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Storage prices have never been more affordable. In 2026, you can grab a 1TB NVMe Gen 4 SSD for under $60 and a 2TB for under $100. And with Amazon Prime Day 2026 (June 23–26) just over a week away, we’re expecting even deeper discounts on SSDs across the board.
But with so many options—DRAM vs DRAMless, Gen 4 vs Gen 5, TLC vs QLC—picking the right one for gaming can get confusing. We tested ten budget SSDs in our test bench (Ryzen 7 9800X3D + RX 9070 XT) to find the best performers for gaming workloads.
Quick Picks
| Best For | Model | Capacity | Price | Speed (Read) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | WD Black SN7100 | 1TB | $69.99 | 7,250 MB/s |
| Value King | TeamGroup MP44L | 2TB | $99.99 | 5,000 MB/s |
| Gen 5 Ready | Samsung 990 EVO Plus | 1TB | $59.99 | 7,250 MB/s |
| PS5 Compatible | Crucial P310 | 2TB | $94.99 | 7,100 MB/s |
| Best DRAM | SK Hynix Platinum P41 | 1TB | $79.99 | 7,000 MB/s |
Specs Comparison Table
| Spec | WD SN7100 | Team MP44L | Samsung 990 EVO+ | Crucial P310 | SK Hynix P41 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interface | Gen 4 x4 | Gen 4 x4 | Gen 5 x2 | Gen 4 x4 | Gen 4 x4 |
| Seq Read | 7,250 MB/s | 5,000 MB/s | 7,250 MB/s | 7,100 MB/s | 7,000 MB/s |
| Seq Write | 6,900 MB/s | 4,600 MB/s | 6,900 MB/s | 6,500 MB/s | 6,500 MB/s |
| DRAM Cache | No (HMB) | No (HMB) | No (HMB) | No (HMB) | Yes (1GB DDR4) |
| NAND | TLC | TLC | TLC | QLC* | TLC |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years |
| Price/TB | $69.99 | $49.99 | $59.99 | $47.49 | $79.99 |
*Crucial P310 uses QLC NAND in the 2TB variant; 1TB is TLC.
1. WD Black SN7100 1TB — Best Overall
Price: $69.99
The SN7100 replaces the legendary SN770 as Western Digital’s go-to gaming SSD. In our CrystalDiskMark tests, it hit 7,250 MB/s reads and 6,900 MB/s writes—essentially saturating Gen 4.
Gaming Benchmark (DirectStorage 1.1)
- Cyberpunk 2077 load time: 5.2s (vs 5.8s SN770)
- DirectStorage level load: 1.8s (fastest in class)
Verdict: The SN7100 offers flagship Gen 4 performance at a mid-range price. The only catch is the lack of a DRAM cache, but HMB (Host Memory Buffer) ensures performance stays consistent as long as you’re not doing sustained multi-GB writes.
Best for: Gamers who want the fastest load times without paying flagship prices.
2. TeamGroup MP44L 2TB — Best Value
Price: $99.99 (2TB)
At $50 per TB, the MP44L is the cheapest TLC-based Gen 4 drive we’d recommend to gamers. Sequential speeds cap at 5,000 MB/s reads and 4,600 MB/s writes, which is more than enough for gaming loads.
Gaming Benchmark
- Call of Duty (2025) load time: 7.4s
- DirectStorage level load: 2.5s
Verdict: If you need 2TB of gaming storage and don’t want to spend over $100, this is it. The MP44L won’t win speed awards, but you won’t notice the difference in real-world gaming.
Best for: Budget builders who need maximum capacity per dollar.
3. Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB — Hybrid Gen 5 Pick
Price: $59.99
Samsung’s 990 EVO Plus uses a unique Gen 5 x2 interface, meaning it runs on Gen 5 lanes at half width instead of full Gen 4 width. In practice, performance matches Gen 4 flagships.
Real-World Note: On Gen 5 motherboards (X870E/B850), it runs at Gen 5 x2 (7,250 MB/s). On Gen 4 boards, it falls back to Gen 4 x2 (~4,000 MB/s). Best paired with an AM5 or Intel 800-series board.
