PCIe Gen4 vs Gen5 SSDs
PCIe Gen4 SSDs have been the standard for high-performance storage, but Gen5 is now emerging. This guide breaks down the key differences in speed, cost, and practical use to help you decide which is right for your next build.
Speed: Raw Performance Numbers
PCIe Gen4 SSDs typically offer sequential read speeds up to 7,000-7,500 MB/s and write speeds around 6,000-7,000 MB/s. In contrast, PCIe Gen5 SSDs push these limits significantly, with early models like the Crucial T700 boasting sequential reads up to 12,400 MB/s and writes up to 11,800 MB/s, nearly doubling Gen4's top-tier performance.
Price: The Early Adopter Premium
Gen4 SSDs are now very affordable, with 1TB drives like the Samsung 970 EVO Plus or WD Black SN770 often found for $60-$80. Gen5 SSDs, being cutting-edge, carry a substantial premium; a 1TB Gen5 drive can cost $150-$200+, making them significantly more expensive per gigabyte than their Gen4 counterparts.
Heat and Cooling: A New Consideration
The increased speed of Gen5 SSDs generates more heat, making robust cooling solutions essential. Many Gen5 drives come with large, integrated heatsinks, and some motherboards even feature dedicated M.2 heatsinks for Gen5 slots. While Gen4 drives benefit from heatsinks, they are less critical for stable operation compared to Gen5.
Real-World Benefits: Gaming, Productivity, and Content Creation
For most users, including gamers and general productivity tasks, the difference between Gen4 and Gen5 SSDs is negligible. Loading times in games are often bottlenecked by other factors, and even demanding applications rarely saturate Gen4 speeds. Content creators working with massive files (e.g., 8K video editing) or professionals needing extremely fast data transfers will see the most benefit from Gen5's higher throughput.
Compatibility: Motherboard and CPU Requirements
To utilize a PCIe Gen5 SSD, you need a compatible motherboard and CPU. This means Intel's 12th Gen (Z690/H670/B660 chipsets) or 13th/14th Gen (Z790/B760) processors, or AMD's Ryzen 7000 series CPUs with an AM5 motherboard (X670/B650 chipsets). Older platforms are limited to Gen4 or Gen3 speeds.
Key takeaways
- •For most users, including gamers, PCIe Gen4 SSDs offer excellent performance at a much better price point.
- •PCIe Gen5 SSDs are significantly faster but come with a substantial price premium and require robust cooling.
- •Only content creators or professionals dealing with extremely large files will likely see a tangible benefit from Gen5 speeds.
- •Ensure your motherboard and CPU support PCIe Gen5 if you plan to upgrade to a Gen5 SSD.
- •Consider a high-capacity Gen4 SSD for better value and still-blazing performance.
What to do next
- →Browse our selection of top-rated PCIe Gen4 SSDs.
- →Read our guide on 'Understanding M.2 SSD Form Factors'.
- →Try the PC Builder to ensure component compatibility.
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