Different Types of SSDs

There are different types of SSDs available in the market.

They not only differ in their performance and price but also
use different types of connectors. SSDs can be divided into
four broad categories depending on the types of connectors
they support:

 SATA
 mSATA
 NGFF M.2
 NVMe PCIe M.2
The above SSDs have different connectivity interfaces and
varying specifications. Some SSDs are fast while others are
more affordable. They are designed considering the needs of
different consumer segments.

Choosing the right SSD out of these can be quite confusing

for a buyer. If you are looking to upgrade your system with
an SSD but don’t know which one to choose, then don’t
worry, we have got you covered. A basic understanding of
the different types of SSDs based on their connectors and
the best-case scenarios for choosing one over the others
can assist you in making the right decision.

SATA SSDs
 Samsung 850 EVO SATA III SSD
SATA SSDs are the most popularly found categories of SSDs.
These SSDs use a SATA (Serial Advanced Technology
Attachment) interface to connect to the computer. Modern
HDDs also use a SATA interface. SATA was first introduced
in the year 2000 as version 1.0 (SATA I) and had a transfer
speed of up to 1.5Gbit/s. The SATA standard was revised to
2.0 in 2004 (SATA II) and supported a speed of up to
3.0Gbit/s.

Modern laptops and desktops feature SATA 3.0 ports (SATA

III) that support a transfer speed of up to 6Gbit/s (750MB/s).
They are used to connect HDDs, DVD drives and SSDs to the
desktop or laptop. SATA SSDs use the SATA 3 interface for
connecting to the computer or laptop. These SSDs generally
have a read and write speeds in the range of 450-550 MB/s
on an average which is a lot faster than SATA 3 HDDs that
have a read and write speed varying from 70-200 MB/s.

SATA 3 SSDs are the best choice for most consumers who
want to replace their current HDDs to speed up their system.
They are also ideal for gamers who want to reduce the
loading time of games. Developers and programmers may
find these SSDs adequate for their requirements.

They have the same form-factor as 2.5inch HDDs and will

easily fit most laptops. Laptop owners can replace the
internal HDD with an SSD for boosting its performance. If
you are building a new desktop system, you can use a SATA
SSD for the OS drive and a regular HDD for supplementary
storage. SATA SSDs are also the most economical among
the different types of SSDs.

mSATA or Mini-SATA SSDs

Transcend mSATA SSD

The mSATA or mini-SATA SSDs are similar in performance to
SATA3 SSDs but have a slightly different connector known
as mSATA. They use the mSATA connector which was
announced in September 2009 and is smaller than the
standard SATA connector.

It is designed to facilitate installation of SSDs in devices

that have a small form factor. These include netbooks,
ultrabooks, and other devices that can’t accommodate a
standard SATA SSD. mSATA SSDs are smaller than SATA
SSDs and will fit computing gadgets that have a small
footprint.
The speed of mSATA SSDs is comparable to SATA SSDs, but
they are slightly expensive than the latter. mSATA SSDs are
suitable for users whose devices have mSATA connector
instead of standard SATA connector. M2 Connectors are
found on older variants of laptops but are rarely seen on
desktops. Nowadays, manufacturers use an M.2 connector
instead of an mSATA connector on their devices.

NGFF M.2 SSDs

Samsung 860 EVO SATA M.2 SSD

The NGFF M.2 SSDs are often referred to as M.2 SSDs
though M.2 is the name of the connector used. The NGFF
(Next Generation Form Factor) is a replacement
specification for the mSATA standard. It is a refinement of
the mSATA standard and uses a new connector, known as
M.2, that supports a wide range of devices. The M.2
connector is not compatible with mSATA devices.

While the mSATA interfaces only support different versions

of SATA (i.e. SATA 1.0 to SATA 3.0), the M.2 connector
allows SATA 3.0, USB 3.0, and PCIe 3.0 devices to be used
provided the motherboard supports the same.

