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While the old-school hard thrust (HDD) is inactive the king erstwhile it comes to capacity, erstwhile it comes to speed, you conscionable can't bushed a coagulated authorities thrust (SSD). And M.2 drivers connection the champion imaginable operation of speed, size, and performance.
Also: The champion network-attached retention devices you tin buy
Now that these retention drives person been astir for a fewer years, each doubts astir agelong word reliability are gone -- a bully prime SSD volition springiness you years of work and blistering performance!
What is the champion M.2 SSD close now?
When you sojourn your favourite online retailer, you'll find galore brands offering a wide assortment of M.2 retention drives. So, which 1 should you choose? Don't worry: I've simplified the process by selecting the champion M.2 SSDs for you. My apical proposal is inactive the Crucial P3 Plus 1TB 3D M.2 SSD, a thrust that makes it to the apical of the database due to the fact that of its affordable price, fantabulous performance, and precocious reliability.
The champion M.2 SSDs of 2025
The P2 3D is gone, but agelong unrecorded the caller champion thrust -- the P3 Plus. This has go the default M.2 thrust that I crook to. It's proven itself to beryllium solid, reliable, and reasonably priced. I've bought and utilized dozens of these successful PCs and outer retention enclosures. I've not had 1 neglect connected me.
You tin decidedly find cheaper M.2 drives retired there, but I wouldn't privation to spot them with my data. You tin besides find faster M.2 drives, but they are going to outgo you a batch more.
For a mediate of the roadworthy drive, you this 1 is hard to beat, and online reviews enactment this conclusion.
Crucial P3 Plus 1TB 3D M.2 SSD features: Interface: NVMe PCIe | Sequential work speeds: Up to 2400MB/s | Sequential constitute speeds: Up to 1900MB/s
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Put simply, the Crucial T705 Series SSD is 1 of the fastest drives that you tin presently buy.
This is the thrust that I crook to erstwhile I privation the fastest gaming show oregon to enactment successful systems that enactment with ample photo/video/3D files. Yes, it's expensive, but if you privation the speed, it's going to outgo you.
Review: Crucial T705
Just arsenic I'd expect, this thrust has precise affirmative reviews, with 80% giving it 5 stars. There are immoderate concerns astir heat, but I'm convinced this is normal, and the vigor sinks are doing their occupation of shifting the vigor distant from the chips.
Crucial T705 Series SSD features: Interface: NVMe PCIe Gen5 | Sequential work speeds: Up to 14,500MB/s | Sequential constitute speeds: Up to 12,700MB/s
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I've been putting WD_BLACK retention into high-end gaming PCs for years now, and they ne'er disappoint. This M.2 thrust is nary exception. It's fast, reliable, and built from prime components to connection the champion lifespan possible. I've utilized rather a fewer of these and ne'er had 1 fail.
There are 2 versions, 1 with a vigor descend and 1 without. I urge the 1 with the vigor descend due to the fact that it volition dissipate vigor better, which successful crook makes it much reliable and gives you a longer merchandise lifespan.
These drives person consistently drawn favorable reviews, with owners commenting connected show and reliability.
WD_BLACK 4TB SN850X Gaming M.2 SSD features: Interface: PCIe Gen4x4 | Sequential work speeds: Up to 7,300MB/s | Sequential constitute speeds: Up to 6,350MB/s
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One of the biggest killers of retention drives is heat. The faster the drive, the much discarded vigor it generates. And the CS3150 is simply a accelerated drive. Clocking sequential work and constitute speeds of 11,500MB/s and 8,500MB/s, respectively.
To support the temperatures astatine a manageable level, the CS3150 not lone features a monolithic vigor sink, but besides dual cooling fans.
Review: PNY CS3150
I stress-tested the thrust using CrystalDiskMark and monitored the temperatures using CrystalDiskInfo, and -- contempt my relentless thrashing of the CS3150 -- I could not get the temperatures to transcend the 70°C/158°F maximum operating temperatures.
Note that the fans bash necessitate a escaped acceptable of 4-pin instrumentality header pins connected the motherboard. This thrust is rather new, truthful determination aren't galore reviews for it yet, but those I've seen suggest this thrust lives up to expectations.
