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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchYes: a faster SSD can shorten game loading, particularly if you are upgrading from a hard drive. Moving from one SSD to another usually produces smaller, game-dependent gains. A faster drive is not a general FPS upgrade; loading screens, frame rates, and in-game asset streaming are separate outcomes.
What changes when you upgrade your game drive?
From a hard drive to an SSD
This is usually the more noticeable storage upgrade for games. SSDs can load games much faster than hard drives, though the size of the difference depends on the title and test conditions. If your games are already on an SSD, moving to a faster model is less likely to transform load times.
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From one SSD to another
The advantage of NVMe over SATA, or of a newer PCIe generation over an older one, varies by game. Tom’s Hardware compared SATA and NVMe drives across 11 games and found that NVMe could load games several times faster in some titles, while differences were relatively small in many others. It also found marginal gains between PCIe generations in some comparisons, despite much higher advertised sequential throughput. These results describe the tested games and hardware, not every PC or title. Tom’s Hardware’s 11-game SSD comparison provides the test details.
Does a faster SSD increase FPS?
Do not expect a reliable increase in average frame rate just by installing a faster SSD. An SSD affects how quickly game data can be loaded; frame rate is a separate measure of rendering performance. In Tom’s Hardware’s DOOM: The Dark Ages test, gameplay performance was identical across the tested drives, and SATA showed little load-time difference. That is a useful example, not a guarantee for other games.
#1 Best Overall
- PCIe 4.0 Performance: Delivers up to 7,100 MB/s read and 6,000 MB/s write speeds for quicker game load times, bootups, and smooth multitasking
- Spacious 1TB SSD: Provides space for AAA games, apps, and media with standard Gen4 NVMe performance for casual gamers and home users
- Broad Compatibility: Works seamlessly with laptops, desktops, and select gaming consoles including ROG Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go, and AYANEO Kun. Also backward compatible with PCIe Gen3 systems for flexible upgrades
- Better Productivity: Up to 2x faster than previous Gen3 generation. Improve performance for real world tasks like booting Windows, starting applications like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and working in applications like Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
- Trusted Micron Quality: Built with advanced G8 NAND and thermal control for reliable Gen4 performance trusted by gamers and home users
Storage can matter to what happens during play if a game streams assets as you move through the world. But smoother or faster asset delivery is not the same promise as higher FPS, and the effect depends on how the game uses storage and on the rest of the system.
Why peak SSD speed does not tell the whole story
Advertised sequential read speed is only one part of a gaming workload. During play, games commonly make random reads to bring assets into memory; sequential reads are less common, and writes are generally minimal. Block size, queue depth, and how a game issues and handles requests can affect results. A drive’s peak sequential figure therefore cannot predict every game’s load time or streaming performance. Tom’s Hardware’s testing and workload discussion explains why SSD-tier differences vary.
Rank #2
- 【7450MB/s・Amazing Speed】Maximum read speed of 7450MB/s and maximum write speed of 6500MB/s (random read/ write speed of up to 1000K IOPS) realises the workflow of high-performance desktop PCs and notebook PCs. Ideal for power users who are looking for market-leading speeds.
- 【PCIe Gen4×4 for Superior Performance】Biwin NV7400 M.2 SSD utilizes the latest PCIe Gen 4x4 and 3D TLC NAND, choosing high-quality premium NAND flash chosen through our automated selection. Capacities of up to 4 TB are available, providing ample storage space and eliminating the anxiety of insufficient storage.
- 【PMIC Power Management & Graphite Heat Sink】NV7400 M.2 SSD adopts a composite power supply IC (PMIC), which improves power saving and energy saving performance by increasing the efficiency of power distribution, and effectively extends the durability of the SSD. Moreover, it is equipped with a 0.5mm graphene aluminium heat sink to prevent overheating with excellent heat dissipation performance and maintain stable top performance.
- 【Enhanced System Stability】The NV7400 delivers stable performance for demanding applications. Enhanced by Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology, it ensures stable operation even under heavy workloads. The integration of Smart Cache optimizes data retrieval, while Zip data compression maximizes storage efficiency.
- 【Free Biwin Intelligence Software】Biwin Intelligence is multifunctional management software, designed to support Biwin consumer-brand storage products. For a more convenient and more secure storage experience, this software helps users manage their drives with features like performance test, data migration, firmware update, and more.
