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Short on time? Our top pick is Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB, Lexar NM790 1TB NVMe SSD takes Best Efficiency, while Acer Predator GM7 1TB takes Best for Gaming Desktops.
- Best DRAMless SSD Overall Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB Check price
- Best Efficiency Lexar NM790 1TB NVMe SSD Check price
- Best for Gaming Desktops Acer Predator GM7 1TB Check price
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The best DRAMless SSD for gaming gives you fast load times without paying for a DRAM cache chip. Instead of onboard DRAM, these drives use Host Memory Buffer (HMB), which borrows a small slice of your system memory to store the drive's mapping table, plus an SLC cache for fast bursts of writing.
For loading games, that design works very well. Where DRAM still helps is long, heavy writes such as copying hundreds of gigabytes at once. Every drive below names HMB on its Amazon listing, which we checked in October 2026. We do not list prices because Amazon prices change in real time; use the buttons to see the current price and availability. Scores are our editorial scores out of 10, not Amazon customer ratings. If you do want a DRAM cache, see our best 2TB SSD with DRAM guide.
Best DRAMless Gaming SSDs at a Glance
| Award | Drive | Max Read / Write | Best For | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best DRAMless SSD Overall | Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB | 7,150 / 6,300MB/s | Most gaming PCs and laptops | 9.1/10 |
| Best Efficiency | Lexar NM790 1TB NVMe SSD | 7,400 / 6,500MB/s | Laptops and battery life | 9.0/10 |
| Best for Gaming Desktops | Acer Predator GM7 1TB | 7,400 / 6,500MB/s | NVMe 2.0 desktops | 8.8/10 |
| Best Random Speed | BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 1TB | 7,450 / 6,500MB/s | Fast game loading | 8.6/10 |
| Best for PS5 Builders | RiDATA A901 1TB NVMe SSD | 7,400 / 6,400MB/s | PS5 with a heatsink | 8.3/10 |
| Best for Older PCIe 3.0 PCs | Silicon Power UD90 1TB | 5,000 / 4,800MB/s | Upgrading older systems | 8.2/10 |
Samsung SSD 990 EVO Plus 1TB, PCIe 4.0 x4 / 5.0 x2, M.2 2280
Samsung lists HMB and Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0, with reads up to 7,150MB/s and support for both PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 5.0 x2 slots.
Lexar NM790 1TB NVMe SSD, PCIe Gen 4x4, M.2 2280
Host Memory Buffer 3.0 and up to 40% less power than DRAM-equipped Gen4 SSDs, according to Lexar, with reads up to 7,400MB/s.
Acer Predator GM7 1TB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe 2.0 SSD
An NVMe 2.0 drive with HMB plus SLC cache, thermal throttling protection and Biwin Intelligence software.
BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 1TB NVMe M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD
BIWIN lists reads up to 7,450MB/s and up to 1,000K random IOPS, with HMB, 3D TLC NAND and a graphite heat sink label.
RiDATA A901 1TB NVMe 1.4 PCIe Gen 4x4 M.2 2280 SSD
RiDATA lists HMB, SLC cache and copper foil graphite cooling, with reads up to 7,400MB/s for PC and PS5 upgrades.
Silicon Power UD90 1TB NVMe PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 SSD
A modest Gen4 drive with HMB and SLC caching that still makes sense in PCIe 3.0 systems, where faster drives cannot reach full speed.
In-Depth Reviews
1. What DRAMless Means for Gaming
A DRAM cache stores the map that tells the controller where your data lives. DRAMless NVMe drives use Host Memory Buffer instead, which lets the drive use a small part of your PC's RAM for the same job.
Games mostly read data, and HMB plus a fast controller keeps reads quick. You may notice the difference only during very long writes, such as moving a large game library, when the SLC cache fills.
2. Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB: Best DRAMless SSD Overall
The Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB reads at up to 7,150MB/s and writes at up to 6,300MB/s. Its listing names HMB technology and Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0, which Samsung uses to keep large file writes fast.
It works in PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 5.0 x2 slots, and Samsung Magician handles firmware updates and drive monitoring.
3. Lexar NM790 1TB: Best Efficiency
The Lexar NM790 1TB reads at up to 7,400MB/s and is rated for 1,000TBW. Lexar says Host Memory Buffer 3.0 helps it use up to 40% less power than DRAM-equipped PCIe 4.0 SSDs, which suits gaming laptops.
4. Acer Predator GM7 1TB: Best for Gaming Desktops
The Acer Predator GM7 1TB combines HMB with an SLC cache on an NVMe 2.0 controller. It reads at up to 7,400MB/s and writes at up to 6,500MB/s, and the listing notes thermal throttling and power management for heavy workloads.
5. BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 1TB: Best Random Speed
The BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 1TB lists up to 1,000K random IOPS alongside 7,450MB/s reads. It uses HMB, 3D TLC NAND, a PMIC for power efficiency and a graphite heat sink label.
6. RiDATA A901 and Silicon Power UD90
The RiDATA A901 1TB reads at up to 7,400MB/s with HMB, an SLC cache and copper foil graphite cooling. RiDATA says it meets PS5 requirements; still check Sony's heatsink rules before installing it in a PS5.
The Silicon Power UD90 1TB is slower at up to 5,000MB/s, but it is a sensible upgrade for PCIe 3.0 systems that cannot use faster Gen4 speeds anyway.
How to Choose a DRAMless Gaming SSD
Look for HMB
DRAMless NVMe drives should support Host Memory Buffer. It is listed on every pick here.
Check the SLC Cache
An SLC cache keeps writes fast until it fills. For games and updates, that is rarely an issue.
Match Your Slot
PCIe 4.0 drives work in PCIe 3.0 slots at lower speed. Check your motherboard or laptop manual.
Think About Heavy Writes
If you often copy hundreds of gigabytes at once, a drive with DRAM can stay faster for longer.
Plan for Capacity
1TB fills quickly with modern games. See our best 1TB NVMe SSD guide for more options.
Quick Setup Tips
- Back up first: copy important files before cloning or reinstalling
- Keep 10% free space: it helps the SLC cache work well
- Update firmware: use the maker's software after installing
- Check the live price: use the buttons to see the current price on Amazon
- Add a heatsink for PS5: Sony requires one for M.2 expansion
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best DRAMless SSD for gaming?
The Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB, which lists HMB, Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 and reads up to 7,150MB/s.
Is a DRAMless SSD good for gaming?
Yes. Games mostly read data, and HMB drives load games quickly. DRAM mainly helps during long, heavy writes.
What is HMB on an SSD?
Host Memory Buffer lets a DRAMless NVMe drive use a small part of system RAM to store its mapping table.
Do DRAMless SSDs use less power?
Often, yes. Lexar says the NM790 uses up to 40% less power than DRAM-equipped Gen4 SSDs.
Can I use a DRAMless SSD in a PS5?
Yes, if it meets Sony's speed and size requirements and has a heatsink.
The Bottom Line
The Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB is the best DRAMless SSD for gaming in 2026. Choose the Lexar NM790 1TB for laptops and efficiency, or the Acer Predator GM7 1TB for an NVMe 2.0 gaming desktop.
