A 2.5-inch SSD is a quick, convenient upgrade for older laptops and an easy way to expand storage in a desktop PC with a SATA slot. Compared to a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD) is faster, lighter, and more durable. However, SSDs are also more expensive so you’ll want to make sure you’re buying the right one for your needs. To help you out, we’ve ranked the best 2.5-inch SSDs based on our extensive testing.
Daniel is an IT expert and bioengineer. He gained a background in computer hardware and electronics while serving as an IT Helpdesk Technician for three years. After completing his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering, he began working in biotechnology. He currently does research on heart surgery and invents new electronic devices.
After graduating from the University of Tsukuba's School of Art and Design, she joined a major home electronic retailer to put her knowledge of digital devices and software to use. Not only was she tasked with selling computers, she was responsible for sales of tech equipment such as printers and routers, proposing internet and communication services, and was in charge of forming comprehensive contracts for computer sales. Putting sales quotas and profits aside, she made it her goal to put the customers' needs first and match them with the best products. In 2022, she joined mybest as the head guide of PC equipment. Utilizing her experience and knowledge of various digital devices from major manufacturers such as Fujitsu and Dell, she is committed to producing articles that help connect users to the best PC products.
Our gold standard for an SSD with excellent sequential access speeds is a maximum output of 600MB/s via SATA3.
Our gold standard for an SSD with excellent random access speeds is a maximum output of 600MB/s via SATA3.
We based our standard for processing speed on the PCMark 10 set of tests. The theoretical maximum score a SATA SSD can achieve here is 1,500.
An SSD should be able to operate while maintaining a steady operating temperature, as overheating can cause the drive to fail.
All product tests
were conducted in-house at mybest
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.The mybest team independently conducts its own tests to rank products.
Table of Contents
Wondering if your laptop or desktop could benefit from a 2.5-inch SSD? Below, we’ll explain the reasons why you might need one.
2.5-inch SSDs are an excellent option for laptop storage. It’ll boost read/writing speeds, help your system run faster, and resist most physical shocks (very important if you’re not very careful with your laptop!). Of course, you’ll have to back up your data before swapping to a new SSD, but transfer times are relatively quick so you’ll be up and running in no time.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, 2.5-inch SSDs are more expensive than HDDs, so you’ll need to budget accordingly. Plus, you’ll have to check your laptop to see which interface it supports, as there are multiple standards like M.2 and mSATA.
If you have a desktop PC, you may be able to take advantage of the benefits of a 2.5-inch SSD if you have a spare SATA slot in your motherboard. While an NVMe-connected M.2 SSD may be faster, a 2.5-inch SSD is still a good way to expand storage if you can swing it.
Here are the points to keep in mind when choosing the best 2.5-Inch SSDs.
Consider an SSD’s read/write speeds if you want your system to boot quickly and handle data transfers with ease.
Sequential access refers to the continuous reading and writing of data. It’s commonly used for editing and transferring large video files.
Random access refers to the reading and writing of individual, disparate data. It’s commonly used for everyday applications and games.
There are drives available that are dedicated to either sequential access or random access. However, it’s rare that you’ll ever need to exclusively rely on one over the other.
For example, sequential access is useful for reading and writing lengthy video files, while random access is essential for working with shorter clips. To make the entire video editing process as seamless as possible, you’d want an SSD with fast sequential and random access speeds.
To reduce the risk of drive failure, look for a 2.5-inch SSD that maintains a low enough internal temperature to keep it running smoothly.
Naturally, when an SSD is used continuously its internal temperature gradually rises. If that temperature exceeds 158℉, the drive will likely overheat and then crash.
Fortunately, all of the 2.5-inch SSDs we tested didn’t pose a high risk of overheating, as none of them exceeded 122℉. (Originally, SATA connections were capable of maintaining lower temperatures than the NVMe connections used in M.2 SSDs.)
