CORSAIR: EXPLORER
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M.2 Solid State Drives (SSDs)
Say goodbye to long game load times and sluggish file transfers by upgrading to a cutting-edge internal M.2 NVMe SSD. The latest drives offer outstanding performance in an industry standard form factor that is easy to install whether you’re upgrading a laptop or a desktop.
What to look for in an M.2 solid state drive
Consider the following factors as you’re comparing the drives on this page:
- Capacity: Consider how many gigabytes or terabytes of storage you want. Common options include 500GB, 1TB, 2TB and 4TB.
- Storage type: NVMe or SATA, with varying speeds of reading/writing.
- Connection form factor: M.2-style plugs on these drives are fairly standard, but there’s some variation in size (denoted by the form factor number).
- Design and build quality: Consider the look of your SSD if that’s important to your build, and add in a heatsink if you want a little extra thermal performance.
What does M.2 mean in an SSD?
The M.2 indication in your solid state drive denotes how that drive is actually plugged in and connected to your system. While there are some differing sizes of the memory stick itself, in general these M.2 drives are smaller and more compatible with a wider array of systems in today’s landscape—when compared to older 2.5 in drives. NVMe and SATA, on the other hand, indicate how the storage in the drive itself is constructed. There are some differences, particularly if you buy a really high-end NVMe drive, but for most average users these two styles of storage will feel quite similar in your PC build.
Looking for some help determining the right M.2 SSD for your PC? Download CORSAIR’s system scanner for tailored recommendations.