The main goal of this post was to aid in selecting SSD, and NVMe drives during a Micro Center sale. But I’ll try to give an overview of what to look for next time you find yourself in the same position.
Storage Technologies
- MLC V-NAND is the best option.
- TLC is equivalent to V-NAND, and viceversa.
- QLC is cheap but a little less reliable.
- 3D NAND is your basic entry point to SSDs.
3D NAND
- The most basic of modern SSD technologies. Great for throwing on cheap systems, home servers, anything non-critical really.
- It is not recommended to host your Operating System on 3D NAND, or QLC.
Quad Level Cell (QLC)
- QLC (Quad Level Cell) is cheaper to manufacture than TLC (Triple Level Cell).
- QLC is much slower and less durable to constant writing than TLC.
- It is not recommended to host your Operating System on 3D NAND, or QLC.
Triple Level Cell (TLC)
- TLC is more reliable when compared to QLC.
- MLC is a Triple Level Cell based Samsung technology.
Multi Level Cell (MLC)
- MLC is a Triple Level Cell based Samsung technology.
How Are SSDs Scored
Storage
- 1 point per GB
- Less accurate the bigger the SSD
- 3 TB and higher drives scale exp/log instead of linearly.
Price
Based on price per $1. Selected $0.10 as the baseline after averaging some calculations.
- 1 point for every $0.01 / GB below $0.10
Technology Coefficient
- 3D NAND Coefficient = 0.5 (Big Penalty)
- QLC Coefficient = 0.75 (Small Penalty)
- TLC Coefficient = 1.0 (No Change)
- MLC V-NAND coefficient = 1.25 (Small Advantage)
NVMe M.2 2280 M Key
| Brand | Storage | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 970 EVO Plus | 500 GB | $35 | MLC V-NAND |
| 970 EVO Plus | 2 TB | $100 | MLC V-NAND |
| 970 EVO Plus | 1 TB | $50 | V-NAND |
| 980 | 1 TB | $50 | MLC V-NAND |
| 980 Pro | 2 TB | $120 | MLC V-NAND |
| 980 Pro | 1 TB | $70 | V-NAND |
| 990 PRO | 1 TB | $80 | MLC V-NAND |
| Crucial P3 | 1 TB | $40 | 3D NAND |
| Inland | 500 GB | $23 | QLC |
| Inland | 1 TB | $40 | QLC |
| Inland | 2 TB | $70 | QLC |
| Performance | 1 TB | $55 | TLC |
| Prime | 500 GB | $30 | TLC |
| Prime | 1 TB | $50 | TLC |
SSD
| Brand | Storage | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inland | 1 TB | $50 | TLC |
| Inland | 512 GB | $25 | TLC |
| Platinum | 2 TB | $80 | TLC |
| Platinum | 1 TB | $43 | TLC |
| Professional | 256 GB | $20 | 3D NAND |
| Professional | 125 GB | $15 | TLC |
| 870 EVO | 1 TB | $50 | MLC V-NAND |
| 870 EVO | 4 TB | $220 | MLC V-NAND |
| 870 EVO | 500 GB | $40 | MLC V-NAND |
| 870 QVO | 1 TB | $70 | QLC V-NAND |
Final Scores
NVMe
| Description | $ / GB | Coef | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 970 500 GB $35 MLC | 0.070 | 1.25 | 629 |
| 970 2 TB $100 MLC | 0.050 | 1.25 | 2506 |
| 970 1 TB $100 MLC | 0.103 | 1.25 | 1250 |
| 980 1 TB $50 V | 0.050 | 1 | 1005 |
| 980P 2 TB $120 MLC | 0.060 | 1.25 | 2505 |
| 980P 1 TB $70 V | 0.070 | 1 | 1003 |
| 990P 1 TB $80 MLC | 0.080 | 1.25 | 1253 |
| Crucial 1 TB $40 3D | 0.040 | 0.5 | 503 |
| Inland 500 GB $23 QLC | 0.046 | 0.75 | 379 |
| Inland 1 TB $40 QLC | 0.040 | 0.75 | 755 |
| Inland 2 TB $70 QLC | 0.035 | 0.75 | 1505 |
| Performance 1 TB $55 TLC | 0.055 | 1 | 1005 |
| Prime 500 GB $30 TLC | 0.060 | 1 | 504 |
| Prime 1 TB $50 TLC | 0.050 | 1 | 1005 |
*Higher is better.
SSD
| Description | $ / GB | Coef | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inland 1TB $50 TLC | 0.050 | 1 | 1005 |
| Inland 512GB $25 TLC | 0.049 | 1 | 517 |
| Platinum 2TB $80 TLC | 0.040 | 1 | 2006 |
| Platinum 1TB $43 TLC | 0.043 | 1 | 1006 |
| Professional 256GB $20 3D | 0.078 | 0.5 | 129 |
| Professional 125GB $15 3D | 0.120 | 0.5 | 63 |
| 870 EVO 1TB $50 MLC | 0.050 | 1.25 | 1256 |
| 870 EVO 4TB $220 MLC | 0.055 | 1.25 | 5006 |
| 870 EVO 500GB $40 MLC | 0.020 | 1.25 | 635 |
| 870 QVO 1TB $70 QLC | 0.070 | 0.75 | 753 |
*Higher is better.
Conclusions
- Cheap system? Get any of these.
- Secondary drive? Get any QLC or better.
- OS Drive? Get any TLC or better.
- Extra cash? Premium for reliability? Get any Samsung from the list.