HardwareStorageSSDsPC Gamer Hardware Awards: The best gaming SSD of 2024When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
HardwareStorageSSDsPC Gamer Hardware Awards: The best gaming SSD of 2024When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Future)
Gear of the Year(Image credit: Future)Check out more of the year’s best tech in ourPC Gamer Hardware Awards 2024coverage.
Gear of the Year
(Image credit: Future)Check out more of the year’s best tech in ourPC Gamer Hardware Awards 2024coverage.
(Image credit: Future)
Check out more of the year’s best tech in ourPC Gamer Hardware Awards 2024coverage.
Most other handhelds sport at least one fast USB Type-C port, which offers another way of adding more game space to your device, without having to prise the back off. Adata’sSD810is simple, robust, and as speedy as you’re going to get for a USB drive.
Of course, traditional M.2 SSDs weren’t ignored and over the year, we began to realise that 1 TB drives were rapidly giving way to 2 TB and larger SSDs. So much so, that 4 TB drives are far more affordable than they were just a few years ago andTeam Group’s MP44is a great example of such a drive: masses of storage, great performance, and a tempting price to boot.
Those are the models that we’ve nominated for gaming SSD of 2024 but you’ll have to wait until New Year’s Eve to see which one is the winner!
Best gaming SSD 2024: the nominees
Best gaming SSD 2024 nomineeTeam Group MP44 4 TBThere are faster SSDs and there are cheaper SSDs, but very few match theTeam Group MP44when it comes to the magic trinity of storage, performance, and price. That’s especially true of the 4 TB version, which impressed us with its no-frills, no-spills, all-great credentials.You could easily use the MP44 as the single drive in a gaming PC for the operating system, apps, and games, but it’s best suited as a secondary drive, used to host your Steam library. That’s because having it in this singular role makes it easy to transfer the library to another PC.With a solid read/write performance that holds up over sustained use, the MP44 is more than fast enough for any gaming PC and even a PlayStation 5, though you’ll want a heatsink-equipped version for that role.Read our fullTeam Group MP44 4 TB review.
Best gaming SSD 2024 nomineeTeam Group MP44 4 TBThere are faster SSDs and there are cheaper SSDs, but very few match theTeam Group MP44when it comes to the magic trinity of storage, performance, and price. That’s especially true of the 4 TB version, which impressed us with its no-frills, no-spills, all-great credentials.You could easily use the MP44 as the single drive in a gaming PC for the operating system, apps, and games, but it’s best suited as a secondary drive, used to host your Steam library. That’s because having it in this singular role makes it easy to transfer the library to another PC.With a solid read/write performance that holds up over sustained use, the MP44 is more than fast enough for any gaming PC and even a PlayStation 5, though you’ll want a heatsink-equipped version for that role.Read our fullTeam Group MP44 4 TB review.
Best gaming SSD 2024 nomineeTeam Group MP44 4 TBThere are faster SSDs and there are cheaper SSDs, but very few match theTeam Group MP44when it comes to the magic trinity of storage, performance, and price. That’s especially true of the 4 TB version, which impressed us with its no-frills, no-spills, all-great credentials.You could easily use the MP44 as the single drive in a gaming PC for the operating system, apps, and games, but it’s best suited as a secondary drive, used to host your Steam library. That’s because having it in this singular role makes it easy to transfer the library to another PC.With a solid read/write performance that holds up over sustained use, the MP44 is more than fast enough for any gaming PC and even a PlayStation 5, though you’ll want a heatsink-equipped version for that role.Read our fullTeam Group MP44 4 TB review.
