Buyer Guides

The Samsung 870 EVO is one of the most dependable SATA SSD families still on the market — a cool, silent, well-built pick for older laptops, NAS builds, and everyday storage. But price scales steeply with size: the smaller and mid capacities are smart-money value, while the largest models carry a scarcity premium that can rival a faster 4TB NVMe. Our buyer's guide sorts it out — which capacity to buy, when to trust SATA, and when your M.2 slot changes the answer.

The Addlink AddGame A93 brings flagship-level Gen 4 speeds to budget-conscious gamers and PS5 owners. With sequential reads hitting 7400 MB/s and a substantial aluminum heatsink included in the box, this drive challenges pricier competitors where it matters most: real-world performance per dollar. Whether you're expanding console storage or building a new gaming rig, the A93 delivers meaningful speed improvements without the premium pricing.

The Corsair MP700 PRO XT breaks the Gen5 mold by delivering 14,900 MB/s speeds without the typical power and thermal penalties. Built around Phison's revolutionary E28 controller, this M.2 NVMe drive offers laptop-friendly efficiency alongside flagship performance. Whether you're building a new gaming rig, upgrading your PS5 with proper cooling, or seeking sustained throughput for content creation, the MP700 PRO XT presents a compelling case.

The CORSAIR MP600 PRO LPX delivers flagship PCIe Gen4 performance in a low-profile package specifically engineered for PlayStation 5 expansion, hitting 7,100MB/s reads and 6,800MB/s writes while fitting Sony's tight 11.25mm height restriction. Powered by Phison's proven E18 controller and Micron 176-layer TLC NAND with DRAM cache, this drive offers seamless PS5 gaming with imperceptible load time differences versus internal storage, though PC users pay a premium for compact dimensions they may not need.

The Corsair MP600 Mini brings flagship PCIe Gen 4 speeds to the compact M.2 2230 form factor, targeting Steam Deck users, Microsoft Surface owners, and ultraportable device builders who refuse to compromise performance for size. With read speeds hitting 7000 MB/s and endurance rated at 1200 TBW, this tiny drive punches well above its weight class—though you'll pay a premium for engineering that crams full-size performance into 30mm of space.

The Corsair EX400U SURVIVOR delivers internal NVMe speeds (up to 4,000 MB/s) in an IP55-rated ruggedized enclosure designed for content creators, mobile professionals, and console gamers who refuse to compromise between performance and durability. With USB4 connectivity, five-year warranty, and genuine shock resistance, it targets users who need both maximum speed and field-ready construction.

The Corsair EX400U breaks through the traditional USB 3.2 speed barrier with genuine USB4 performance reaching 4,000 MB/s, transforming external storage from a bottleneck into a viable working drive. The unique MagSafe-compatible magnetic ring adds genuine utility for iPhone video recording, while broad compatibility across Windows, macOS, and mobile platforms makes it a versatile solution for creators on the move.

The WD_BLACK SN850X refines Western Digital's flagship PCIe 4.0 formula with improved thermal management, speeds up to 7,300MB/s, and capacities reaching 8TB. This M.2 2280 NVMe drive targets PC gamers and PlayStation 5 owners seeking maximum Gen 4 performance, though pricing and competition from the exceptional SK hynix Platinum P41 complicate the value proposition. Game Mode 2.0 proves to be marketing theater, but the underlying hardware delivers genuinely excellent real-world performance.

The WD_BLACK SN770 delivers PCIe Gen 4 speeds up to 5,150 MB/s without the premium price tag of flagship drives. Built for gamers upgrading from SATA or older Gen 3 storage, this DRAM-less drive uses host memory buffer technology to keep costs down while maintaining snappy performance. It's ideal for mainstream gaming builds and laptop upgrades, though PS5 users should note it falls just below Sony's recommended speed threshold.

The WD Blue SN5100 delivers Gen 4 performance through a Gen 5 interface at budget-friendly prices, targeting mainstream users upgrading from SATA drives. Western Digital's DRAM-less design keeps costs down while maintaining solid everyday performance, though sustained write speeds trail cache-equipped competitors. Strong value for typical PC builds, but PS5 upgraders should consider faster alternatives.

The Kingston Fury Renegade G5 represents second-wave PCIe Gen 5 storage, delivering up to 14,800 MB/s speeds with impressive thermal efficiency. Built around the Silicon Motion SM2508 controller and Kioxia BiCS8 NAND, this flagship drive targets enthusiasts and content creators who need extreme sequential performance without the heat problems that plagued early Gen 5 drives. With exceptional endurance ratings and Kingston's solid reliability, it's a compelling choice for high-end builds, though premium pricing challenges its value proposition.

The Kingston FURY Renegade delivers Samsung 990 Pro-level performance with significantly better endurance ratings at consistently lower prices. This PCIe Gen 4.0 NVMe drive leverages the proven Phison E18 controller and Micron 176-layer TLC NAND to achieve speeds up to 7,300MB/s read and 7,000MB/s write, making it an exceptional value for PC builders, gamers, and PS5 owners seeking premium performance without the premium pricing that typically accompanies top-tier storage.