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Best internal SATA SSDs, ranked on official maker specs
Internal SATA SSDs compared on official Samsung and SanDisk product pages (SanDisk also publishes official WD Blue, WD Green and WD Red pages). We score official sequential read speed and official sequential write speed. Official capacity, official endurance (TBW), official interface, official form factor and official warranty are shown as facts when the official page publishes them. Official TBW is not scored, because several official pages in this set omit it. Missing official sequential speeds are shown as Not listed and score at the category minimum.
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Top pick
S
Samsung 870 EVO 1TB
Score 10.0/10 · Check price
Why it wins: Official 560 MB/s sequential read, 530 MB/s sequential write, 1 TB. Official maker page lists a sequential read speed of 560 MB/s.. Official maker page lists a sequential write speed of 530 MB/s..
"Not listed" means the official manufacturer specification table we used does not publish that figure. Prices show "Check price" until a retailer feed provides a current price.
An SSD is an electrical storage device. For an internal drive, power the computer down, disconnect the power cord, and use an anti-static wrist strap or touch a grounded metal surface before you handle the board. Confirm the official form factor, interface and length (for example M.2 2280, 2.5-inch SATA, or a console expansion slot) against the official maker and host-system pages before you install it. Do not remove an internal or portable SSD while the system is writing to it. Keep portable drives away from water, extreme heat and drops unless the official page lists a specific resistance rating, and do not open the enclosure. Recycle a used SSD through the maker's official program or a certified e-waste program; erase official secure-erase tools only when you intend to retire the drive. Official figures on this site are taken from the official product page linked on each card; confirm the current official specification, included accessories and host compatibility with the maker and the retailer before you buy.
Buying guide: how to choose the right internal SATA SSD
This table is for official internal SATA SSDs
Every product here is an internal SATA SSD, in a 2.5-inch or M.2 SATA form factor, with an official Samsung or SanDisk product page. Official NVMe SSDs and official portable or external SSDs are ranked in their own tables.
Official SATA speeds are tightly grouped
Many official SATA pages in this set list sequential read around the official SATA interface ceiling. Official sequential write still varies, especially on smaller official capacities, and that official write figure is scored. Official values outside the printed reference range are clamped for scoring only.
What “Not listed” means
If official sequential read or official sequential write is missing from the official product page, the field is Not listed and scores at the category minimum. We do not fill gaps from retailer listings.
Safety
An SSD is an electrical storage device. For an internal drive, power the computer down, disconnect the power cord, and use an anti-static wrist strap or touch a grounded metal surface before you handle the board. Confirm the official form factor, interface and length (for example M.2 2280, 2.5-inch SATA, or a console expansion slot) against the official maker and host-system pages before you install it. Do not remove an internal or portable SSD while the system is writing to it. Keep portable drives away from water, extreme heat and drops unless the official page lists a specific resistance rating, and do not open the enclosure. Recycle a used SSD through the maker's official program or a certified e-waste program; erase official secure-erase tools only when you intend to retire the drive. Official figures on this site are taken from the official product page linked on each card; confirm the current official specification, included accessories and host compatibility with the maker and the retailer before you buy.
How this ranking is calculated
Score = weighted average of normalised specs, out of 10. Full method
Official sequential readThe official sequential read speed published on the official product page, in megabytes per second. When the official page lists an “up to” figure, that official figure is what we use, not a speed we measured. Official values outside the reference range are clamped for scoring only; the official figure is still shown. Scale: 500 → 560 MB/s.
50%
Official sequential writeThe official sequential write speed published on the official product page, in megabytes per second. When the official page lists an “up to” figure, that official figure is what we use, not a speed we measured. Official values outside the reference range are clamped for scoring only; the official figure is still shown. Scale: 80 → 530 MB/s.
No. Rankings use only figures published on the official Samsung, Crucial or SanDisk product page linked on each card. We do not publish prices, customer ratings or hands-on benchmark scores. Official sequential read and write speeds, when the maker lists them as “up to” figures, are still the official published figures, not a speed we measured.
What does official sequential speed mean?
Official sequential read and official sequential write are the sequential transfer figures published on the official product page, in megabytes per second. Makers often present these as “up to” values for a stated interface (for example official PCIe 5.0 x4, official SATA, or official USB 3.2). They are not a random-IOPS score and not a test we ran. Official random read/write IOPS, when the official page lists them, are shown as facts and are not scored, because many official pages omit them.
Does a higher score mean the best SSD for every computer?
No. We score official sequential read and official sequential write only. Official capacity, official endurance (TBW), official interface, official form factor and official warranty are shown as facts when the official page lists them. Official TBW is not scored, because many official Samsung US product pages in this set omit it. A higher official sequential write is not automatically the right drive for a SATA-only laptop or a console with a shorter official compatibility list. Confirm the official specification with the maker.
What happens when an official speed sits outside the reference range?
Each scored field uses a fixed reference range printed in the criteria list. Official values outside that range are clamped for scoring only; the official figure is still shown on the card. The score is 10 × Σ(weight × normalised official value) / Σ(weight). Missing official sequential speeds are shown as Not listed and score at the category minimum. Ties on official scored fields are broken by coverage, then by product name.
Do commissions change the ranking?
No. Amazon may pay a commission if you buy through a Check price button, at no extra cost to you. Commissions never change the order, and no brand can pay for placement.