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NVMe vs SATA SSD: what you pay for the speed
Updated Oct 25, 2026. Prices come from our catalogue and may have changed.
NVMe costs more than SATA for the same 1 TB capacity, $165 against $141 at the median in our catalogue. On paper NVMe is far faster, several gigabytes per second against about 550 MB/s for SATA. In most games, that barely changes load times. Big file copies and heavy transfers are where the extra speed actually shows up. NVMe needs a free M.2 slot on the motherboard, while SATA fits any 2.5-inch bay, even in older PCs. Pick NVMe if your board has the slot. Pick SATA for an older PC without one.
Key differences
| Criterion | NVMe | SATA |
|---|---|---|
| Median price, 1 TB drives | $165 | $141 |
| Sequential speed on paper | PCIe interface, several gigabytes per second on modern drives, from around 3,500 MB/s on PCIe 3.0 up to about 14,800 MB/s on the fastest PCIe 5.0 drives | SATA III interface, capped by its own spec at roughly 550 to 600 MB/s no matter how fast the drive inside actually is |
| Real game load times | Faster on paper, but Tom's Hardware tested 11 games from SATA to PCIe 5.0 and found only a slight effect | Close to NVMe in that test. In Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart, PCIe drives cut portal transitions by about 2 to 3 seconds |
| Big file copies and heavy transfers | Pulls clearly ahead, moving large files such as video projects or game installs close to its higher spec speed | Limited by the SATA interface cap, noticeably slower once a transfer gets large |
| Where it plugs in | A free M.2 slot on the motherboard, no cable needed | A 2.5-inch bay plus a SATA data cable and a power cable |
| Fits an older PC | Needs a free M.2 slot, which many older boards do not have | Works with any board that has a SATA port, which covers nearly every PC in use today |
| DirectStorage support | Microsoft describes DirectStorage as built to unlock the full potential of fast NVMe drives | Also supported in later versions, with a smaller benefit |
Prices in our catalogue today
Scope: 1 TB drives
| Price | NVMe | SATA |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest | $138 | $126 |
| Median | $165 | $141 |
Choose NVMe if…
- Your motherboard has a free M.2 slot and you want the fastest storage it can take.
- You copy or edit large files often, where NVMe pulls clearly ahead of SATA.
- You are building a new PC and want features such as DirectStorage running at their best.
Choose SATA if…
- You want the cheapest reliable upgrade from a hard drive, at a lower price for the same capacity.
- Your PC is older with no free M.2 slot, or you are adding storage to a laptop with only a 2.5-inch bay.
- You mostly play games, where Tom's Hardware found only a slight difference.
Best value NVMe
- Kingston 1TB NV3$157 at Newegg
A PCIe 4.0 drive from an established memory brand.
- Sandisk 1TB WD_Black SN7100$166 at Newegg
A mainstream NVMe drive from an established storage brand.
- Sandisk 1TB WD_BLACK SN850X$175 at Newegg
One of the most widely reviewed PCIe 4.0 drives on the market, for buyers who want a proven drive.
Best value SATA
- TEAMGROUP 1TB T-Force Vulcan Z$140 at Newegg
A simple SATA drive, and an easy swap for an old hard drive.
- Crucial 1TB BX500$190 at Newegg
From one of the most established SSD brands.
- Western Digital 1TB WD Blue SA510No longer available
Western Digital's mainstream SATA line, for buyers who want a well-known brand.
Cheapest NVMe parts
- Sandisk 1TB WD Blue SN5100$138 at Newegg
- SP Silicon Power 1TB$153 at Newegg
- Kingston 1TB NV3$157 at Newegg
Cheapest SATA parts
- TeamGroup 1TB CX2$126 at Newegg
- PNY 1TB CS900$138 at Newegg
- TEAMGROUP 1TB T-Force Vulcan Z$140 at Newegg
Frequently asked questions
Is NVMe worth the extra money over SATA?
For most everyday use, not by much. Tom's Hardware found only a slight effect on gaming across the 11 games it tested. NVMe earns its price on large file transfers and heavy creative work, where its higher speed actually gets used.
Will an NVMe SSD fit in my PC?
Only if your motherboard has a free M.2 slot. Check your board's manual or its specification page. Older boards, and some budget boards, only have SATA ports and no M.2 slot at all.
Can I put a SATA SSD in an old desktop or a laptop?
Yes. A SATA SSD fits a 2.5-inch bay and uses a data cable and a power cable. Nearly every desktop and many laptops support it.
Does NVMe make games load faster than SATA?
A little, but usually not by much. Tom's Hardware tested 11 games from SATA to PCIe 5.0 and found only a slight effect. The clearest case was Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart, where PCIe drives cut portal transitions by about 2 to 3 seconds.
What is DirectStorage, and do I need an NVMe drive for it?
DirectStorage is Microsoft's technology for loading game assets faster. Microsoft describes it as built for fast NVMe drives, though newer versions also work on SATA with a smaller benefit.
Can I use both an NVMe and a SATA drive in the same PC?
Yes, most modern motherboards support both at once. A common setup uses a fast NVMe drive for Windows and your main games, and a cheaper SATA drive for extra storage.
Sources
- Tom's Hardware, We tested the impact of SSD speed on gaming performance in 11 titles
- Samsung Newsroom, Samsung Unveils High-Performance 990 PRO Series SSDs Optimized for Gaming and Creative Applications
- Samsung Newsroom, Samsung Announces 9100 PRO Series SSDs With Breakthrough PCIe 5.0 Performance
- Microsoft, DirectStorage for Windows repository
- Wikipedia, SATA
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