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Following on from my recent TerraMaster upgrade posts, I have been looking at the best SSDs to use in a NAS.
I have already covered 2.5″ SATA SSDs, which was the only option for my TerraMaster F4-422. However, if you have built your own server or have a NAS with PCIe M.2 slots, then you can benefit from ultra-fast NVMe drives.
For example, the Synology DS920+ 4-Bay NAS enclosure includes two M.2 NVMe Slots that permit cache acceleration without occupying storage drive bays.
Alternatively, some of the larger NAS enclosures, such as the Synology DS2422+ or the new TerraMaster T9-423, have a dedicated expansion slot that can be used to add a PCIe M.2 expansion card or 10Gbps+ network cards.
When it comes to servers and storage, the overall read/write throughput is not necessarily the most important, but the drive endurance and warranty.
To keep things simple, I have looked at the price of drives with a capacity of 500GB and 1TB (thereabouts) and their endurance ratings.
Best SATA SSDs for Cache & Storage
Notes:
- The list isn’t exhaustive and I will add more drives over time, including more PCIe Gen4.
- For most drives, the price and specification was taken from Scan
- Some drives have a smaller capacity, such as 480GB instead of 512GB.
- Read/Write speeds may not be 100% accurate as they change depending on capacity
What about data centre/enterprise drives?
You will often see people recommending used data centre drives for cache drives. There were some good choices for SATA SSDs the Samsung PM893 and PM897 were quite affordable with a large TBW.
The same isn’t quite the same here as some of the consumer drives offer superior performance. The 960GB Samsung PM9A3 has 1.0 DWPD for 5 years, giving it a TDW of 1752 and costs £180, they don’t do a 480/500GB model as I have used for the list below, but at 1 DWPD, that would be the same as 876 TDW. The 1TB WD Red SN700 for £155 has a TBW of 2000.
Highlights – The best consumer SSDs for cache
Just like the SATA SSD cache recommendations, you get what you pay for.
The WD Red SN700 has the highest TBW on the list, which is perhaps no surprise considering it is designed for high-intensity NAS environments. It is also cheaper and better specced all round compared to the next best, the Seagate IronWolf 510.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WD Red SN700 500GB NVMe SSD for NAS devices, with robust... |
£55.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The Sabrent Rocket (SB-ROCKET-512) is particularily tempting. You technically only get a 1-year warranty, but if you register the drive, it is extended to 5. It then has a massive 850 TBW rating.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SABRENT 2242 M.2 NVMe SSD 512gb, SSD 1700MB/s Read, 42mm... |
£67.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The Seagate FireCuda 510 isn’t far behind, with a 650 TBW, the same read/write speeds but better IOPs.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seagate FireCuda 530, 500GB, Internal SSD, M.2 PCIe Gen4 ×4... | £81.64 | Buy on Amazon |
The Synology SNV3510 is an interesting option. At 400GB, you might argue it shouldn’t be on the list, but I believe this is due to overprovisioning. It obviously be a perfect fit for any Synology NAS, but on paper, it doesn’t offer the same bang for your buck as other drives.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synology 400GB SNV3500 NVMe M.2 22110 | £269.79 | Buy on Amazon |
I’d advise several of the drives be avoided for caching purposes. Anything with less than 3 years or 150 TBW is probably not worth the trouble, they will be good in a PC for general use, not a NAS.
