Hard drives – where data and programs are stored
Your hard drive is where all data like videos, documents, pictures, etc. as well as software (including OS) are physically stored on your PC. When choosing a PC storage solution, there are two main factors to consider – storage capacity and storage speed. Too little capacity means you’ll have to either add storage later, or constantly purge data to free up space while a slower hard drive may result in a bottleneck and sluggish overall PC performance. Let’s discuss some of the top PC storage solutions on the market right now.
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Samsung 970 EVO NVMe m.2 SSD
The Samsung 970 EVO NVMe M.2 PCIe SSD offers industry-leading performance in a variety of computing devices such as high-performance PCs, workstations, gaming rigs, and external storage solutions.
Built using the M.2 form factor that is ideal for systems with limited space. The 970 EVO delivers up to 3.5X the speed of SATA SSDs for a whole new computing experience. The latest V-NAND and controller in the 970 EVO helps provide faster boot times, quicker application launches, and superior 4K video playback quality. Plus, the 970 EVO offers the same great features as the previous generation: long-lasting reliability, sequential read speeds of up to 3,500 MB/s
Samsung 970 EVO Specifications
| Model | 970 EVO |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Write Speed | 2,500MB/s |
| Read Speed | 3,500MB/s |
| Form Factor | M.2 |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 |
System Recommendations
This blazing fast, compact drive has been optimized for client PCs and servers that rely on next generation boot, application and data performance. These drives are also a favorite for gamers, as the offer excellent performance at reasonable prices.
Samsung 970 Pro NVMe m.2 SSD
The Samsung 970 EVO is the third generation of Samsung's award-winning, high performance SSDs. Powered by the latest V-NAND technology and a new efficient controller, it redefines high-end consumer SSDs.
Samsung 970 Pro NVMe M.2 SSD is one of the fastest SSD for PCs available on the market. Delivering lightning fast performance and superior quality, it provides up to 2,700MB/s sequential write speeds, which is 200 more than the EVO model. Plus, it carries a 5-year limited warranty.
Samsung 970 Pro Specifications
| Model | 970 Pro |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 512GB, 1TB |
| Write Speed | 2,700MB/s |
| Read Speed | 3,500MB/s |
| Form Factor | M.2 |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 |
System Recommendations
When you go with a Samsung Pro drive, you know you are getting an SSD geared towards both performance and reliability. The 970 Pro is a premium choice for professional PC users and workstations. This is the desktop-grade drive behind next-generation developments in virtual reality and high-performance computing, you can turn your imagination into real results.
Samsung 980 Pro NVMe m.2 SSD
The Samsung 980 Pro SSD is the evolution of the world's top consumer NVMe SSD’s. These drives set the bar for blazing fast performance for professional applications.
Run your system from a lightning-fast SSD with the 980 Pro. With 3D V-NAND technology, this SSD maximizes the potential of NVMe storage by packing more data in less space.
An advanced controller and proprietary software deliver 1.5 million random read IOPS—4x greater than typical NVMe SSDs—as well as sequential read and write speeds of up to 7,000MB/s and 5,000MB/s, respectively.
Samsung 980 Pro Specifications
| Model | 980 Pro |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 250GB-2TB |
| Write Speed | 5,000MB/s |
| Read Speed | 7,000MB/s |
| Form Factor | M.2 (2280) |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 (3.0 compatible) |
System Recommendations
The 980 Pro is designed for users looking for peak speeds, endurance, and reliability. Professionals who need a super reliable storage like content creators, and video editors are the best fit for Samsungs Pro line drives.
Crucial MX 500 SSD
The Crucial MX500 SSD is the perfect place to start building a fast, dependable computer. It's Crudial’s lowest-cost SSD equipped with 3D NAND technology for incredible reliability and capacity, and features premium Micron MLC NAND.
The Crucial MX500 SSD is compatible with the new Crucial Storage Executive tool for easy drive maintenance. The drive combines high performance with an ultra-smooth, consistent, quiet experience. It's the perfect SSD for your new system.
Crucial MX 500 Specifications
| Model | MX 500 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Write Speed | 510MB/s |
| Read Speed | 560MB/s |
| Form Factor | 2.5” |
| Interface | SATA 6Gb/s |
System Recommendations
The Crucial MX500 SSD delivers groundbreaking performance and endurance with the latest Intel 3D NAND technology. With high capacities ideal for laptops/desktops and built-in AES 256-bit encryption, it's a powerful solution for your high-end computing needs.
