Top 20 best SSDs for desktop and notebook computers: ranking 2021-2022 and what company to buy a drive for value for money
SSD-drive (solid-state drive) - has recently become increasingly popular.
It is an innovative device for data storage.
It can not only read but also write information.
In addition, SSDs most often consume much less power and are more resistant to mechanical damage than their mechanical predecessors.
Top 20 Best SSDs for 2021-2022
Place | Name | Price |
---|---|---|
Top 3 best SSDs for your computer | ||
1 | Samsung MZ-76E500BW | Check price |
2 | Samsung MZ-76E250BW | You can find out the price of |
3 | Samsung MZ-V7S500BW | Find out the price |
Top 3 best SSD drives for notebooks | ||
1 | Western Digital WD GREEN PC SSD 240 GB | Check price |
2 | Kingston SA400S37/240G | Check price |
3 | Western Digital WD BLUE 3D NAND SATA SSD 500 GB | Check price |
Top 3 Best M.2 SSD Drives | ||
1 | ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 Pro 512GB | Check price |
2 | Samsung MZ-V7S1T0BW | Check price |
3 | Samsung MZ-N6E250BW | Find out the price |
Top 2 Best 120GB SSD Drives | ||
1 | Kingston SA400S37/120G | Check price |
2 | Western Digital WD GREEN PC SSD 120 GB | Learn the price |
Top 3 best 240 GB SSD drives | ||
1 | Western Digital WD GREEN PC SSD 240 GB | Learn the price |
2 | Crucial CT240BX500SSD1 | Check out the price |
3 | SanDisk SDSSDA-240G-G26 | Learn the price |
Top 3 best 500GB SSD drives | ||
1 | Crucial CT500MX500SSD1 | Check price |
2 | Samsung MZ-N6E500BW | Check out the price |
3 | Western Digital WD BLUE 3D NAND SATA SSD 500 GB | Learn the price |
Top 3 best 1TB SSD drives | ||
1 | Samsung MZ-76E1T0BW | Learn the price |
2 | Western Digital WD BLUE 3D NAND SATA SSD 1 TB | Check price |
3 | Samsung MZ-76Q1T0BW | Check price |
Synopsis of
- Top 20 Best SSDs of 2021-2022
- What's better and what's the difference between an SSD and an HDD?
- How to choose and what to look for?
- Best SSD for your computer price-performance
- Best SSD drives for your laptop
- Best SSD Drives with M.2 Socket
- Best 120GB SSD Drives
- 240 GB Best SSD Drives
- Best 500GB SSD drives
- Best 1TB SSD Drives
- Pros and cons of SSD
- How to connect to a computer
- How to move Windows from HDD to SSD
- Is MBR or GPT better for SSD?
- Popular manufacturers and their advantages
- Buyer Reviews
- Useful Videos
What's the difference between SSD and HDD?
The main difference between SSD and HDD (magnetic hard disk drive) is the way data is stored. The first type of drive stores information on chips, while the second uses a magnetic method.
The second major difference in these drives is the device.
The HDD consists of the following components:
- electric drive;
- write and read heads;
- several disks.
The rotational speed of magnetic hard disks, depending on the model, is from 5 to 10 thousand revolutions per minute and the read/write speed is from 60 to 100 MB/s.
The main disadvantages of HDDs are noise and low data read and write speeds. A plus is the large amount of memory.
SSD device is as follows:
- connection interface (SATA or ePCI);
- cache (not all models);
- memory controller;
- NAND flash memory;
- printed circuit board.
Depending on the connection interface and the SSD model, write and read speeds of up to 1GB/s can be achieved.
The advantages of modern SSD drives are much more than magnetic hard drives, so experts recommend you opt for them.
How to choose and what to look for?
There are a wide variety of SSDs on the market for consumers to choose from.
