One big difference is how they connect to the PC. Regular SSDs and HDDs connect using a port called a SATA (Serial AT Attachment) port, but many modern motherboards offer a faster port built directly to the motherboard using a port called an M.2.  Go to your favorite online retailer, and you’ll be faced with loads of brands all offering an array of different M.2 storage drives. So, which one should you choose? Don’t worry! I’ve simplified things for you and picked out the best M.2 SSDs. The choice now is much easier… but keep in mind the faster and more storage capacity you need, the more it’ll cost you.  I’ll also show you what you need to build yourself an awesome external storage drive using an M.2 drive. Also:

The best external hard drivesThe best SSDsThe best cloud storage servicesThe best NAS of 2023

Interface: NVMe PCIeSequential read speeds: Up to 2400MB/sSequential write speeds: Up to 1900MB/s

Crucial is a great brand that offers storage and RAM at a really good price, which makes it a great choice for budget M.2 drives. You’ll can find cheaper M.2 drives, but I wouldn’t want to trust them with my data!

Interface: PCIe Gen4x4Sequential read speeds: Up to 7300MB/sSequential write speeds: Up to 6350MB/s

I’ve been putting WD_BLACK storage into gaming PCs for years now, and they never disappoint. This M.2 drive is no exception. It’s super-fast, super reliable, and built from quality components to offer the best lifespan possible. There are two versions, one with a heatsink and one without, and I recommend the one with the heatsink because it will dissipate heat better, which on turn makes it more reliable and gives you a longer life.

Interface: PCIe Gen4x4Sequential read speeds: Up to 7400MB/sSequential write speeds: Up to 6900MB/s

Samsung is a big name in storage, and the PRO series has consistently offered the best performance, reliability, fantastic power efficiency, and life possible – but at a price! The 990 PRO is one of the best drives out there, perfect for those looking for a high-capacity drive that won’t let them down.

Tool-free Enclosure for M.2 PCIE NVME and SATA SSDNVMe supports PCIE Gen3x2 protocol with read & write speeds up to 10Gbps. SATA supports Gen3 protocol with read & write speeds up to 6GbpsSupports both SATA and NVMe M.2 drives in sizes 2242/2260/2280macOS, Windows, and Linux support

This enclosure is the best way to build your own M.2 external storage drive. You buy the drive, pick the M.2 drive you need, slip the drive into the enclosure, and away you go! I think this is a great alternative to buying a ready-made external drive. With this system, if you ever need to replace or upgrade the drive, you can do it easily. I’ve outlined the build steps here. You’ll see sizes like 2242, 2260, and 2280.  Here the first two numbers are the width in millimeters – 22mm is the width of commercially available M.2 drives – and the next two (or sometimes three) numbers are the length, again in millimeters. To know of there are size restrictions to the M.2 drive you can use, check the manual for your computer’s motherboard or enclosure. Modern drives come in two flavors – M key or B+M which will fit into both the newer and older slots. Insert the connector all the way into the slot, and then gently push it down flat to the motherboard, and finally fix it to the board using the retaining screw.


title: “The Best M 2 Ssds Of 2023 Expert Tested And Reviewed” ShowToc: true date: “2023-04-04” author: “Troy Christensen”


One big difference is how they connect to the PC. Regular SSDs and HDDs connect using a port called a SATA (Serial AT Attachment) port, but many modern motherboards offer a faster port built directly to the motherboard using a port called an M.2.  Go to your favorite online retailer, and you’ll be faced with loads of brands all offering an array of different M.2 storage drives. So, which one should you choose? Don’t worry! I’ve simplified things for you and picked out the best M.2 SSDs. The choice now is much easier… but keep in mind the faster and more storage capacity you need, the more it’ll cost you.  I’ll also show you what you need to build yourself an awesome external storage drive using an M.2 drive. Also:

The best external hard drivesThe best SSDsThe best cloud storage servicesThe best NAS of 2023

Interface: NVMe PCIeSequential read speeds: Up to 2400MB/sSequential write speeds: Up to 1900MB/s

Crucial is a great brand that offers storage and RAM at a really good price, which makes it a great choice for budget M.2 drives. You’ll can find cheaper M.2 drives, but I wouldn’t want to trust them with my data!

Interface: PCIe Gen4x4Sequential read speeds: Up to 7300MB/sSequential write speeds: Up to 6350MB/s

I’ve been putting WD_BLACK storage into gaming PCs for years now, and they never disappoint. This M.2 drive is no exception. It’s super-fast, super reliable, and built from quality components to offer the best lifespan possible. There are two versions, one with a heatsink and one without, and I recommend the one with the heatsink because it will dissipate heat better, which on turn makes it more reliable and gives you a longer life.

Interface: PCIe Gen4x4Sequential read speeds: Up to 7400MB/sSequential write speeds: Up to 6900MB/s

Samsung is a big name in storage, and the PRO series has consistently offered the best performance, reliability, fantastic power efficiency, and life possible – but at a price! The 990 PRO is one of the best drives out there, perfect for those looking for a high-capacity drive that won’t let them down.

Tool-free Enclosure for M.2 PCIE NVME and SATA SSDNVMe supports PCIE Gen3x2 protocol with read & write speeds up to 10Gbps. SATA supports Gen3 protocol with read & write speeds up to 6GbpsSupports both SATA and NVMe M.2 drives in sizes 2242/2260/2280macOS, Windows, and Linux support

This enclosure is the best way to build your own M.2 external storage drive. You buy the drive, pick the M.2 drive you need, slip the drive into the enclosure, and away you go! I think this is a great alternative to buying a ready-made external drive. With this system, if you ever need to replace or upgrade the drive, you can do it easily. I’ve outlined the build steps here. You’ll see sizes like 2242, 2260, and 2280.  Here the first two numbers are the width in millimeters – 22mm is the width of commercially available M.2 drives – and the next two (or sometimes three) numbers are the length, again in millimeters. To know of there are size restrictions to the M.2 drive you can use, check the manual for your computer’s motherboard or enclosure. Modern drives come in two flavors – M key or B+M which will fit into both the newer and older slots. Insert the connector all the way into the slot, and then gently push it down flat to the motherboard, and finally fix it to the board using the retaining screw.