Solid state drives promise to give your PC a modern feel. Apart from a solid CPU or GPU, there is hardly any other component that gives a PC such a “kick”; the computer will feel like it just got a makeover. The response behavior is simply sensational – not even a RAID array of conventional magnetic hard drives can keep up. Almost all tiny, annoying waiting times are reduced or eliminated. Since some larger games don’t even fit on it, the capacity of 256 GB is no longer advisable as a primary drive. That used to be a good entry point, but the heyday of small SSD drives is over. Because the limitations and performance hits compared to 128 and 256GB SSDs are just too big for users who are used to HDD storage size, and the price/performance ratio is no longer favorable. Therefore, gaming machines should have at least half a terabyte of capacity. For more detailed purchasing advice on SSDs in general, it is worth taking a look at our SSD guide. There we always maintain the latest price recommendation beyond Amazon Prime Day.
Samsung SSD 980 Pro and WD Black SN850: High-end SSDs at the best price on Prime Day
Source: PC Games Hardware
There is no doubt that the 980 Pro from Samsung is one of the best SSDs with PCI Express 4.0. There are now a few models that are a touch faster, but that’s really only in synthetic benchmarks. The same can be said of the WD Black SN850: It is in direct competition with the 980 Pro, but is just as slightly slower than models with a Phison controller, such as a Corsair MP600 Pro (XT). If you want to find out more about the performance, you will find a benchmark overview of all the SSDs we have tested so far here.
If you want a reliable and fast drive for your mid-range to high-end computer, you can buy this without hesitation. We recommend simply buying the cheapest of the SSDs just mentioned.
Samsung SSD 980 and WD Black SN770: Good middle class at the best price on Prime Day
Source: PC Games Hardware
The SSD 980 (without Pro) and the SN770 are also SSDs with the current and fast PCI Express 4.0 interface. They differ from the above “big brothers” only in slightly less performance, which is not noticeable, and in the lack of a DRAM cache. What is still a no-go with SATA SSDs is no longer critical with NVME models, because these models simply use the system RAM, so that they would not be disadvantaged in terms of performance or durability. These two models are also direct competitors because they are almost identically fast and equipped. So where to strike? Quite simply: with the cheaper of the two. Who should buy a more expensive model with a DRAM cache and who should buy one without? The 980 Pro or SN850 are suitable for power users who put heavy and frequent use on the SSD. This does not necessarily include gaming, but rather video editing, 3D rendering and other professional tasks. In short: If you don’t earn money with the PC, you really don’t need an (expensive) high-end SSD, for gamers a 980 (without Pro) or SN770 is completely sufficient.
Crucial MX 500: Good SATA SSD at the best price on Prime Day
Source: Crucial
Fancy an evergreen among the SATA SSDs? The Crucial MX500 was and still is one of the best 2.5-inch models. This is no longer up to date, a PCI Express SSD in the compact M.2 form factor is more practical, but also more expensive. As a fast second drive in the computer, for example for the game library, a SATA SSD is ideal and still absolutely sufficient.
In the SATA category you still get the best price per capacity. The 150 euros called for are also really cheap for two terabytes if we check the price in Geizhals. Of course, this price per capacity also occasionally applies to other models, but they are then equipped with cheaper QLC flash instead of more durable TLC flash or do not have a DRAM cache. Not so the Crucial MX500, which we can recommend unreservedly.
Even more SSD deals for Prime Day
- Samsung SSD 970 Evo Plus: A good model with DRAM cache from the PCI-E 3.0 era. It’s still relevant and not outdated, and the price for the capacity is unrivaled among M.2 models.
- Lexar NS100: The price is right for the capacity in a SATA SSD. However, there is only a three-year guarantee here. Sufficient for office PCs or as a second drive.
- Transcend 240 GB: Measly capacity, but one of the few SATA SSDs still available in the practical M.2 format. Possibly something for old notebooks, office PCs or HTPCs.
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