SSD Drives – How to Choose the Right Storage Solution

NVMe vs SATA – the speed difference

NVMe drives like the Lexar 512GB M.2 NM620 (LNM620X512G-RNNNG) SSD disk PCI Express 3.0 use the PCI Express interface and deliver read/write speeds up to 7 times faster than SATA drives. SATA SSDs remain an excellent choice for older computers or as secondary storage due to their affordability. For new systems and gaming, NVMe is the standard that makes a noticeable difference in everyday use.

M.2 format – compact and modern

M.2 drives take up minimal space and mount directly onto the motherboard without any cables. Models such as the SILICON POWER A60 1TB - 2280 M.2 NVMe SSD use the 2280 dimension (22mm width, 80mm length) which is the most common in modern laptops and desktop PCs. Check your motherboard's M.2 slot support before purchasing.

PCIe generations and performance

PCIe 3.0 drives offer speeds up to 3500 MB/s and are perfectly adequate for most users, while PCIe 4.0 reaches 7000 MB/s but requires a compatible motherboard. The Synology 400GB M.2 (SNV3510-400G) SSD disk PCI Express 3.0 demonstrates how specialized drives offer optimization for intensive workloads. PCIe 5.0 drives are just arriving on the market and are primarily aimed at professionals.

Capacity and price per gigabyte

For the operating system and basic programs, 256GB is sufficient, while for gaming and multimedia production we recommend a minimum of 512GB to 1TB. 1TB models currently offer the best price-to-capacity ratio. Brands like Kingston, Crucial and Corsair provide reliable options across all price ranges.

TBW and SSD lifespan

The TBW (Total Bytes Written) specification shows how much data you can write before the drive begins to degrade – modern SSDs can be used for years without concern. QLC memory is more affordable but has a lower TBW than TLC memory. For everyday use both technologies are reliable, while professional users choose TLC or MLC for write-intensive tasks.

Cache and sustained performance

Drives with DRAM cache maintain consistent speeds even during large data transfers. Models without DRAM are cheaper but can slow down when the SLC cache fills up during large file copies. For system and applications always choose an SSD with DRAM cache, while for data archiving you can save money with a budget model.

Selection and Pricing

We offer 367 products from 32 brands across 6 sellers. Prices range from 660 to 167,089 RSD. Currently 132 products are on sale with an average discount of 13%.