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Going Deeper: SSD & M.2 Storage (Speed, Endurance, and What to Watch For)

  • Writer: Nick Gran
    Nick Gran
  • Aug 18
  • 2 min read
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1. Not All M.2 Drives Are the Same

  • M.2 is the shape—not the speed.

    • SATA M.2 = same speed as a 2.5” SATA SSD (500–600 MB/s).

    • NVMe M.2 = uses PCIe lanes, way faster (3,500 MB/s and up).

  • Always check if your motherboard supports NVMe (not just M.2)!

  • Gen4 vs Gen3 vs Gen5 NVMe:

    • Gen4 = ~7,000 MB/s, Gen3 = ~3,500 MB/s, Gen5 (just launching) = 10,000+ MB/s.

    • Only use Gen4/Gen5 if your motherboard and CPU are ready for it.


2. Read Speed vs. Write Speed

  • Read speed = how fast you can open/load files.

  • Write speed = how fast you can save or render out.

  • Some cheap SSDs have great read speed, but slow down hard when writing big files—important for video/audio creators!


3. Endurance & TBW (Terabytes Written)

  • SSDs have a “lifespan”—measured in TBW.

  • Modern SSDs last years for normal use, but if you do tons of writing (like rendering videos, heavy sampling), check the TBW rating.

  • Higher TBW = more reliable for studio pros.


4. DRAM Cache vs. DRAM-less SSDs

  • SSDs with DRAM cache are faster and more reliable (especially for lots of small files).

  • DRAM-less drives are cheaper, but can get bogged down with heavy creative work.


5. QLC, TLC, MLC—What’s It Mean?

  • TLC (Triple-Level Cell): Standard for most SSDs, great balance of price/speed/longevity.

  • QLC (Quad-Level Cell): Cheaper, bigger capacity, but wears out faster and can slow down under heavy use.

  • MLC (Multi-Level Cell): Rarer now, premium price, super endurance.


6. Heat Management

  • Super-fast NVMe drives can get hot—most come with heatsinks, or your motherboard might have a shield.

  • Not critical for home music studios, but if you’re rendering 4K video or gaming hard, check your temps!


7. Cloning/Imaging Drives

  • If you want to upgrade, use drive cloning software (often free from SSD makers).

  • Makes moving your OS and programs a breeze—no need to reinstall everything.


Echo’s Deeper Take

  • For most creators: TLC NVMe M.2 is the sweet spot—fast, reliable, lasts for years.

  • Don’t chase Gen5 speeds unless you’re maxing out pro video workflows.

  • DRAM cache is worth it if you move a lot of files (don’t cheap out if you can help it).


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