SSDs
Ongoing coverage on SSDs.
Latest coverage
Rensa SSD:n – systemkraven för Control Resonant är här
Remedy Entertainment has released the system requirements for Control Resonant, launching September 24. The game will feature multiple tiers of requirements, from minimum to enthusiast levels for both standard and path tracing graphics. A minimum of an NVIDIA GTX 1070 or AMD RX 5600 XT and an Intel i5-8500 or Ryzen 5 3500 are needed for the lowest settings at 1080p, while higher-end configurations will require an RTX 5080 for path tracing. An SSD with 120GB of free space is a mandatory requirement across all settings.
Control Resonant should run well on mid-tier PCs, but you're going to have to clear out some serious SSD space
Remedy Entertainment has released the final PC system requirements for Control Resonant, detailing specifications for minimum, recommended, enthusiast, and ray tracing settings. The game will require 16GB of RAM and a substantial 120GB of SSD space, with minimum specs including an Intel Core i5-8500 or AMD Ryzen 5 3500 CPU and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 or AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT GPU.
No, really, Samsung's USB4 P Series SSDs come in at over $2,000 for the luxury of 4,000 MB/s
Samsung has launched its new P9 and P7 portable SSDs featuring USB4 technology, offering read speeds up to 4,000 MB/s. However, these drives come with a premium price tag, with the 8TB P9 model costing up to $2,699.99, making them significantly more expensive than existing Samsung storage options.
The Lexar Play X SSD combines an M.2 2230 drive with an adapter into a handy and speedy package, but you won't find it in the US yet
The Lexar Play X SSD offers a versatile M.2 2230 drive with a 2280 adapter, providing flexibility for handhelds, laptops, and desktops. While its read speeds slightly underperform advertised specs, it delivers strong write speeds and fast game loading times. Currently, this hybrid storage solution is only available in UK retailers and not yet in the US.
Lexar has unveiled its new Thor Ultra Gen 5 drives with lightning-fast 11,000 MB/s read speeds are coming to the US
Lexar has unveiled its new Thor Ultra M.2 2280 Gen 5 SSDs, boasting sequential read speeds of up to 11,000 MB/s and write speeds up to 10,000 MB/s. These drives will be available in capacities from 512GB to 4TB and come with a 5-year warranty. While already available in the UK, US pricing and availability are yet to be announced, and the article notes that Gen 4 SSDs may still be sufficient for most gaming needs.
Hardware Reviews
This article provides reviews for several hardware products, including the Sabrent Voltik 252W 8-PORT USB PD 3.0 Charger, the QIDI Plus5 3D Printer, and the Acer FA300 2 TB SSD. The reviews come from various tech publications.
The Samsung 990 SSD is a speedy and reliable drive, but it's difficult to recommend when the Pro model is right there for the taking
The Samsung 990 SSD offers reliable performance and speeds comparable to its Pro model, but its current pricing makes it difficult to recommend over the 990 Pro, especially when alternatives like the WD_Black SN7100 are available. Despite being a DRAM-less PCIe 4.0 drive, it performs well in gaming load times and general use, though its warranty is shorter than the Pro version.
Samsung has unveiled a new 990 SSD that's designed to be the speedy, cool, and valuable "sweet spot"…
Samsung has launched its new 990 PCIe Gen 4 SSD, aiming for a balance of speed, power efficiency, and value for gaming PCs. Available in 1TB and 2TB models starting July 14, 2026, it offers sequential read speeds up to 7,250 MB/S and write speeds up to 6,450 MB/S, with reduced power consumption compared to older models.
Chinese-made YMTC SSDs have been spotted in Lenovo's latest ThinkBook laptops, as the memory crisis continues to…
Chinese manufacturer YMTC's SSDs have been spotted in Lenovo's ThinkBook laptops, a development attributed to the ongoing memory and NAND shortage. While these SSDs may function as intended, their performance figures are reportedly below average for office laptops, suggesting manufacturers are opting for cheaper components to mitigate rising costs.
GTA 6 'Plays Best on PS5', All Console Features Revealed
Sony has detailed how Grand Theft Auto 6 will leverage PlayStation 5's immersive features, including DualSense controller haptics and adaptive triggers, Tempest 3D AudioTech, and the ultra-high speed SSD for near-instant load times. The company claims the game "plays best on PS5" due to a close partnership with Rockstar Games. Pre-ordering any version of the game includes a free month of GTA+.
SanDisk's latest Optimus gaming SSDs start at $799 MSRP for the 2 TB model and you don't even get Gen 5 speeds…
SanDisk has launched its new Optimus gaming SSDs for PC and consoles, with the 2 TB model starting at a $799 MSRP, despite only offering PCIe Gen 4 speeds. The drives are officially licensed for the Asus ROG Xbox Ally and Sony PlayStation 5, but their high prices are criticized as being significantly more expensive than comparable or even faster PCIe Gen 5 drives available on the market.
SanDisk has launched a new 8TB PS5 SSD, and its price is just as eye-watering as you'd expect
SanDisk has launched its officially licensed Optimus GX PRO 850P SSD for PlayStation 5, with an 8TB model priced at $2,959.99, significantly higher than previous comparable drives. While lower capacity options are available starting at $379.99, the high cost of the 8TB version is highlighted as being more expensive than multiple PlayStation 5 consoles.
Samsung 990 Pro SSD Gets Rare Discount Ahead Of Prime Day
Samsung's 990 Pro NVMe SSD is currently available at a significant discount, with the 2TB model priced at $370, down from $640. This early Amazon Prime Day deal also applies to the 1TB and 4TB versions. The SSD is a popular choice for PC and PlayStation 5 users, offering high read and write speeds, though a heatsink is required for PS5 compatibility and recommended for PC.
Modular laptop maker Framework forced to push SSD prices even higher but says DDR5 is 'stable'
Modular laptop maker Framework has announced price increases for SSDs due to higher sourcing costs, impacting their inventory and production of Storage Expansion Cards. However, the company reports that DDR5 memory prices have remained stable. The Framework 13 laptop and Framework Desktop PC are affected by these component cost changes.
The Witcher 3 system requirements change for the first time in 4 years as CDPR wants "to ensure smooth performance and compatibility going forward" for Songs of the Past
CD Projekt Red is updating the system requirements for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to ensure performance for the upcoming Songs of the Past DLC, set to release in 2027. The changes include a shift to SSDs only, Windows 11 as the minimum OS, and exclusive use of DirectX 12, with new minimum PC specifications provided.
The Witcher 3 minimum PC requirements rise significantly ahead of new expansion, forcing you to use Windows 11 and an SSD
CD Projekt Red has significantly increased the minimum PC system requirements for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, requiring Windows 11 and an SSD for future updates and the upcoming 'Songs of the Past' expansion. This change reflects evolving hardware capabilities and software support, with the developer ceasing support for older operating systems and traditional hard drives.
Team Group CEO warns that DRAM and SSD prices will still rise: 'If you need memory, we recommend purchasing it as…
Team Group CEO Gerry Chen warns that prices for DRAM and SSDs are likely to continue rising due to high AI server demand, which accounts for 40-50% of the memory market. He predicts supply shortages will persist until 2028 and advises consumers to purchase memory components sooner rather than later, as PC component prices may follow server market increases.
Lenovo’s most powerful RTX 5090 gaming PC just dropped to a record-low price
Lenovo's high-end Legion Tower 7i Gen 10 gaming PC, featuring an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor and an RTX 5090 GPU, has reached a record low price of $4657.49 with a discount code. This configuration includes 64GB of DDR5 RAM and a 2TB SSD, offering substantial performance for gaming and content creation. The article highlights the power of the RTX 5090 and DLSS 4.5 technology, noting that building a similar PC would be more expensive.
A Global Tech Shortage Causes A Nintendo Switch 2 Price Hike
Nintendo is increasing the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 by $50 USD to $500 USD starting September 1 due to a global RAM shortage impacting the tech industry. This price hike follows similar adjustments by Sony for the PlayStation line and potential increases for Xbox Series X|S. The shortage is driven by high demand for AI data centers, affecting components like RAM and SSDs.
Project Helix Will “Lean Heavily” Into Zstandard to Directly Stream Assets From the SSD
Microsoft VP Jason Ronald revealed that the upcoming "Project Helix" console will heavily utilize Zstandard for direct asset streaming from the SSD, employing advanced neural texture compression techniques. The company is also preparing to send alpha kits to developers in 2027, with an alleged Holiday 2027 launch window. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma acknowledged that memory shortages could impact the console's pricing and availability.
