Article Title: Understanding the Power of NVMe Drives in Modern Computing

In the world of contemporary computing, NVMe drives reign supreme as the quickest storage solutions available. These SSDs stand out not just for their speed, but also for their sleek and compact design. They come without the need for extra power or data cables and continue to evolve in terms of their storage capacities. Even more impressive is their decreasing cost. If your personal computer or laptop is relatively recent, chances are, you’re already utilizing one of these drives.

So, what exactly is NVMe? How does it differ from SATA or M.2 drives? How speedy is an NVMe?

In this article, we dive deep into the realm of NVMe, highlighting its significance, and how it could potentially be the platform for all your future gaming experiences.

What is NVMe?

NVMe, short for Non-Volatile Memory Express, is a technology that employs the PCI Express protocol to access data on non-volatile storage mediums such as hard drives and SSDs. This method is considerably faster than the older SATA drives which relied on the AHCI standard. NVMe was designed to maximize the higher bandwidth and lower latency of the PCI Express protocol, which was typically used for graphics cards, audio cards, and high-speed network interfaces.

Before the advent of NVMe drives, SSDs and hard drives used the SATA interface. However, the performance ceiling of this communication standard necessitated a new interface. Developers initially bypassed this bottleneck by plugging SSDs directly into PCI Express slots, but this required non-standard specifications.

With NVMe, manufacturers now have a standard they can adhere to. Today, most modern NVMe SSDs use the M.2 form factor. This interface connects to the motherboard, usually having a dedicated slot or two. Alternatively, you can use a PCIe add-in card with its own M.2 slots.

SATA vs. NVMe

Before the arrival of NVMe, SATA technology was the go-to storage solution, showing significant improvements over time. However, SATA III hit a performance wall with a maximum throughput of just 600 MBps. In contrast, the third generation of PCI Express drives offered up to 1,000 MBps per lane. Considering a standard NVMe drive uses four PCI express lanes, the potential performance increase is over 12x.

Since then, we’ve seen the introduction of PCIe 4 and PCIe 5 NVMe SSDs. These drives can provide read and write speeds up to 14,000 MBps, although real-world performance often differs. As it stands, the fastest NVMe SSDs only offer marginal improvements over slower NVMe SSDs, and the uplift over SATA SSDs isn’t dramatically significant.

However, they are faster. So, if you’re after the best game load times and quickest system boot times, a latest-generation NVMe SSD is the way to go. Games that utilize the DirectStorage API for faster load times and less pop-in will require NVMe SSDs to take full advantage.

Moreover, if you’re planning to upgrade or expand your PS5 storage, you’ll need a PCIe 4 drive capable of handling up to 5,500 MBps sustained read and write.

Unlike SATA drives, NVMe drives are more compact and straightforward. They plug directly into a slot on the motherboard and don’t require extra cabling. They also use less power, although high-end models might need some passive cooling.

Do You Need an NVMe Drive?

While NVMe drives offer many benefits, not everyone necessarily needs one. The most vital upgrade for any PC still using a hard drive for a boot drive or game drive is to switch to any kind of SSD. SATA SSDs are significantly faster than traditional hard drives and are nearly as cost-efficient.

However, if you’re looking to enhance your game load times and prepare for Direct Storage gaming, then a third or fourth generation NVMe is ideal. They’re also smaller, lighter, and incredibly easy to install.

NVMe vs RAM

Despite the speed of NVMe drives, they’re still slower than modern DDR4 and DDR5 memory. Even with a fast NVMe SSD, you still need to ensure your system has enough memory for the applications and games you use.

Best NVMe SSDs

The best NVMe SSDs frequently change based on evolving technology and individual needs. Nevertheless, we will provide recommendations for our current favorite NVMe SSDs.

Need more guidance? Check out our guide on how to buy an SSD.