Gen 5 NVMe SSDs are the fastest consumer storage available, and the SA buyer's question is whether the premium is worth it over Gen 4. For most gamers it is not yet; Gen 4 remains the value choice, with Gen 5 reserved for creators moving huge files.

Quick Answer

Gen 5 NVMe drives hit sequential reads around 12,000 to 14,000 MB/s, roughly double Gen 4's ~7,000 MB/s, but game load times barely differ. For pure gaming, a 1TB Gen 4 drive (from around R1,200 at Evetech) is the value pick; Gen 5 is worth it mainly for video editors and large-file workflows.

Where Gen 5 Actually Helps

The real-world gain from Gen 5 shows in moving large files, scratch disks for 4K and 8K video, and some DirectStorage-enabled titles. In everyday gaming, a Gen 4 and Gen 5 drive load levels within a second of each other, so the extra spend rarely pays off for players. Gen 5 drives also run hotter and often need their motherboard heatsink fitted to avoid thermal throttling.

SA Buying Notes

A Gen 5 drive needs a Gen 5 M.2 slot, present on most B650E, X670E and Z790/Z890 boards; older boards top out at Gen 4. Budget for the heatsink and good case airflow. For most SA builds, pair a fast 1TB Gen 4 boot drive with a larger Gen 4 game library drive; choose Gen 5 only if your workflow moves large media regularly. Quality drives are stocked at Evetech across both generations.

FAQ

Are Gen 5 NVMe SSDs worth it for gaming?

Usually not yet. Game load times are nearly identical to Gen 4, so a Gen 4 1TB drive is the better value for gamers. Gen 5 mainly benefits large-file creation workflows.

How fast are Gen 5 NVMe drives?

Sequential reads of roughly 12,000 to 14,000 MB/s, about double Gen 4's ~7,000 MB/s. The difference is dramatic on benchmarks but minor in real game loading.

Do Gen 5 SSDs need a heatsink?

Yes, generally. Gen 5 drives run hot and can thermal-throttle without a heatsink, so use the one supplied with your motherboard and ensure good case airflow.

TIP

gaming build, put your rand into a 1TB Gen 4 NVMe and capacity rather than Gen 5 speed; reserve Gen 5 for video-editing scratch disks where the bandwidth genuinely shows.