Corsair SSDs are some of the best storage drives on the market. Those looking for an M.2 drive for a new PC build or a beefy upgrade that offers high read and write speeds will find a solid option from Corsair’s Gen4 and Gen5 product ranges. But with so many great drives to choose from, we’ve tested the best Corsair SSDs to determine which ones are worth picking up.
We’ve seen massive-capacity drives become much more affordable, with the price per gigabyte dropping exponentially as we look at drives with more storage. Corsair has a range of drives available on the Gen4 interface, from budget options such as the MP600 GS to top-end drives equipped to handle high usage with a massive heatsink, like the MP700 Pro. In today’s article, we’ve rounded up the best Corsair SSDs. We’ve looked at various options on the market and picked out the best ones available at exceptional prices.
Our Top Pick: Corsair MP600 GS
The Corsair MP600 GS is our choice for the best Corsair SSD to buy in 2024, offering a great blend of performance, capacity, and value. With its impressive read speeds up to 4800MB/s and write speeds reaching 3900MB/s, it caters well to both gaming enthusiasts and professional users seeking fast and reliable storage. Its affordability and solid performance across various capacities make it a standout choice for anyone looking to upgrade their system.
Best Corsair SSDs to Buy in 2024
1. Corsair MP600 GS
The Corsair MP600 GS is an appealing Gen4 drive, with its 2TB variant striking a balance between capacity, affordability and performance. The MP600 GS does offer 1TB and 500GB sizes, but the 2TB drive provides the strongest performance, making it a compelling choice for systems that need high read and write speeds.
The MP600 GS can reach up to 4800MB/s on the reads and 4500MB/s on the writes, making it one of the slower drives on the Gen4 interface. Despite this, the 2TB MP600 GS has an endurance rating of 1200TBW, demonstrating its reliability. The MP600 GS also comes with a five-year warranty, a common offering from most manufacturers, but it is also a nice value-add.
| Specification | Corsair MP600 GS |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 500GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Sequential Read Speed | 500GB: 3500MB/s 1TB, 2TB: 4800MB/s |
| Sequential Write Speed | 500GB: 3500MB/s 1TB: 3900MB/s 2TB: 4500MB/s |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Endurance | 500GB: 300TBW 1TB: 600TBW 2TB: 1200TBW |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 |
| Colour | Black |
While the MP600 GS is highly affordable, its speeds aren’t as impressive as those of other Gen4 SSDs. Similarly priced drives that offer better performance are worth considering if you’re looking for better read and write speeds.
Pros
- Solid price point
- Reliable
- 2TB good value
Cons
- Read/Write speeds
- No heatsink options
Suggested Article: Best SSDs to Buy in 2024
2. Corsair MP600 Pro XT
The Corsair MP600 Pro XT is designed to compete with top-end SSDs like the Samsung 990 Pro and Seagate Firecuda 530. It offers exceptional read and write speeds, up to 7100MB/s and 6800MB/s. It also comes in multiple capacities, with 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB versions to choose from.
The endurance ratings are stronger than the MP600 GS, with the 2TB MP600 Pro XT maxing out at 1400TBW, which is 200TB more than the GS. The heatsink of the MP600 Pro XT also ensures that thermals remain low even during intense workloads, making this drive an ideal pickup for those prioritising temperatures.
| Specification | Corsair MP600 Pro XT |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB |
| Sequential Read Speed | 1TB, 2TB, 4TB: 7100MB/s 8TB: 7000MB/s |
| Sequential Write Speed | 1TB: 5800MB/s 2TB, 4TB, 8TB: 6800MB/s |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Endurance | 700TBW/1400TBW/3000TBW/6000TBW |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 |
| Colour | Black |
While effective in managing heat, the integrated heatsink poses clearance issues in tightly packed systems and those with large graphics cards. Additionally, the MP600 Pro XT’s premium performance is reflected in its price, positioning it as an investment for those who prefer speed and reliability over budget constraints. This aspect makes it a more considered purchase, weighing its high-end features against the price.
