Introduction
It may be a bitter pill to swallow, but game files appear to be getting bigger every year. As a result, SSDs and other storage solutions are reaching their maximum capacity with only a handful of games installed.
Gamers building a PC have two ways to combat this. Either constantly juggle games between storage solutions and live with the burden of having to re-install games all the time, or splash out on a larger SSD that can store a large chunk of your gaming catalogue in one convenient place.
To make sure your gaming PC has plenty of space for the backlog and other important files that offers strong gaming performance, a PCI-E Gen4 2TB SSD seems like the most comfortable option.
Suggested Article: Best PCI-E Gen4 SSDs to Buy in 2023
In this buyers guide, we’ll be listing our favourite 2TB Gen4 SSDs to throw inside of a brand-new gaming PC. We’ve included a range of options in this roundup, all of which vary in performance and price points.
Our Recommendations
1. Crucial P3 Plus
👑 The best budget 2TB Gen4 SSD
Introduction
We’re starting things with an extremely affordable offering, the Crucial P3 Plus. Available at a price point that shares more similarities with 1TB SSDs, this storage is a budget-friendly way to hold more games without having to sacrifice too much in terms of performance. With read and write speeds beyond the capabilities of Gen3 alternatives, this SSD offers great value for budget consumers.
In order to achieve this budget price point, this M.2 storage does opt to makes some performance sacrifices compared to the other Gen4 options on this list. However, the P3 Plus maintains a respectable pace, allowing gamers to experience responsive load times in games and applications.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | Crucial P3 Plus |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 2TB |
| Read Speeds | 5000 MB/s |
| Write Speeds | 4200 MB/s |
| Size | M.2 2280 |
| Endurance | 440TBW |
Things We Like
Very affordable: It’s still somewhat baffling that a SSD can compete with the price of options that offer half the storage, but the P3 Plus manages it with ease. Because of this, gamers on a budget should seriously consider this upgrade.
Faster than Gen3: Despite the lower price point creating some performance limitations, this SSD is still able to surpass the speeds of PCI-E 3.0 alternatives, providing a nice upgrade to loading times from its predecessor.
Things We Don’t Like
Limited speeds: The cracks of this SSD start to show when compared to other Gen4 options. Both the read and write speeds are significantly slower than most Gen4 SSDs, which makes it less than ideal for those wanting the most responsive performance possible.
Low durability: With a Terabytes Written (TBW) measurement of 440TB, the P3 Plus should be able to withstand at least a few years worth of usage. However, its lifespan is significantly shorter than most M.2 storage options, making it a less worthy long-term investment.
Summary
Crucial’s P3 Plus is great pick for budget gamers that are looking to store as many games as possible on their PC. As one of the cheapest ways to get 2TB of PCI-E 4.0 storage, this SSD is a solid all-rounder that provides a better value proposition than most storage available within a similar price range.
Features: 3.8/5
Design: 3.8/5
Performance: 4/5
Value for Money: 4.3/5
Pros
- Very cheap 2TB SSD
- Strong upgrade from Gen3
- Great for budget gamers
Cons
- Fairly slow for PCI-E 4.0
- Low TBW rating
Where to Buy
Buy the Crucial P3 Plus on:
2. Corsair MP600 GS
👑 The best value 2TB Gen4 SSD
Introduction
Another 2TB option that is available at an competitive price point is Corsair’s MP600 GS. In a similar fashion to the previous entry on our list, this storage option puts value ahead of anything else, resulting in a minimalist design that does the fundamentals well. Though the MP600 GS is targeted towards laptops and notebooks, the specs on offer will also act as an affordable upgrade for budget desktops builders.
Containing read and write speeds of 4.8 GB/s and 4.5GB/s respectively, this SSD offers a significant boost from the previous generation, resulting in less time waiting for a game or application to load. Additionally, this SSD is built to last, which is backed up with a 5-year warranty from Corsair.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | Corsair MP600 GS |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 2TB |
| Read Speeds | 4800 MB/s |
| Write Speeds | 4500 MB/s |
| Size | M.2 2280 |
| Endurance | 1200TBW |
Things We Like
Affordable pricing: Most 2TB SSDs are beyond the price limit of what typical gamers are willing to spend on a single storage drive. However, this option is priced closer to the amount that consumers are willing to spend, making it a tantalising investment.
Durable design: As the 5-year warranty suggests, the MP600 GS is built with longevity in mind. Whilst many will want to upgrade their performance over time, this SSD will remain useful as a secondary option in your next system.
Things We Don’t Like
Slow read and write speeds: Due to the focus on lowering costs, this drive suffers a similar hindrance to performance as our previous entry. Although, the MP600 GS will be able to run the latest titles with little fuss.
Barebones design: Though most M.2 drives adopt a minimal design due to them normally being covered by a heatsink on the motherboard, the exposed nature of storage like this one raise concerns with thermal regulation and protection. This SSD is by no means the only culprit, but it is worth flagging for those picking up a motherboard without a designated M.2 heatsink.