Best gaming SSD 2024 nomineeTeam Group MP44 4 TBThere are faster SSDs and there are cheaper SSDs, but very few match theTeam Group MP44when it comes to the magic trinity of storage, performance, and price. That’s especially true of the 4 TB version, which impressed us with its no-frills, no-spills, all-great credentials.You could easily use the MP44 as the single drive in a gaming PC for the operating system, apps, and games, but it’s best suited as a secondary drive, used to host your Steam library. That’s because having it in this singular role makes it easy to transfer the library to another PC.With a solid read/write performance that holds up over sustained use, the MP44 is more than fast enough for any gaming PC and even a PlayStation 5, though you’ll want a heatsink-equipped version for that role.Read our fullTeam Group MP44 4 TB review.
Best gaming SSD 2024 nomineeTeam Group MP44 4 TBThere are faster SSDs and there are cheaper SSDs, but very few match theTeam Group MP44when it comes to the magic trinity of storage, performance, and price. That’s especially true of the 4 TB version, which impressed us with its no-frills, no-spills, all-great credentials.You could easily use the MP44 as the single drive in a gaming PC for the operating system, apps, and games, but it’s best suited as a secondary drive, used to host your Steam library. That’s because having it in this singular role makes it easy to transfer the library to another PC.With a solid read/write performance that holds up over sustained use, the MP44 is more than fast enough for any gaming PC and even a PlayStation 5, though you’ll want a heatsink-equipped version for that role.Read our fullTeam Group MP44 4 TB review.
Best gaming SSD 2024 nominee
Best gaming SSD 2024 nominee
Best gaming SSD 2024 nominee
Team Group MP44 4 TBThere are faster SSDs and there are cheaper SSDs, but very few match theTeam Group MP44when it comes to the magic trinity of storage, performance, and price. That’s especially true of the 4 TB version, which impressed us with its no-frills, no-spills, all-great credentials.
You could easily use the MP44 as the single drive in a gaming PC for the operating system, apps, and games, but it’s best suited as a secondary drive, used to host your Steam library. That’s because having it in this singular role makes it easy to transfer the library to another PC.
With a solid read/write performance that holds up over sustained use, the MP44 is more than fast enough for any gaming PC and even a PlayStation 5, though you’ll want a heatsink-equipped version for that role.
Read our fullTeam Group MP44 4 TB review.
Best gaming SSD 2024 nominee
Best gaming SSD 2024 nominee
Best gaming SSD 2024 nominee
That makes theLexar Play 2230an ideal fit for slinky laptops and handheld gaming PCs, but while it’s small in size, it’s not small in capacity or performance.Lexar makes the highly-rated NM790so it’s no surprise that the Play 2230 is just as good.
In fact, it’s so good, that it makes other SSD models look pretty poor in comparison. Sadly, you can’t have it all and the largest version available is only 1 TB in size. That’s absolutely fine for a handheld gaming PC but you wouldn’t really want to use it in a desktop rig.
Read our fullLexar Play 2230 1 TB review.
Best gaming SSD 2024 nomineeAdata SD810 1 TBPortable SSDs are rubbish, yes? Not in the least bit or rather, certainly not theAdata SD810. It’s very compact and topped off with a handy flip-lid to prevent dirt and crumbs from clogging up the USB port.While it can’t beat a Gen4 M.2 SSD for performance, as long as you hook up the SD810 to a fast USB port (at least USB 3.2 Gen 2x2), you’ll enjoy a consistent 1,700 to 2,000 MB/s write and read speed. That’s plenty enough to use as a game library drive.We tested the 1 TB version but if that’s not enough storage, Adata offers 2 and 4 TB variants. It’s rather dinky so if you do go all-out on capacity, you may not want to store really vital stuff on it, just in case you misplace it.Read our fullAdata SD810 1 TB review.
Best gaming SSD 2024 nomineeAdata SD810 1 TBPortable SSDs are rubbish, yes? Not in the least bit or rather, certainly not theAdata SD810. It’s very compact and topped off with a handy flip-lid to prevent dirt and crumbs from clogging up the USB port.While it can’t beat a Gen4 M.2 SSD for performance, as long as you hook up the SD810 to a fast USB port (at least USB 3.2 Gen 2x2), you’ll enjoy a consistent 1,700 to 2,000 MB/s write and read speed. That’s plenty enough to use as a game library drive.We tested the 1 TB version but if that’s not enough storage, Adata offers 2 and 4 TB variants. It’s rather dinky so if you do go all-out on capacity, you may not want to store really vital stuff on it, just in case you misplace it.Read our fullAdata SD810 1 TB review.
