Do I Need a DRAM-Equipped NVMe SSD for My Windows Boot Drive?
Asked by
MellowCedar42
I'm building a new PC and want to install Windows on a separate NVMe SSD instead of the included WD Green drive. I currently have an XPG Gammix S11 Pro with onboard DRAM, but it's an older model and I'm wondering whether upgrading would make a noticeable difference. Some newer NVMe drives no longer include DRAM and instead use Host Memory Buffer technology. For a reliable 1TB drive, I'm willing to spend up to about $300 CAD, and I can reuse the XPG drive for additional storage. I'm not interested in entry-level budget models, though I'd consider less familiar brands if the drive is genuinely high quality. Are models such as the FanXiang S880E or S770 worth considering, or should I choose something else?
Answers
A mainstream PCIe 4.0 NVMe drive is more than enough. Even a good PCIe 3.0 model will feel very similar for booting Windows and opening applications because those tasks involve lots of small operations rather than long sequential transfers. I wouldn’t spend anywhere near $300 CAD on a 1TB boot drive unless you have a specific professional workload.
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A DRAM cache isn’t required for a modern NVMe SSD. Most current DRAM-less NVMe drives support Host Memory Buffer, which lets them use a small amount of system RAM for mapping data. For Windows, gaming, and typical desktop workloads, a decent HMB-equipped drive performs well. DRAM matters more with SATA SSDs, which generally can’t use HMB.
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Onboard DRAM can still be beneficial, especially for sustained writes or when a drive is nearly full, but it isn’t a requirement and doesn’t automatically make a drive better. I’d prioritize a reputable controller, TLC NAND, a solid warranty, and reliable reviews over the DRAM label. Be cautious with obscure marketplace brands because specifications and NAND components can change without notice.
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Your XPG Gammix S11 Pro is already perfectly fine for a Windows boot drive. Replacing it with a newer NVMe probably won’t feel noticeably faster during normal use, so I’d reuse it unless you need more capacity or want a fresh drive for another reason.
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