The best M.2 SSD drives for laptops under 3000 UAH

The Silicon Power P34A60 SP512GBP34A60M28 SSD easily fits into laptops and many ultrabooks thanks to its compact form factor and lack of a heatsink. The latter is not needed here, since the model is designed for home and work laptops or PCs that perform basic tasks - working with browsers, office software, watching movies, online learning. The module has an average memory capacity (512 GB) with a 3D TLC NAND layout and write (1600 MB/s) / read (2200 MB/s) speed. Host Memory Buffer technology ensures efficient interaction with RAM, allowing you to optimize data exchange.

Despite the simplicity of the external design, the drive offers reliable software data protection. It is implemented using error correction (ECC), security (E2E) and fault tolerance enhancement (RAID) mechanisms. The manufacturer offers a 5-year warranty and a long MTBF of 2 million hours or 300 TBW.

The Gigabyte Gen3 2500E G325E500G solid-state drive has a standard set of characteristics necessary for stable and efficient operation of the laptop. The 22x80 form factor is fully compatible not only with laptops, but also with compact PC builds and ultrabooks. The absence of a radiator does not cause restrictions on installation in Slim cases. The manufacturer used a modern 3D TLC NAND layout, which allows for a memory capacity of 500 GB, which is more than enough for work, study, entertainment, and installation of specialized software.

The affordable price did not affect the quality of the components used and functionality. The manufacturer uses a Phison controller that effectively distributes data across the four provided PCIe 3.0 interface lines. This approach provides read performance of 2300 MB/s and write performance of 1500 MB/s. Not the highest numbers, but far from low, and with the support of Host Memory Buffer technology, the drive guarantees that the maximum processing speed is maintained for the first 8 GB of data. File storage security is ensured by SMART ECC and TRIM algorithms. The weak point can be considered low TBW (120 TB), so SSD is more suitable for laptops where large amounts of information are not regularly rewritten.

Patriot P310 is one of the most affordable solid state drives in the now most common M.2-2280 format. NVMe connection interface, also known as PCI-E. Suitable for most modern desktops and laptops that have an M.2 Key-M slot. Weighs only 9 grams and consumes less than 2.5 watts of electricity.

Depending on the batch, the controller may differ: Phison, Silicon Motion or Maxio. Therefore, the Patriot company simply indicates “the latest PCI-E 3.0 x4 controller” in its official specifications. However, the speed indicators will be approximately the same: 1700 and 1500 MB/s sequential reading and writing, respectively. The IOPS result can reach 280K.

The service life in the case of the 480 GB version of the disk is 240 TB. That is, every day for three years you can rewrite at least half of the full volume of the disk. Moreover, after exceeding the limit, the SSD will not stop working at all, but will only begin to gradually lose weight in volume. Worn out memory cells will be automatically blocked.

SSD M.2 A-Data LEGEND 710 ALEG-710-512GCS is equipped with an aluminum heatsink to effectively dissipate heat and prevent throttling during long recording sessions. Its bright blue design complements the visual concept of the system unit with a viewing window, and the 22x80 format is compatible with almost all laptops. When assembled, the thickness is 3.13 mm. It is worth noting that the radiator is supplied separately in the box. It can be left out to fit into the smallest laptops.

You should not expect super-fast fulfillment of desires from the drive, since its write speed does not exceed 1000 MB/s, and when the cache is full it will drop by 2–3 times. This is the fate of most budget models, which do not have their own DRAM, but the problem is partially solved by Host Memory Buffer technology, which can use RAM during data exchange. Overall, the manufacturer offers a good solution for home and office with 512 GB of 3D TLC NAND memory and advanced data security capabilities using encryption (AES 256-bit standard). An SSD will be relevant for people who work with confidential information and use a laptop while traveling where there is a risk of theft. Despite good software protection, the TBW rating is 130 TB, so the drive is not designed for intensive daily work with large files (databases, Blu-Ray movies).

The Crucial P3 Plus CT500P3PSSD8 SSD erases speed limits when working with small files, even under constant load. The read rate reaches 4700 MB/s, and the write rate reaches 1900 MB/s. The Phison E21T controller provides good results at an affordable price for the module, but only if connected to a laptop via an interface of at least PCIe 4.0. The manufacturer used 4-bit QLC memory, which significantly reduces the cost of the final product, but is subject to severe throttling under heavy loads. The drive is a good solution for work and home laptops that do not require recording large amounts of data.

The Crucial P3 Plus comes with a 5-year warranty and will really last a long time as long as you don't write more than 0.1 times a day. This is far from the best indicator, which imposes certain restrictions on use in many areas. The drive is excellent for permanent storage and access to data, and 500 GB is a fairly weighty supporting argument.