1
Samsung 960 PRO M.2
500GB, 1TB, 2TB
Best PCIe 3.0 MLC SSDs
PCIe 3.0MLC
There are 18 PCIe 3.0 MLC SSDs in our database — each linked via an Amazon search on its part number. The fastest is the Samsung 960 PRO M.2 at 3500 MB/s read, and the highest-rated for endurance is the Corsair NEUTRON NX500 (2793 TBW). Sequential reads across the group span 1900–3500 MB/s.
FastestSamsung 960 PRO M.23500 MB/s read Most enduranceCorsair NEUTRON NX5002793 TBW NewestSamsung PRO 970 M.22018
Why this configuration
A PCIe 3.0 MLC SSD is an affordable NVMe step up from SATA. Gen3 is roughly six times SATA's throughput yet often costs little more, making it the easy default for a first NVMe drive or a laptop that only supports Gen3.
Usually chosen for: budget builders, laptop upgraders and anyone leaving SATA behind.
Good fit: mainstream desktop and laptop builds.
Ranked list
Ranked by tier, then link type, then sequential read. Drives we hold a product link for show a price button; the rest open an Amazon search on the manufacturer part number. Stock and prices are not shown here — they change too often.
2
Samsung PRO 970 M.2
500GB, 1TB
3
Plextor M8PeY
128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB
4
Plextor M8PeG
128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB
5
Intel SSD 750
400GB, 800GB, 1.2TB
6
7
Samsung 950 PRO
250GB, 500GB
8
Corsair NEUTRON NX500
400GB, 800GB, 1.6TB
9
Kingston KC1000
250GB, 500GB, 960GB
10
OCZ RD400
128GB, 250GB, 500GB
11
OCZ RD400 AIC
128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB
12
Plextor M8PeGN
128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB
13
Apacer Z280
128GB, 250GB, 500GB
14
Patriot HELLFIRE
250GB, 500GB
15
ADATA SX9000
250GB, 500GB, 1TB
16
17
Zotac SONIX PCI-e
500GB
18
ADATA XPG SX8000
128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB
The parts, explained
PCIe 3.0 x4 reaches about 3,500 MB/s — plenty for everyday use and gaming, and cheaper than Gen4.
MLC NAND is older and costs more per gigabyte, but is very durable.
Common questions
How do the links to Amazon work here?
2 of the 18 drives listed have a direct product link; for the rest we link an Amazon search on the manufacturer part number, which lands on the right listing. We deliberately don't display stock or prices on this page — check both on Amazon, they change constantly.