter read access times.

There are a few things you should consider before buying an SSD. Let’s see some of them:

Things to consider before buying an SSD

Capacity of disk

SSD can be used for the OS and applications of your laptop or desktop. You can use an HHD to store your data. If you wish to replace the HHD on your system with SSD then go for a 250 GB capacity for the OS, apps, and data.

Usually, the 40 GB or 80 GB capacity SSD is enough for your system and you don’t have to worry about low memory for a while.

Performance of drive

The performance of the drive is usually measured in terms of Sequential read and write speed. Reading and writing is performed on contiguous blocks of data. Reading speed goes up to 500 MB/s while writing is a bit slower.

Flash memory

Flash memory with different levels of NAND memories forms the basis of SSD. Some of the available types of flash memory are

• Single level cell (SLC) with 1 bit NAND
• Enterprise multi-level cell (eMLC) with 2 bits NAND
• Triple level cell (TLC) with 3 bits NAND
• Multi-level cell (MLC) with 34 bits NAND

SLC is the fastest, eMLC has a medium speed while TLC and MLC have low speeds.

Encryption

The common encryption offered in SSDs is Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with 256 bits. So, with encryption, you can store sensitive information on SSD without any worries of the data being misused by an attacker.

Error correction code (ECC)

It is always better to buy SSD with ECC. Having error detection and correction codes will protect the data you store in your SSD from being corrupted.

TRIM support in SSD

Maintaining the performance of the drive the same at all times is an important consideration. TRIM support does this by cleaning the deleted files at regular intervals. When these deleted files are removed the latency is reduced and hence the performance of the drive improves.

List of best Solid State Drives

Some of the best SSDs in the market that you can choose from have been reviewed to help you select the best:

1. ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro

This SSD is available with two different capacities, 256 GB and 512 GB. Read and write speed can go up to 3500 MB/s and 3000MB/s respectively.

The drive is made with advanced LDPC ECC technology, SLC caching, and DRAM cache buffer. It uses a 3D NAND flash memory which provides higher capacity and durability.

The power consumption inactive state is 0.33 W and in slumber, it is 0.14 W.

The performance of this drive is really impressive as it has high reading and writing speeds for both sequential and random categories.

It works with the ultra-fast interface PCIe Gen3x4 along with NVMe 1.3 support.

This drive is faster compared to other SSDs and is a great choice for gamers, overclockers, and PC enthusiasts.

Pros:

• Price is reasonable according to the capacity
• Great speed
• Performance is better than other SSDs
• Heat spreader for optional use

Cons:

• Write results are great with Crystal DiskMark 4K, but not very tip-top
• For long writes speed drops from 1.8 Gbps to 1.0 Gbps

FAQs:

Does this work with the MSI z97 guard pro motherboard?

Yes, it will work.

What are the capacities?

256 GB and 512 GB.

2. Crucial MX500

With swift reads and writes, this drive is a good option for upgrading a mainstream laptop or desktop. The micron 3D NAND technology flash memory is the reason for the quick reads and writes.

The sequential reading and writing speeds are 560 MB/s and 510 MB/s. Random reads and writes are done at speeds of 95 k and 90 K respectively on types of files.

You don’t have to worry about losing data due to a power cut with this drive, as it is integrated with Power Loss Immunity.

AES 256 bit encryption keeps your data safe and secure from thieves and hackers. The warranty period is of 5 years which is pretty good.

Pros:

• Performance is competitive
• Affordable
• 2.5 inches and M.2 SATA versions are available
• Reliable drive

Cons:

• Endurance rate is low when heavy data writes are done
• Cloning software of drive is not built into Storage Executive utility.

FAQs:

What is the size of this drive?

10.3 x 0.7 x 7 cm are the product dimensions

Does it support MacBook pro mid-2010?

Yes, it will support it.

3. WD Black SN750

This NVMe SSD provides a computational speed which is six times more than the SATA versions of SSD, making it a great choice for the gamers who desire such fast computations for a smooth gaming experience.

Exclusive WD BLACK SSD dashboard with its gaming mode takes gaming to another level. This feature will disable the low power mode during intense gaming sessions and keeps the drive firing on all the cylinders.

The available capacities are 1 TB, 500 GB, and 250 GB.

Reads can speed up to 3470 MB/s for the 500 Gb and 1 TB drives.

