Ultimate SSD Guide for 2025 - Don't buy the WRONG Storage! #creators

About this video

• Video Title: Ultimate SSD Guide for 2025 - Don't buy the WRONG Storage! #creators
• Channel: Tech Notice
• Speakers: (None explicitly named, but one primary narrator)
• Duration: 00:23:59

Overview

This video serves as a comprehensive guide to choosing the right M.2 SSD for PC users in 2025, aiming to help viewers avoid common mistakes and make informed purchasing decisions. It covers various aspects of SSD technology, including different generations (Gen 3, Gen 4, Gen 5), the importance of M.2 slot compatibility, the relevance of cooling, the significance of SSD size and capacity, and why sequential speeds can be misleading. The video also provides recommendations for specific use cases like secondary storage, OS/programs, and heavy workloads, while discussing durability and common purchasing errors.

Key takeaways

• SSD Generations and Compatibility: Understand the differences between Gen 3, Gen 4, and Gen 5 M.2 NVMe SSDs and ensure compatibility with your motherboard's M.2 slot generation, noting that slots are backwards compatible but drives are not forwards compatible.
• Gen 5 SSDs: Overkill for Most: For 99% of users, Gen 5 SSDs are a waste of money due to significantly higher cost and minimal real-world performance gains compared to Gen 4, which offers better value.
• Cooling Considerations: While Gen 4 SSDs generally don't require additional cooling if the motherboard has adequate heatsinks or PC airflow, Gen 5 drives are hotter and may necessitate dedicated cooling, depending on motherboard features.
• M.2 Drive Sizes: Be aware of M.2 SSD sizes, with 2280 (80mm long) being the most common, while smaller 2230 sizes are found in slim laptops and handheld devices.
• Sequential Speeds are Misleading: Marketing sequential read/write speeds are often exaggerated and rarely achieved in real-world scenarios, making them a poor metric for choosing an SSD. Focus on benchmarks that reflect actual usage, like system drive or project drive performance.
• Use Case Specific Recommendations: Different SSDs excel for different purposes: Quick System Drive Benchmarks are relevant for OS/programs, Full System Drive Benchmarks are crucial for OS/programs, and Consistency tests are important for project/heavy workload drives.
• Capacity Matters for Price and Durability: Below 1TB, the price per gigabyte is often poor. Higher capacity drives generally offer better value and increased Terabytes Written (TBW) ratings, indicating greater durability.
• Durability (TBW): Terabytes Written (TBW) indicates an SSD's lifespan. A higher TBW spec generally means a more reliable drive. For creators with heavy write workloads, prioritizing drives with higher TBW or larger capacities is recommended.
• Common Mistakes to Avoid:
  1. Not checking motherboard manuals for M.2 slot bandwidth sharing (e.g., with GPUs).
  2. Buying SSDs with insufficient storage (below 1TB is often poor value).
  3. Removing the sticker/cover from the SSD, which can impact cooling and void the warranty.