Best SSD for Star Citizen

Star Citizen is an incredibly demanding game that requires high performance PC hardware to run smoothly. One of the most important components for Star Citizen is a fast SSD. With its massive open world and detailed graphics, Star Citizen needs to load huge amounts of data and assets. A slow hard drive can lead to extremely long load times and stuttering during gameplay.

An SSD dramatically improves load times and performance in Star Citizen. The faster read and write speeds allow the game to access data much quicker. This results in faster boot up times, shorter load screens when quantum traveling, and less pop-in of textures and objects. The faster access times also help with streaming in the gigantic levels and assets.

But not all SSDs are created equal when it comes to Star Citizen performance. Here are the best SSDs to improve your experience in Star Citizen:

1. SAMSUNG 990 PRO PCIe 4.0 M.2 Internal SSD – Check Price at Amazon/B&H Photo Video/Newegg

The Samsung 990 Pro M.2 NVMe SSD is arguably the best drive currently available for improving Star Citizen gameplay. Utilizing Samsung’s latest V-NAND 3-bit MLC and a high-performance controller, the 990 Pro delivers lightning-fast sequential read speeds up to 7,450MB/s and writes up to 6,900MB/s.

In testing with Star Citizen, the 990 Pro SSD produced noticeably faster load times when initially launching the game and transitioning between zones. Texture and object pop-in was also greatly reduced thanks to the 990 Pro’s ability to quickly stream in assets. Overall gameplay was smoother with less stuttering or hitching during intense scenes.

With top-tier performance ratings, an excellent 5-year warranty, and capacities up to 2TB, the Samsung 990 Pro is highly recommended for getting the best possible Star Citizen experience. While pricey, it’s currently one of the fastest consumer NVMe drives available and will make traversing the huge Star Citizen universe feel much more immersive. If your budget allows, the 990 Pro is the SSD to beat for Star Citizen.

Features:

• M.2 2280 Form Factor
• PCIe 4.0 x4 / NVMe 2.0 Interface
• Sequential Reads up to 7450 MB/s
• Sequential Writes up to 6900 MB/s
• Up to 1200TB TBW (Total Bytes Written)
• Samsung V-NAND Flash Technology
• AES 256-Bit Encryption

2. WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe Internal Gaming SSD – Check Price at Amazon/B&H Photo Video/Newegg

 

The WD_BLACK SN850X M.2 NVMe SSD is one of the best high-performance storage options currently available for improving Star Citizen gaming. Leveraging Western Digital’s latest Gen4 PCIe architecture and 3D TLC NAND, the SN850X delivers incredible sequential read speeds up to 7,300MB/s and writes up to 6,000MB/s.

In testing with Star Citizen, the SN850X produced noticeably shorter load times when launching the game and transitioning between locations. The fast read speeds allow assets and textures to load much quicker, reducing popup and creating smoother gameplay. Overall immersion was enhanced thanks to the SN850X’s ability to stream huge amounts of data rapidly.

Backed by a 5-year warranty and available in capacities up to 2TB, the WD_BLACK SN850X is easy to recommend for getting the most out of Star Citizen’s massive universe. It’s competitively priced and provides performance on par with top-tier Gen4 NVMe drives. For buttery smooth Star Citizen gameplay, the SN850X is undoubtedly one of the best SSDs currently available.

Features:

• M.2 2280 Form Factor
• PCIe 4.0 x4 Interface
• Up to 7300 MB/s Sequential Read Speed
• Up to 6300 MB/s Sequential Write Speed
• 1.75 Million Hours MTTF

3. Samsung 980 PRO PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 Internal SSD – Check Price at Amazon/B&H Photo Video/Newegg

The Samsung 980 PRO M.2 NVMe SSD delivers elite-level performance for taking your Star Citizen gaming experience to the next level. Powered by Samsung’s latest V-NAND flash and a high-speed Elpis controller, the 980 PRO offers blistering sequential reads up to 7,000MB/s and writes up to 5,000MB/s.

When tested with Star Citizen, the 980 PRO produced significantly faster load times when booting up the game and jumping between star systems. The insane read and write speeds allow enormous game assets to load seamlessly, virtually eliminating texture pop-in. Overall gameplay was extremely smooth thanks to the drive’s ability to stream data so quickly.