Still, if you’re particular about this spec, you can sort the drives in our ranking by “internal temperature” and find the ones with the highest scores (lowest temperatures).
All of the 2.5-inch SSDs we tested fared well when it came to basic performance, so we recommend choosing based on how much storage space you need and how much money you’re willing to spend.
SSDs with more free space are less likely to slow down, so look for a drive capacity that’s a notch above the minimum amount you need. While you’ll want to do your best to buy within your means, don’t opt for a super cheap SSD, either – there are counterfeit SSDs that may erase your data without permission in order to free up space.
Products | Image | mybest Score | Click to purchase | Key features | Main Score | Details | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sequential Access Speed | Random Access Speed | Processing Speed of Various Applications | Low Internal Temperature | Nominal Maximum Read Speed | Nominal Maximum Write Speed | Connection Type | Cell Type | DRAM-less | Total Bytes Written (TBW) | Sequential Access Read Speed | Sequential Access Write Speed | Random Access Read Speed | Random Access Write Speed | Maximum Temperature Under High Load | Range of Capacities | Manufacturer Warranty Period | Includes Cloning/Data Migration Software | ||||||
1 | SAMSUNG SAMSUNG 870 EVO SATA III SSD 1TB 2.5” Internal Solid State Drive|MZ-77E1T0B/AM | ![]() | 4.61 | mybest's Top Choice: Boasts Fast Performance Without Overheating | 4.45 | 4.50 | 4.71 | 5.00 | 560 MB/s | 530 MB/s | SATA | TLC | 600 | 559.96MB/s | 525.64MB/s | 387.47MB/s | 333.99MB/s | 37℃ | 1TB | 60 months | |||
2 | Lexar NS100 1TB 2.5” SATA III Internal SSD|LNS100-1TRBNA | ![]() | 4.56 | This SSD Stands Out for Its Well-Balanced Performance | 4.43 | 4.51 | 4.58 | 5.00 | 550MB/s | unknown | SATA | TLC | 512 | 560.88MB/s | 512.21MB/s | 394.76MB/s | 334.27MB/s | 35℃ | 1TB | 36 months | |||
3 | Crucial MX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5 Inch Internal SSD|CT1000MX500SSD1 | ![]() | 4.53 | This SSD Boasts Fast Speeds and Low Operating Temperature | 4.43 | 4.51 | 4.51 | 5.00 | 560MB/s | 510MB/s | SATA | TLC | 360 | 561.05MB/s | 511.98MB/s | 395.81MB/s | 335.07MB/s | 36℃ | 1TB | 60 months | |||
4 | Patriot Memory Patriot P210 1TB Internal SSD - SATA 3 2.5" - Solid State Drive|P210S1TB25 | ![]() | 4.52 | A Speedy, Affordable Drive That Can Withstand the Rigors of Daily Use | 4.45 | 4.32 | 4.59 | 5.00 | 520MB/s | 430MB/s | SATA | unknown | 480 | 562.07MB/s | 517.43MB/s | 357.72MB/s | 272.09MB/s | 37℃ | 1TB | 36 months | |||
4 | fanxiang S102 Pro SATA III Internal SSD | ![]() | 4.52 | Excellent Read Speeds But Below Average Write Speeds | 4.44 | 4.38 | 4.58 | 4.85 | 560 MB/s | 500 MB/s | SATA | SLC | 600 | 561.41MB/s | 515.82MB/s | 386.66MB/s | 285.66MB/s | 43℃ | 1TB | 36 months | |||
6 | SAMSUNG 870 QVO SATA III SSD 1TB 2.5" Internal Solid State Drive|MZ-77Q1T0B | ![]() | 4.51 | An Expensive SSD With Just-Above Average Speeds | 4.45 | 4.48 | 4.48 | 4.95 | 560MB/s | 530MB/s | SATA | MLC | 360 | 559.30MB/s | 526.40MB/s | 364.22MB/s | 334.27MB/s | 41℃ | 1TB | 36 months | |||
