If you need a larger capacity, though, or simply want to stick with a tried-and-true brand, still look to the Samsung 870 EVO, which is available in 250GB Remove non-product link, 500GB Remove non-product link, 1TB Remove non-product link, and 2TB models Remove non-product link. The company has been developing NAND and controller technology since the get-go, and while it’s been the SSD manufacturer for numerous large computer vendors, it generally hasn’t taken a place for itself on the shelves. Now it has, and the results are sterling.

Despite that, it’s one of the largest semiconductor manufacturers on the planet. Let’s talk a bit about the brand itself, since SK Hynix isn’t exactly a household name. “When all was said and done in those real-world 48GB copies, the Gold S31 proved the fastest drive we’ve ever tested for sustained read and write operations,” our review proclaimed at the time. You can also often find SK Hynix’s drives on sale for 10 to 20 percent off. At $44 for a 250GB drive, $54 for a 500GB drive, or $95 for 1TB, the Gold S31 costs much less than Samsung’s line, which charges $95 for a 500GB model. Not only is the Gold S31 among the fastest SATA SSDs we’ve ever tested, landing within spitting distance of the best-in-class 870 EVO, but the price for this drive is spectacular. (If your PC has an M.2 slot, we’d generally recommend opting for an NVMe drive instead of a SATA drive.) But most people would be better off buying the SK Hynix Gold S31, especially if your PC lacks an M.2 drive necessary to run faster NVMe drives.

Samsung’s mainstream EVO series of SSDs has sat atop our recommended list ever since 2014, and the new Samsung 870 EVO is still a great option for people who want a rock-solid blend of speed, price, compatibility, and the reliability of Samsung’s 5-year warranty and superb Magician management software.

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