Gaming load times: what actually changes
Game load times depend on the game engine, your CPU and how assets are compressed, not only on SSD speed. Moving from a hard drive to any SSD is by far the biggest improvement. Between NVMe drives the gap is much smaller: in large open-world games such as Cyberpunk 2077 or Microsoft Flight Simulator, a fast PCIe 4.0 drive like the Samsung 990 Pro or WD Black SN850X loads a few seconds quicker than an older PCIe 3.0 drive like the Samsung 980, and in lighter games the difference is barely noticeable. Microsoft's DirectStorage, used by a growing number of PC games, is designed to make better use of fast NVMe drives, so the gap may widen in newer titles. For competitive games (Valorant, CS2), load time differences matter less than frame rate.
Best overall gaming SSD: Samsung 990 Pro 1TB
Samsung rates it at 7,450 MB/s, among the fastest PCIe 4.0 drives, with good thermals and PS5 compatibility. 5-year warranty, 600 TBW endurance. Only downside: premium pricing; check the current price on its product page. Worth it if: You want one of the fastest PCIe 4.0 drives for a dedicated gaming rig.
Best value gaming SSD: WD Black SN850X 1TB
7,100 MB/s speeds (5% slower than 990 Pro, unnoticeable in gaming). Costs $30–$50 less. Excellent heat management, 5-year warranty, 600 TBW. Load time difference vs 990 Pro: ~2 seconds across 50+ hour game library. Worth it if: You want competitive performance without premium pricing.
Budget gaming SSD: Samsung 980 1TB
PCIe 3.0, 3,500 MB/s. Slower than 990 Pro/SN850X by ~10 seconds per load. Still fast enough for all modern games. Costs $30 less than WD Black. Game experience is smooth; you just wait a few extra seconds at load screens. Worth it if: Your budget is tight and you don't mind slightly longer load screens.