Saving Your Cash: The Truth About PCIe 5.0 SSDs for PC Gamers
In the world of technology, there’s always a race to be the fastest, the most advanced, and the most cutting-edge. The latest contender in this high-speed showdown is the PCIe Gen 5 SSD, boasting mind-boggling theoretical speeds of up to 32GT/s for NMVe. That’s a whopping 100 percent faster than its predecessor, the PCIe Gen 4 SSD. But before you rush out to grab one, hold your horses because when it comes to gaming performance, the Gen 5 SSD might not be the game-changer it’s touted to be.
Sure, on paper, the PCIe Gen 5 SSD looks like an absolute beast, tearing up benchmark charts and leaving its competitors in the dust during data transfers. However, when put to the test in real-world scenarios like gaming load times, the results tell a different story. Case studies, including one conducted by tech experts at The Verge, show that the difference in game load times between Gen 5 and Gen 4 SSDs is almost negligible.
In a head-to-head comparison using CrystalDiskMark 8.0, the Gen 5 SSD managed to load games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Cyberpunk 2077 only marginally faster than the Gen 4 SSD. The reality is that for gaming purposes, the blazing-fast transfer speeds of the Gen 5 SSD don’t translate into significantly faster load times compared to its predecessor.
The reason for this discrepancy lies in the type of speed these SSDs excel at. While Gen 5 SSDs shine in sequential read/write speeds, which are crucial for tasks like data transfers, they don’t show a substantial advantage in random read/write speeds, which are more relevant for gaming load times. This is why the performance boost you’d expect from upgrading to a Gen 5 SSD isn’t as impressive as you might think.
Moreover, the cost of jumping on the Gen 5 bandwagon isn’t just limited to the price tag of the SSD itself. You’ll also need to invest in a compatible motherboard and CPU, adding to the overall expense. With the imminent arrival of PCIe Gen 6 technology on the horizon, which promises even greater advancements, some tech enthusiasts might prefer to hold off on the Gen 5 upgrade for now.
So, while the PCIe Gen 5 SSD may reign supreme in the realm of data transfers and benchmark tests, for gamers looking for a substantial performance boost, the upgrade might not be worth the investment just yet. As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, it’s always wise to weigh the costs and benefits before diving headfirst into the latest and greatest tech trends.