Where DirectStorage fits
Microsoft’s DirectStorage is a developer API for loading game assets from high-speed storage, including NVMe SSDs. It is designed to reduce I/O overhead and help developers use fast storage; it is not a switch that automatically makes every game load faster. A game must support the API, and its implementation and asset-loading pipeline determine whether a player sees a practical benefit. Microsoft’s 2020 DirectStorage announcement describes the architecture, while its DirectStorage samples demonstrate asset loading and decompression approaches.
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Microsoft’s 2020 announcement used illustrative architecture figures: a previous-generation game’s asset-streaming budget could be “on the order of 50MB/s,” and saturating a 2.4GB/s drive with 64KB blocks would require more than 35,000 I/O requests per second. Those figures explain the design challenge; they are not measurements of a typical current game. Microsoft announced public availability of DirectStorage for Windows games in 2022 and said NVMe installation maximizes I/O performance for supported games. Its Windows 11 recommendation was platform guidance, not a promise that every supported title would show a measurable improvement. See Microsoft’s DirectStorage availability announcement.
Rank #3
- Capacity: 512GB
- Sequential Read (CDM): up to 3000MB/s; Sequential Write (CDM): up to 2200MB/s
- Latest PCIe Gen3 controller
- 2282 M.2 PCIe Gen3 x 4, NVMe 1.3
- O/S Supported: Windows
How to decide whether a faster SSD is worth it
- Start with your current drive. If your games are on a hard drive, moving them to an SSD is more likely to make a meaningful difference than replacing an existing SSD with a premium model.
- Consider the games you play. Load and streaming behavior differs by title. Look for tests of those games rather than assuming the highest sequential-speed number wins.
- Check compatibility first. Verify that your motherboard supports the drive’s interface, form factor, and slot. An NVMe drive requires a compatible M.2 or other supported connection.
- Choose capacity for your library. A larger compatible SSD may be more useful than paying extra for peak throughput you may not notice in your games.
- Account for cooling. PCIe 5.0 drives can need more cooling. Check the drive’s thermal requirements and whether your motherboard has a suitable heatsink.
Real-world SSD testing can include more than synthetic speed scores. PC Gamer describes a test mix that includes sequential and random throughput, a 30 GB game-copy test, PCMark10, and a Final Fantasy XIV level-load test. Its 2026 guide says faster NVMe drives can shave a second or two from some level loads, with a greater difference between hard drives and SSDs; results are specific to those tests, not a universal guarantee. It also flags cooling as a consideration for PCIe 5.0 models. See PC Gamer’s SSD testing and buying guide.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- PCIe 4.0 Gen4: The high-performance Predator GM7 delivers uncompromising speeds up to 7400 MB/s read- and 6500 MB/s write-speeds using the PCIe 4.0 interface and NVMe 2.0. It is the ideal SSD for enthusiasts to ace their games, enabling content creation without any hassle.
- HMB+SLC Cache: Predator GM7 supports HMB (Host Memory Buffer) and is equipped with SLC Cache to provide next-level performance, enabling faster game loads and files transmission.
- Powerful controller and NAND Flash: Equipped with the latest PCIe controller technology and state-of-the-art flash, the Predator GM7 boasts an excellent performance at lower power consumption creating less heat.
- Excellent temperature control: Predator GM7 adopts Thermal Throttling, and Power Management to achieve automatic temperature control, overcoming heat issues even under heavy workload.
- Biwin Intelligence is multifunctional management software, designed to support Predator branded storage products. For a more convenient and more secure storage experience, this software helps users manage their drives with features like performance test, data migration, drive cloning, and more.
Rank #4
- GROUNDBREAKING READ/WRITE SPEEDS: The 990 EVO Plus features the latest NAND memory, boosting sequential read/write speeds up to 7,250/6,300MB/s. Ideal for huge file transfers and finishing tasks faster than ever.
- LARGE STORAGE CAPACITY: Harness the full power of your drive with Intelligent TurboWrite2.0's enhanced large-file performance—now available in a 4TB capacity.
- EXCEPTIONAL THERMAL CONTROL: Keep your cool as you work—or play—without worrying about overheating or battery life. The efficiency-boosting nickel-coated controller allows the 990 EVO Plus to utilize less power while achieving similar performance.
- OPTIMIZED PERFORMANCE: Optimized to support the latest technology for SSDs—990 EVO Plus is compatible with PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 5.0 x2. This means you get more bandwidth and higher data processing and performance.
- NEVER MISS AN UPDATE: Your 990 EVO Plus SSD performs like new with the always up-to-date Magician Software. Stay up to speed with the latest firmware updates, extra encryption, and continual monitoring of your drive health–it works like a charm.
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