There was a time when, if you wanted an SSD, you had to burn a hole in your pocket! With the best budget SSD that’s boots up your PC and these weren’t cheap a few years ago, but now their use has become common, and there are affordable choices available for users.
The reason why they have gained so much popularity is that they are cheaper compared to traditional hard drives.
If you buy a Solid-State Drive, then that would be more affordable, and it will give your PC the perfect boost in performance. When you have an SSD installed in the system, then you can easily play games, and run applications on it.
10 Best Budget SSD Drives 2024 Buyer’s Guides
Adata XPG SX8200 Pro
The capacity of this SSD is 240Gb-960GB, and its interface is PCle Gen 3×4 M.2. The warranty of the drive is 5 years, and it has the latest interface.
Data is fast compared to the standard SATA connection and can be inserted into the motherboard. The reading and writing efficiency of the drive is fast, as the reading is 3060 MB/s and writing is 1765 MB/s.
The drive also provides an access read of 403 MB/s to the system. This is an affordable option because the price of the SSD is $50-$85 if the user is buying 256 GBs.
HP S700 Pro
The capacity of this SSD drive is 128GB-1TB. HP S700 has SATA 3 interface and comes with a warranty of 3 years.
Not every motherboard supports PCle, but HPS700 uses the SATA 3 connector. Even if it is not as fast as the PCle SSDs, it is still very fast. The sequential read speed of the drive is 562 MB/s, and the write speed is 509 MB/s.
This is a really fast drive, and it better than the spinning HDD disks that people install in their system. The main problem behind these spinning disks is their speed, and they don’t last as long as SSDs do.
SSDs don’t wear and tear easily, which is why HP S700 stands out in terms of the mean time between failures. You can keep on using the SSD for 2,000,000 and if you keep it right, the time will be extended.
Seagate Fast SSD
Seagate Fast SSD has a storage capacity of 250GB-2TB. As this is a portable SSD, and you don’t have to permanently install it in the system, it makes carrying data around very easy.
This is perfect for those laptops, who have a low storage capacity. Seagate is one of the most affordable drives that the user can buy, and it will give them the space they are looking for.
Most portable SSDs are not very fast, because of their portability factor.
However, Seagate Fast SSD is fast; it has a read speed of 440 MB/s and a sequential write speed of 439 MB/s. These specifications are not really there in other portable SSDs, making it a good choice when a user is looking for something efficient and cheap.
Samsung 850 Evo
Samsung 850 Evo has a capacity of 120GB, and its interface is SATA III. The warranty of this product is 5 years. It is a standard 2.5-inch SSD drive, which is portable and easy to install.
There are different storage sizes in which the SSD is available, and the user can surely find one that fits their budget. It has a fast reading and writing speed, 550 MB/s, and 520 MB/s, and with its 5-year warranty, nothing can go wrong.
The price of the SSD is affordable but might fluctuate at times. This drive is compatible with Windows 8, 7, Server 2003, Vista, XP, Mac OSX, and Linux.
It also consists of V-NAND technology, which is very powerful. Its optimized performance is ideal for everyday computing purposes.
Western Digital SN750
The reading speed of this drive is 3,470MB/s, and its storage capacity is 500GB-1TB. This improves the loading time when it comes to playing games or opening applications.
The NVMe SSD can deliver speed, which is faster than the SATA SSD. This gives gamers a chance to play their favorite games, without experiencing any load time.
This also improves the performance of a game and keeps a gaming session thrilling. It comes with a WB Black SSD dashboard, which is also good for running games. The SSD doesn’t heat up, because of its lower power mode function.
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It has 5 years limited warranty. The design of the drive is very modern, and it will go well with different desktop PC. If your system has RGB lighting, then this is the best SSD device that you can install with it.
Crucial MX500
This is a high-speed device, with a single-level cell flash memory. This flash memory can generate a quick reading speed of 560 MB/s, and a writing speed of 510 MB/s. The SSD drive uses cutting-edge components, which will make the system more efficient.
It doesn’t use much power and is better when the price-to-performance ratio is considered. Crucial MX500 is tried and tested, and it really supports the system. The user will be able to keep their personal files confidential, and hackers won’t be able to access anything.
This is because, the drive comes with 256-but encryption, which meets the standards set by the industry. When the user buys Crucial MX500, they won’t experience any data loss.
There is a built-in feature of NAND, which will protect the data and the system from shutting down. This way, the user won’t lose any data while they are working on the system.
SanDisk Ultra II
The capacity of this drive is 960GB, and its interface is SATA III. The drive comes with a warranty of 3-years and is available at an affordable price on Amazon.
This SSD drive is perfect for a laptop upgrade. It offers a good value to the user, as well as performance. The size of the drive is 2.5 inches, and its thickness is 7mm.
If the user doesn’t want to spend too much money on an SSD, but still needs something that could boost its performance, then this is the perfect SSD for them. The high capacity of the SSD is what sets it apart from others.
Samsung T7 Portable SSD
This SSD drive has some amazing specifications for the user. It is available in a digital storage capacity of 500GB, 1TB, and 2 TB. The reading speed of the drive is 1050 megabytes per second.
This drive is very efficient and it only takes a few seconds to transfer data. The writing speed of the drive is 1,000 MB/s, and it has a 3.2 gen USB. If the users want optimal performance while using this drive, then they need to get the latest firmware update.
While the speed of the SSD drive is really fast, the data transfer speed usually depends on the PC environment.
Moreover, the user should always connect the SSD using the original cable; a nonoriginal cable can cause performance issues.