7 | Western Digital 1TB WD Blue SA510 SATA Internal Solid State Drive SSD|WDS100T3B0A | ![]() | 4.50 | Fast Random Access Speeds Plus Low Operating Temperatures | 4.45 | 4.45 | 4.46 | 5.00 | 560MB/s | 520MB/s | SATA | unknown | 400 | 558.07MB/s | 527.77MB/s | 354.68MB/s | 326.16MB/s | 32℃ | 1TB | 60 months | |||
8 | FanXiang S101 1TB SSD 2.5 inches SATA III 6Gb/s Internal Solid State Hard Drive up to 550MB/s | ![]() | 4.44 | Slow Random Access Speeds But Otherwise Suitable For Daily Use | 4.41 | 4.22 | 4.51 | 4.80 | 550 MB/s | 500 MB/s | SATA | TLC | unknown | 558.11MB/s | 503.11MB/s | 285.47MB/s | 299.69MB/s | 44℃ | 1TB | 60 months | |||
9 | PNY CS900 1TB 3D NAND 2.5" SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)|SSD7CS900-1TB-RB | ![]() | 4.42 | An Average SSD Hindered By Slow Random Read Speeds | 4.41 | 4.17 | 4.47 | 5.00 | 535MB/s | 515MB/s | SATA | unknown | unknown | 560.37MB/s | 502.18MB/s | 254.53MB/s | 310.76MB/s | 37℃ | 1TB | 36 months | |||
10 | Team Group CX2 SSD|T253X6001T0C101 | ![]() | 4.40 | Currently unavailable | A Budget SSD That Underperforms In Key Areas (Except Temperature Control) | 4.40 | 4.41 | 4.26 | 5.00 | 540 MB/s | 490 MB/s | SATA | SLC | 800 | 541.98MB/s | 514.65MB/s | 327.71MB/s | 334.40MB/s | 33℃ | 1TB | 36 months |
Sequential Access Read Speed | 559.96MB/s |
---|---|
Sequential Access Write Speed | 525.64MB/s |
Random Access Read Speed | 387.47MB/s |
Random Access Write Speed | 333.99MB/s |
Maximum Temperature Under High Load | 37℃ |
What we loved
What we didn't love
Our pick for the best 2.5-inch SSD overall is the Samsung 870 EVO SATA III SSD 1TB 2.5 Internal Solid State Drive. It’s peppy and capable of reading and writing data at great speeds – all without running too hot.
This SSD advertises sequential read speeds of up to 560MB/s and 530MB/s for sequential writes. In our tests, it hit 559.96MB/s and 525.64MB/s, respectively. Meanwhile, the average speed for random reads was 387.47MB/s and 333.99MB/s for random writes. These rate at or near the top in either category.
However, it really shines when it comes to everyday computing. Using the PCMark10 to benchmark performance, the Samsung 870 blew the rest of the competition away and was three times faster than the slowest SSD in our tests. The maximum operating temperature was 98.6℉. which is the average of all the drives we tested.
Price-wise, this SSD falls somewhere in the middle but it’s more affordable than the Samsung 870 QVO further down this list. We’d recommend stretching your budget a bit further if possible if you want a reliable drive that’ll be able to handle just about anything you throw at it.
Nominal Maximum Read Speed | 560 MB/s |
---|---|
Nominal Maximum Write Speed | 530 MB/s |
Connection Type | SATA |
Cell Type | TLC |
DRAM-less | |
Total Bytes Written (TBW) | 600 |
Range of Capacities | 1TB |
Manufacturer Warranty Period | 60 months |
Includes Cloning/Data Migration Software |
Sequential Access Read Speed | 560.88MB/s |
---|---|
Sequential Access Write Speed | 512.21MB/s |
Random Access Read Speed | 394.76MB/s |
Random Access Write Speed | 334.27MB/s |
Maximum Temperature Under High Load | 35℃ |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The Lexar NS100 1TB 2.5” SATA III Internal SSD may not be as fast as the Samsung 870 EVO above, but it still showcases a well-balanced performance.
