You deserve anSSDthat’s as committed as you are to avoiding load times, but that doesn’t mean you need to torch your savings to get it. High-speed Gen4 NVMe drives used to be luxury-tier tech, but prices have finally dropped into “sane” territory. Now, getting a drive that boots in seconds, loads games before you may blink, and doesn’t flinch at massive installs is actually affordable…ifyou know where to look.
We’ve rounded up the SSDs that hit that sweet spot: stupid-fast speeds without sky-high prices. They’re legitimately powerful, game-ready storage options built for people who care about performance and don’t want to pay an arm and leg. Here are six standout Gen4 drives that deliver excellent speed without pushing your budget over the edge.
To keep our options more accessible, I’ve decided to go with 1TB versions (and one 500GB version) of fast-performing and well-reputed internal SSDs. You might find better storage options in the prices that we’ve covered here, but it also usually means that corners were cut. Either way, these drives range from $40 - $120 giving you some great low to mid-range options!
1Corsair MP600 PRO XT
So you want something that won’t choke when you’re downloading the latest 150GB game update? This one’s got your back. That chunky aluminum heatspreader actually works - keeps the Phison E18 controller happy while it’s pushing 7,100/6,800 MB/s. The thing is, it’s genuinely thick, so if you’ve got a tiny PC case, measure first or you’ll be cursing at 2am trying to make it fit. High-density 3D TLC NAND gives you 700 TBW endurance, which means it’ll outlast your current gaming rig. Five-year warranty too, plus AES encryption if you’re paranoid about your game saves. Where it really shows off is sustained writes. Other drives slow down after a few minutes of heavy copying, but this one just keeps going. Worth it if you’re tired of installation progress bars moving like molasses.
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2Seagate FireCuda 530R
This is the endurance champion with 1,275 TBW, which is almost double most competitors. While other drives are showing off at peak speeds, the FireCuda just keeps working. Phison E18 controller pushes 7,400 MB/s reads and 7,000 MB/s writes through 3D TLC NAND, which makes it one of the fastest available. Thermal performance stays consistent even when you’re beating the crap out of it with heavy workloads. The five-year warranty includes three years of data recovery service, which is actually useful if you store important stuff beyond games. It costs just a little bit more thansome competitors with similar raw speeds, but that massive endurance rating is worth paying for if you’re constantly installing and deleting huge games or doing content creation work that hammers the drive daily.
3Samsung 990 PRO
Look, Samsung makes great stuff, and this is their best. The custom Pascal controller paired with V-NAND 3-bit MLC hits 7,450 MB/s reads and 6,900 MB/s writes, but the real magic is in those random performance numbers - 1.4M read IOPS and 1.55M write IOPS. Games load so fast you barely have time to read loading screen tips. Runs cooler and more energy-efficient than most drives too, which is weird because it’s also the fastest. Six hundred TBW endurance with a 5-year warranty, optional heatsink available if your motherboard looks naked. Everything else feels slow after using this thing, especially system responsiveness and boot times.
4WD_BLACK SN850X
WD made this specifically for gamers using their own proprietary controller, and it shows. Game Mode 2.0 optimizes how the drive handles game files for better load times. Hits 7,300 MB/s reads and 6,600 MB/s writes through 3D TLC NAND, and the heatsink versionworks perfectly in a PS5if that’s your thing. Six hundred TBW endurance with a 5-year warranty covering your investment. Problem is, without that heatsink, this drive gets hot as hell during extended use. For instance, thermal throttling is hot whenever performance drops. With proper cooling though, it’s smooth as butter for gaming loads and the PS5 compatibility makes console upgrades painless. Just don’t flake out on cooling, or you’ll regret it during those gaming sessions if performance starts tanking.
5Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus
This? This gives you cheap and cheerful Gen4 performance that works out great for gaming. The Phison E18 controller does 7,000 MB/s reads through 3D TLC NAND, but writes drop to 5,300 MB/s, which is still plenty fast for most people. Seven hundred TBW endurance means it’s built to last despite the lower price point. Real-world gaming feels snappy, and unless you’re constantly moving huge files around, you won’t notice the slower write speeds during normal use. Optional heatsink costs extra if you need cooling. Perfect for people who want Gen4 speeds without selling a kidney, but then again, don’t expect flagship-level performance during write-heavy workloads where that speed difference becomes obvious.
6Crucial P3 Plus
This is going to be our entry-level Gen4 for people who want to spend the lowest amount of money possible. Phison E21T controller with Micron’s 176-layer QLC NAND gets you 5,000 MB/s reads and 4,200 MB/s writes, which sounds slow compared to the others but is still way faster than any SATA drive you’re upgrading from. Only 500GB capacity keeps costs down (but there are bigger options available if you’re willing to spend more), and efficient power consumption makes it great for laptops where battery life matters. A five-year warranty provides some peace of mind. The catch? QLC NAND means only 220 TBW endurance and performance can tank during sustained writes when the cache fills up. This isn’t for hardcore gamers or content creators doing heavy work, it’s for normal people who want their computer to boot faster and load programs quicker without paying flagship prices.As long as you’re budgeting your space well, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem!
FAQ
Q: Do I need a heatsink for these SSDs?
Not always, but it helps. Some drives that you see in this list (like the WD SN850X or Corsair MP600 PRO XT) run hot under heavy load and may throttle without good airflow. If your case has poor ventilation, or you do long installs/content creation, get a version with a heatsink or add one separately.
Q: How much speed difference will I feel between these drives?
Most people won’t notice much difference between 7,000 MB/s and 5,000 MB/s in gaming alone. What you’ll feel more issystem responsiveness, app/game launch times, and how long installs/copies take. If you’re not moving massive files daily, the lower write speeds of budget drives won’t matter much.
Q: Why do some of these drives have much lower endurance (TBW)?
Drives like the Crucial P3 Plus use QLC NAND, which trades lifespan for cost. It’s fine for average users, but if you’re constantly writing/deleting large files (e.g. video editing, heavy modding), pick one with TLC NAND and higher TBW like the FireCuda 530R or Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus.