Crucial P1 NVMe M.2 SSD
Speed, performance, and efficiency are all factors when deciding which SSD is best for your computer. The Crucial P1 m.2 delivers on all three without breaking a sweat.
Designed to be your daily driver, the Crucial P1 SSD features everything you need in a solid-state drive: top quality NAND, sequential read and write speeds up to 2000MB/s and 1700MB/s respectively, and cutting-edge Micron 3D NAND technology.
With the largest capacities and smallest form factors available in a consumer-grade SSD, it's more than just storage. It's peace of mind knowing your files are safe, secure, and better protected from power surges and electrical damage.
Crucial P1 Specifications
| Model | P1 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 500GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Write Speed | 1700MB/s |
| Read Speed | 2000MB/s |
| Form Factor | M.2 (2280) |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 |
System Recommendations
Sometimes, smaller is better. And sometimes, bigger is better. The Crucial P1 m.2 SSD gives you the best of both worlds with capacities up to 1TB available in a size that's just a bit longer than your thumb. This innovative drive is designed specifically for ultrabooks, other ultra-small PCs and Intel NUC kits, so you'll get plenty of speed while taking up very little space.
Seagate Firecuda 520 NVMe m.2 SSD
The Seagate Firecuda delivers incredible speed and performance, while offering capacities up to 2TB. Available in 2.5-inch or M.2 SATA and PCIe NVMe flavors.
Featuring breakthrough NVMe enterprise-class flash, the all-new FireCuda SSD unleashes the full potential of your PC. Boot up and launch applications in seconds with blazing fast performance. Rip through multimedia files faster than ever with read speeds up to 5000MB/s. and with up to 2TB of storage, the FireCuda SSD gives you plenty of room for applications, games and more.
Seagate Firecuda 520 Equipped PCs
Seagate Firecuda 520 Specifications
| Model | Firecuda 520 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 200GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Write Speed | 4,400MB/s |
| Read Speed | 5000MB/s |
| Form Factor | M.2 |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 |
System Recommendations
Designed for compatibility with the latest PC hardware technologies, this solid state drive is fully compatible with your current system, This is a great drive for gamers building high end PC’s or doing general content creation.
Storage F.A.Q.
How much storage capacity do I need?
This really depends on how you use your PC. Do you keep large numbers of raw video or images? Do you store everything locally or use a cloud based or external solution? For most users, 500GB is sufficient but some pro level users may require 10+ TB or more. Whatever your current needs, always add 30-40% headroom for expansion as file sizes continue to increase.
Are SSD really that much faster than mechanical drives?
Yes! Even SATA solid state drives are 5-6x faster than 7200 rpm mechanical drives while some PCIe Gen 4 drives are close to 10x faster than that. And with costs per GB continuing to drop, solid state are also the economical choice in all but the highest storage requirements.
Why does hard drive performance diminish over time?
There are a number of reasons. Mechanical drives slow as they near capacity and/or stored data becomes more fragmented. SSD can also slow as they reach capacity (depending on the type of Nand flash used) or as they reach their limit of writes/rewrites. All drive types slow as the hardware degrades.
NVMe vs. M.2 vs. SATA – What’s the Difference?
Great question! This one takes some explaining, so check out this in depth blog post on the topic.
What about RAID?
RAID is a great tool for combining multiple hard drives, either for performance, redundancy, or a combination of both. We typically recommend RAID 0 (performance) for SSD only and RAID 1 (redundancy) for large caches of mechanical storage.
The World’s Fastest Hardware
We use only the very latest retail grade components from Intel, AMD, NVIDIA, Samsung, EVGA, and Crucial in our architecture and engineering workstations. Each component in our online configurator has been chosen by our expert engineering team for these specific applications to provide maximum performance and the utmost reliability, ensuring that your hardware never gets in the way of your design.
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Why Velocity Micro
Velocity Micro’s heritage began 20-years ago building ultra-performance desktop workstations. Since then, we’ve won nearly every award possible for design, support, and quality there is, and continue to build incredible custom systems to this day. Our architecture and engineering workstations are simply without equal. A few reasons to choose Velocity Micro:
- Expert overclocking – free CPU power without risking reliability or longevity
- Lifetime, 100% US-based Support – never routed offshore
- Owned and operated in the USA – and always will be
- Meticulous build quality – there are no assembly lines here