It clocked an average sequential read speed of 560.88MB/s, and an average sequential write speed of 512.21MB/s. Meanwhile, the average random read and write speeds were 394.76MB/s and 335.07MB/s, respectively – both of which are slightly higher than the Samsung 870 EVO’s random read/write speeds. Its processing speeds are in the top-tier, and a maximum operating temperature of 95°F is one of the lowest we recorded in our tests.
You’ll pay a little more for this 2.5-inch SSD than others on our list, but it’s still on the more affordable side. This all-rounder should satisfy anyone who needs a drive that’ll be able to keep up with their workloads or games.
Nominal Maximum Read Speed | 550MB/s |
---|---|
Nominal Maximum Write Speed | unknown |
Connection Type | SATA |
Cell Type | TLC |
DRAM-less | |
Total Bytes Written (TBW) | 512 |
Range of Capacities | 1TB |
Manufacturer Warranty Period | 36 months |
Includes Cloning/Data Migration Software |
Sequential Access Read Speed | 561.05MB/s |
---|---|
Sequential Access Write Speed | 511.98MB/s |
Random Access Read Speed | 395.81MB/s |
Random Access Write Speed | 335.07MB/s |
Maximum Temperature Under High Load | 36℃ |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The Crucial MX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5 Inch Internal SSD has some of the fastest random read and write speeds we recorded in our tests. The average random read was 395.81MB/s, while the average random write speed was 335.79MB/s. Paired with sequential read and write speeds of 561.05MB/s and 511.98MB/s, respectively, this is another well-balanced SSD.
The processing speed of various apps measured by PCMark10 was slightly above average. The highest operating temperature we recorded was 96.8℉, indicating a low risk of disk failure due to overheating.
Nominal Maximum Read Speed | 560MB/s |
---|---|
Nominal Maximum Write Speed | 510MB/s |
Connection Type | SATA |
Cell Type | TLC |
DRAM-less | |
Total Bytes Written (TBW) | 360 |
Range of Capacities | 1TB |
Manufacturer Warranty Period | 60 months |
Includes Cloning/Data Migration Software |
Sequential Access Read Speed | 562.07MB/s |
---|---|
Sequential Access Write Speed | 517.43MB/s |
Random Access Read Speed | 357.72MB/s |
Random Access Write Speed | 272.09MB/s |
Maximum Temperature Under High Load | 37℃ |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The Patriot P210 1TB Internal SSD - SATA 3 2.5" Solid State Drive has an average sequential read speed of 562.07MB/s and an average sequential write speed of 517.43MB/s. This is well beyond what Patriot claims (520MB/s and 430MB/s, respectively).
Its average random read and write speeds are among the lowest in our tests, but they’re still quite satisfactory at 357.72MB/s (read) and 272.09MB/s (write). On the flip side, processing speeds significantly outpaced most of its competitors. A maximum operating temperature of 98.6℉ (the average among the drives we ranked) indicates a low risk of heat-related drive failure.
Nominal Maximum Read Speed | 520MB/s |
---|---|
Nominal Maximum Write Speed | 430MB/s |
Connection Type | SATA |
Cell Type | unknown |
DRAM-less | |
Total Bytes Written (TBW) | 480 |
Range of Capacities | 1TB |
Manufacturer Warranty Period | 36 months |
Includes Cloning/Data Migration Software |
Sequential Access Read Speed | 561.41MB/s |
---|---|
Sequential Access Write Speed | 515.82MB/s |
Random Access Read Speed | 386.66MB/s |
Random Access Write Speed | 285.66MB/s |
Maximum Temperature Under High Load | 43℃ |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The FanXiang S102 Pro 1TB 2.5" SSD Internal Hard Drive SATA III 6Gb/s has excellent sequential and random read speeds (561.41MB/s and 386.66MB/s). However, its average write speeds fall below average at 515.82MB/s (sequential) and 285.66MB/s (random). Despite that imbalance, it still performs well when it comes to everyday computing tasks, although it runs slightly warmer than most of the SSDs we tested (109.4℉).
