Crucial SSD

The Crucial T705 is stupid fast, with 13,600 MB/s reads and top-tier random performance. It's DRAM-less and only 1TB, but the speed is real. Worth it if you have a Gen5 slot and can find it at the low end of the price range.

Sequential reads at 13,600 MB/s and writes at 10,200 MB/s are basically best-in-class. Random performance is even more impressive, with 1,400K read IOPS and 1,750K write IOPS landing in the 97th percentile. That's the kind of speed that makes game loads feel instant and large file transfers disappear. The DRAM-less design doesn't seem to hurt much here, but it's worth knowing if you're the type who obsesses over architecture. The integrated heatsink keeps things stable under load, which matters because Gen5 drives can get toasty.

The Samsung 9100 PRO is the obvious rival, and it brings a more established track record plus DRAM cache. The WD Black SN850X is a Gen4 drive that's cheaper and still very fast, so if you don't need Gen5 speeds, it's a smarter buy. The Micron T710 is essentially a sibling drive with similar specs but more capacity options. The Lexar NM1090 PRO and ADATA GAMMIX S70 Blade both undercut the T705 on price while offering competitive performance. If you want the absolute fastest drive and don't mind paying for it, the T705 wins. If you want value, look at the SN850X or the Lexar.

Pricing is all over the place. In the US, you'll see anywhere from USD 250 to USD 335 depending on the vendor, which is a huge spread. The best deal we found is at the low end of that range, so shop around before you buy. In Europe, prices range from EUR 272 to EUR 315, with the cheapest listing coming in around EUR 272. For a drive this fast, the lower end of those ranges feels fair. At the high end, you're paying a premium for early Gen5 adoption.

The Crucial T705 is one of the fastest Gen5 drives you can buy right now. It hits 13,600 MB/s reads and 10,200 MB/s writes, which puts it in the top tier of our database. If you're on Intel 13th/14th Gen or AMD Ryzen 7000 with an M.2 Gen5 slot, this thing will absolutely fly. But here's the catch. It's DRAM-less, which is unusual for a drive this fast, and the 1TB capacity is just middle of the pack. The endurance rating of 600 TBW is solid but not class-leading. Still, for pure speed, it's hard to argue with the numbers.

Skip this if you're on a Gen4 motherboard, because you're paying for speed you can't use. Also skip it if you need more than 1TB, since the capacity is just average and larger Gen4 drives cost about the same. And if you're the type who loses sleep over DRAM-less designs, the Samsung 9100 PRO is the safer pick.

Buy this if you have a Gen5 motherboard and want the fastest possible storage for gaming or heavy creative work. The speed is undeniable, and the heatsink is a nice touch. But if you're on Gen4 or just want a good deal, there are cheaper options that get you 90% of the way there. This is a drive for enthusiasts who want to see the top of the benchmark charts.