Summary
All in all, Corsair’s MP600 GS is solid choice for PC builders that aren’t too worried about performance and just want the biggest amount of storage for a price that doesn’t stray too far from expectations. Even though the read and write speeds are above the previous-gen alternatives, the main reason to pick up this SSD is for the reliability and affordability. This storage is designed to last for at least 5 years, making it a worthy investment for any gamer, as either a primary or secondary drive.
Features: 3.8/5
Design: 4/5
Performance: 3.8/5
Value for Money: 4/5
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Prolonged lifespan
- Also good for laptops
Cons
- Slow performance
- Cheaper options available
Where to Buy
Buy the Corsair MP600 GS on:
3. Samsung 990 Pro
👑 The fastest 2TB Gen4 SSD
Introduction
If your budget has no limit and instead desire a blisteringly fast gaming experience, then let us introduce the Samsung 990 Pro. We have always found that Samsung’s SSDs offer high-end gaming performance that is also reliable and easy to use. However, the 990 Pro is the cream of the crop, offering a rather ludicrous 7.45 GB/s read and 6.9 GB/s write speeds. This results in extremely responsive gameplay while reducing wait times during demanding productivity tasks.
On top of the top-tier performance, the 990 PRO is an ideal choice for gamers looking to futureproof their build. With a TBW of 1200TB, this storage should survive at least one or two upgrades, making it a solid investment for any gamers that have the funds available. On top of this, this SSD is very efficient, draining 50% less power from a system than Samsung’s previous premium offering.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | Samsung 990 PRO |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 2TB |
| Read Speeds | 7450 MB/s |
| Write Speeds | 6900 MB/s |
| Size | M.2 2280 |
| Endurance | 1200TBW |
Things We Like
Very fast: This SSD provides industry-leading performance for M.2 storage, making it an ideal choice for high-end gamers looking for the ultimate experience in a range of titles.
Software support: A rare inclusion for SSDs, the performance of the 990 PRO can be monitored and altered via Samsung’s Magician Software. This allows gamers to ensure that performance remains optimal, and allows users to prevent any issues that may occur.
Things We Don’t Like
Expensive pricing: As expected, the increased capacity and speed of this SSD comes with a hefty price tag. Because of this, only gamers that are willing to splash the cash on an SSD or shift there budget around to prioritise storage will be able to access this top-tier performance.
Summary
Without a doubt, Samsung’s 990 PRO is one of the fastest storage solutions on the market, making it a great choice for gamers looking to build the best gaming PC available. In addition, this SSD is very reliable and efficient, which helps to justify the investment required to pick this storage solution up.
Features: 4.5/5
Design: 4.3/5
Performance: 4.7/5
Value for Money: 4/5
Pros
- Extremely fast
- Software support
- Improved efficiency
Cons
- Very expensive
Where to Buy
Buy the Samsung 990 Pro on:
4. Seagate Firecuda 530
👑 The best high-end 2TB Gen4 SSD
Introduction
We’re rounding things up with a popular choice within GeekaWhat HQ that competes with the best SSDs on the market, the Seagate Firecuda 530. We’ve used this specific SSD, along with other options from Seagate, in countless PC builds. During this time, we’ve never experienced any problems with performance, showing us that this SSD is a dependable option for a gaming PC.
Looking at the details, the Firecuda 530 offers read speeds of 7.3 GB/s and write speeds of 6.9 GB/s. This will be more than enough to run games at 4K at the highest frame rates without having to wait for levels to loads, and like our previous entry, will be able to crunch through productivity task in an efficient manner. Additionally, this option is great for futureproofing, as it is set up to provide high-quality storage for years to come.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | Seagate Firecuda 530 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 2TB |
| Read Speeds | 7300 MB/s |
| Write Speeds | 6900 MB/s |
| Size | M.2 2280 |
| Endurance | 2550TBW |
Things We Like
High speeds: The read and write speeds available on this are hard to beat, with only a few options like the 990 PRO able to best it. Therefore, this SSD is one of the best ways to cut down on those pesky loading times.
Long lifespan: Another area in which this particular SSD excels is longevity. With an tested TBW of 2550, the Firecuda 530 is built to withstand years of extensive tasks during long gaming sessions and productivity tasks, which is great news for PC enthusiasts.
Things We Don’t Like
Very pricey: Again, it does not surprise us to see this SSD has a premium price point attached to it. Whilst it is unfortunate that most gamers won’t be able to pick up this particular variant, cheaper variants are available, but gamers will be left to choose between capacity or speed.
Summary
From our extensive experience using this particular SSD in various builds, anyone that wants a reliable storage solution for their high-end gaming PC can’t go wrong with the Seagate Firecuda 530. The solid blend of fast performance and a very long lifespan makes this M.2 storage a worthy investment for gamers looking to optimise their gaming experience.
Features: 4/5
Design: 4.3/5
Performance: 4/5
Value for Money: 3.8/5
Pros
- High-quality performance
- Built to last
- PS5 compatible
Cons
- Very pricey
- Extra cost for heatsink
Where to Buy
Buy the Seagate Firecuda 530 on:
Do I Need a 2TB M.2 SSD for My Gaming PC?
