NVME Gen3 vs Gen4

Rowan88 · 25 Sep 2021 at 08:15

Hi.

I am looking to get a drive that is solely for Windows and applications to replace my 256gb SSD in a new build.

Price wise my choice seems to be 500gb Gen4 or 1TB Gen3.

For windows install and applications (not games as I have another 2tb gen3 nvme for those) what is the best option?

I know gen 4 is faster but would it be utilized or should I just get the larger capacity?

Cheers

dave28 · 25 Sep 2021 at 08:22

I have never noticed any speed difference between SSD`s of any kind.

Its super fast VS super fast.

Only difference i seen was HDD to SSD switch.

chroniclard · 25 Sep 2021 at 08:40

I have a 1tb pcie 4 for gaming boot and 1 tb pcie 3 for work boot. There is a significant difference in benchmarks but I can't really notice any difference real world usage.

Rowan88 · 25 Sep 2021 at 08:48

So I should either just get an SSD or M.2 NVMe Gen3 for windows applications and either save money or get a larger capacity.

Pottsey · 25 Sep 2021 at 09:05

Rowan88 said:
So I should either just get an SSD or M.2 NVMe Gen3 for windows applications and either save money or get a larger capacity.

It depends on what you are doing. For me the main difference is the write speed. Read speeds are already so fast it doesnt really matter and I didn't noticed extra read speed. But I did notice extra write speed. After a NVMe™ M.2 I would never go back to a standard SATA SSD as they are just to slow. But it really depends what you do if its just browsing the web, emails and a bit of writing then there is no benefit. Gaming, photo or video editing can benefit.

Rowan88 · 25 Sep 2021 at 09:14

Pottsey said:
It depends on what you are doing. For me the main difference is the write speed. Read speeds are already so fast it doesnt really matter and I didn't noticed extra read speed. But I did notice extra write speed. After a NVMe™ M.2 I would never go back to a standard SATA SSD as they are just to slow. But it really depends what you do if its just browsing the web, emails and a bit of writing then there is no benefit. Gaming, photo or video editing can benefit.

Cant see me writing a lot of data after programs are installed. Its going to primary just be a home and gaming PC.. no editing or anything like that.

So guess Gen 4 is wasted on me at the moment and the whole NVME v SSD only matter for the OS and APPS side on things as gaming there is no change really.

Ill work around what I have compared to what I need and fill in the pieces now..

Cheers

Donnie Fisher · 25 Sep 2021 at 10:02

Get the Gen3 for the greater space. The difference in speed is imperceptible for average use.

Zeebedy · 25 Sep 2021 at 10:54

Yeah, I have two Gen 3 drives, OS and Games / Data, and tbh, they are no slouches.

turbot1984 · 25 Sep 2021 at 11:13

dave28 said:
I have never noticed any speed difference between SSD`s of any kind.

Its super fast VS super fast.

Only difference i seen was HDD to SSD switch.

Yeah same here. It was actually quite disappointing when i got my first Samsung Evo m.2. Ancient 60GB OCZ ssd seemed just as quick.

Pottsey · 25 Sep 2021 at 12:05

Rowan88 said:
Cant see me writing a lot of data after programs are installed. Its going to primary just be a home and gaming PC.. no editing or anything like that.

So guess Gen 4 is wasted on me at the moment and the whole NVME v SSD only matter for the OS and APPS side on things as gaming there is no change really.

Ill work around what I have compared to what I need and fill in the pieces now..

Cheers

Not sure I agree that it only matters for OS and Apps. There is a difference with games though it depends on the game some games load around 4 seconds faster with a NVME while others have no difference at all. What I found made the difference for games was the write speed. No more little pauses when I save or auto save with a NVME over a SSD. Quick save is faster and when you run down a corridor there is no pause as it saves. Well it varies game to game. Overall a NVME gives a smoother faster expreince. Something like Microsoft Flight Simulator will have a far bigger benefit while something like Toom Raider will have no real difference. When I play Stellaris I used to get little pauses when the SSD writes for the autosave. Those have completely vanished with the NVME giving a smoother expreince, I don't even notice the auto save anymore in that game. It all comes down to what games you play and how/if you muti task with a 2nd screen.

Rowan88 · 26 Sep 2021 at 08:57

Appreciate all the help cheers..

For me think ill just pick up a 1TB Gen 3 for OS/Apps.. Use my 2TB Gen 3 for Games and possibly pick up a 1TB SSD for storage to replace the 2TB HDD I currently use.. but this last is exactly "needed".

My friends PC I am also doing already has a 1TB SSD so if he only wants 1TB for gaming I will tell him to use that and but a Gen 3 for OS Apps too.. if he wants 2TB gaming then I guess he should still pick up a 2TB Gen 3 or SSD as the gaming diff between SSD/Gen3 wasn't big at all.

Cheers again