Best gaming SSD 2024 nomineeAdata SD810 1 TBPortable SSDs are rubbish, yes? Not in the least bit or rather, certainly not theAdata SD810. It’s very compact and topped off with a handy flip-lid to prevent dirt and crumbs from clogging up the USB port.While it can’t beat a Gen4 M.2 SSD for performance, as long as you hook up the SD810 to a fast USB port (at least USB 3.2 Gen 2x2), you’ll enjoy a consistent 1,700 to 2,000 MB/s write and read speed. That’s plenty enough to use as a game library drive.We tested the 1 TB version but if that’s not enough storage, Adata offers 2 and 4 TB variants. It’s rather dinky so if you do go all-out on capacity, you may not want to store really vital stuff on it, just in case you misplace it.Read our fullAdata SD810 1 TB review.
Best gaming SSD 2024 nomineeAdata SD810 1 TBPortable SSDs are rubbish, yes? Not in the least bit or rather, certainly not theAdata SD810. It’s very compact and topped off with a handy flip-lid to prevent dirt and crumbs from clogging up the USB port.While it can’t beat a Gen4 M.2 SSD for performance, as long as you hook up the SD810 to a fast USB port (at least USB 3.2 Gen 2x2), you’ll enjoy a consistent 1,700 to 2,000 MB/s write and read speed. That’s plenty enough to use as a game library drive.We tested the 1 TB version but if that’s not enough storage, Adata offers 2 and 4 TB variants. It’s rather dinky so if you do go all-out on capacity, you may not want to store really vital stuff on it, just in case you misplace it.Read our fullAdata SD810 1 TB review.
Best gaming SSD 2024 nomineeAdata SD810 1 TBPortable SSDs are rubbish, yes? Not in the least bit or rather, certainly not theAdata SD810. It’s very compact and topped off with a handy flip-lid to prevent dirt and crumbs from clogging up the USB port.While it can’t beat a Gen4 M.2 SSD for performance, as long as you hook up the SD810 to a fast USB port (at least USB 3.2 Gen 2x2), you’ll enjoy a consistent 1,700 to 2,000 MB/s write and read speed. That’s plenty enough to use as a game library drive.We tested the 1 TB version but if that’s not enough storage, Adata offers 2 and 4 TB variants. It’s rather dinky so if you do go all-out on capacity, you may not want to store really vital stuff on it, just in case you misplace it.Read our fullAdata SD810 1 TB review.
Best gaming SSD 2024 nominee
Best gaming SSD 2024 nominee
Best gaming SSD 2024 nominee
Adata SD810 1 TBPortable SSDs are rubbish, yes? Not in the least bit or rather, certainly not theAdata SD810. It’s very compact and topped off with a handy flip-lid to prevent dirt and crumbs from clogging up the USB port.
While it can’t beat a Gen4 M.2 SSD for performance, as long as you hook up the SD810 to a fast USB port (at least USB 3.2 Gen 2x2), you’ll enjoy a consistent 1,700 to 2,000 MB/s write and read speed. That’s plenty enough to use as a game library drive.
We tested the 1 TB version but if that’s not enough storage, Adata offers 2 and 4 TB variants. It’s rather dinky so if you do go all-out on capacity, you may not want to store really vital stuff on it, just in case you misplace it.
Read our fullAdata SD810 1 TB review.
The winner of the PC Gamer Hardware Award for the best gaming SSD on New Year’s Eve. Three very different drives but which one will grab the 2024 crown?
