08/02/2026 7:51 pm
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Hey everyone! I’m currently putting together a mid-range build around a Ryzen 5 5600X and a B550 motherboard, and I’m struggling to pick the right storage. My game library is getting massive, so I’ve decided a 2TB NVMe SSD is the way to go, but I’m trying to keep the cost down since I spent most of my budget on the GPU.
I’ve been looking at options like the Crucial P3 or the Teamgroup MP34, but I’m a bit confused about whether I should prioritize a Gen4 drive for future-proofing or if a solid Gen3 drive with DRAM is actually better for a budget gaming setup. Since the 5600X supports PCIe 4.0, I don't want to leave performance on the table, but I also don't want to pay a premium for speeds I won't notice during loading screens. My main goal is reliability and decent sustained speeds without breaking the $100-$120 mark if possible.
Does anyone have experience with specific 2TB drives that pair well with this CPU? Is it worth grabbing a cheaper Gen4 drive like the Kingston NV2, or should I stick to a high-quality Gen3 drive for better longevity?
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08/02/2026 8:25 pm
sooo i saw this earlier and wanted to chime in because i actually had a pretty bad experience with a cheap drive recently... unfortunately the Kingston NV2 2TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD i bought for a build ended up being way slower than expected cuz they swap the components around sometimes. it was super disappointing tbh.
if ur looking for technical details and real benchmarks, there's a great resource at the SSD Tier List on Cultists Network or the r/NewMaxx subreddit. they basically deep dive into which drives have DRAM - which is honestly a big deal for sustained speeds.
since ur on a budget but want quality, maybe check out the Teamgroup T-Force Cardea A440 Pro 2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe if u can find it on sale, or honestly just stick with the Teamgroup MP34 2TB with DRAM LPDDR4. i mean, the MP34 is a legend for a reason!! anyway... definitely check those spreadsheets before u buy anything so u dont get stuck with a slow drive. gl with the build!!
11
08/02/2026 8:55 pm
For your situation, I'd say the Crucial P3 Plus 2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD is a solid middle ground since it's Gen4 but priced like Gen3, or just grab the Teamgroup MP34 2TB with DRAM for better reliability.
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08/02/2026 9:25 pm
I went through this last year. honestly, i'm super paranoid about drive failure after losing a build to a cheap DRAM-less drive, so I get the hesitation!! i ended up comparing the SK hynix Gold P31 2TB PCIe NVMe Gen3 M.2 2280 SSD against the Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD. even though they're Gen3, they felt WAY safer because of the reliability and better thermals. basically, i realized i'd rather have a rock-solid drive that wont overheat than a budget Gen4 that might throttle or die early. peace of mind is worth more than a 1-second faster loading screen lol
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08/02/2026 7:51 pm
In my experience, you’re honestly overthinking the Gen4 vs Gen3 thing a little bit! I've tried many different drives over the years, and for a gaming setup with a 5600X, you highkey won't notice the speed difference between a top-tier Gen3 and a budget Gen4 in actual loading screens. But since you have a B550 board, it feels kinda bad to leave that PCIe 4.0 support on the table, you know?
I would suggest looking at the Teamgroup MP44L 2TB PCIe Gen4 M.2 NVMe SSD. It’s basically the sweet spot right now. I’ve used it in a couple of mid-range builds lately and it’s been rock solid. It's technically Gen4 so you get those faster sequential speeds for moving files around, but it’s priced like a budget drive.
Another one I've had great luck with is the Western Digital WD_BLACK SN770 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD. It’s DRAM-less, but honestly, WD’s controller tech is so good that it performs like a beast in games. I’d personally skip the Kingston NV2 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD because they swap out the internal components way too often—it's a bit of a gamble on what speeds you actually get... plus the reliability is kinda meh.
If you really want that DRAM for peace of mind, the Teamgroup MP34 2TB with DRAM PCIe Gen3 SSD is a classic, but honestly, for $100-$120, you can usually find the SN770 on sale. Go with a decent Gen4 drive and call it a day, gl with the build! 👍