This drive has the perfect strong built, it is shock-resistant, and even if it falls from 6ft, it won’t be damaged. This drive has an advanced heat control system, which prevents it from overheating and you can use it for a long duration of time.
If you are unsure whether this drive will protect your data, then you can put a password on it. The best part of this SSD drive is that it is available in gray, blue, and red colors. Whether you are a content creator, gamer, or student, this device is suitable for you.
SanDisk SDSSDE61
The storage capacity of this drive is 250GB, 500Gb, 1TB, and 2TB. The NVMe installed in the drive provides a reading speed of 1050MB/s and a writing speed of 1000MB/s.
This SSD drive is perfect for creating content and capturing videos. Even though the performance is good, but it still depends on the system being used.
The device is dust resistant and can stand water flow for 3 minutes. The drive is compact and portable and has a very appealing design.
It comes with a 5-year limited manufacturer warranty. For extra protection, a silicon shell has been added to the driver’s exterior.
You can easily put it on your belt loop, or in the backpack. If you are worried about your data being compromised, then you can protect it using a password. This drive offers a powerful storage system, regardless of the job that you have chosen.
Crucial P2 3D NAND
The storage capacity that is available for this drive is 250Gb, 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB. The hardware interface used in the drive is SATA 6.9 GB/s. This is a very efficient device, as the reading speed is 2,400 MB/s, and the writing speed is 2,300 MB/s.
With its NVMe PCle interface, the storage efficiency of the device is really good. It comes with SSD management software, which can optimize performance, secure data, and update the firmware.
The drive has a limited 5-year warranty. When the user installs this device in their system, they won’t have to wait a long time for applications to load, or for browsing to take effect.
It is a reliable drive and has been tested and proven for durability. It provides you with peace of mind, as it not only optimizes the performance but also secures the data.
Features
There are multiple features of SSD, which users should look for when they are buying an SSD.
Fast Speed
The reason why people buy an SSD is that they are looking for fast speed. When you install an SSD in your system, then the bootup speed, restart, and application launch speed increase.
HDD is less competent compared to SSD because the bootup and restart time is higher. Moreover, when it comes to accessing data, SSD can access data quickly, compared to an HDD.
HDD can quickly access data that is closer to its read/write heads, but all parts of an SSD can access data within seconds.
Read more: How to Use SSD and HDD together?
Light Weight
If you want a storage system that you can take around, or that is portable, then you would want something light. SSD doesn’t have any moving parts, compared to an HDD, and is lighter.
For example, while an HDD might weigh 752.5 g, an SSD will weigh 77g. Thus, SSD is easier to carry around and doesn’t occupy too much space, when it is connected with a device.
Durability
HDDs have moving parts, which are at risk of shock and damage. However, SSDs have a non-mechanical design, and their shock resistance is 1500g.
SSDs last longer compared to HDDs, which is why users are more likely to buy them even if they are a little expensive.
No Noise
The best part of an SSD is that, when you are using the system or transferring data, it doesn’t make a sound. This is because, unlike HDDs, SSD doesn’t have moving parts.
They won’t disturb you when you are playing a game, creating content, watching movies, or simply computing.
Power Consumption
SSDs don’t use much wattage, compared to HDD. While HDDs use 6W, SSDs use 2W. This means that the battery life of a laptop will last longer when you are using an SSD.
This is the same for notebooks, the power strain on the system would be less, the computer would stay cool despite the environment and tasks, and the user would be able to use their system without any hassle.
Cool Running
SSDs are energy efficient on a desktop or laptop. They don’t need much power to operate, which means the system doesn’t create heat when it is running.
When HDDs heat the system, then they are putting the user’s data and system, both at risk.
Cost Efficiency
SSDs are expensive, but there are reasonable and affordable SSDs available as well. However, they are productive and last longer hours compared to an HDD. If you are buying a 2TB SSD, then make sure that you get it from a good brand.
Once you have purchased it, then the SSD will last for a long time.
Installation Process
Users can get external SSDs or internal SSDs. If they get an external SSD, the installation process is very simple. They won’t have to spend much time installing it and don’t have to be tech experts to do so.
However, when installing an HDD, people may experience some difficulties. It is not very hard to replace an SSD with HDD, which is why most computer owners are using SSDs nowadays.
The operating system right away gets a boost, and the user doesn’t have to spend much time waiting for the PC to load, to open applications.
Price
Price is one thing that you should consider, before buying an SSD. Not everyone has a lot of money to spend on an SSD, which is why they will choose a cheaper option.
There are many affordable options available on Amazon and other online websites. The user needs to analyze his need, and what he needs an SSD for exactly.
If the user plays high-quality games, which use much of the RAM or storage capacity, then a 1TB SSD would be beneficial for the user.
In case they work with Word or other data entry software, then they wouldn’t require an expensive SSD. The main purpose of an SSD is to boost the performance of a computer.
When a computer carries a lot of data, then its speed slows down. The user has to wait for a long time to open applications or use a browser. To cut time, the user can install an SSD in their laptop, and not only the battery would last longer, but the computer will work quickly as well.
SSD is a blessing in disguise for those, who can’t wait for a long time for a system to reboot. This includes software developers or professionals, who are always facing a deadline, and every minute matters for them.
SSD is quieter compared to an HDD, it is quicker, and doesn’t have moving parts.
The last point makes it very reliable for the user, and they don’t have to spend money for a long time, to replace the SSD, they have purchased. The same can’t be said for an HDD, though.
Read more: How to Move Things From SSD to HDD in Windows 10?
