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A PCIe 5.0 SSD can have far higher peak sequential read speeds than an older drive without making every game load noticeably faster. Game loading is a multi-step workload, and the result depends on the title, the drive models, and which loading stage you time. If your games seem unchanged after an upgrade, that alone does not show the new SSD is faulty.
Why a faster SSD may not shorten game loads
The headline speed on an SSD specification describes peak sequential transfers: large, contiguous reads under suitable conditions. Games often request smaller, dispersed data instead. The drive may also be only one part of the process: assets can need processing or decompression before the game is ready to continue.
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Tom’s Hardware’s measurements across 11 games describe many game workloads as mostly random reads at relatively low queue depths, rather than the sequential workload used for prominent maximum-speed figures. Its analysis also cautions that 100% drive utilization does not mean the SSD is delivering its rated sequential bandwidth. Tom’s Hardware’s game-storage analysis is useful context, but its activity measurements are not a universal load-time test.
So a PCIe 5.0 drive’s sequential speed is not a multiplier for game loading. The storage interface, game engine, operating system, and work required to prepare assets all contribute, and the balance differs by title and by loading stage.
#1 Best Overall
- BREAKTHROUGH PCIe 5.0 PERFORMANCE: Supercharge your workflow and gaming with PCIe 5.0, boasting up to 14,700/13,400 MB/s* sequential read/write speeds. Tackle massive files and power up your gaming with Gen5—twice as fast as the 990 PRO SSD.
- EVERY TASK, TURBOCHARGED: Speed past productivity limits. With random read/write speeds up to 1,850K/2,600K IOPS*, enjoy fast game loads, seamless AI apps, and efficient multitasking. Virtually no lag, no limits—just nonstop performance.
- THINK FAST, CREATE FASTER: With random read/write speeds of up to 1,850K/2,600K IOPS*, the 9100 PRO SSD fuels seamless AI content creation, swift loads, and smooth gameplay. Work, play, and create at lightning speed.
- SPEED, WHENEVER YOU NEED: From laptops to desktop PCs, experience blazing PCIe 5.0 speeds and up to 8TB of storage. Perfect for video editing, gaming, and creative tasks, with the compatibility to match your device.
- STAY COOL, RUN FAST: Push limits, not temperatures. A 5nm controller boosts power efficiency up to 49% over the 990 PRO SSD*, while advanced thermal control keeps performance smooth and reliable.
What game tests have actually found
In a comparison published August 12, 2025, TechSpot tested several storage types in a PCIe 5.0-capable system with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, 32 GB of DDR5-6000 memory, and a GeForce RTX 5090; the operating system was on a separate drive. The findings illustrate how results can vary, but they apply to the tested drive models, game versions, and procedures—not every PC or SSD.
| Game and load point | Reported result | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Assassin’s Creed Shadows | Only a small difference among the tested PCIe M.2 drives; SATA was noticeably slower than PCIe storage. | The result does not show that moving between PCIe generations will always produce a visible improvement. |
| Black Myth: Wukong, initial load | The tested PCIe 5.0 TLC drive loaded 10% faster than the tested PCIe 3.0 QLC drive. | This compares two specific drives with different PCIe generations and NAND types; it does not isolate the effect of the generation alone. |
| Black Myth: Wukong, reloading a save | Differences across the tested storage types were minimal. | One game can show different results for different loading stages. |
These results come from TechSpot’s 2025 game-loading comparison. They are examples, not a representative percentage for all games: there is no established universal figure for how much PCIe 5.0 shortens game loads.
Rank #2
- BREAKTHROUGH PCIe 5.0 PERFORMANCE: Supercharge your workflow and gaming with PCIe 5.0, boasting up to 14,700/13,300 MB/s* sequential read/write speeds. Tackle massive files and power up your gaming with Gen5—twice as fast as the 990 PRO SSD.
- EVERY TASK, TURBOCHARGED: Speed past productivity limits. With random read/write speeds up to 1,850K/2,600K IOPS*, enjoy fast game loads, seamless AI apps, and efficient multitasking. Virtually no lag, no limits—just nonstop performance.
- THINK FAST, CREATE FASTER: With random read/write speeds of up to 1,850K/2,600K IOPS*, the 9100 PRO SSD fuels seamless AI content creation, swift loads, and smooth gameplay. Work, play, and create at lightning speed.
- SPEED, WHENEVER YOU NEED: From laptops to desktop PCs, experience blazing PCIe 5.0 speeds and up to 8TB of storage. Perfect for video editing, gaming, and creative tasks, with the compatibility to match your device.
- STAY COOL, RUN FAST: Push limits, not temperatures. A 5nm controller boosts power efficiency up to 49% over the 990 PRO SSD*, while advanced thermal control keeps performance smooth and reliable.
Why DirectStorage does not guarantee a Gen 5 speed-up
DirectStorage is designed to improve game I/O behavior, but a title that supports it does not necessarily keep a drive busy at its maximum sequential rate. Tom’s Hardware’s activity measurements found similar average bandwidth across SATA, PCIe 3.0, PCIe 4.0, and PCIe 5.0 storage in its Spider-Man 2 test; it reported that none of the drives was stressed. Its Forspoken example showed that measured bandwidth varied with resolution and test conditions.
