Everything you need to know about PCIe 4.0 SSDs (Gen 4 SSD)

SSD PCIe 4.0 Gen 4 SSD

Since the arrival of PCIe Gen4, NVMe SSDs have reached a new milestone. While PCIe 3 SSDs were capped at around 3.5 GB/s, PCIe 4.0 SSDs (also known as Gen 4 SSDs) have nearly doubled the speeds. 👉 In concrete terms, this means reduced loading times in your games, monstrously fast file transfers, and a much more responsive machine. In short, PCIe Gen4 has been a revolution that still offers the best performance-to-price ratio today.

Author
yuux
Co-founder of DropReference, I'm here to give you the best tips to build the gaming PC of your dreams!

Technical reminder: what does PCIe Gen4 bring?

Each generation of PCI Express doubles the bandwidth. Here is a small table for comparison:

👉 A SSD PCIe 4 can reach 7,000 MB/s, which is already huge for most current uses.

Why choose a PCIe 4.0 SSD today?

Even if PCIe 5 SSDs arrive, Gen4 remains the best choice for 90% of users. Here's why:

  • ⚡ Speed → 2x faster than PCIe 3.0.
  • 💸 More affordable price → Gen 4 SSDs have become affordable.
  • 🔥 Less heat than PCIe 5 models (no need for a dedicated fan).
  • 🎮 Gaming ready for the future → compatible with Microsoft's DirectStorage.
  • 🖥️ Perfect for creatives → video editing 4K/6K, 3D rendering, etc.

In plain language: you are already benefiting from a big performance boost without blowing your budget.

Compatibility: Does your PC support PCIe Gen4?

To install a PCIe 4 SSD, you need:

A PCIe 4.0 compatible motherboard:

  • AMD → from X570 and B550 chipsets (with Ryzen 3000 and above).
  • Intel → from the Z490 chipsets (10th gen) and especially Z590/Z690.

A compatible CPU:

  • AMD Ryzen 3000 (Zen 2) and more.
  • Intel Core 10th generation (Comet Lake) and more.

👉 Good news: the majority of recent configurations already support PCIe Gen4 without any issues.

ssd-pcie-4 Click to enlarge

Performances: SSD PCIe 3 vs SSD PCIe 4

To view the difference:

👉 Result: a Gen 4 SSD loads your games and software much faster than a Gen 3, but without the price and heat of a Gen 5.

The best PCIe 4 SSDs on the market

Some flagship models that you can regularly find on sale:

All PCIe 4 SSDs available

Filters

Crucial E100 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4

Crucial E100 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4

109€

(8 Vendors)
Brand: Crucial
Top brand Fast! Good capacity
Samsung 990 EVO Plus M.2 NVMe 2TB

Samsung 990 EVO Plus M.2 NVMe 2TB

209€

(11 Vendors)
3 (1)
Interface: PCIe 4.0
Top brand Fast! Comfortable capacity
MSI SPATIUM M461 2TB NVMe M.2

MSI SPATIUM M461 2TB NVMe M.2

279€

(2 Vendors)
Brand: MSI
Interesting brand Fast! Comfortable capacity
Samsung 990 EVO Plus M.2 NVMe 1TB Black

Samsung 990 EVO Plus M.2 NVMe 1TB Black

144€

(10 Vendors)
4 (2)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Fast! Good capacity
Kingston A2000 1TB NVMe PCIe 3.0 M.2

Kingston A2000 1TB NVMe PCIe 3.0 M.2

70€

(1 Vendors)
Brand: Kingston
Good brand Fast and budget-friendly Good capacity
Samsung 990 PRO 2TB NVMe M.2 Black

Samsung 990 PRO 2TB NVMe M.2 Black

214€

(15 Vendors)
4 (1)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Fast! Comfortable capacity
KIOXIA Exceria LRC20Z001TG8 1TB NVMe Black

KIOXIA Exceria LRC20Z001TG8 1TB NVMe Black

213€

(1 Vendors)
Brand: Kioxia
Good brand Fast and budget-friendly Good capacity
Crucial P510 1TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe M.2

Crucial P510 1TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe M.2

199€

(2 Vendors)
4 (1)
Brand: Crucial
Top brand Super fast! Good capacity
Western Digital WD Black SN850X M.2 2TB NVMe

Western Digital WD Black SN850X M.2 2TB NVMe

195€

(13 Vendors)
Brand: Western Digital
Top brand Fast! Comfortable capacity
MSI SPATIUM M470 PRO 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2

