Is PCIe SSD faster than NVMe? (Explained with Differences)

PCIe SSDs are the same as other SSDs in that they store files and programs in flash memory. Unlike standard HDDs, flash has no moving parts. It employs solid-state semiconductors with flash memory cells to save data regardless of whether the machine is turned on or off, and software is used to access that data as needed.

HDDs, on the other hand, have an actuator arm that reaches out and physically writes and reads data from a spinning disk. PCIe SSDs differ from regular SSDs in that they employ the computer’s PCIe slot, which is also used for high-speed video cards, memory, and CPUs.

Nonvolatile memory express (NVMe) is a brand-new storage access and transport protocol for next-generation solid-state drives (SSDs) and flash memory that offers the highest throughput and quickest reaction times yet for all kinds of enterprise workloads. So, which one is the best? Let’s find out in this article.

Is PCIe SSD faster than NVMe

Is PCIe SSD faster than NVMe?

PCIe is an interface used to connect an SSD to the motherboard. Whereas NVMe is a transfer protocol used in SSDs for faster data transfer. Therefore, an SSD can be connected using PCIe with or without NVMe support. But PCIe SSD with NVMe support is faster than a normal PCIe SSD. 

PCIe SSD with NVMe can have a read and write speed of 3.5Gbps and this is the most widely used SSD right now. You cannot see PCIe SSD without NVMe abundantly these days. Because the NVMe protocol is the best way in which the read and write can happen with the help of the PCIe interface. Therefore, the widely available PCIe SSD with NVMe is faster than the PCIe SSD.  

The yet-to-release PCIe 6.0 interface has a raw data rate of 64GTps with around 256GBps data transfer rate through an x16 configuration. But with respect to SSDs the currently latest PCIe 5.0 itself is not supported and is still unavailable.

You only have the PCIe 4.0 SSDs with NVMe support widely available. When 5.0 or 6.0 support comes to the SSD, the performance will be way faster and snappier. Popular storage manufacturer ADATA stated that the PCIe 5.0 support for SSDs will be available in 2024 for desktop PCs and they also teased some models at the CES.

It promised a read speed up to 14GB/s and write speeds up to 12GB/s using a Silicon Motion SM2508 controller. So, when this arrives, it can be blazing fast and with the NVMe support, it may reach a higher speed with respect to reading and writing data in the storage. 

Read: Why USB flash drives are slower than SSD?

PCIe and NVMe SSD: What are the differences?

PCIe SSD and PCIe NVME SSD have only one difference, the absence of NVMe protocol in the former. Due to the lack of NVMe, the read and write are slower, and also it has high latency. Apart from that, there aren’t any differences between PCIe SSD and PCIe NVMe SSD. 

As we discussed, all the SSDs with PCIe come with NVMe support due to their speed. It is the best protocol available for SSDs and it is used widely in them. You cannot have an NVMe SSD without PCIe because that is how your SSD will connect to the motherboard. The SSD that connects with PCIe doesn’t work with other protocols like the AHCI which only works with traditional hard disk drives and SATA. 

Read: Why NVMe SSD Need Heatsink?

Is PCIe SSD better for gaming than NVMe SSD?

PCIe and NVMe SSD is best for gaming because of the faster read and writes speeds. Your game can load faster due to the CPU’s ability to access all the files in a flash with the help of the NVMe protocol. It is also reliable and the data doesn’t get corrupted in the storage.

But the only thing that may restrict its usage with gaming is the high cost of the SSD. Since games require large storage, you will need an SSD with at least 1TB. While the highest available storage in SSDs is 2TBs they are very costly and most of them cannot afford it. But in terms of performance, NVMe SSDs are best for gaming. 

What storages are available?

The storage capacity of the PCIe SSD with NVMe support begins at 120 GB and increases to 500 gigabytes, then 1 terabyte, 2 Terabytes and eventually 4 terabytes. When it comes to common applications, this technology cannot provide a storage capacity that is greater than 4 terabytes (TB).

What are the average costs?

The average cost of PCIe SSD with NVMe support varies according to the storage capacity and here is a list of their approximate prices:

Storage Option (GB) Average Cost of SSD ($)
120 GB 20$ to 30$
250GB $40 to 50$
500GB $50 to $55
1TB (1024 GB) $100 to 120$
2TB (2048 GB) $200 to 250$
4TB (4096 GB) $400 to 500$

These prices may vary from each manufacturer and this is just the average price of the storage devices.

Some SSD option to choose:

SSD Models Storage Options Available Product Links
SAMSUNG 980 SSD 1 TB, 250GB and 500 GB Check the price
WD BLACK SN770 2TB, 1 TB, 250GB and 500 GB Check the price
WD_BLACK AN1500 3TB, 2TB and 1 TB Check the price

Conclusion

PCIe SSD uses NVMe protocol for its communication with the hardware. Therefore, PCIe SSD is not available without NVMe support. The NVMe provides the speed required for the SSD to read and write faster along with the PCIe tech advantage.

When compared to alternative storage options like the conventional hard disk drives, solid-state drives (SSDs) are both quicker and more dependable because they make use of both PCIe and NVMe.

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