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Short on time? Our top pick is Samsung 990 PRO 2TB, Crucial T500 2TB NVMe SSD takes Best Gen4 for Writes, while Predator GM7000 2TB takes Best Gen4 with DRAM.
- Best PCIe 4.0 SSD for Gaming Samsung 990 PRO 2TB Check price
- Best Gen4 for Writes Crucial T500 2TB NVMe SSD Check price
- Best Gen4 with DRAM Predator GM7000 2TB Check price
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The best PCIe 4.0 SSD for gaming is still the smart buy for most gaming PCs. Gen5 drives are faster on paper, but Gen4 drives load games quickly, run cooler and work in far more motherboards and laptops.
We picked six Gen4 drives for gaming PCs, with a mix of 2TB and 1TB. We checked every listing on Amazon in October 2026 and used the specs the makers publish there. 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.
Best PCIe 4.0 Gaming SSDs at a Glance
| Award | Drive | Capacity / Read | Best For | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best PCIe 4.0 SSD for Gaming | Samsung 990 PRO 2TB | 2TB / 7,450MB/s | Top Gen4 speed | 9.2/10 |
| Best Gen4 for Writes | Crucial T500 2TB NVMe SSD | 2TB / 7,400MB/s | Big game updates | 9.0/10 |
| Best Gen4 with DRAM | Predator GM7000 2TB | 2TB / 7,400MB/s | Heavy multitasking | 8.8/10 |
| Best Efficient Gen4 | SanDisk Optimus GX 7100 2TB | 2TB / 7,250MB/s | Cool, quiet builds | 8.6/10 |
| Best Value Gen4 Speed | BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 1TB | 1TB / 7,450MB/s | Speed for less | 8.4/10 |
| Best Budget Gen4 | Lexar NM790 1TB NVMe SSD | 1TB / 7,400MB/s | Saving money | 8.2/10 |
Samsung SSD 990 PRO 2TB, PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280
The 2TB 990 PRO keeps 7,450MB/s reads and Samsung's nickel-coated controller, with room for a large library.
Crucial T500 2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD, M.2 2280
One of the fastest Gen4 drives we checked, with reads up to 7,400MB/s and writes up to 7,000MB/s.
Acer Predator GM7000 2TB NVMe M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 SSD with DRAM
A DRAM-equipped Gen4 drive with reads up to 7,400MB/s, a heat spreader and a 5-year limited warranty.
SanDisk Optimus GX 7100 2TB NVMe SSD, PCIe 4.0, M.2 2280
The 2TB GX 7100 reads up to 7,250MB/s with SanDisk's power-efficient design for laptops.
BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 1TB NVMe M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD
Reads up to 7,450MB/s with a PMIC for power efficiency and a graphite heat sink, aimed at desktops and notebooks.
Lexar NM790 1TB NVMe SSD, PCIe Gen 4x4, M.2 2280
Reads up to 7,400MB/s and, per Lexar, uses up to 40% less power than DRAM-equipped Gen4 drives.
In-Depth Reviews
1. PCIe 4.0 vs PCIe 5.0 for Gaming
Gen5 drives double the headline read speed, but game load times do not double with them. Gen4 drives also work in many more systems and usually do not need large heatsinks. If you have a Gen5 board and move huge files, see our PCIe 5.0 gaming SSD guide.
2. Samsung 990 PRO 2TB: Best PCIe 4.0 SSD for Gaming
The Samsung 990 PRO 2TB has the same 7,450MB/s read and 6,900MB/s write ratings as the 1TB model. Samsung's nickel-coated controller handles thermal control, the slim build suits laptops that meet the PCI-SIG D8 standard, and Samsung Magician monitors drive health and updates.
3. Crucial T500 2TB NVMe SSD: Best Gen4 for Writes
The Crucial T500 2TB reads at up to 7,400MB/s and writes at up to 7,000MB/s, with up to 1.18M and 1.44M random IOPS. Crucial says it installs in desktops, laptops and workstations with Gen4 M.2 slots and claims up to 16% faster game loads with DirectStorage.
4. Predator GM7000 2TB: Best Gen4 with DRAM
The Predator GM7000 2TB pairs DRAM cache with TLC NAND for reads up to 7,400MB/s and writes up to 6,700MB/s. Its controller includes a power management unit, a custom heat spreader helps with cooling, and it carries a 5-year limited warranty.
5. SanDisk Optimus GX 7100 2TB: Best Efficient Gen4
The SanDisk Optimus GX 7100 2TB has the same 7,250MB/s read and 6,900MB/s write ratings at 2TB. SanDisk's power-efficient architecture and 8th generation BiCS TLC NAND make it a strong pick for laptops.
6. BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 1TB: Best Value Gen4 Speed
The BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 1TB reads at up to 7,450MB/s and writes at up to 6,500MB/s, with random speeds up to 1,000K IOPS. BIWIN uses a power management IC to improve efficiency, a graphite heat sink and HMB, and names notebook PCs as well as desktops.
7. Lexar NM790 1TB NVMe SSD: Best Budget Gen4
The Lexar NM790 1TB reads at up to 7,400MB/s and writes at up to 6,500MB/s, rated for 1,000TBW. Lexar says it uses up to 40% less power than DRAM cache-enabled PCIe Gen4 drives and relies on HMB 3.0 to borrow a slice of system memory as cache.
How to Choose a PCIe 4.0 SSD for Gaming
Speed tier
The fastest Gen4 drives are rated around 7,400 to 7,450MB/s reads.
DRAM or HMB
The Predator GM7000 has DRAM cache; HMB drives like the NM790 cost less and work well for games.
Writes
The Crucial T500 is rated up to 7,000MB/s writes, useful for big updates.
Capacity
2TB is the sweet spot for most gaming PCs.
Quick Setup Tips
- Use the slot nearest the CPU: on many boards it runs at full Gen4 speed; check your manual
- Use the motherboard heatsink: if your board has one, fit it over the drive
- Update firmware: use the maker's tool after install
- Keep big games on the Gen4 drive: move older titles to slower storage if space runs out
- Check the live price: use the buttons to see the current price on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best PCIe 4.0 SSD for gaming?
The Samsung 990 PRO 2TB, with reads up to 7,450MB/s and writes up to 6,900MB/s.
Is PCIe 4.0 still worth it for gaming?
Yes. Gen4 drives load games quickly and work in far more systems than Gen5.
Do I need DRAM for gaming?
Not usually. HMB drives like the Lexar NM790 work well for games.
Will a Gen4 SSD work in a Gen3 slot?
Yes, at Gen3 speed.
Do I need a heatsink?
A motherboard M.2 heatsink helps keep speeds steady during long transfers.
The Bottom Line
The Samsung 990 PRO 2TB is the best PCIe 4.0 SSD for gaming. Choose the Crucial T500 2TB for fast writes, or the Lexar NM790 1TB on a budget.