MSI SPATIUM M470 PRO 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2

124€

(5 Vendors)
4 (1)
Brand: MSI
Interesting brand Fast! Good capacity
WD_BLACK WDS200T4X0E 2TB NVMe M.2 PCIe 4.0 Black

WD_BLACK WDS200T4X0E 2TB NVMe M.2 PCIe 4.0 Black

199€

(12 Vendors)
Brand: HP
Fast! Comfortable capacity
Western Digital WDS100T4B0E 1TB NVMe PCIe Gen4 M.2 Blue

Western Digital WDS100T4B0E 1TB NVMe PCIe Gen4 M.2 Blue

119€

(7 Vendors)
Brand: Western Digital
Top brand Fast! Good capacity
PNY CS1030 500GB NVMe Black

PNY CS1030 500GB NVMe Black

43€

(9 Vendors)
Brand: PNY
Good brand Fast and budget-friendly Minimum gaming capacity
Samsung 990 PRO M.2 NVMe 1TB Black

Samsung 990 PRO M.2 NVMe 1TB Black

154€

(15 Vendors)
4 (1)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Fast! Good capacity
MSI SPATIUM M450 Black PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 1TB

MSI SPATIUM M450 Black PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 1TB

129€

(5 Vendors)
Brand: MSI
Interesting brand Fast! Good capacity
Crucial T700 2TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe M.2 Black

Crucial T700 2TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe M.2 Black

245€

(10 Vendors)
Brand: Crucial
Top brand Super fast! Comfortable capacity
WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4 M2 2280 Black

WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4 M2 2280 Black

149€

(9 Vendors)
4 (1)
Capacity: 1000
Top brand Fast! Good capacity
Gigastone PCIe Gen3 NVMe M.2 500GB Heatsink

Gigastone PCIe Gen3 NVMe M.2 500GB Heatsink

39€

(2 Vendors)
Capacity: 500
Variable quality Fast and budget-friendly Minimum gaming capacity
PNY CS1030 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen3 Black

PNY CS1030 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen3 Black

128€

(9 Vendors)
2 (1)
Brand: PNY
Good brand Fast and budget-friendly Good capacity
Western Digital WD_BLACK SN770 2TB NVMe M.2 Black

Western Digital WD_BLACK SN770 2TB NVMe M.2 Black

301€

(6 Vendors)
Brand: Western Digital
Top brand Fast! Comfortable capacity
Western Digital SN7100 Black 4TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe

Western Digital SN7100 Black 4TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe

399€

(10 Vendors)
Brand: Western Digital
Top brand Fast! Comfortable capacity
Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB NVMe M.2 Black

Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB NVMe M.2 Black

250€

(11 Vendors)
3 (1)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Super fast! Comfortable capacity
Crucial P3 2TB NVMe PCIe M.2

Crucial P3 2TB NVMe PCIe M.2

285€

(3 Vendors)
Brand: Crucial
Top brand Fast and budget-friendly Comfortable capacity
Crucial BX500 2TB 2.5-inch SATA SSD

Crucial BX500 2TB 2.5-inch SATA SSD

140€

(13 Vendors)
Brand: Crucial
Top brand Less fast Comfortable capacity
PNY CS2150 2TB NVMe M.2

PNY CS2150 2TB NVMe M.2

198€

(5 Vendors)
Brand: PNY
Good brand Super fast! Comfortable capacity

Do we still need to buy a Gen 4 SSD in 2025?

The answer is clear: yes, without hesitation .

  • For gaming → it's the ideal generation: affordable prices, huge performance.
  • For the creators → powerful enough for 4K/6K.
  • For a future-proof PC → it still holds up for several years.

PCIe 5 is a technological showcase, but in terms of quality/price, the PCIe 4 remains unbeatable .

FAQ - SSD PCIe 4

1. Do PCIe 4 SSDs work on a PCIe 3 motherboard?

Yes, but they will be limited to PCIe 3 speed.

2. Is a Gen 4 SSD sufficient for a gamer?

Widely! Loading times are already almost instantaneous.

3. Can we install a PCIe 4 SSD in a PS5?

Yes, as long as it reaches at least 5,500 MB/s and has a heatsink.

4. What capacity to take?

The 1 TB is perfect for a gaming PC. If you work in video editing → go for 2 TB instead.

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