Today’s best Lexar Play (2230) 1TB SSD, Adata SD810 and Team Group MP44 4 TB dealsAdata SD810$99.99$89.99ViewSee all pricesTeam Group MP44 4 TB$183.83$149.50ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Lexar Play (2230) 1TB SSD, Adata SD810 and Team Group MP44 4 TB dealsAdata SD810$99.99$89.99ViewSee all pricesTeam Group MP44 4 TB$183.83$149.50ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Lexar Play (2230) 1TB SSD, Adata SD810 and Team Group MP44 4 TB dealsAdata SD810$99.99$89.99ViewSee all pricesTeam Group MP44 4 TB$183.83$149.50ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Lexar Play (2230) 1TB SSD, Adata SD810 and Team Group MP44 4 TB deals
Adata SD810$99.99$89.99ViewSee all pricesTeam Group MP44 4 TB$183.83$149.50ViewSee all prices
Adata SD810$99.99$89.99ViewSee all prices
Adata SD810$99.99$89.99ViewSee all prices
Adata SD810
Adata SD810
$99.99$89.99View
$99.99$89.99
$89.99
See all prices
Team Group MP44 4 TB$183.83$149.50ViewSee all prices
Team Group MP44 4 TB$183.83$149.50ViewSee all prices
Team Group MP44 4 TB
Team Group MP44 4 TB
$183.83$149.50View
$183.83$149.50
$149.50
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals
TOPICSHardware
TOPICS
More about ssdsWD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD reviewCorsair MP700 Elite 2 TB NVMe SSD reviewLatestHere’s a game about being a depressed, lonely maintenance robot on a long-haul space colony shipSee more latest►
More about ssdsWD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD reviewCorsair MP700 Elite 2 TB NVMe SSD reviewLatestHere’s a game about being a depressed, lonely maintenance robot on a long-haul space colony shipSee more latest►
More about ssdsWD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD reviewCorsair MP700 Elite 2 TB NVMe SSD review
More about ssds
WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD reviewCorsair MP700 Elite 2 TB NVMe SSD review
WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review
WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review
Corsair MP700 Elite 2 TB NVMe SSD review
Corsair MP700 Elite 2 TB NVMe SSD review
LatestHere’s a game about being a depressed, lonely maintenance robot on a long-haul space colony shipSee more latest►
Latest
Here’s a game about being a depressed, lonely maintenance robot on a long-haul space colony ship
Here’s a game about being a depressed, lonely maintenance robot on a long-haul space colony ship
Here’s a game about being a depressed, lonely maintenance robot on a long-haul space colony ship
See more latest►
Most Popular
This bizarre roguelike has a new take on the Vampire Survivors formula: letting you build your own custom weapons out of brains, eyeballs, and chimpanzee spines
18 games the PC Gamer team can’t wait to play in 2025
The Witcher 3’s now 2-year-old bonus quest is our first taste of the ‘vibe’ CD Projekt is going for in The Witcher 4
2024 was the year updates for old games beat out all the new ones for me
Train like you game with this adventure-inspired workout
‘It’s simply impossible to make a difficulty level that’s just right for all players’: How Final Fantasy 14’s lead battle designer has been playing a precarious balancing game for Dawntrail’s dungeons and raids
Please join me in getting super excited for all the cool looking survival games coming in 2025 (and beyond)
Competitive shooters are at a crucial crossroads in 2025: ‘sweaty’ teamplay vs. casual fun
Call of Duty’s $28 Squid Game skins are the perfect crossover for our capitalist dystopia, and Activision knows exactly what it’s doing
These are the 14 biggest upcoming RPGs of 2025—get ready for another amazing year for the genre
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS
1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads
1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads
1
Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads
2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop
2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop
2
Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop
3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most
3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most
3
Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most
4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands
4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands
4
Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands
5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested
5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested
5
Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested
1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits
1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits
1
Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits
2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback
2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback
2
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback
3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review
3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review
3
WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review
4Ikea Utespelare desk review
4Ikea Utespelare desk review
4
Ikea Utespelare desk review
5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
5
Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
