I'm looking for some advice on selecting a secondary SSD for my gaming setup and dual booting with Linux. I found two options at a similar price point: the Kingston NV1 1TB NVMe SSD and the WD Blue 3D NAND 1TB SATA SSD. While the Kingston drive offers NVMe speeds, I'm a bit hesitant because I've heard mixed reviews about Kingston's build quality over time. On the other hand, the WD Blue is SATA but appears to be well-regarded for durability. Since I'm planning to install Linux distros on it and store games and clips, longevity is more important to me than just speed. Any thoughts?
3 Answers
Honestly, both of these drives are a bit outdated when it comes to technology. While the NVMe offers better speed, it's still an older Gen 3. If you're just using it for games, a SATA drive like the WD might actually suffice. Just be aware that the performance can vary based on what games you're playing. It really depends on the price point you're finding, though.
I'd go with WD as well. They have a solid reputation and you’ll benefit from having DRAM cache, which helps with performance. The Kingston NV1, on the other hand, uses QLC flash, which isn't as durable. If you’re thinking longer-term, the WD Blue might be the safer bet.
I'd lean towards the WD Blue. I've had pretty good experiences with their drives, and it seems every WD SSD I've owned has been solid. Kingston has had some issues in the past with their drives being quietly downgraded, so just make sure you check that whatever version you get matches the reviewed one.
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