More storage on a gaming PC is never a bad idea. Increased storage doesn’t have an effect on the performance of an M.2 SSD, so on paper, there are no downsides to putting a larger 2TB drive into your gaming PC. However, the question with storage isn’t how much storage you need? Instead, the question is how much storage can you afford?
Obviously, there are some boundaries to this philosophy. For example, a 250GB drive simply isn’t enough in modern systems, as this will only be enough to hold one or two blockbuster titles.
But for the majority of gamers, the choice for SSDs will come down to 1TB or 2TB options. Both options have their advantages, but the main determining factors which is best suited to your needs comes down to budget and performance. Gamers on a limited budget will be able to cope with a 1TB Gen4 SSD, as it will hold a bunch of games whilst prioritising strong performance. Also, SATA or HDD options provide a cheaper way to expand storage, which can be used for documents or older games that require less speed to run efficiently.
However, for high-end gamers that are not too concerned about saving money, then a 2TB option will be a more comfortable solution. Recent years has seen games continually grow in size, which has made the likes of 500GB storage become somewhat obsolete, and this trend doesn’t look to be slowing down. Because of this, 2TB is the best option for those that can afford it, as it’s the best way to guarantee that the majority of your games library can be left in tact.
PCI-E 4.0 Compatibility
Since it was first released, PCI-E 4.0 SSDs quickly became the gold standard for gaming PC storage. Whilst Gen3 options have stuck around as a less expensive alternative for budget systems, the simple transition to Gen4 SSDs made it hard for most gamers to pass up on the upgrade, especially when you took the boosted performance into consideration.
With an almost identical M.2 form factor the previous generation, it is very easy to switch out a Gen3 option for Gen4. On top of this, these SSDs were one of the earliest current-gen components to release, which means most motherboards, CPUs, GPUs, and RAM will work alongside this storage in a complimentary manner, leading to optimal gaming performance. Nowadays, it’s rare to see a motherboard release without at least one PCI-Ex4 4.0 slot for an M.2 SSD.
However, it is important to note that PCI-E 5.0 is just over the horizon. In fact, some Gen5 SSDs have already been shown off at events like CES earlier this year, with speculation of a general release expected at some point in 2023. Of course, this will take some time to fully integrate into the gaming market, with early adopters likely having to pay a lot for the privilege, but it may be worth holding on for more information before making an upgrade to an existing PC.
Why You Can Trust Us
For those of you that have scrolled through our recommendations for this particular topic, you may be wondering what makes us qualified to make suggestions on the best Gen4 2TB SSDs? Allow us to explain.
As soon as we receive a gaming product at our office, our team of PC hardware and gaming experts spend hours putting it to the test to see how it holds up against the competition. To ensure each product is tested fairly, we follow a number of procedures such as inspections and benchmarks. We then use this information to compile an overview of the product in question, commenting on its strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use-case.
If you would like to learn more about the GeekaWhat team or editorial promise, head over to the About Us section.
How We Tested the Best 2TB Gen4 SSDs
In order to test and evaluate 2TB PCI-E 4.O SSDs, there are a number of factors that we take into account, these are:
- Read & Write Speeds
- Form Factor
- Longevity
- Value for Money
For a more in-depth look at our testing and evaluation methods, take a look at the SSD reviews and buyers guides listed below.
| Brand(s) | Article Link |
|---|---|
| Seagate | Seagate FireCuda 530: The Mandalorian Beskar Ingot Review |
| WD, Patriot, Seagate, Crucial, Samsung | Best PCI-E Gen4 SSDs to Buy in 2023 |
| XPG | XPG Spectrix S20G Blade SSD Review |
| Corsair | Corsair MP600 Pro XT SSD Review |
Conclusion
Best 2TB Gen4 SSD: Seagate Firecuda 530
After considering all of the options featured in this roundup, our top pick for a Gen4 SSD that provides 2TB of storage is the Seagate Firecuda 530. This SSD offers a lot of quality across the board, providing gamers with a mixture of high-end performance, large capacity, and prolonged lifespan. Whilst it does come with the caveat of a expensive price tag, our experiences suggest that this SSD is worth every penny.
Read our full Seagate Firecuda 530 review or Buy the Seagate Firecuda 530 on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Gen4 SSDs Better for Gaming than Gen3?
Yes. PCI-E Gen4 SSDs are significantly faster than their Gen3 counterparts, providing faster loading times and more responsive gameplay.
Do I Need M.2 Storage in My Gaming PC?
We would always recommend picking up an M.2 storage for a gaming PC. Whilst SATA and HDD can technically be used instead, they will struggle to run modern titles, resulting in a very unpleasant experience.
How Many Games Can I Store on a 2TB SSD?
It depends. Modern PC games vary drastically in size, with most game files sitting between 10-150GB in size. But on average, a 2TB SSD can store around 30-50 games, assuming gamers have a combination of large and smaller games in their library .