Nominal Maximum Read Speed | 560 MB/s |
---|---|
Nominal Maximum Write Speed | 500 MB/s |
Connection Type | SATA |
Cell Type | SLC |
DRAM-less | |
Total Bytes Written (TBW) | 600 |
Range of Capacities | 1TB |
Manufacturer Warranty Period | 36 months |
Includes Cloning/Data Migration Software |
Sequential Access Read Speed | 559.30MB/s |
---|---|
Sequential Access Write Speed | 526.40MB/s |
Random Access Read Speed | 364.22MB/s |
Random Access Write Speed | 334.27MB/s |
Maximum Temperature Under High Load | 41℃ |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The Samsung 870 QVO SATA III SSD 1TB 2.5" Internal Solid State Drive recorded above average read, write, and performance speeds in our tests. Although it doesn’t outpace the Samsung 870 EVO that sits at the top of our list, we think it’s an otherwise balanced drive that can withstand daily computing tasks. However, it’s the most expensive SSD on our list and tends to run warmer than its competitors with a max recorded temperature of 105.8℉.
Nominal Maximum Read Speed | 560MB/s |
---|---|
Nominal Maximum Write Speed | 530MB/s |
Connection Type | SATA |
Cell Type | MLC |
DRAM-less | |
Total Bytes Written (TBW) | 360 |
Range of Capacities | 1TB |
Manufacturer Warranty Period | 36 months |
Includes Cloning/Data Migration Software |
Sequential Access Read Speed | 558.07MB/s |
---|---|
Sequential Access Write Speed | 527.77MB/s |
Random Access Read Speed | 354.68MB/s |
Random Access Write Speed | 326.16MB/s |
Maximum Temperature Under High Load | 32℃ |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The Western Digital 1TB WD Blue SA510 SATA Internal Solid State Drive SSD is an excellent choice if you prioritize random access read and write speeds, which we recorded at 354.68MB/s and 326.16MB/s on average, respectively. It also has the among the lowest operating temperatures we measured (89.6℉). Other than that, the sequential read/write speeds and processing speeds are just okay.
Nominal Maximum Read Speed | 560MB/s |
---|---|
Nominal Maximum Write Speed | 520MB/s |
Connection Type | SATA |
Cell Type | unknown |
DRAM-less | |
Total Bytes Written (TBW) | 400 |
Range of Capacities | 1TB |
Manufacturer Warranty Period | 60 months |
Includes Cloning/Data Migration Software |
Sequential Access Read Speed | 558.11MB/s |
---|---|
Sequential Access Write Speed | 503.11MB/s |
Random Access Read Speed | 285.47MB/s |
Random Access Write Speed | 299.69MB/s |
Maximum Temperature Under High Load | 44℃ |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The Fanxiang S101 1TB SSD 2.5 inches SATA III 6Gb/s Internal Solid State Hard Drive boasts very good sequential read and write speeds (558.11MB/s and 503.11MB/s on average, respectively) but its random access speeds are comparatively paltry at 285.47MB/s (read speed) and 299.69MB/s (write speed). Otherwise, it’s capable of handling everyday computing tasks at above-average speeds, although a 111.2℉ max operating temperature is among the highest in our tests.
