SSD storage: NVMe, TLC, QLC — what to choose and how much
Why the drive should be an NVMe SSD, whether PCIe 5.0 is worth it, and how TLC differs from QLC.
NVMe SSD is the standard — not an “option”
The OS and apps must run on an NVMe SSD. Hard drives (HDD) and eMMC storage are at best for archives — as system drives they cripple the machine.
How much capacity?
- 512 GB — fills up fast; really only for very budget builds.
- 1 TB — the practical standard.
- 2 TB — comfort for gamers and creators.
PCIe 4.0 or 5.0?
PCIe 4.0 NVMe (5000–7400 MB/s) is the sweet spot: fast, affordable and thermally safe. PCIe 5.0 offers more on paper, but the difference is imperceptible in daily use while the drives run hot and cost more.
TLC vs QLC — NAND quality
- TLC + DRAM cache — consistent performance on large writes; the choice for a system drive.
- QLC / DRAM-less — cheap, fine as a secondary drive; they slow down badly on large files.
Rule of thumb
Get a 1–2 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD with TLC NAND and a DRAM buffer as the primary drive. Do not pay a PCIe 5.0 premium and do not accept eMMC or an HDD as the system drive.