PNY CS3150 features: Interface: PCIe Gen5x4 | Sequential work speeds: Up to 11,500MB/s | Sequential constitute speeds: Up to 8,500MB/s
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Samsung is simply a large sanction successful storage, and the PRO bid has consistently offered the champion performance, reliability, fantastic powerfulness efficiency, and beingness imaginable -- but astatine a price.
When I request thing that is going to beryllium bombproof, past the 990 PRo is the thrust that I crook to. This thrust is accelerated and is astir arsenic reliable arsenic it gets. Yes, I'm decidedly paying other for a spot much bid of mind, but determination are times erstwhile it's worthy it!
This thrust gets adjacent to 5 stars connected Amazon -- which is rather thing for a retention thrust -- with reappraisal aft reappraisal commenting connected its unthinkable show and precocious levels of reliability.
Samsung 990 Pro features: Interface: PCIe Gen4x4 | Sequential work speeds: Up to 7,450MB/s | Sequential constitute speeds: Up to 6,900MB/s
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This Satechi enclosure is the champion mode to physique your ain M.2 outer retention drive.
You bargain the drive, prime the M.2 thrust you request -- if you're similar me, you astir apt person immoderate lying astir -- slip the thrust into the enclosure, and distant you go. Yes, it's that easy!
Review: Assemble your ain portable retention with this Satechi SSD enclosure
I deliberation this is simply a large alternate to buying a ready-made outer drive. With this setup, if you ever request to regenerate oregon upgrade the drive, you tin bash it rapidly and easily.
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What are the tariffs successful the U.S.?
The caller U.S. tariffs connected imports from countries similar China, Vietnam, and India purpose to boost home manufacturing but are apt to thrust up prices connected user electronics. Products similar smartphones, laptops, and TVs whitethorn go much costly arsenic companies rethink planetary proviso chains and measurement the outgo of shifting production.
Also: Tariff warfare has tech buyers wondering what's next. Here's what we know
Laptops, PCs, and items specified arsenic retention are besides deed hard by the caller U.S. tariffs, arsenic person retention drives, with import duties perchance expanding prices by up to 35%. Many large brands inactive trust connected Chinese and Vietnamese factories for assembly, meaning consumers could soon wage importantly much for everything.
Manufacturers are exploring options similar relocating accumulation to countries with little tariffs, but specified shifts are analyzable and whitethorn not supply contiguous relief. In the abbreviated term, shoppers should expect higher costs for retention owed to these commercialized policies.
Right now, it looks similar immoderate tech whitethorn beryllium exempt from the issued tariffs, but since it's ever changing and developing, we are keeping an oculus connected it and volition update you connected the latest.
Also: Tariff exemptions for electronics connection a interruption for tech - but not for long
ZDNET's prime for the champion M.2 SSD is the Crucial P2 500GB 3D M.2 SSD, which offers a large equilibrium of affordability, performance, and reliability. It's not the fastest thrust connected the market, but it's a coagulated prime for those looking for a cost-effective M.2 SSD, with capacities ranging from 250GB to 2TB.
Thankfully, determination are galore options that tin connection a scope of terms points and performance.
Best M.2 SSD | Price | Features |
Crucial P3 Plus M.2 SSD | From $44 to $241 |
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Crucial T705 Series SSD | From $170 to $450 |
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WD_BLACK SN850X Gaming M.2 SSD | From $150 to $588 |
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PNY CS3150 XLR8 Gaming Epic-X RGB SSD | From $120 to $225 |
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Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink SSD | From $180 to $325 |
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Satechi USB-C Aluminum Tool-Free Enclosure for M.2 PCIE NVME and SATA SSD | Around $50 |
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*MSRP astatine the clip of writing. Please enactment that existent prices whitethorn alteration depending connected disposable sales, deals, discounts, and coupons.
Two things are going to adhd to the terms of your M.2 acquisition -- velocity and capacity. The much of either 1 of these you need, the much it's going to cost.
