Which SSD should I buy for an ASUS ROG Strix B660-F Gaming WiFi motherboard?

For gaming, buy the most affordable NVMe SSD from a reputable manufacturer. PCIe 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 drives are backward compatible, so they’ll work in the motherboard’s slot at the fastest speed supported by both the drive and the system. PCIe 4.0 is generally a sensible balance of price and performance, while PCIe 5.0 costs more and produces more heat without much noticeable gaming benefit.

A well-known PCIe 3.0 or 4.0 NVMe model from brands such as Samsung, WD, Crucial, or another established manufacturer should be fine. Compare the price, warranty, endurance rating, and capacity rather than focusing only on the generation number. For gaming, the difference between SATA, PCIe 3.0, and PCIe 4.0 is usually small in actual loading times.

You probably don’t need to purchase a heatsink separately. This motherboard includes M.2 heatsinks, so use one of those if it fits your slot. Extra cooling is mainly useful for sustained, heavy transfers rather than normal gaming or everyday use. Make sure your case has reasonable airflow.

PCIe 4.0 used to be the obvious sweet spot, but the best choice depends on current pricing. A good PCIe 3.0 drive is perfectly adequate if you want to save money, while a PCIe 5.0 model only makes sense if the price premium is small or you regularly handle very large file transfers. Avoid unfamiliar brands with poor warranty support, and check that the drive is the standard M.2 2280 size.