2022 was the year SSDs squeezed the last few slivers of performance out of the PCIe Gen 4 protocol. At least for peak sequential throughput. There is probably still a lot of room for improvement when it comes to IOPS and random 4K performance.
Looking forward to seeing the 5th generation drives next year, which will probably be a decent step up when it comes to IOPS. But so far the 4th generation M.2 drives are the best performers, and we had some excellent SSDs from him this year as well. But which one was actually his best M.2 SSD throughout 2022?
SK Hynix has announced its entry not only as a mere OEM supplier of SSD technology, but also as a major retailer of SK Hynix Platinum P41, an all in-house operation based on SK Hynix’s proprietary flash memory chip and controller. Announced. It quickly made its mark with excellent all-around performance.
The Silicon Power XS70, on the other hand, is one of the best in the drive roster with the popular Phison E18 controller. Equipped with high-quality TLC NAND memory, it offers all the usual benefits of his E18 at a competitive price.
And then there’s WD’s updated SN850X. Strictly speaking, this M.2 drive with heatsink is meant to appeal to console owners. But it’s an all-around improvement on the already excellent SN850, and is often available at a very attractive price.
Best SSD 2022: Candidates
PC Gamer Hardware Award winners for best gaming SSD will be announced on New Year’s Eve. It’s all about playing for, and any one of these three fully deserves the crown.