Pros
- Top tier performance
- Heatsink works well
- Ideal for enthusiasts
Cons
- Potential clearance issues
- Expensive
3. MP600 Elite Heatsink
The Corsair MP600 Elite SSD strikes a fine balance between effective thermal management and performance. Available in 1TB and 2TB capacities, this drive is built to satisfy your storage needs while offering high read and write speeds to shift large files and applications.
The MP600 Elite has read speeds up to 7000MB/s while write speeds sit around 6200MB/s. Endurance ratings are the same as the MP600 GS, with 600TBW and 1200TBW on the 1TB and 2TB versions, ensuring this drive will last for a long time. Furthermore, the slimline aluminium heatsink helps evenly disperse heat, minimising any throttling so that the MP600 Elite can maintain sustained high performance.
| Specification | Corsair MP600 Elite |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 1TB, 2TB |
| Sequential Read Speed | 7000MB/s |
| Sequential Write Speed | 1TB: 6200MB/s 2TB: 6500MB/s |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Endurance | 600TBW/1200TBW |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 |
| Colour | Black |
However, the premium features of the MP600 Elite Heatsink come at a higher cost, making it an investment for those who prioritise performance over budget. Additionally, the absence of a 4TB version limits options for prospective buyers seeking the same high performance and thermal efficiency in a larger capacity SSD.
Pros
- Excellent thermals
- High performance
- Sleek Design
Cons
- Expensive
- No 4TB version
4. MP700 Pro with Air Cooler
The Corsair MP700 Pro is one of the best-performing solid-state drives available. It offers unparalleled speeds and capacities that cater to the most demanding workloads. Available in 1TB and 2TB sizes, it’s engineered for those who require substantial storage but also the fastest possible data transfer rates.
Boasting outrageous read speeds of up to 11700MB/s for the 1TB version and 11800MB/s for the 2TB, alongside write speeds of 11700MB/s and 12400MB/s, respectively, the MP700 Pro sets a new benchmark for Corsairs’ SSD performance. Such speeds significantly reduce load times, making this SSD ideal for high-end gaming and intensive content creation. With an endurance rating of 700TBW for the 1TB model and 1400TBW for the 2TB model, its durability is as expected for a storage drive of this price point.
| Specification | Corsair MP700 Pro |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 1TB, 2TB |
| Sequential Read Speed | 11700MB/s / 11800MB/s |
| Sequential Write Speed | 11700MB/s / 12400MB/s |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Endurance | 700TBW/1400TBW |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 |
| Colour | Black |
However, the MP700 Pro’s extraordinary capabilities come with caveats. Its leading performance positions it as a premium SSD, hence its $324.99 MSRP for the 2TB version. While this drive will be necessary for some enthusiast-level PC builds, the high price point is a hard pill to swallow for many buyers.
Pros
- Unparalleled performance
- Durability
- Ideal for enthusiasts
Cons
- No 4TB option
- Very expensive
How We Tested the Best Corsair SSDs
To test the best SSDs, we put all these drives through the wringer in CrystalDiskMark. We use this application across all of our SSD testing to provide data equivalent to real-life scenarios in which an SSD is constantly being written to and read. CrystalDiskMark applies an artificial load on the drive you’re using, which then provides sequential read and write speed data. You can find full write-ups of our testing procedures and methodology in our Behind the Scenes articles.
From our testing, we see that Gen5 SSDs such as the MP700 Pro are clear winners when it comes to performance, outshining Gen4 drives. Does this mean that picking up a Gen5 Corsair SSD is necessary? No, these drives are geared towards enthusiasts, and thus, they are priced as such. Gen4 SSDs are still very strong in terms of performance, but they are considerably cheaper, making them highly competitive for mid-range and budget systems. As a general rule, when read and write speeds are close together, the performance difference day to day is pretty negligible, which means you can pick up the cheapest drive without a massive hit to performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Corsair Products Reliable?
Yes they are! Corsair are one of the most reputable and reliable manufacturers in this space, and they offer a five-year warranty or better across most products.
Do You Need NVMe Drives for Modern Games?
Modern games benefit from having an NVMe drive, but they’re not required for every title.
Will My Drive Hinder Gaming Performance?
Yes, in modern games. But this is unlikely for older games or less demanding titles. The majority of drives will provide solid performance for less demanding games.
