Hey everyone! I'm in the market for a new M.2 SSD to boost my gaming storage. My PC is a few years old and with the growing size of new games that often require SSDs, I need something new. I'm specifically looking for a 2TB drive that costs $100 or less, ideally maintaining a price of 5 cents per GB. This SSD won't be used as a boot drive since I plan to get a high-end 990 Pro or a WD SN850x for my next build, which is why I'm looking for something more budget-friendly right now. I also came across some discussions about companies altering SSDs, which raises some concerns. I'd appreciate any recommendations or tips you might have. Thanks a lot! Just to clarify, I'm looking for a 2280 form factor SSD. Cheers!
3 Answers
Any NVMe SSD should work well for gaming; the performance differences are usually minimal. The 990 Pro and WD SN850x are great for future-proofing but aren't necessary right now. For gaming, any mid-range NVMe will do just fine. Check out the flowchart on the subreddit for more model suggestions—something in the entry to mid-range should suffice.
A great option you might consider is the [Silicon Power UD90](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/f4cG3C/silicon-power-ud90-2-tb-m2-2280-pcie-40-x4-nvme-solid-state-drive-sp02kgbp44ud9005). It's just under $100, has PCIE 4.0 support, and uses TLC NAND, which is pretty decent for the price.
Don't overlook sustained write speeds, especially if you’re going to be downloading large games or patching often. You want an SSD that can handle those tasks efficiently.
"Any" NVMe could be fine, but be aware that less reliable options might burn out quickly. Reliability can cost a bit more, so keep that in mind.