I'm building a new PC after a few years and I'm debating whether to use a Gen 5 NVMe M.2 drive or stick with my current SATA SSD for the boot drive. I assume the Gen 5 won't be worth it, but I can't find much info specifically comparing newer generations like Gen 4 and Gen 5. My experience has mostly been with a Gen 3 drive used for file transfers, rendering, and occasional gaming. Should I just go with the SATA SSD as my boot drive?
2 Answers
Honestly, any SSD, including Gen 3 and 4, is better for booting than a SATA SSD. Gen 5 might be overkill right now if you don't have specific needs, but I wouldn't stick with SATA if you have the choice. Plus, you can grab NVMe coolers for those Gen 5 drives, which can help with performance.
If you're investing in a new build, definitely go for an NVMe drive. There's really no reason to use a SATA SSD unless you’re reusing old components. Gen 4 is super fast for booting and gaming. Stick to NVMe for both your OS and important game files.
Totally agree! I've noticed a big difference in performance with Gen 3 and 4. Plus, the price difference is often minimal, so why not go with the faster option?