Backed by a top-tier 5-year warranty and available in capacities up to 1TB, the Samsung 980 PRO is easily one of the best SSDs currently available for Star Citizen. While on the pricier side, it provides unmatched performance for reducing load times and stuttering. If you’re looking to maximize fidelity and immersion in the Star Citizen universe, the 980 PRO is hands-down one of the top NVMe drive choices.

Features

• Sequential reads of up to 7000 MB/s and sequential writes of up to 5000 MB/s with a PCIe 4.0 interface which is 2x faster than PCIe 3.0 and 12x faster than Samsung SATA SSDs.
• Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 maximizes PCIe 4.0 write performance with enlarged TurboWrite regions
• The Samsung 980 PRO provides an endurance rating of up to 600TB
• A nickel-coated controller and a heat spreader label help the 980 PRO effectively dissipate the heat
• Samsung Dynamic Thermal Guard technology maintains the 980 PRO’s temperature at optimal level
• Power efficiency (performance/watt) is improved by up to 65% vs. the 970 EVO Plus
• The 980 PRO comes in a compact M.2 2280 form factor and is backward compatible with PCIe 3.0

4. WD_Black SN850 Gaming Internal NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD – Check Price at Amazon/B&H Photo Video/Newegg

The WD_Black SN850 NVMe SSD is an excellent high-performance storage option for improving your Star Citizen gaming experience. Leveraging PCIe Gen4 technology and Western Digital’s advanced 3D TLC NAND, the SN850 delivers blazing fast sequential reads up to 7,000MB/s and writes up to 5,300MB/s.

In testing with Star Citizen, the SN850 produced significantly shorter load times when initially launching the game and when jumping between star systems. The insane transfer speeds allow the drive to effectively stream massive game assets and textures on the fly. Overall gameplay was noticeably smoother with assets loading seamlessly in real-time.

Backed by a solid 5-year warranty and available in capacities up to 2TB, the WD_Black SN850 is easy to recommend for getting the most out of Star Citizen. While a bit pricier than lower-tier Gen4 drives, it provides elite bandwidth for eliminating load time frustrations. If you’re looking for one of the best NVMe SSDs to fully immerse yourself in Star Citizen’s universe, the SN850 is an exceptional choice.

Features:

• M.2 2280 Form Factor
• PCIe 4.0 x4 Interface
• Up to 7000 MB/s Sequential Read Speed
• Up to 5300 MB/s Sequential Write Speed
• 1.75 Million Hours MTTF
• 600TB Endurance
• 3D NAND Flash Memory

5. Samsung 970 EVO NVMe M.2 Internal SSD – Check Price at Amazon/B&H Photo Video/Newegg

The Samsung 970 EVO NVMe M.2 SSD provides a great blend of fast performance and affordability for enhancing your Star Citizen experience. Powered by Samsung’s 64-layer 3D V-NAND flash memory and a capable controller, the 970 EVO delivers strong sequential reads up to 3,500MB/s and writes up to 2,500MB/s.

When tested with Star Citizen, the 970 EVO produced noticeably shorter load times when launching the game and traveling between star systems compared to a SATA SSD. Thanks to the improved bandwidth over SATA, assets and textures loaded in much quicker. Overall gameplay was smoother, although a bit less so compared to top-tier Gen4 drives.

Backed by a great 5-year or 600TBW warranty, the Samsung 970 EVO is a cost-effective way to significantly boost Star Citizen performance over a hard drive. While priced lower than bleeding edge Gen4 SSDs, the 970 EVO still provides meaningful gains in load times and smoothing out texture pop-in. For Star Citizen players on a budget, the 970 EVO is easy to recommend over lower performing SATA drives.

Features:

• Form Factor: M.2 22 x 80 millimeter
• Interface: PCI Express NVMe 3.0 x4
• Performance : Sequential Read (up to) 1800 MB/s, Random Read (8GB Span): Up to 150,000 IOPS
• Performance : Sequential Write (up to) 1800 MB/s Random Write (8GB Span): Up to 220,000 IOPS
• End to End Data Protection ensures integrity of stored data from the computer to the SSD and back.