PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs are M.2 solid state drives that use four PCIe 4.0 lanes, suited to gaming PCs, workstations, laptops with a free M.2 slot and PlayStation 5 consoles. No models are listed in this category at the moment, so the guidance below applies to any drive of this type, and the parent M.2 SSDs category is the place to look for alternatives.
How to choose a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Compatibility. Most desktop boards and laptops take the 2280 size (22 mm wide, 80 mm long), but some compact laptops use shorter drives. Check that your M.2 slot supports NVMe and not only SATA, and note that the slot's lane count decides the speed you actually get.
Capacity. 1 TB is a sensible starting point for a main drive, because Windows, games and applications fill 500 GB quickly. Choose 2 TB or more for large game libraries or video work. Drives also tend to slow down when almost full, so leave some free space.
Sustained speed. Headline sequential figures, often up to around 7,000 MB/s for PCIe 4.0, only describe short bursts. Drives with a DRAM cache usually hold their speed better during long file copies than DRAM-less designs, which rely on a small slice of system memory. Look at the controller and NAND type (TLC generally holds speed better than QLC) as well as the advertised numbers.
Endurance. The TBW rating shows how much data can be written before the warranty limit is reached. Home users rarely get near it, but video editors, database users and anyone writing large files daily should compare TBW between models of the same capacity.
Cooling. PCIe 4.0 drives run hotter than older SATA or PCIe 3.0 models and may throttle without airflow. Many motherboards include M.2 heatsinks. A PlayStation 5 needs a drive with a heatsink that fits the console's slot cover.
Brands in PCIe 4.0 NVMe storage
- Manufacturers with their own NAND flash: a few makers produce the memory chips and often the controllers too, which gives them tight control over quality and firmware.
- Brands that buy NAND and controllers from others: these assemble drives from third-party parts, so two drives with similar names can differ in cache design and endurance. Always check the specification sheet.
- Gaming-focused ranges: these often ship with a bundled heatsink and are marketed for PlayStation 5 and gaming PC use.
Brand names will be listed here once models are added to this category.
PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD FAQ
Is a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD worth it over PCIe 3.0?
It is worth it if you move large files often or want a drive that suits a PlayStation 5 or a modern gaming PC. PCIe 4.0 roughly doubles the theoretical bandwidth of PCIe 3.0. In everyday tasks such as booting and browsing, the difference is small, because both feel fast.
Will a PCIe 4.0 SSD work in a PCIe 3.0 slot?
Yes, it will work, because PCIe is backwards compatible. The drive then runs at PCIe 3.0 speeds, which top out at roughly 3,500 MB/s. You lose the extra bandwidth but not the capacity or function.
Does a PCIe 4.0 SSD need a heatsink?
A heatsink is recommended for sustained heavy writes and required for a PlayStation 5. Many motherboards supply one for their M.2 slots. Without any cooling, a fast drive can throttle and slow down during long transfers.
Can I use a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD in a PlayStation 5?
Yes, the PlayStation 5 supports M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives in its expansion slot. The drive needs a heatsink that fits within the slot's height limit and should meet Sony's published speed requirements. Check the console's current guidelines for supported capacities before buying.
