SATA or M.2 SSD: which is better for gaming?

When we talk about assembling a gaming PC, it is common to pay attention to the processor, video card or RAM memory. These components are of course more directly related to performance, but SSD is also very important when gaming.

To put it in bits and pieces, RAM memory (Portuguese random access memory) temporarily stores data that the system uses exactly to run its programs and tasks. Persistent storage devices—HDs or SSDs—are those that actually save your files on your PC.

However, when you open a program, many files need to be transferred from nonvolatile memory (HD or SSD) to volatile memory (RAM). Therefore, it is important that both perform well. A faster SSD can drastically reduce load times for games, for example. Think about it: What is the best SSD for gaming?

What is SATA or M.2 SSD?

Until a few years ago, deciding which SSD was the best for gaming was simple. After all, most PCs had mechanical hard drives (HDs) and any SSD is superior: all storage is done in electronic circuits with no moving parts, allowing faster access to any files. But now there are different types of SSDs that raise doubts among consumers.

Starting with SATA SSD, it is the most common and accessible type on the market – especially since it first appeared. SATA abbreviation serial hi-tech attachment and refers to the way the SSD is connected to the motherboard. In practice, this means that the SSD needs a standard SATA cable with a maximum speed of 600MB/s.

Generally, SATA SSDs are 2.5 inches in size and have the more familiar square shape. They are also generally more cost-effective and compatible with older computers.

As for SSD M.2 (it is said suck-dot-two) is newer technology, has a different shape, is more compact and rectangular. For this reason, they are commonly used in laptops, although they are also indicated for desktop computers. However, there may be M.2 SSDs connected to the motherboard via SATA cables – but there are also those that use PCI Express connections.

With PCI Express connection, the M.2 SSD connects directly to the computer’s motherboard without cables and with more data ports. This means it can be much faster, reaching read speeds of 3,500 MB/s or higher. So, heavy games that take a few minutes to preload can be ready in seconds.

On the other hand, M.2 SSDs with PCIe standard may cost more and maybe your motherboard doesn’t support them. It’s worth noting that the PCIe connection is the same one used by video cards — so if you only have one PCIe slot, it will already be full. In these cases, it is more practical to install a SATA SSD.

4 SATA or M.2 SSD options for gaming

So to summarize this issue, both SATA and M.2 SSDs are faster than HDs and offer interesting performance. The main difference between them is the more compact format and the possibility of faster connections, both in M.2.

Below, we’ve separated four SSD options of two types for your review.

1. SSD Kingston SATA, A400, 240GB

34% Closed

Kingston SSD A400 has 240GB storage capacity and SATA 6.0Gb/s hardware interface. It guarantees read and write speeds of up to 500MB/s and 450MB/s.

211.75 BRL

Kingston’s A400 series has been around for a while and is known for being reliable, delivering high quality at a great price-performance ratio. For example, this 240GB model costs BRL 142.99 — less than BRL 0.60 per GB. Interestingly, it is a 2.5-inch model with 500MB/s read and 350MB/s write speed.

2. SSD WD Green, M.2, 240GB

PCs and laptops gain a notable advantage with WD Green SATA SSDs, which are designed to enhance everyday tasks and improve system responsiveness.

This SSD from the WD Green series also offers 240GB of storage for less than R$150. However, since it’s in M.2 format, it’s more compact and can be installed in laptops (or in your case, space-saving). As we said, some M.2 SSDs can use a SATA connection with a reading speed of 545 MB/s, as in this product.

3. SSD WD Green, SATA III, 1TB

For use in laptops and desktops, WD Green SATA SSDs offer high performance and reliability to power your daily computing activities.

WD Green’s SATA SSD offers good read and write speeds (545MB/s and 550MB/s) and impresses with its 1TB capacity. Being the SATA standard, it no longer requires a PCIe connection from your motherboard, making it ideal for increasing the storage space of a gaming PC.

4. SSD Kingston M.2, NV2, 1TB

The NV2 offers read/write speeds of up to 3500/2100 MB/s with lower power requirements and less heat to help optimize your system’s performance and deliver value without compromise.

The other M.2 SSD in the list is this Kingston model that conforms to the PCIe connection standard. It offers much higher read (3500MB/s) and write (2100MB/s) speeds and can load games or save data faster. However, your motherboard must have PCI slots to allow this SSD to be installed.

The bottom line is that all these models perform well in games, whether they are SATA or M.2 SSD. After all, 500 or 550 MB/s is no small feat. Still, if you can invest a little more (around 430 BRL) and have enough PCIe ports on your motherboard, the speed of the M.2 SSD is indeed faster and therefore your games will run more smoothly.