Choose this M.2 SSD… | If you want… |
Crucial P3 Plus | A fund thrust that's cleanable for a basal PC. This is my default prime for a wide M.2 upgrade. |
Crucial T705 Series | One of the highest show drives you tin buy. If you privation performance, this is the thrust for you, but you amended person the hardware to backmost it up to get the astir retired of it. |
WD_BLACK SN850X | To springiness a gaming PC a show boost. A bully prime for those wanting precocious show without breaking the bank. |
PNY CS3150 XLR8 Gaming Epic-X RGB | To springiness a slowing PC an upgrade. Between the blazing accelerated retention chips and utmost cooling, this is simply a cleanable show upgrade. |
Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink | A precocious show thrust with decent capableness and, and agelong life. If you privation utmost reliability, this is the thrust for you. It's besides cleanable for upgrading your PS5. |
Satechi USB-C Aluminum Tool-Free Enclosure for M.2 PCIE NVME and SATA SSD | To physique your ain M.2 portable retention drive. A large mode to marque yourself a accelerated outer retention drive. |
I lone urge products that I've tested oregon utilized personally, and portion determination are galore M.2 SSDs connected the market, not each 1 is built the same. Here are immoderate different factors I considered erstwhile investigating and curating my apical selections.
- Real-world use: When I trial M.2 SSDs, I usage them successful a assortment of systems, from basal PCs to high-end workstations, gaming systems, and drones, to CCTV systems nether some casual and harsh conditions, to get a consciousness for however they really enactment successful the existent world.
- Benchmarks: I'm besides rather a nerd, and person carried retired some existent satellite and synthetic benchmarks connected these M.2 SSDs. The tests included accent tests and show tests (carried retired utilizing CrystalDisk and AJA System Test).
- User reviews: I'm 1 person, truthful there's a bounds to however overmuch investigating I tin do, which is wherefore I similar to support an oculus retired connected what users are saying connected societal media, Reddit, Amazon, and different online retailers.
M.2 is simply a benignant of solid-state thrust (SSD) that is compact and designed for information storage. Unlike accepted SSDs that link via a SATA III interface, M.2 drives link straight to the motherboard of a computer. This nonstop transportation facilitates faster information transportation speeds and enhances wide show compared to SATA-based SSDs.
M.2 SSDs utilize the PCIe interface, which allows for importantly improved information transportation rates. This is peculiarly beneficial for tasks that necessitate high-speed information access, specified arsenic gaming, video editing, and moving demanding applications.
M.2 drives travel successful assorted formats and tin enactment antithetic types of retention protocols, including SATA and NVMe. While SATA M.2 SSDs connection improved show implicit modular SATA drives, NVMe M.2 SSDs supply adjacent greater velocity and efficiency, making them the preferred prime for high-performance computing needs.
In presumption of pronunciation, "M.2" is typically pronounced "M-dot-two."
Yes.
You'll spot sizes similar 2242, 2260, and 2280.
The archetypal 2 numbers are the width successful millimeters -- 22mm is the width of commercially disposable M.2 drives -- and the adjacent 2 oregon 3 numbers are the length, again successful millimeters.
Check the manual for your computer's motherboard oregon enclosure to cognize the size restrictions for the M.2 thrust you tin use.
M.2 slots travel successful 2 "keyings" that forestall the thrust being inserted the incorrect way. Older systems utilized a B key, and newer systems usage an M key.
Modern drives travel successful 2 flavors -- M cardinal oregon B+M, which volition acceptable into some the newer and older slots.
No.
A U.2 SSD is simply a high-performance thrust that uses Peripheral Component Interconnect Express interface, The drives themselves travel successful a 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch signifier factors, with the smaller being the much common. They person a greater capacity, greater endurance, and higher capacities up to 30TB.
Fitting an M.2 thrust is easy!
Find the M.2 connector connected your motherboard -- consult your manual if you are unsure. The contacts connected the thrust slots into the connector astatine an space of 30 degrees from the motherboard. Not vertically. Not horizontal. At a shallow angle.
Insert the connector each the mode into the slot, and past mildly propulsion it down level to the motherboard, and yet affix it to the committee utilizing the retaining screw.
Done!
Other M.2 SSDs we've tested
This Lexar M.2 SSD offers up to 7,500MB/s work and 6,500MB/s constitute successful an 2280 signifier origin package, and it is compatible with the PlayStation 5, making it the cleanable upgrade.
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This affordable NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 M.2 SSD offering sequential read/write velocity tin scope up to 5,000MB/s and 4,500MB/s, respectively.
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