When choosing, you should pay attention to the following points:
- Volume. SSDs, depending on the model, have memory from 32 to 2000 GB. The choice of the drive directly depends on how it will be used. Experts recommend buying models with a memory of 120-240 GB. They have a reasonable price and their volume is enough for the installation of the system, necessary software and a few sufficiently large games.
- Form Factor. The most common and convenient models are considered the 2.5 inch format. mSATA and M.2 are compact form factors that are ideal for small devices and laptops. The PCI-E form factor is one of the best. It has the fastest write and read speeds.
- Memory. There are currently 3 types - MLC (2 bit), TLC (3 bit) and 3D NAND. The first type is the best combination of quality and price.
For home use, an SSD with a capacity of 60-128 GB is ideal. If you give preference to more reliable models - MLC for 200-500 GB or 3D NAND.
The best SSDs for your computer price-performance
The best SSD models are reliable, long-lasting, high read speeds and quiet operation.
Samsung MZ-76E500BW.
A model that can significantly increase your computer's power and performance.. Due to the presence of a large amount of memory in 500 GB, which is enough not only to install the operating system, but also to store enough information to install even a large video games and other software.
The presence of data encryption will reliably protect your device from data leakage and hacking.
The maximum read and write speed is 550 MB/s and 520 MB/s, respectively.
The connection to the computer system is made through a physical interface SATA III.
It's worth mentioning that this is one of the best models of 2021-2022.
Specifications:
- Volume - 500 GB;
- Interface - SATA III;
- resource - 150 TBW;
- Additional support - AES-256 encryption, SMART, TRIM, WWN.
Advantages of
- high write speed;
- high quality build;
- easy installation;
- lightweight;
- large volume.
Disadvantages
- were not detected.
Samsung MZ-76E250BW
Model, is able to significantly increase the memory of the device thanks to a fairly large capacity, which is equal to 250 GB.
On the drive you can download quite a lot of information, including video games, which will run almost instantly. This is due to the maximum read and write speed, which is equal to 520 MB / s.
The drive features a wide range of form factors, making it compatible with almost all host devices.
TurboWrite* buffer size has been increased to 78GB for faster file transfers. Data security is ensured by ES-256 encryption.
Specifications:
- Capacities are 250GB;
- Interface - SATA III;
- 150 TBW service life;
- Optional - support for AES-256 encryption, SMART, TRIM, WWN.
Pros of
- long warranty;
- excellent speed;
- reliability;
- performance;
- own utility Samsung Magician.
Disadvantages
- were not found.
Samsung MZ-V7S500BW
The model with the best performance thanks to the optimized firmware and the innovative NVMe technology. optimized firmware and innovative NVMe technology..
The device offers very high write and read speeds of up to 3,500/3300MB/s, respectively.
Despite its improved performance, it consumes very little power.
That's thanks to its intelligent Intelligent TurboWrite technology, Phoenix controller and optimized firmware.
Specifications:
- Capacity - 512GB
- PCI-E 3.0 x4 interface;
- resource - 300 TBW;
- Optional support for AES-256 encryption, SMART, TRIM, WWN.
Pros of
- no heat
- very fast;;
- high quality build;
- compact;
- reliability.
Disadvantages
- were not detected.
Best SSD drives for your laptop
SSD drives can significantly increase the capabilities of laptops by expanding their memory and performance. The ranking of the best models, which are characterized by compactness, reliability and reasonable cost.
Western Digital WD GREEN PC SSD 240 GB
Budget-friendly model in spite of its compact size can significantly increase the notebook performance.
The device is equipped with SATA 15 pin power interface and TLC 3D NAND chip. The impressive memory capacity of 240 GB allows you to store all the necessary data on the device and install even very large video games.
It has a maximum read/write speed of 545MB/s, allowing you to download your files almost instantly..
The absence of separable and moveable parts multiplies the life of the drive.
Specifications:
- 240 GB capacity;
- Interface - SATA III;
- Resource - 80 TBW;
- Additional support - TRIM, WWN.
Pros of
- high speed;
- easy to install;
- reasonable cost;
- long warranty period;
- reliability.
