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STORAGE DRIVES & SSDS

HARDWARE INTELLIGENCE TERMINAL / TACTICAL EVALUATION MATRIX

Advanced storage reconnaissance data aggregated from multiple intelligence sources.
DXM Value Scoring provides quantitative analysis for tactical storage procurement decisions.

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SK Hynix Platinum P41 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
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Amazon

SK Hynix Platinum P41 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD

DXM INTELLIGENCEPRIME
9.10/10.00
$150
TACTICAL SPECS
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WD BLACK SN850X 2TB NVMe Internal Gaming SSD
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Amazon

WD BLACK SN850X 2TB NVMe Internal Gaming SSD

DXM INTELLIGENCEPRIME
9.00/10.00
$140
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Samsung 990 PRO 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 Internal SSD
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Amazon

Samsung 990 PRO 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 Internal SSD

DXM INTELLIGENCEJUNK
4.70/10.00
$170
TACTICAL SPECS
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WD BLACK SN850X 2TB NVMe Internal Gaming SSD
DXM
Amazon

WD BLACK SN850X 2TB NVMe Internal Gaming SSD

DXM INTELLIGENCEPRIME
9.00/10.00
$140
TACTICAL SPECS
ONLINE
SK Hynix Platinum P41 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
DXM
Amazon

SK Hynix Platinum P41 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD

DXM INTELLIGENCEPRIME
9.10/10.00
$150
TACTICAL SPECS

SSD / Storage Buying Guide

SSDs are essential for fast boot times and game loading. Learn which speed class you need and top brands to trust.

Key Considerations

NVMe vs SATA

NVMe (M.2) is significantly faster than SATA. NVMe is now standard for gaming and new builds.

PRO TIP: Choose NVMe for any new build; SATA only for budget or secondary drives

PCIe Generation (3.0 vs 4.0 vs 5.0)

PCIe 4.0 (5,000+ MB/s) is ideal for gaming. PCIe 3.0 adequate but aging. PCIe 5.0 future-proofing.

PRO TIP: PCIe 4.0 3,500+ MB/s sufficient for gaming; PCIe 5.0 for future-proofing

Capacity Planning

OS takes ~30GB. Modern AAA games 50-150GB each. Plan for future growth.

PRO TIP: 1TB minimum; 2TB recommended for gaming; 4TB+ for heavy gamers

Cache & DRAM

DRAM cache improves sustained performance. SLC cache helps during thermal throttling.

PRO TIP: DRAM-based caches preferred over DRAMless for consistent performance

Budget Tiers

Budget ($40-80)

$40-80 (1TB)

OS + light gaming, secondary drive

  • →PCIe 3.0 NVMe
  • →3,500 MB/s reads
  • →QLC or DRAMless

Mid-Range ($80-150)

$80-150 (1TB)

Gaming library, everyday use

  • →PCIe 4.0 NVMe
  • →5,000+ MB/s
  • →TLC with DRAM cache

Premium ($150-250)

$150-250 (1TB)

Content creation, fastest speeds

  • →PCIe 5.0 NVMe
  • →7,000+ MB/s
  • →Professional-grade reliability

Avoid These Mistakes

  • ×Buying PCIe 5.0 for gaming-only use (no performance benefit yet)
  • ×Ignoring capacity - games fill drives faster than expected
  • ×Not checking compatibility with motherboard (some boards limited to PCIe 4.0)
  • ×Choosing budget SSDs without DRAM cache
  • ×Overlooking thermal throttling issues in dense enclosures

Best Practices

  • ✓Start with 1TB minimum; add 2TB if budget allows
  • ✓PCIe 4.0 optimal performance-to-cost ratio for 2025
  • ✓Check motherboard specs - not all support PCIe 5.0
  • ✓Install heatsinks for M.2 slots in PS5, consoles if applicable
  • ✓Keep 20% capacity free to maintain performance

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