NVMe vs SSD: Comparing Speed & Storage for Better Gaming
The way data is stored when you game has a massive impact on how your games perform. Managing your limited PC data has become just as important as accessing it quickly to reduce your load times. These storage devices can affect the perceived speed of your CPU and directly impacts many performance benchmarks.
It used to be that hard drives were everywhere before solid-state drives changed the way we play. Both the current-generation Playstation and Xbox were lauded for their integration of solid-state drives in their design.
This marks just one way that console gaming is becoming influenced by PC gaming. However, there is another way that we can improve our consoles: NVMe integration.
NVMe uses modern m.2 form factors (more on those shortly) to transform the way data is stored and accessed.
What are the implications of these two developments for gaming? We’re going to highlight the similarities, differences, benefits, and drawbacks of these technologies so that you can always play your best.
The Early History of SSDs
SSDs are used so often today, it’s surprising to think the technology is nearly half a century old. The first SSDs were created in 1976. These items differed from HDDs in that they were made with solid materials using no moving parts. The 1970s also saw the evolution of Western Digital, one of the first corporations to incorporate flash-based memory in SSDs.
The first SSDs offered a pitiful amount of storage for your investment: You could expect to pay $9,700 for only 2MB of storage. SSDs have come a long way since then, becoming essential to modern gaming.
What Is an SSD?
SSD stands for solid-state drive. Solid-state drives are the successor of HDD, or hard disk drives.
In a hard disk drive, data is read from a variety of disks using an arm. Think of data access in instances like these as similar to a turntable.
SSDs use integrated circuits to store data rather than separate discs. These solid-state devices are what give the drives their name. They also use flash memory to allow for better storage and easier access. Though they are more expensive, SSDs generally have better specs than HDDs.
SSDs distinguish themselves in a variety of ways, including their form factor. Most HDDs come in 2.5inch or 3.5 inch form factors, which are comparatively bulky. An SSD using an m.2 form factor can be as small as a stick of gum. M.2 drives also take up less physical space in your motherboard, allowing for more efficient builds.
There are two main types of SSDS. Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) SSDs use the same SATA interface as most hard drives. The interface is still slow, but the method of storage allows for higher access speeds. This can be measured in IOPS, or inputs and outputs per second.
The alternative uses Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe). These are expansion cards that directly connect your computer to peripheral functions. These may not be used for standard operations, but they’re essential for gaming and industrial uses.
Closely related to PCIes is NVMe. NVMe refers to the software rather than the hardware. M.2sata form factors are available, but NVMe has the potential to upend the software war completely. We’ll next be discussing the relative advantages of NVMe.
The Early History of NVMe
New technologies make new successes possible. Each data storage device requires both hardware to store the data and a software interface to read it. SATA SSDs and SAS SSDs were the standard data protocols, and they are still commonly used to read Hard Drive Disks.
NVMe arose out of a need for a specially-designed interface to make the most of SSD storage. Almost 100 tech companies collaborated to create this new evolution in storage software.
What Is an NVMe?
NVMe stands for Non-Volatile Memory Express. NVMe drives work well with any PCIe interface to maximize your data access speed between computer and storage card. This will help you load in faster to your games, reducing the time you spend waiting.
Even a slight upgrade can prove incredible. PCIe 3.0 moves data at a rate of 8 GT/s, or Giga transfers per second. PCIe 4.0 transfers data at twice this rate. While NVMe is often attached through something like the PCI express, its software is used to access data. This differentiates it from the hardware used for storage, like drives.
NVMe relies on special architecture to make it so effective. SATA drives rely on connectors, whereas NVMe SSDs allow data to be read seemingly immediately through its interface. This is because NVMe software is often co-located with the same hardware used for data storage. There are multiple ways to utilize m.2nvme, including through an m.2 slot PCIe.
A PCIe interface can be connected through add-in cards or innately attached to an SSD. NVMe allows data transfer directly from the SSD to the motherboard using PCIe lanes and other onboard software. This makes for a faster transfer rate than utilizing the connectors required of SATA.
Even SATA 3 is less effective than top-of-the-line PCIe connections. It’s no surprise that this has seen extensive support. All of Intel's 12th generation cores automatically come with support for PCIe 5.0, the fastest version yet.
NVMe is different from SATA for the better, but is it universally better for gaming? The answer is complicated, so let's sift more closely through the pros and cons.
NVMe vs. SSD: The Comparison
In theory, NVMe can write at a speed of 2000Mbps. Even SATA 3 can only achieve a speed of 600mbps in the best-case scenario. This makes m.2 SSDs that integrate NVME better not only for gaming but also for video editing.
SSDs are generally better than HDDs when it comes to performance. Your data can be accessed faster, leading to better load times and an overall smoother gaming experience. However, a few considerations may make you reconsider immediately investing in new PC components.
The first consideration is cost. SSDs can access data faster but are significantly more expensive than HDDs. Though they are a far cry from the roughly $4500-per-MB SSD above, they are still more expensive for comparable amounts of storage. Hard Disk Drives offer better storage in terms of dollar value and in the largest quantity of storage available.
Ports are also a major concern if you have an older or budget-priced motherboard. If your motherboard lacks M.2 slots, you may have to rely on SATA III or older ports for your drives. It’s still an easy fix to upgrade your graphics card and other components so that you can play new games — you just may have to deal with slightly higher latency when gaming.
NVMe SSDs are also compatible with all operating systems. This makes them unique due to the degree to which PCs and Macs operate differently.
For those who solely want to embrace high-performance gaming without worrying about bottlenecks, NVMe PCs, Macs, or laptops are ideal. All gamers can benefit from these devices.
Which Is Better For Gaming?
Above we gave a complex look at the benefits and drawbacks of NVMe SSDs. Let's highlight these below:
The Good of NVMe SSDs:
Compatible with all operating systems, including Windows and iOS.
Becoming more affordable every quarter as technology improves
Far superior transfer speed to other drives and form factors.
Supports higher bandwidth and higher workloads than other forms of data transfer.
Greater longevity thanks to the lack of moving parts.
The Bad of NVMe SSDs
Not cost-effective in regards to storage on a hardware or software front.
Not always compatible with older systems due to M.2 form factor.
TL;DR: NVMe SSDs are better, and any downsides will be solved in time.
As they become more common, prices will drop. As newer computers are made, the ones that can’t handle NVMe SSDs will become the minority.
If cost or hardware isn’t preventative, there’s no reason not to upgrade to an NVMe. The high speed of gigabyte transfer makes it ideal, whether loading in or downloading new games. You’ll never be stopped from playing by a hefty Dead by Daylight Steam update again.
Better Gaming
Simply upgrading your drives and data access software isn’t the only way to improve your gaming. WTFast understands that in a gaming PC, every detail matters. This goes from your hardware to your software to your internet connection.
WTFast knows what it takes to be a gamer’s secret weapon: We offer a PC client designed to reduce ping by controlling the route of your date down optimized paths, so latency can become a thing of the past. NVMe SSDs address some latency issues. We address all of them.
Choosing the right build for you matters. Thankfully, owning a powerful gaming PC is more accessible than ever. As new advances occur, even NVMe SSDs may become the standard in PC construction.
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