Nominal Maximum Read Speed | 550 MB/s |
---|---|
Nominal Maximum Write Speed | 500 MB/s |
Connection Type | SATA |
Cell Type | TLC |
DRAM-less | |
Total Bytes Written (TBW) | unknown |
Range of Capacities | 1TB |
Manufacturer Warranty Period | 60 months |
Includes Cloning/Data Migration Software |
Sequential Access Read Speed | 560.37MB/s |
---|---|
Sequential Access Write Speed | 502.18MB/s |
Random Access Read Speed | 254.53MB/s |
Random Access Write Speed | 310.76MB/s |
Maximum Temperature Under High Load | 37℃ |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The PNY CS900 1TB 3D NAND 2.5" SATA III Internal Solid State Drive is quite average, but its recorded random read speed (254.53MB/s) is an obvious blind spot. On the other hand, processing speeds are above average on the PCMark 10 scale. A max internal temperature of 98.6°F will ensure a virtually non-existent risk of drive failure due to overheating.
Nominal Maximum Read Speed | 535MB/s |
---|---|
Nominal Maximum Write Speed | 515MB/s |
Connection Type | SATA |
Cell Type | unknown |
DRAM-less | |
Total Bytes Written (TBW) | unknown |
Range of Capacities | 1TB |
Manufacturer Warranty Period | 36 months |
Includes Cloning/Data Migration Software |
Sequential Access Read Speed | 541.98MB/s |
---|---|
Sequential Access Write Speed | 514.65MB/s |
Random Access Read Speed | 327.71MB/s |
Random Access Write Speed | 334.40MB/s |
Maximum Temperature Under High Load | 33℃ |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The Team Group CX2 2.5" 1TB SATA III 3D NAND Internal Solid State Drive is one of the cheapest drives on our list. However, it suffers from slow sequential access speeds on average (541.98MB/s read speed and 514.65MB/s write speed) as well as subpar processing speeds. On the flip side, a max temperature of 91.4℉ is among the lowest we measured, so you won’t have to worry about overheating at all.
Nominal Maximum Read Speed | 540 MB/s |
---|---|
Nominal Maximum Write Speed | 490 MB/s |
Connection Type | SATA |
Cell Type | SLC |
DRAM-less | |
Total Bytes Written (TBW) | 800 |
Range of Capacities | 1TB |
Manufacturer Warranty Period | 36 months |
Includes Cloning/Data Migration Software |
Sequential Access Read Speed | 552.66MB/s |
---|---|
Sequential Access Write Speed | 502.64MB/s |
Random Access Read Speed | 253.39MB/s |
Random Access Write Speed | 309.23MB/s |
Maximum Temperature Under High Load | 28℃ |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The Team Group QX 2.5" 1TB SATA III 3D NAND Internal Solid State Drive is the least expensive of the SSDs we tested. It also boasts the lowest temperature we recorded (82.4°F), so overheating won’t be a worry here. While its performance is decent for the price, its overall speeds lag behind its pricier and more sophisticated rivals.
Nominal Maximum Read Speed | 530MB/s |
---|---|
Nominal Maximum Write Speed | 470MB/s |
Connection Type | SATA |
Cell Type | SLC |
DRAM-less | |
Total Bytes Written (TBW) | 300 |
Range of Capacities | 1TB |
Manufacturer Warranty Period | 36 months |
Includes Cloning/Data Migration Software |
Sequential Access Read Speed | 554.27MB/s |
---|---|
Sequential Access Write Speed | 452.99MB/s |
Random Access Read Speed | 126.83MB/s |
Random Access Write Speed | 105.85MB/s |
Maximum Temperature Under High Load | 40℃ |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The SanDisk SSD PLUS 2.5" 1TB SATA III TLC Internal Solid State Drive is a mid-priced SSD hobbled by slow speeds, especially when it comes to random access (126.83MB/s read speed and 105.85MB/s write speed), which we believe is the reason behind its overall lackluster performance. On the plus side, it shouldn’t overheat.
