I'm putting together a new PC and have been looking into SSDs, specifically NVMe options. I'm leaning towards the Samsung 990 Pro because I've heard great things about its performance. However, I've come across comments suggesting it might be overkill for my needs. Can someone explain why that is? I've also seen recommendations for SSDs with a cache. What's the significance of that feature? Should I go for a 2TB 990 Pro with cache or a 4TB Crucial P3, especially since they cost about the same? I also notice that many recommend the Crucial SSDs primarily for extra storage and I'm confused about why it might be unsuitable as a main drive. For context, I've used WD Black SSDs before, but I'm unsure if they had caches. Any help would be appreciated!
5 Answers
Samsung SSDs tend to come with premium pricing, often for features like SED that many users never need. If you’re not heavily into video editing or tasks that require high-speed storage transfers, saving money on a more budget-friendly SSD is a smart move. For gaming, both options can serve well, but don't overlook the advantages of larger capacity at a similar price.
Look into budget brands too; the TeamGroup G70 has a decent price/performance ratio, and I've heard good things about it. Plus, Samsung drives can be a bit pricey. It sounds like the 4TB Crucial P3 is a solid choice given your budget, especially since you don't need the absolute fastest speeds for general gaming and occasional work. More storage will be handy!
Thanks for the tip on the TeamGroup!
The Samsung 990 Pro is indeed a powerful drive, primarily known for its speed due to the DRAM cache. If you're planning to do work that demands more read/write speed, it shines there. However, if you won't be dealing with large files often, the Crucial P3 might suit your needs just fine, especially for gaming. Just remember, while Samsung is top-tier, there's no need to overspend for tasks that won't max it out!
Got it, thanks for breaking that down!
If you're mainly gaming and don't frequently deal with large file transfers, the speed differences between Gen 3 and Gen 4 SSDs are almost negligible—like just 0.1 seconds faster boot times. For someone who doesn't move big files often, you could probably just pick the cheapest option that meets your storage needs. Honestly, most SSDs will perform significantly better than HDDs, so you can't go wrong with a decent SSD.
True, when it comes to everyday use, the differences in speed aren't really noticeable for regular gaming or productivity tasks.
Haha, right? Unless you're a speed demon with constant file transfers, just save yourself some cash!
Are you strictly gaming, or do you plan on doing some productivity work? If you're mixing both, having a decent SSD is still a good idea, and the 2TB size is often enough for games and light productivity tasks like SolidWorks or occasional video editing. You can always add more storage later if needed!
I'm doing a bit of both, mostly gaming but some productivity work.
Good to know; I just assumed Samsung was the best option.