I'm about to upgrade my PC's storage as it's filling up quickly. I'm considering getting a second SSD, ideally a 2TB, though a 4TB option would be appealing if I can find something within my budget. Right now, I have a 1TB CORSAIR ELITE MP600 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD, and my motherboard is ASUS TUF GAMING B850-PLUS WIFI. I've got a Gen 5 slot available, but I'm curious if switching from Gen 4 to Gen 5 will make a significant difference in performance. Additionally, I'm unsure if I need a heatsink for the new SSD; I remember needing one for my PS5. I primarily use my PC for gaming. Any suggestions or advice on what I should look for?
3 Answers
I would suggest going for a 4TB SSD like the SN850X if you're seriously considering expanding your storage. Games are getting larger, and you’ll appreciate not having to uninstall anything. Your motherboard already has built-in heatsinks, so unless you plan on heavy usage over a long time, you probably won’t need an additional heatsink. And hey, if you can hold off a bit, check around Black Friday for potential deals!
For everyday use and gaming, Gen 4 or even Gen 3 drives perform just fine. Gen 5 is mainly for intensive tasks like video editing. The speed differences for gaming? Barely noticeable. Look for drives with good random read speeds and enough DRAM cache. My go-to would be the SN850X—it's awesome for gaming, but keep in mind it might be a bit pricier depending on where you shop!
You really won't benefit much from Gen 5 right now. It's more about spending money than seeing a noticeable performance boost for regular tasks. If you're gaming, even a good Gen 4 drive will do the trick. I suggest looking at the Western Digital WD_BLACK SN7100; it's a solid 4TB option for around £219. You could save some cash with two 2TB drives instead if you want to keep the price down.
Thanks for the tip! I might just wait for some sales to pop up. Any recommendations on where to check for good deals?