Disadvantages
- were not found.
Kingston SA400S37/240G
Stylish model with a large enough capacity of 240 GB, which is enough not only to Install your operating system, but also to install a large number of programs and applications..
The drive is capable of speeding up your PC's startup and files several times over. In addition, with this device will be much faster to download and save files from the Internet.
The device is equipped with a TLC memory chip and a Phison PS3111-S11 controller.
A three-year warranty and free maintenance make this device even more attractive.
Specifications:
- Capacity - 240 GB;
- Interface - SATA III;
- Resource - 80 TBW;
- Additional support - TRIM, WWN.
Pros of
- great speed;
- low price;
- large memory capacity;
- sturdy casing;
- compact.
Cons
- Speed decreases slightly over time.
Western Digital WD BLUE 3D NAND SATA SSD 500 GB
Reasonably priced model can hold a very large amount of information per unit area.
This is due to the innovative 3D memory architecture. NANDXtend technology provides correction of all known errors and verification and recovery with a three-level algorithm. Digital Signal Processing significantly extends the life of TLC memory.
The drive uses the latest "SSD TRIM check tool for Windows" cleaning system.
The TLC 3D NAND memory chip provides not only great capacity but also reliability.
Specifications:
- Capacity - 500 GB;
- Interface - SATA III;
- service life - 200 TBW;
- additional support - TRIM, WWN.
Pros of
- reasonable cost;
- Reduced power consumption;
- high speed;
- does not heat up;
- sufficient service life.
Disadvantages
- none.
Best SSDs with M.2 Socket
SSDs with an M.2 socket are becoming increasingly popular. This is due to their fairly high speed, compact size, and very high storage capacity.
ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 Pro 512GB
Capable of achieving relatively high read and write speeds of up to 3500/2300MB/с.
Large capacity SLC cache enables storage of considerable amount of data.
Built-in heatsink prevents overheating even during extended use.
Comprehensive data protection keeps your device safe from hacking.
The innovative LDPC ECC technology provides high speed performance even for high capacity video games and demanding applications
Specifications:
- Capacity - 512GB
- Interface - PCI-E 3.0 x4;
- 320 TBW;
- TRIM support.
Pros of
- beautiful design;
- compact
- decent speed;
- cooling system;
- large memory capacity.
Cons
- Only suitable for Windows 10.
Samsung MZ-V7S1T0BW
Updated model that can increase your computer's performance several times over. That's because it uses innovative NVMe technology, V-NAND, and optimized firmware.
Intelligent TurboWrite function and Phoenix controller improve power efficiency.
Plenty of memory in an M.2 (2280) form factor..
Quality construction ensures reliability and durability. Auto-monitoring and dynamic thermal protection protects against overheating.
Technical specifications:
- Capacity - 1024 GB
- PCI-E 3.0 x4 interface
- resource - 600 TBW;
- TRIM support.
Pros of
- large memory capacity;
- very high speed
- thermal protection;
- compactness;
- high quality build.
Cons
- high cost.
Samsung MZ-N6E250BW.
Model belonging to the form factor 2280, can be used in almost any desktop and mobile computers that support M.2 devices.
Available in capacities up to 250GB, it lets you not only store large amounts of data but also download large files. Fast read and write speeds let you run PCs, apps, games, and other files almost instantly.
Shock resistance of 1500 G prolongs the life span of the device by several times.
It uses only 2.4W of power, saving you money on energy costs.
Specifications:
- Capacity - 250 GB
- PCI-E 3.0 x4 interface
- Power capacity - 150 TBW;
- Additional support - TRIM, S.M.A.R.T, WWN, Garbage Collection technology.
Pros of
- very fast
- does not heat up;
- large memory size;
- high quality build;
- shockproof casing.
Cons
- high price.
The best 120GB SSDs
Drives with a 120GB capacity differ from others with a larger capacity with slightly reduced performance. Nevertheless, they are great for home use, as they can store quite a large amount of information and significantly improve PC performance. In the ranking of the best are models that do an excellent job with their functions.