Nominal Maximum Read Speed | 535MB/s |
---|---|
Nominal Maximum Write Speed | 350MB/s |
Connection Type | SATA |
Cell Type | SLC |
DRAM-less | |
Total Bytes Written (TBW) | unknown |
Range of Capacities | 1TB |
Manufacturer Warranty Period | 36 months |
Includes Cloning/Data Migration Software |
Sequential Access Read Speed | 554.11MB/s |
---|---|
Sequential Access Write Speed | 463.53MB/s |
Random Access Read Speed | 126.71MB/s |
Random Access Write Speed | 107.27MB/s |
Maximum Temperature Under High Load | 48℃ |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The Western Digital 1TB WD Green SATA SSD recorded average random read speeds of 126.71MB/s and average random write speeds of 107.27MB/s, which are both well below the baseline of the drives we tested. Processing speeds for various applications measured by PCMark10 were also significantly below average. A max operating temperature of 118.4℉ is the highest we recorded – although we should note that the risk of this drive overheating is still rather low.
Meanwhile, we recorded an average sequential read speed of 554.11MB/s, and an average sequential write speed of 463.53MB/s. Those aren’t terrible, but this SSD will struggle with common tasks that call upon random access, like saving photos.
Nominal Maximum Read Speed | 545MB/s |
---|---|
Nominal Maximum Write Speed | 545MB/s |
Connection Type | SATA |
Cell Type | SLC |
DRAM-less | |
Total Bytes Written (TBW) | unknown |
Range of Capacities | 1TB |
Manufacturer Warranty Period | 36 months |
Includes Cloning/Data Migration Software |
In searching for the best 2.5-inch SSDs, we looked for products with fast overall speeds (sequential and random access, as well as general computing tasks) that were unlikely to fail due to overheating. Our top picks are among the most popular SSDs at Amazon, Target, and other major retailers.
We evaluated each 2.5-inch SSD in the following categories:
Products we tested
Our gold standard for an SSD with excellent sequential access speeds is a maximum output of 600MB/s via SATA3.
We used Crystal Disk Mark benchmark software to measure sequential access values. Read and write speeds for each SSD were measured thrice, and the average values were evaluated on a 5:5 ratio.
OS: Windows 11 Pro
CPU: Intel Core i7-12700KF
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
Memory: 32GB DDR5
Our gold standard for an SSD with excellent random access speeds is a maximum output of 600MB/s via SATA3.
We used Crystal Disk Mark benchmark software to measure random access values. Read and write speeds for each SSD were measured thrice, and the average values were evaluated on a 5:5 ratio.
OS: Windows 11 Pro
CPU: Intel Core i7-12700KF
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
Memory: 32GB DDR5
We based our standard for processing speed on the PCMark 10 set of tests. The theoretical maximum score a SATA SSD can achieve here is 1,500.
We used PCMark 10 to measure benchmark scores, assuming the use of various apps. Higher PC Mark 10 scores yielded stronger ratings from us.
OS: Windows 11 Pro
CPU: Intel Core i7-12700KF
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
Memory: 32GB DDR5
An SSD should be able to operate while maintaining a steady operating temperature, as overheating can cause the drive to fail.
We used a specialty software that can measure the temperature of an SSD and logged the results from startup to the final benchmark test. Considering the risk of failure, the upper limit is 40°C/ 104°F. SSDs with lower internal temperatures scored higher.
OS: Windows 11 Pro
CPU: Intel Core i7-12700KF
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
Memory: 32GB DDR5
No. 1: SAMSUNG|SAMSUNG 870 EVO SATA III SSD 1TB 2.5” Internal Solid State Drive|MZ-77E1T0B/AM
No. 2: Lexar|NS100 1TB 2.5” SATA III Internal SSD|LNS100-1TRBNA
No. 3: Crucial|MX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5 Inch Internal SSD|CT1000MX500SSD1
No. 4: Patriot Memory|Patriot P210 1TB Internal SSD - SATA 3 2.5" - Solid State Drive|P210S1TB25
No. 4: fanxiang|S102 Pro SATA III Internal SSD
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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