Which 1TB SSD internal drive should I buy?
Anyone frustrated with a slow-running computer may be experiencing a lag due to large media files and a lack of space on their internal drive. If you notice you’re running low on media storage, this exasperation is likely all too familiar.
Solid-state drives (SSD) are the perfect fix for those who need more speed. Once reserved for enterprise customers and elite PC performance, mainstream desktops and laptops now utilize this technology. Some even feature internal SSDs rather than hard disk drives (HDD) as their primary storage.
What is an SSD?
Traditional HDDs are mechanical devices that utilize a more traditional storage process, going back and forth to read and gather information. The mechanism has an inherent speed limitation and contains a computer hardware component that may fail.
The SSD does not have any moving parts and instead uses flash memory similar to random access memory (RAM). It saves files on a grid, which stores between 256KB to 4MB. The SSD controller maintains the exact address of these blocks, allowing nearly instantaneous file access.
Benefits of SSD drives
It’s normal to find SSDs in new laptops, desktop PCs and servers. But you can also upgrade an old desktop PC or laptop by installing an internal SSD. SSDs offer several benefits, which can be helpful for a number of reasons.
Durability and reliability
Hard disk drives are susceptible to heat failures. The continual motion of an HDD generates enough heat to cause malfunctions in the long run. An SSD doesn’t have any moving parts, which provides high performance while maintaining a lower temperature. In addition, an SSD is less likely to experience data loss because it is better suited to handle daily wear and tear, including shocks, shakes and drops.
Less weight and noise
HDDs have metallic disks and magnetic heads, making them heavy and cumbersome. SSDs have a smaller compact size, so they are ideal for tablets, laptops and other small electronic devices. HDDs generate some noise and vibration, but SSDs are virtually silent since they don’t have any moving parts.
Practical sizes and form factors
The larger HDDs limit their use in mobile devices. SSDs come in small sizes, ideal for mobile devices. The most common size of an SSD is 2.5-inches, while the smallest is 22-mm wide. The length can vary from 30-mm to 110 mm, which is about the size of a stick of gum.
Energy efficiency
Another benefit of not having any moving parts is that the SSD requires less power to operate, especially since an HDD must keep the magnetic disc spinning to allow data access. The higher energy efficiency of an SSD is essential for PC and mobile devices that operate with batteries.
Best 1TB SSD internal drives
Here are some of the best-performing SSDs on the market today. For more information, look at the best internal solid-state drives buying guide from BestReviews.
Best SSD for PCIe Gen4 performance
Samsung 980 Pro 1TB PCIe NVMe Gen4 Internal SSD M.2: available at Amazon
Our take: The Samsung 980 PRO has an in-house Elpis 8nm PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe SSD controller, which achieves blistering speeds nearly double that of the peak performance offered by PCIe Gen3 SSDs.
What we like: The high-end NVMe SSD 980 Pro sustains nearly 1 million random read and write input/output operations per second (IOPS), making it one of the most responsive SSDs on the market.
What we dislike: The drive does not include a heatsink to disperse heat. This may be a problem for users moving large files regularly or gamers taxing their system to performance limits.
Best budget-friendly SSD
Addlink S70 M.2 SSD 1TB: available at Amazon
Our take: Although Addlink is a lesser-known name in the SSD market, the S70 uses Toshiba’s 3D TLC memory and a recognizable Phison E12 controller. It also includes a five-year warranty, which will reassure any buyer concerned about reliability.
What we like: The NVMe 1.3 M.2 form factor SSD is equipped with new vertically stacked NAND TLC, giving the SSD excellent performance. Addlink claims remarkably high performance read and write speeds.
What we dislike: Unlike their competitors, Addlink ships without any SSD management software. So, you must use Windows for status info and TRIM commands.
Best SSD for gamers
WD Black SN850 1TB NVMe Internal Gaming SSD Solid State Drive: available at Amazon
Our take: Ideal for high-end gaming, the WD Black SN850 competes with the best SSDs for performance at just over $200 for the 1TB model.
What we like: The SSD features an M.2 2280 single-sided form factor, PCIe 4.0×4 Transfer Interface with NVMe 1.4 Protocol. WD includes a five-year warranty.
What we dislike: The SN850 demonstrated high idle power consumption during a desktop test bench, and the drive gets hot under heavy load.
Best mid-range SSD
Crucial P5 Plus 1TB: available at Amazon
Our take: Designed for creative professionals and gamers who need fast load times and efficient workflows, the Crucial P5 Plus provides an attractively priced PCIe 4.0 x4 full-featured SSD.
What we like: The P5 Plus 1TB with a Micron controller features a PCIe 4.0 x4 transfer interface and NVMe 1.4 protocol, resulting in blistering speeds, up to 6,600 MBps and 5,000 MBps read and write speeds.
What we dislike: The M.2 screw to secure the drive is not included.
Best SATA SSD
Samsung 870 EVO 1TB 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal SSD: available at Amazon
Our take: The Samsung 870 EVO demonstrates that SATA technology is not dead. It provides top-of-the-line performance, high power efficiency, and all the features you need from a SATA SSD.
What we like: The 870 EVO comes in the standard 2.5-inch form factor, utilizes an in-house controller and offers sequential reads up to 560 MBps and writes up to 530 MBps. The SSD is available in various storage volumes sizes from 250GB to 4TB.
What we dislike: The migration software included with the drive is challenging to use.
Jeffrey Harper is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
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