I'm looking to upgrade my storage from a 512GB SATA SSD since prices for SSDs have been rising lately, especially in Asia. I'm considering NVMe drives and want to know what to look for. Gamers, what are your thoughts on the importance of DRAM versus non-DRAM drives? How do QLC and TLC compare? And is there really a difference between PCIe 4.0 and 5.0 for my use case? For context, I download large games, usually 80-100GB, while dealing with some bottlenecking from my current setup. Additionally, I don't do heavy workstation tasks, so would high write speeds even matter for gaming? I'm working with a B650M-A Wifi, 7800x3d, 9070xt, and 32GB RAM, all at 6000MHz CL30. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
When it comes to lifespan, having DRAM can extend the life of an SSD. High write speeds aren't completely useless for you, but they might not be a priority. So, if you can save some cash on a non-DRAM drive, that could work fine—just keep an eye on your usage.
Honestly, choosing a PCIe 4.0 or Gen 3 drive should be just fine. Gen 5 requires extra cooling and doesn't offer much benefit for typical gaming. Just stick with reputable brands like Western Digital. A good example is the WX SN7100. I used a DRAMless SSD for a while and didn’t feel a noticeable impact.
DRAM can be really helpful if you're transferring large files often, but most gamers don’t notice a significant difference unless you're constantly updating massive game files. As for QLC vs TLC, TLC drives perform better under load, while QLC can slow down after the cache fills up. Considering your usage, Lexar NM790 might be your best affordable option.
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