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These are workload-activity examples, not general loading-time percentages. They show why “DirectStorage game” and “Gen 5 drive running at peak speed” are not interchangeable claims. Microsoft recommends NVMe storage to maximize DirectStorage I/O performance, and says Windows 11 has the latest storage optimizations built in and is its recommended path for gaming; the guidance does not promise a particular loading-time reduction. See Microsoft’s DirectStorage guidance.
Rank #3
- This product has been replaced by our latest generation. Please search for the SANDISK Optimus GX PRO 8100 PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD.
- EXPERIENCE PCIe Gen 5: Drastically enhance your gaming and content creation experience with this PCIe Gen 5.0x4 NVMe M.2 SSD.
- BREAKNECK SPEEDS: Your drive reaches sequential read speeds up to an astonishing 14,900MB/s, sequential write speeds up to 14,000MB/s (2TB-4TB model), and over 2,300,000 IOPS (2TB-4TB Models) of random performance.
- AN INDUSTRY-LEADER IN POWER EFFICIENCY: Enjoy over 100% more power efficiency (1TB – 4TB models) than our PCIe Gen4 drive at an average operating power of 7.5W or under. Experience astonishing speeds without any added stress to your system.
- ROOM FOR REVOLUTION: Hold your biggest projects and still have room for OS updates, models for AI-powered applications, and your game library thanks to immense capacities up to 8TB. SANDISK SOFTWARE: Help maximize your drive’s performance, monitor its health and keep it up to date with SANDISK Dashboard (Windows only). Plus, effortlessly migrate your data with Acronis True Image for Sandisk.
How to check an upgrade that seems unchanged
Do not infer a specific fault from unchanged loading times alone. First identify what was compared, then make the comparison repeatable:
- Record the exact drives. Write down the old and new SSD models, not just their PCIe generations. Other differences, including NAND type, mean a comparison may not isolate the interface generation.
- Check the slot and negotiated link. Confirm each drive is in an M.2 slot that supports its intended PCIe generation, then check the actual negotiated link in a drive or system utility. A Gen 5 SSD installed in a slot that supports a lower generation will not link at Gen 5.
- Check drive health. Use the manufacturer’s drive utility or another trusted SMART-reading tool to review the drive’s reported health and warnings. A game-load comparison by itself cannot establish drive health.
- Time the same task more than once. Use the same game version, save, route, and system conditions where possible. Separate launching the game, loading a save, fast travel, and in-game asset streaming; these are different tasks and can respond differently to storage.
- Compare the result with the claim that matters. A change in a synthetic sequential benchmark does not establish a change in game loading. Look for a repeatable difference in the game and load point you actually care about.
When PCIe 5.0 can still be worthwhile
High sequential throughput can matter for workloads that move large files, even if a game’s load screen barely changes. SanDisk reports that its WD_BLACK SN8100 scored up to 77% higher than the WD_BLACK SN850X in 3DMark Storage. That is a vendor-reported synthetic benchmark result, not evidence that games load 77% faster. See SanDisk’s SN8100 announcement.
Rank #4
- BREAKTHROUGH PCIe 5.0 PERFORMANCE: Supercharge your workflow and gaming with PCIe 5.0, boasting up to 14,800/13,400 MB/s sequential read/write speeds. Tackle massive files and power up your gaming with Gen5—twice as fast as the 990 PRO SSD.
- EVERY TASK, TURBOCHARGED: Speed past productivity limits. With random read/write speeds up to 2,200K/2,600K IOPS, enjoy fast game loads, seamless AI apps, and efficient multitasking. Virtually no lag, no limits—just nonstop performance.
- THNK FAST, CREATE FASTER: With random read/write speeds of up to 2,200K/2,600K IOPS, the 9100 PRO SSD fuels seamless AI content creation, swift loads, and smooth gameplay. Work, play, and create at lightning speed.
- SPEED, WHENEVER YOU NEED: From laptops to desktop PCs, experience blazing PCIe 5.0 speeds and up to 8TB of storage. Perfect for video editing, gaming, and creative tasks, with the compatibility to match your device.
- STAY COOL, RUN FAST: Push limits, not temperatures. A 5nm controller boosts power efficiency up to 49% over the 990 PRO SSD, while advanced thermal control keeps performance smooth and reliable.
For a gaming-focused purchase, compare usable capacity, cost per terabyte, warranty and endurance, motherboard-slot compatibility, cooling, and measured results in relevant games—not maximum sequential read speed alone. A PCIe 4.0 SSD may be a sensible capacity or value option when gaming is the main workload, but choosing it does not guarantee faster loading on an existing system. Intel likewise describes current real-world advantages of PCIe 4.0 over PCIe 3.0 for loading times and large-file transfers as small; that is Intel’s editorial guidance, not an independent benchmark. Intel’s PCIe 4.0 overview provides its explanation.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- PCIe 5.0 Performance: Delivers up to 14,900 MB/s read and 13,800 MB/s write speeds for quicker game load times, bootups, and smooth multitasking
- Spacious 4TB Capacity: Store AAA titles, 8K+ video, and creative assets with blazing-fast Gen5 NVMe throughput
- Platform-Optimized Compatibility: Designed for Intel 13th/14th Gen and AMD Ryzen 7000 in M.2 2280 Gen5 slots
- Heatsink-Compatible Design: Install with a compatible heatsink for optimal performance in sustained gaming sessions and demanding workloads
- Trusted Micron Quality: Engineered for tech enthusiasts and hardcore gamers with Micron G9 TLC NAND and a 5-year warranty
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