You can upgrade without any worries as it comes with a 5 years warranty.

Pros:

• Cooling is built-in
• Cost is low per gigabyte
• Performance in applications is impressive
• Power efficiency is great
• Random write speed is very fast

Cons:

• Expensive product
• Some more firmware optimizations could have been used
• The heatsink is not very good

FAQs:

What is the RAM used?

A DDR SDRAM is used in this drive

How many batteries are requires?

1 Lithium-ion battery is needed.

4. Samsung 860 EVO

This drive-by Samsung has a great design and size. It is a perfect choice to upgrade to from your traditional hard drive for improves read/write speeds and short access times.

One of the best performing SATA SSD that you can get for your system. The available capacities are 1 TB, 2 TB, 250 GB, and 500 GB. Capacity can go up to 4 TB, which is huge.

The drive is designed for mainstream PCs and laptops which can be used for personal and business purposes as well as gaming.

Through the Samsung Magician Software, you can achieve advanced drive management. This user-friendly tool helps to monitor the speed and health of the drive, keeps the driver up to date, and even boosts the performance.

The endurance is boosted and it comes with smart compatibility for your host system.

Pros:

• Endurance rating is great
• Advanced management drive using the Samsung Magician Software
• The warranty period of 5 years
• Great DRAM cache and cloning
• Overall performance is good

Cons:

• Performance issues related to TRIM
• Lags in mixed workload performance

FAQs:

What is the RAM size?

250 GB

What is the hardware interface used for this drive?

SATA 1.5 Gbps is the interface used.

5. Samsung 970 EVO Plus

Available capacity is up to 2 TB. The interface used is NVMe (PCIe Gen 3.0 x 4) and the form factor is M.2.

Sequential read and write speeds go up to 3500 MB/s and 3300 MB/s. This performance may vary based on the configuration and hardware of the system in which it is being used.

Samsung Magician software allows you to manage the drive for keeping it up to date, boosted performance, and monitor the SSD’s health and speed.

Users like tech enthusiasts, gamers, and professionals who need a smooth and enhanced performance can go for this drive.

Greater NAND performance and higher power efficiency is achieved due to the latest V-NAND technology used in this drive.

The endurance and reliability of the product are also great.

Pros:

• Lots of features
• Easy to use
• Great performance
• Latency is low
• Endurance is exceptional
• Performance drop during write is low

Cons:

• Efficiency optimization can be done
• Price is high
• Once small buffer fills write performance drops in half

FAQs:

What is the data transfer rate?

6 Gbps

Is the drive compatible with MacBook Air 2015?

No.

Buyer’s Guide

Know your system

Check if you have M.2 drive slots on the motherboard and room in the chassis. If you do not have the required space then you need to go for a 2.5 inches drive.

SATA is slow but cheaper

SATA drives are good for common applications. They cost less and the performance is good. If your system supports NVMe-PCle or Optane drives, then they are a better choice than SATA. But they might cost more.

Decide on the capacity

1 TB provides lots of space and you can use it for a long time without worrying about low memory. But these can be costly. The 500 GB is a good balance between cost and performance. Commonly bought is the 256 GB capacity drive. It is the cheaper option and the performance is also acceptable.

Do not go for anything lower than 256 GB.

Upgrade to SSD from Hard drive

If you are using a hard drive then it is always a better choice to upgrade to an SSD. SSDs are way faster than traditional hard drives. So, even the lowest versions of SSD are better than a hard drive. Do consider upgrading to SSD.

SSD supported by your system

The type of drive you need depends on your device. Nowadays SSDs come in various form factors and operate across multiple hardware and software platforms. Based on the way you use your system you can buy the SSD. Gamers and tech enthusiasts require boosted performance.

Form factor

Three types of form factors are available, M.2, 2.5 inches, and Add-In card.

M.2 is usually used with slip laptops. Add-in cards are faster than the other types. M.2 are expensive but with greater capacities.

So get the SSD with a form factor that suits your system best.

Final Words on Best SSD

You might need to consider quite a few things before getting an SSD for your desktop or laptop. First know your system and the requirements you have, then study the features available in different products before buying any. Pay close attention to the compatibility, otherwise, you might end up with something that is not supported by your system. Overall the SSD is a better option than the traditional hard drives and therefore an upgrade is highly recommended.