PCI Express

PCWorld's top pick for a PCIe 4.0 SSD is the WD Black SN7100 in up to 4TB of capacity. The 2TB version that we tested was the second-fastest PCIe 4.0 SSD overall in our benchmarks, but is still available, while the ever-so-slightly faster Lexar Play 2280 doesn't seem to be.

The best cheap SSD in our view is the WD Blue SN5100, followed closely by Kingston's NV3. Both of these PCIe 4.0 SSDs are fast and relatively affordable.

Essentially, gaming consoles are computers so the same SSDs that are best for PCs are the also best for gaming consoles. That said, the excellent performance and super-generous TBW rating of Seagate's Game Drive PS5 NVMe SSD makes it our current choice. The DRAM design (which uses onboard memory for secondary caching) results in class-leading random ops performance, as well a full compatibility with PS5.

If you want the best guarantees look to Seagate, some of their pricier models have two to three times the TBW rating and a period of free data recovery is also provided. Samsung and WD are also long-standing favorites with well-earned reputations for quality products.That said, nearly all vendors use the same controllers and NAND as the big boys. The differences generally lie in support and warranty periods. In other words, there aren't any real dogs among relatively well-known SSD sellers.