Kingston SA400S37/120G.
Budget model is able to increase the performance of your computer by several times. The memory capacity of 120 GB is enough not only to install the operating system, but also to store the necessary information on the device and install even very high-capacity applications.
It has a high read/write speed of 450MB/s and 500MB/s making your system, apps, and games almost effortless.
Rugged enclosure greatly extends the life of the device. Thanks to the optimal capacity, the device can be installed not only as an additional storage device, but also as a primary storage device.
Specifications:
- Capacity - 120 GB;
- SATA III interface;
- service life - 40 TBW;
- optionally - no.
Pros of
- lightweight
- compact;;
- high speed;
- sturdy housing;
- good performance.
Cons
- Slightly slower than the manufacturer claims.
Western Digital WD GREEN PC SSD 120 GB
A compact model that will dramatically increase your PC's speed and performance.. The memory capacity of 120GB is enough for home use.
It lets you run even demanding applications in no time. TLC 3D NAND memory type makes it possible to store all necessary information.
One of the most common physical SATA 3 interfaces is used to connect to the motherboard.
High read and write speeds can satisfy even the most fastidious user.
Specifications:
- Capacity - 120 GB;
- Interface - SATA III;
- Resource - 40 TBW;
- TRIM support.
Pros of
- no heat;
- several times longer life than the manufacturer's claims;
- excellent speed;
- high quality build;
- low cost.
Disadvantages
- none.
Best 240GB SSDs
The 240GB SSDs are ideal for loading enough applications, including video games, which makes them especially attractive to gamers.
Western Digital WD GREEN PC SSD 240 GB
The ultimate upgrade for your laptop or computer.. You can use it as an additional hard drive or as a memory stick. Your hard drive can be both an add-on and a primary drive.
High speed reading and writing speed increases the performance of the device several times. Equipped with TLC 3D V-NAND memory chip and Silicon Motion SM2256S controller.
Innovative LDPC ECC error correction technology can increase the life of the instrument several times over.
The rugged plastic housing reliably protects the mechanism from damage.
The model does not lose its relevance in 2021-2022.
Technical specifications:
- capacity - 120 GB;
- Interface - SATA III;
- Resource - 40 TBW;
- TRIM support is optional.
Pros of
- great speed;
- high performance;
- reliable;
- noiselessness;
- shockproof housing.
Cons
- heats up.
Crucial CT240BX500SSD1.
A model that matches the 2.5-inch form factor, it's ideal for both Ideal for mobile and desktop computers.
Ideal storage capacity of 240GB allows the drive to be used as a primary drive. One of the most common types of physical interface SATA III is used for connection.
Equipped with TLC 3D NAND memory chip and the popular Silicon Motion SM2258XT controller.
The maximum write and read speed of 540 MB/s makes loading the system, applications and games almost instantaneous.
Specifications:
- Capacity - 120 GB;
- Interface - SATA III;
- Resource - 80 TBW;
- TRIM support.
Pros of
- low cost;
- good build quality;
- high performance;
- excellent speed;
- ample memory.
Cons
- heats up.
SanDisk SDSSDA-240G-G26
Stylish model with high performance can significantly improve the performance of computer.
Its durable shell and lack of moving parts gives your device a longer life. Fast read and write speeds allow systems, apps, and games to launch almost instantly.
Innovative self-diagnostics and analysis and monitoring technology detect and correct common errors.
Available in capacities of 240GB, it lets you download demanding applications and games.
This is one of the highest quality models for 2021-2022.
Specifications:
- Capacity - 120 GB;
- Interface - SATA III;
- service life - 80 TBW;
- TRIM and SMART support.
Pros of
- high speed;
- great performance;
- reliability;
- sturdy housing;
- long warranty period.
Disadvantages
- none.
Best 500GB SSDs
SSDs with 500GB of memory are long-lasting, highly reliable and high performance. They can be installed as both primary and secondary memory sources.