SATA SSDs Comparison Table
| SSD | 500GB Price £ | Read/Write | IOPS | Endurance TBW | Warranty | PCIe Gen | Memory | DRAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AORUS RGB | 71.99 | 3480MB/s 2000MB/s | 360k/440k | 800TBW | 5 | PCIe Gen3 | 3D TLC | 512MB |
| CORSAIR MP510b | 62 | 3480MB/s 2000MB/s | 120k/490k | 360TBW | PCIe Gen3 | 3D TLC | Yes | |
| Crucial P2 | 47.99 | 2300MB/s 940MB/s | 95k/215k | 150TBW | 5 | PCIe Gen3 | TLC/QLC | No |
| GIGABYTE NVMe SSD | 46.99 | 1700MB/s 1550MB/s | 430k/295k | 1 | PCIe Gen3 | 3D TLC | No | |
| Intel 660p | 54.78 | 1500MB/s 1000MB/s | 90k/220k | 100 TBW | 3 | PCIe Gen3 | QLC | Yes |
| Intel 670p | 49.49 | 3100MB/s 1600MB/s | 220k/170k | 185 TBW | 5 | PCIe Gen3 | QLC | Yes |
| Kingston KC2000 | 59.99 | 3000MB/s 2000MB/s | 350k/250k | 300 TBW | 3 | PCIe Gen3 | 3D TLC | Yes |
| Kingston KC3000 | 95 | 7,000MB/s 3900MB/s | 450k/900k | 400TBW | 5 | PCIe Gen4 | 3D TLC | Yes |
| Sabrent Rocket | 66.98 | 3400MB/s 2000MB/s | 357k/456k | 850 TB | 1 | PCIe Gen3 | 3D TLC | Yes |
| Sabrent Rocket Q | 59.99 | 2000MB/s 1000MB/s | 95k/250k | 120TBW | 1 | PCIe Gen3 | QLC | Yes |
| Samsung 970 EVO | 71.99 | 3400MB/s 2300MB/s | 370k/450k | 300 TBW | 5 | PCIe Gen3 | 3D TLC | Yes |
| Samsung 970 EVO PLUS | 74.39 | 3500MB/s 3200MB/s | 480k/550k | 300 TBW | 5 | PCIe Gen3 | 3D TLC | Yes |
| Samsung 970 PRO | 125.48 | 3500MB/s 2300MB/s | 370k/500k | 600 TBW | 5 | PCIe Gen3 | MLC | Yes |
| Samsung 980 | 55.39 | 3100 MB/s 2600 MB/s | 400l/470k | 300TBW | 5 | PCIe Gen3 | 3D TLC | Yes |
| Seagate BarraCuda Q5 | 53.99 | 2300MB/s 900MB/s | 119 TBW | 2 | PCIe Gen3 | 3D TLC | Yes | |
| Seagate FireCuda 510 | 58.99 | 3450MB/s 2500MB/s | 420k/600k | 650 TBW | 5 | PCIe Gen3 | 3D TLC | Yes |
| Seagate IronWolf 510 | 105.98 | 2650MB/s 600MB/s | 193k/20k | 875 TBW | 5 | PCIe Gen3 | 3D TLC | Yes |
| WD Blue SN570 | 52.99 | 3500MB/s 2300MB/s | 360k/390k | 300 TBW | 5 | PCIe Gen3 | 3D TLC | No |
| WD Green SN350 | 45.98 | 2400MB/s 1650MB/s | 250k/170k | 60 TBW | 2 | PCIe Gen3 | 3D TLC | No |
| WD Red SN700 | 81.49 | 3430MB/s 2600MB/s | 420k/380k | 1,000 TBW | 5 | PCIe Gen3 | 3D TLC | Yes |
| Synology SNV3400-400G | 140 | 3,000 MB/s 750 MB/s | 225k/45k | 491 TBW | 5 |
Which NAS enclosures can use M.2 NVMe SSD cache drives
Synology
All with 2x NVMe M.2 drive slots
- DiskStation DS720+ – 2 bays, Intel Celeron J4125, 2GB RAM, 2x1GbE
- DiskStation DS420+ – 4 bays, Intel Celeron J4025, 2 GB DDR4, 2x1GbE
- DiskStation DS920+ – 4 bays, Intel Celeron J4125, 4GB DDR4, 2x1GbE
- DiskStation DS1520+ – 5 bays, Intel Celeron J4125, 8GB DDR4, 4x 1GbE
- DiskStation DS1821+ – 8 bays, AMD Ryzen V1500B, 4 GB DDR4 ECC, 4x1GbE + PCIe Expansion
- DiskStation DS1621xs+ – 6 bays, Intel Xeon D-1527, 8 GB DDR4 ECC, 2x1GbE, 1x10GbE, + PCIe Expansion
- DiskStation DS2419+II – 12 bays, Intel Atom C3538, 4 GB DDR4 non-ECC, 4x1GbE, + PCIe Expansion
- DiskStation DS3617xsII – 12 bays, Intel Xeon D-1527, 16 GB DDR4 ECC, 4x1GbE + PCIe Expansion
- DiskStation DS3622xs+ – 12 bays, Intel Xeon D-1531, 16 GB DDR4 ECC, 2x1GbE, 2x10GbE + PCIe Expansion
Terramaster
The rackmount options have PCIe expansion slots which can then be used to add in a M.2 NVMe card. It is just the new T9-423 with a dedicated single M.2 slot.
- TerraMaster T9-423 – 9 bay, Intel Celeron N5105/N5095, 8GB DDR4, 2×2.5GbE + PCIe Expansion
QNAP
- TS-h686 – 4+2 bays – Intel Xeon D-1602
- TVS-672X
- TVS-872X
- TS-873A
- TS-673A
- TS-473A
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
