Solid state drive

When selecting a solid-state drive (SSD), the right choice depends heavily on whether you're installing it in a server or enterprise environment, or simply using it in a desktop or personal laptop. In server or data centre environments, SSDs are subjected to sustained heavy workloads, so it is important to choose a drive that is rated for high endurance, consistent performance, and long-term reliability. These are typically enterprise-grade SSDs with features such as power-loss protection, high TBW (terabytes written), and consistent IOPS under load. In contrast, for typical home or desktop use, such as gaming, general productivity, or light media editing, a consumer-grade SSD will usually provide more than enough speed and responsiveness, with the added benefit of being more cost-effective. While endurance ratings are still relevant, most users in a desktop setting are unlikely to exceed the write limits of a well-sized consumer SSD during the drive’s useful life.

Home

Device	Purpose	Protocol	NAND Type	Endurance	DRAM Cache	PLP
Desktop PC	Boot	NVMe	TLC	0.3 – 0.5 DWPD	Yes	No
Desktop PC	Games	NVMe	TLC	0.3 – 0.5 DWPD	Yes, but not essential	No
Desktop PC	Media	NVMe	QLC	0.1 DWPD	No	No

Production

Purpose	DWPD Range	Recommended model
Mixed usage	Typically > 1 and ≤ 3 DWPD	Micron 5300 MAX Intel S4600 Intel D3‑S4610 Intel S3610 Samsung SM883 Samsung SM863a Samsung PM897 Samsung SM863
Write-intensive	Typically > 3 DWPD	Intel S3710 Intel S3700
Read-intensive	Typically ≤ 1 DWPD	Intel D3‑S4510 Samsung PM863 Samsung PM883