Crucial CT500MX500SSD1
The advanced model is capable of increasing your computer's performance by several times.
It is conditioned by a rather high reading and writing speed of 560/510 Mbytes/sec respectively. The device is equipped with 64 layers of TLC memory, a controller and firmware.
Built-in temperature sensor will reliably protect the mechanism from overheating.
The rugged metal housing and the absence of moving parts greatly increase the life of the device.
Specifications:
- 500 GB capacity;
- Interface - SATA III;
- service life - 180 TBW;
- TRIM and SMART support.
Pros of
- long warranty
- metal housing;
- thermal protection;
- high speed;
- support for all platforms.
Disadvantages
- were not found.
Samsung MZ-N6E500BW
The model of excellent quality and high specifications corresponds to the form-factor 2280.
Affordable connection is the most popular connection now available. This device uses a physical interface SATA 3. Pretty high write and read speeds allow you to significantly boost your PC's performance.
The innovative TRIM technology gives the device the longest possible lifespan.
The device is equipped with a TLC 3D V-NAND memory chip and a Samsung MJX controller for smooth operation.
Specifications:
- Volume - 500 GB;
- Interface - SATA III;
- resource - 300 TBW;
- Additional support - TRIM, SMART, WWN, Garbage Collection technology.
Pros of
- high speed;
- great performance;
- no heat;
- long warranty period;
- compact.
Cons
- high cost.
Western Digital WD BLUE 3D NAND SATA SSD 500 GB
Based on innovative 3D NAND technology, developed especially for computing systems.
Enjoys superior computer performance with a blazing 530-560MB/s read/write speed. Its shockproof exterior and lack of moving parts gives this SSD a longer lifespan.
WD SSD Dashboard software has the ability to monitor all PC characteristics such as operating temperature, available capacity, SMART attributes and more.
3D NAND technology enables compatibility with virtually any device.
Specifications:
- 500GB capacity;
- Interface - SATA III;
- Resource - 200 TBW;
- Additional support - TRIM, SMART, WWN, Garbage Collection technology.
Advantages of
- Compatibility with almost all PCs;
- high speed;
- great performance; - reliability;
- reliability;
- long warranty.
Disadvantages
- were not found.
Best 1TB SSD Drives
SSD drives for 1TB allow you to store quite a large amount of information on the computer, while not reducing, and increasing its performance. The top positions in the ranking of the best models provide high speed reading/writing, are reliable and have a long service life.
Samsung MZ-76E1T0BW
The improved model offers consistently high read and write speeds even when Multitasking and even under the heaviest loads.
Advanced technology makes this drive compatible with virtually any PC. Uses the most widely-used SATA III physical interface for connectivity
The device is equipped with Samsung MJX controller and TLC 3D V-NAND memory chip.
The computer's excellent performance is ensured by high write and read speeds of 520/550 MB/s, respectively.
This model has excellent performance in 2021-2022.
Specifications:
- Capacity - 1000 GB;
- Interface - SATA III;
- Resource - 600 TBW;
- Additional support - encryption, TRIM, SMART, WWN.
Pros of
- compact;
- high speed;
- quiet;
- long warranty period;
- there is data encryption.
Cons
- high cost.
Western Digital WD BLUE 3D NAND SATA SSD 1 TB
Compact model with a four-channel Marvell 88SS1074 controller provides Secure and reliable operation of your PC.
High read and write speeds improve your productivity. Large enough memory capacity allows you to store all the necessary information, including quite large files.
TRIM function allows you to delete unnecessary files completely.
Innovative NCQ technology significantly improves performance. The shock-resistant casing and absence of moving parts increase the lifetime of the drive several times over.
Specifications:
- Capacity - 1000 GB;
- Interface - SATA 6Gb/s;
- Resource - 400 TBW;
- Optional - support for encryption, TRIM, NCQ.
Pros of
- good capacity;
- high speed;
- does not heat up;
- reliable;
- sturdy housing.
