Crucial 1TB SSD PCIe 5.0 NVMe

The Crucial T705 is the fastest consumer SSD we've tested, with 13,600 MB/s reads and top-tier random performance. It's expensive and only makes sense on a PCIe 5.0 board. If you've got the platform, it's worth the splurge.

The numbers here are silly fast. Sequential reads hit 13,600 MB/s and writes land at 10,200 MB/s, which is best-in-class territory. Random performance is just as impressive, with 1,400K read IOPS and 1,750K write IOPS putting it near the top of our database. The TLC NAND and DRAM cache keep things snappy under sustained loads, and the integrated heatsink does its job without adding fan noise. The only real knock is endurance. 600 TBW is solid but not exceptional for a drive this expensive, and the 1TB capacity means you'll fill it faster than you think if you're juggling 8K video or a big Steam library.

Against the Samsung 990 PRO, the T705 wins on raw sequential speed but loses on price and brand familiarity. The 990 PRO is a Gen4 drive, so it tops out around 7,450 MB/s, but it's often cheaper and easier to find on sale. The WD_BLACK SN850X is another Gen4 favorite that's more affordable and still plenty fast for most people. If you want to stay in the Gen5 lane, the Micron T710 is basically a sibling drive with similar specs, so it comes down to price and availability. The Kingston Fury Renegade is a solid Gen4 alternative if you don't need the absolute fastest thing on the shelf.

Here's the thing: this drive is expensive, and the value story depends entirely on your setup. In the US, prices swing from USD 250 to USD 335 across five listings, which is a wild spread for the same drive. Shop around and you can find it at the lower end, but even then you're paying a premium for Gen5 speed. In Europe, the gap is smaller but still noticeable, ranging from EUR 272 to EUR 315. If you're on a PCIe 4.0 board, save your money and grab a cheaper Gen4 drive. But if you've already invested in a Gen5 platform, the T705 is the drive that actually uses it.

The Crucial T705 is one of the fastest consumer SSDs we've ever tested. It hits 13,600 MB/s sequential reads and 10,200 MB/s writes, which puts it at the absolute top of the charts for raw speed. If you're on a PCIe 5.0 platform, this drive is basically showing off what the interface can do.

It's not cheap, and it's not for everyone. The 1TB capacity is fine for a boot drive or a few big games, but the price per gigabyte is steep. Still, for workstation users and hardcore gamers who want zero loading friction, the T705 delivers.

Skip this if you're still on a PCIe 4.0 or older platform. You'll pay a big premium for speed your motherboard can't even use. Also skip it if you need lots of storage on a budget, because 1TB at this price is a tough sell when you can get a 2TB Gen4 drive for less.

Buy this if you have a PCIe 5.0 motherboard and you want the fastest storage money can buy right now. It's a workstation monster and a gamer's dream, assuming you can stomach the price. For everyone else, a good Gen4 drive will feel nearly as fast in daily use and cost a lot less.