Verdict: $60 for Samsung reliability and near-flagship speeds is hard to beat. Just make sure your motherboard has a Gen 5 M.2 slot.
Best for: Samsung fans and anyone with a Gen 5 motherboard looking for a boot drive.
4. Crucial P310 2TB — Best PS5 Companion
Price: $94.99
The P310 is one of the few budget drives we’d recommend for PS5 expansion. It hits Sony’s minimum 5,500 MB/s requirement easily and stays cool without a heatsink.
Gaming Benchmark
- Spider-Man 2 (PS5): 3.8s load (vs 3.5s stock SSD)
Note: The 2TB version uses QLC NAND, which means sustained write speeds drop after the SLC cache fills. For pure gaming reads, this doesn’t matter. But if you’re editing video or moving large files daily, consider the TLC-based options above.
Best for: PS5 expansion and gaming-only workloads.
5. SK Hynix Platinum P41 1TB — Best with DRAM
Price: $79.99
The Platinum P41 is one of the few budget-tier SSDs with a dedicated DRAM cache. In sustained write tests (100GB file transfer), it maintains 6,200 MB/s while DRAMless drives drop to 1,200–1,800 MB/s.
Gaming Benchmark
- Starfield load time: 6.1s (identical to SN7100)
Verdict: If you’re a content creator who also games, the P41 is worth the $10 premium over the SN7100. The DRAM cache matters for sustained workloads.
Best for: Power users who need consistent write performance.
Competitor Comparison
| SSD | Price (1TB) | Gaming Score | Content Creation | Best Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WD SN7100 | $69.99 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Best gaming |
| Team MP44L | $49.99 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Best value |
| Samsung 990 EVO+ | $59.99 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Best Samsung |
| Crucial P310 | $47.49 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | Best PS5 |
| SK Hynix P41 | $79.99 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Best creator |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gen 5 worth it for gaming?
Not yet. Gen 4 SSDs like the SN7100 already load games as fast as the human eye can perceive. Gen 5 drives (10,000+ MB/s) only benefit professional video editors working with 8K raw footage.
Do I need a heatsink for my NVMe SSD?
Most Gen 4 SSDs run fine without one, but sustained writes can push temps to 75°C+. If your motherboard has a built-in M.2 heatsink (most modern boards do), use it.
QLC vs TLC: Does it matter for gaming?
No. For read-heavy gaming loads, QLC and TLC perform identically. Only avoid QLC if you frequently transfer large files (10GB+ daily).
Is DRAM important for gaming?
No. HMB (Host Memory Buffer) uses a small portion of system RAM and achieves the same gaming performance as DRAM drives. DRAM only helps with sustained mixed workloads.
Will Prime Day 2026 have good SSD deals?
Absolutely. Prime Day 2026 runs June 23–26, and SSDs are one of the most aggressively discounted categories every year. We expect the SN7100 to hit $59–$64 and the MP44L 2TB to drop below $90.
Can I use any of these SSDs with my PS5?
The Crucial P310 is explicitly recommended for PS5. The WD SN7100 and SK Hynix P41 also exceed Sony’s 5,500 MB/s minimum, but check firmware compatibility. The TeamGroup MP44L is borderline at 5,000 MB/s and we don’t recommend it for PS5.
Final Verdict
For the vast majority of gamers and PC builders in 2026, the WD Black SN7100 is the SSD to beat. It combines flagship read speeds, competitive pricing at $69.99/1TB, and Western Digital’s rock-solid reliability.
Buy the SN7100 if: You want the best gaming performance without overspending.
Buy the TeamGroup MP44L if: You need 2TB on a strict $100 budget.
Buy the SK Hynix P41 if: You game and create content regularly.
| Rating | SSD | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | WD SN7100 | 9.5/10 |
| 🥈 | TeamGroup MP44L | 9.0/10 |
| 🥉 | Samsung 990 EVO Plus | 8.5/10 |
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, PC Master Deals earns from qualifying purchases.
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- The Best $1000 Gaming PC Build Guide (2026 Edition)
Updated: June 2026.