Disadvantages
- were not detected.
Samsung MZ-76Q1T0BW
The model with a high life of 360 TBW is able to increase the PC performance.
The presence of data encryption will reliably protect your device from hacking and data theft. Equipped with QLC 3D NAND memory chip and Samsung MJX controller, it fits into the 2.5-inch form factor.
The most popular SATA III physical interface is used for connection..
Sufficiently high read and write speeds make system, application and video content startup almost instantaneous.
Technical specifications:
- Capacity - 1024 GB;
- Interface - SATA 3;
- resource - 360 TBW;
- Optional - support for encryption, TRIM, NCQ.
Pros of
- high-quality construction;
- large memory capacity;
- excellent speed;
- sturdy housing;
- long warranty.
Cons
- high cost.
Pros and cons of SSDs
The advantages of this type of drive include:
- absence of noise;
- high write speed;
- reliability;
- long service life;
- Low power consumption;
- No need for maintenance.
Disadvantages - low capacity and high cost.
How to connect it to your computer
You can install a SSD to your computer as a primary drive or as an additional drive.
Before buying, make sure that the power supply cable is long enough and that you have an additional SATA interface cable. Otherwise you will have to buy all the necessary components.
The SSD installation algorithm will be as follows:
- Unplug the computer from the mains.
- Remove the right cover of the system unit.
- Secure the drive.
- Attach the SATA cables to the motherboard.
- Apply power to the power supply.
- Replace the cover.
Then BIOS and operating system must be installed..
How to Transfer Windows from HDD to SSD
The most important thing when transferring Windows from one drive to another is to keep all the data in working condition. The right steps will protect you from having to reconfigure the operating system.
The migration algorithm is as follows:
- Transfer all data from the HDD to a third-party drive or flash drive.
- Remove all unnecessary applications using a special utility.
- Scan the disk with an antivirus program.
- Connect the SDD to the motherboard.
- Run Acronis True Image.
- Choose AUTO mode.
- Then choose the source disk.
- Copy the partitions without making any changes.
- Select in the following sequence - source, target, clone.
- Wait until it completes.
- Set to boot from the new drive.
- Install software.
Then you can transfer all the saved data from the flash drive.
Which is better for SSD - MBR or GPT?
When installing the operating system, the user is offered to choose the GPT or MBR standard. To know which one to choose, it is necessary to study the features.
Any drive has only one physical partition, but it can be divided into several sectors, each of which will store certain information.
In MBR you can make only 4 main partitions, in GPT there are no restrictions. The user can create as many sectors as needed. The maximum is up to 128.
The next point is the amount of memory. MBR can use no more than 2TB of memory, while GPT has no limitations.
The MBR is virtually unrecoverable and rarely handles errors, which can cause you to lose all data stored on the disk.
GPT can run a self-healing operation and has a large assortment of error codes.
Also, which standard to choose will depend on the age of the system. GPT is most suitable for a new one, and MBR for an old one.
Popular manufacturers and their benefits
Shopper Testimonials
One of the most important parameters when choosing a solid-state drive is the brand of the manufacturer. When buying, it is advisable to give preference to models from reputable companies.
The top positions in the ranking of the best are:
- Kingston. Drives this manufacturer is different reliability, durability, high level of technical solutions and reasonable cost.
- Samsung. Disks brand has a high reading speed, modern memory base and excellent performance.
- Western Digital. The models of this brand have proprietary software, excellent power efficiency and fast performance.
- Transcend. The manufacturer's drives have a wide range of form factors, high reading speeds and a budget price.
- Silicon Power. The brand's drives are compact and durable. Many models have coolers and auto-updating firmware.
- Sandisk .. The manufacturer offers a wide range of models that have a special type of memory, specialized software and high performance.
When choosing the most suitable model, you need to rely on the capabilities and compliance with all the necessary criteria.
Helpful video
Watch this video to learn how to choose a SSD drive for your PC or notebook: