Crucial 1TB SSD PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe M.2

The Crucial P510 hits 11,000 MB/s reads and lands in the 96th percentile for speed, making it one of the fastest Gen5 drives we've tested. It's DRAM-less and random performance is just okay, but the price is reasonable if you shop around. Worth buying if you have a Gen5 slot and want near-flagship speed without the flagship markup.

Sequential reads at 11,000 MB/s and writes at 9,500 MB/s are the headline here, and they're legit. This drive sits in the 96th percentile for speed, so it's one of the fastest things you can drop into a Gen5 slot. Random performance is more middle of the pack at the 62nd percentile, which is fine for most people but not going to blow anyone away in heavy mixed workloads. The DRAM-less design doesn't seem to hurt much in real-world use, and Crucial claims the power draw is nearly 25% lower than their previous Gen5 drive. That's a nice bonus for laptop users who don't want their SSD toasting their battery.

Against the Samsung 990 PRO, the P510 wins on raw sequential speed but gives up some ground on random performance and brand cachet. The Micron T710 is basically a sibling since Micron owns Crucial, so expect similar DNA but different firmware tuning. The Kingston Fury Renegade and Team Group MP44 are both strong Gen4 alternatives that cost less and still feel fast in everyday use. The Lexar NM1090 PRO is the closest Gen5 rival, and it trades blows depending on workload. If you're chasing peak sequential numbers, the P510 is a standout. If you want the best all-around drive, the 990 PRO still has an edge in consistency.

The P510's price is all over the place depending on where you look. In the US, listings range from USD 210 to USD 394, which is a massive spread for the same drive. Newegg has the best deal at the low end, so check there before you overpay elsewhere. In Europe, prices run from EUR 262 to EUR 355, and again the cheapest listing is the one to hunt down. At the low end, this drive is a steal for Gen5 speeds. At the high end, you're paying early-adopter money for performance you can get cheaper if you're patient.

The Crucial P510 is a 1TB PCIe 5.0 drive that hits 11,000 MB/s reads and 9,500 MB/s writes. That puts it in the 96th percentile for speed in our database, which is basically the top of the charts right now. It's DRAM-less, but Crucial leaned on TLC NAND and a single-sided design to keep things simple and cool.

For a Gen5 drive, the pricing is surprisingly sane. You're getting near-flagship sequential performance without the usual early-adopter tax. The endurance rating of 600 TBW and a 5-year warranty are both solid, though the portable score is rough if you were hoping to toss this in an external enclosure.

Skip this if you're building an external SSD or need something portable, because the portable score is a real letdown at 21.5 out of 100. Also skip it if you're still on a PCIe 4.0 motherboard and don't plan to upgrade soon, since you'll pay for Gen5 speed you can't actually use. And if you need 2TB or more for a big game library, the 1TB capacity here is going to feel cramped fast.

Buy the Crucial P510 if you want Gen5 speed without paying a ridiculous premium. It's a great fit for gamers and creators who move big files around and want their system to feel instant. Laptop users get a bonus thanks to the lower power draw and single-sided design. Just make sure you're actually running a Gen5 slot, because on Gen4 you're leaving a lot of that speed on the table.