NGFF M.2 SSDs share the same specifications as SATA and

mSATA SSDs but use a different connector. They have
similar read and write speed and will give an equal
performance boost as SATA 3 and mSATA SSDs. SATA NGFF
M.2 SSDs are a good choice for users whose desktop,
laptops or computing devices feature M.2 slots.

They are ideal for users who don’t want to replace existing
HDDs on their laptops but still want the performance boost
of an SSD. As NGFF M.2 uses a different connector, you can
retain your current drive and still install an additional SSD.

The price of NGFF M.2 SSD is slightly more than SATA SSDs
but is comparable to mSATA SSD. Modern devices including
desktops, laptops, ultra-books, and notebooks feature M.2
slots. All M.2 slots support NGFF M.2 SSDs.

NVMe PCIe SSDs

Samsung 970 EVO NVMe M.2 SSD

M.2 NVMe PCIe SSDs (simply called NVMe SSDs) are faster
than all the SSDs mentioned before. They also use the M.2
connector just like NGFF SSDs. M.2 is a connector that may
support both NGFF and NVMe SSDs depending on the
configuration of the motherboard. M.2 slots on older
motherboards only support NGFF SSDs while the latest
motherboards come with M.2 slots that can work with NVMe
SSDs.

NVMe PCIe SSDs have a read and write speeds of up to 3500

and 3000 MB/s on average which is a lot faster than other
types of SDDs mentioned before. However, their better
performance comes with a higher price tag. A 256GB NVMe
PCIe SSD will be 1.5 to 2 times the price of a 256GB SATA
SSD making it quite expensive.

NVMe PCIe SSDs are overkill for gaming or day to day usage.
Regular users and gamers will not see any real-world benefit
by opting for an NVMe SSD over a SATA or NGFF SSD. NVMe
SSDs only make sense for users who run applications that
are CPU intensive or involve high disk I/O operations. These
tasks can include video editing and image processing in 4K
or higher resolutions.

Users who are buying an NVMe SSD for using it as the OS partition must ensure
that their motherboards BIOS can boot from an NVMe drive. Older motherboards
may not be able to boot from an NVMe drive. The information regarding the same
can be obtained from the manufacturer’s manual that comes along with the
motherboard.
Right Length of SSDs
Another important aspect to consider while choosing an
NGFF or NVMe PCIe SSD is the length supported by the
motherboard of the device. M.2 and NVMe SSDs are 22mm
wide but have varying lengths. These may be 30, 42, 60, 80
or 110mm long depending on the manufacturer. Some
motherboards, especially those of netbooks and tablets,
may support 30 or 42mm SSDs while desktops motherboards
can accommodate up to 110mm M.2 drives. The
motherboard will have the retention screws for the SSDs
along with markings depicting the supported sizes. mSATA
SSDs are mostly available in 60mm length.
Performance Variation Among Similar Types
of SSDs
There is a wide range of SSDs available in each of the above
categories. They have different specifications and will
perform differently. A SATA 3 SSD from one brand may not
be able to perform as well as a SATA 3 SSD from another
brand. The same will be the case with NGFF and NVMe
drives. Users must ensure that the SSD they are buying
meets their requirements.

If you are wondering about the best SSDs in each category, then refer to our
roundup of the best SSDs available in the market today.
Summarizing – So which is the best SSD for
you?
 If you are a gamer, developer or regular user who
wants to upgrade their laptop’s or desktop’s HDD,
then a SATA3 will be the perfect fit for you.
 Users who own a laptop or an ultrabook with an
mSATA or M.2 connector but don’t want to replace
their current HDD can buy an mSATA or M.2 SSD
respectively. The availability of mSATA SSDs is
limited as 2 connectors have replaced mSATA
connectors.
 Enthusiasts and users who create and render videos
in 4K resolution or perform other tasks with high
disk-I/O requirement can consider an NVMe SSD
provided their desktops or laptops support it.
Note: Installing an SSD on a retail desktop or laptop may void its warranty.