The 5 Best Linux SSDs on The Market (Reviews) in 2024
Solid State Drives are becoming more and more popular these days with Linux users as they become more affordable for the average consumer. But what SSD is best for Linux users? Let’s find out!
Using an SSD on Linux
The Linux platform supports SSDs quite well, as all filesystems available to users have access to powerful SSD optimization features built-in to the platform. However, not all Linux operating systems choose to enable SSD optimization features by default. If you’re looking for an SSD to use on Linux, you should know about SSD optimization.
SSD optimization on Linux involves reducing reads/writes and utilizing TRIM (a process that clears unused data blocks to improve the drive performance). For more information on how you can take advantage of SSD optimizations on Linux, follow our guide on the subject.
Best performing SSDs for Linux
Picking the perfect SSD to use on Linux is a tough job, as there are just so many drives that look similar on the market. To cut through the noise, we’ve made a list of the 5 best performing SSDs for Linux. Here are our picks!
1. Samsung 970 EVO Plus NVMe SSD
If you’re a Linux user in need of a good, dependable NVMe SSD, look no further than the Samsung 970 EVO Plus NVMe SSD.
The 970 EVO Plus is a rocket, with read/write speeds up to a blistering 3,500 Mbps. It can also handle a ton of data, with sizes going all the way up to 2 TB, and supports full-disk encryption thanks to the Samsung Magician tool.
Pros
- It supports many different storage capacity options, ranging from 250 GB, 500 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB, respectively.
- Very speedy performance, with a read and write speeds up to 3500 Mbps.
- Includes Samsung Magician Software, which can help manage your SSD’s security, firmware, and performance.
- Samsung’s “Dynamic Thermal Guard” prevents overheating and performance degradation.
Cons
- The Samsung Magician Software tool on Linux is only a command-line utility, which might turn off new users.
2. Crucial P5 PCIe NVMe SSD
Our second pick for SSDs that are great for Linux users is the Crucial P5. It comes in various sizes, offering up drives as small as 250 GB or as large as 2 TB.
The P5 is an incredibly impressive NVMe SSD with performance as high as 3400 Mpbs for read and 3000 for write and “dynamic write acceleration” to improve performance.
You can also expect full-disk encryption support thanks to the built-in disk-encryption support the device offers.
Pros
- The P5 is available in different data capacities, such as 250 GB, 500 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB.
- It supports super-fast reading and writing speeds, clocking in at 3400 Mpbs for reading data and 3000 for writing data.
- The Crucial P5 supports full-drive encryption, a bonus for Linux users that take their data privacy seriously.
- Includes advanced “dynamic write acceleration” to improve performance as much as possible while in use.
Cons
- Disk encryption is supported, although there is no special Linux software to accomplish this. Many Linux users may need to rely on their own PC’s BIOS capabilities to encrypt.
3. XPG S40G RGB 3D NAND PCIe NVMe SSD
If you’re a Linux user that loves flashy RGB lighting, you’ll love the XPG S40G RGB 3D NAND PCIe NVMe SSD. It’s a very speedy NVMe (with read/write speeds clocking at 3500 and 1900, respectively), with full RGB support that will allow you to light up the room!
Pros
- The SSD is available in a wide variety of capacities, ranging from 256 GB to 4 TB.
- It has RGB lighting built onto the chip that is sure to light up your Linux PC.
- It supports a read speed of 3500 Mbps and a write speed of up to 1900 Mbps, an excellent performance rating for gaming and productivity under Linux.
- It is rated for up to 300K/240K IOPS (input/output operations per second).
Cons
- It is unclear if the RGB lighting is controllable via Linux, as the developer hasn’t indicated support for the platform.
4. SAMSUNG 860 PRO SATA SSD
Are you looking for an affordable SATA SSD for your Linux system? If so, the SAMSUNG 860 PRO is a great choice.
For starters, it’s a fast drive with a write speed of 530 Mbps and a read speed of up to 560 Mpbs. It also offers up a wide variety of sizes ranging from 256 GB to 4 TB in size. And for added benefit, it’s a Samsung, so you’ll get full disk-encryption via Samsung Magician!
Pros
- Offers different sizes, ranging from 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, up to 4 TB in size.
- It supports a write speed of 530 Mbps and a read speed of up to 560 Mpbs.
- Supports disk encryption (AES 256-bit hardware-based), which can be managed by the Samsung Magician Software tool.
- Comes with a 2.5 inch SATA 3 (6 GB/s) cable.
Cons
- The Samsung Magician Software tool on Linux is command-line based, which may put off Linux users unfamiliar with terminal commands.
5. SAMSUNG 860 QVO SATA SSD
Are you in need of a good SSD for Linux that has massive data capacity? Consider the SAMSUNG 860 QVO. It’s an impressive drive that offers capacities as large as 4 TB, with decent write speed too. And it’s a Samsung SSD, so you’ll get full disk encryption support on Linux, and firmware updates too.
Pros
- The SSD offers large data capacity with drives sized at 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB.
- Speedy SATA read/write speeds clocking in at 550 for reading and 520 for writing.
- It offers full disk-encryption, firmware updates, and other configurations via Samsung’s Magician app.
Cons
- Not as affordable as other Samsung SSD offerings.
- The Samsung Magician Software tool is command-line only on Linux, and many users who do not like the command-line may dislike this fact.
Conclusion
In this list, we discussed the 5 best SSDs to use on Linux. However, there are more than 5 SSDs out there, and companies are releasing new models every day.
So, what SSD do you use with your Linux system? Tell us in the comment section below!