There was a time when starting a computer meant waiting long enough to make a cup of tea. Loading applications, copying files and running several tasks at once could test your patience. Today, a small SSD can read thousands of megabytes of data every second.

How did we move from the roughly 80–100 MB/s speeds seen on older computers to 500 MB/s, then 7,000 MB/s and beyond? The answer involves more than smaller drives. Both the way data is stored and the connection used to transfer it have changed.

The HDD era: Rotating platters and mechanical limits

A hard disk drive, or HDD, stores data on magnetic platters. To access information, the platters rotate and a read/write head moves to the required location.

Transfer speeds of around 80–100 MB/s could be seen on older computers. However, this is not a universal limit for HDDs: performance varies by model and workload.

One major source of delay is the physical movement required to access small files stored in different locations. During tasks such as starting an operating system, these delays add up.

SATA SSDs: Moving parts disappear

SSDs store data in flash memory chips. They do not use spinning platters or a moving read/write head.

With SATA SSDs, figures such as 450–500 MB/s became familiar. For example, Kingston specifies up to 500 MB/s read and 450 MB/s write speeds for its A400 series, depending on capacity. Kingston A400 specifications

However, the benefit of moving from an HDD to an SSD goes beyond copying large files faster. Eliminating mechanical delays when accessing small files also helps the computer respond more quickly.

M.2 arrived—but not every M.2 drive is equally fast

An important distinction is often overlooked: M.2 is not a separate storage technology that replaced SSDs. It describes a physical form factor.

M.2 SSDs can use SATA or NVMe over PCIe. Seeing a small, slim drive therefore does not mean it can deliver 7,000 MB/s.

SATA: An interface used to transfer data.
PCIe: A connection that can provide greater transfer bandwidth.
NVMe: A protocol used to communicate with PCIe SSDs.
M.2: The drive’s physical form factor.

The term “M.2 SSD” alone is therefore not enough to make a purchasing decision. Kingston’s explanation of M.2 SATA and NVMe SSDs

NVMe brings 7,000 MB/s and beyond

NVMe SSDs using PCIe moved beyond SATA’s transfer limits. As PCIe generations advanced, compatible SSDs gained access to greater bandwidth.

The figures below are examples of different product classes, rather than fixed speeds that every drive achieves.

Storage typeExample sequential transfer performanceOlder HDDAround 80–100 MB/s may be observed; varies by modelSATA SSDFor example, 500 MB/s read and 450 MB/s writePCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe SSDAround 3,500 MB/s read on higher-performance modelsPCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe SSDFor example, up to 7,000 MB/s readPCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe SSDFor example, up to 14,800 MB/s read

The PCIe 4.0 Kingston KC3000 is one example offering sequential read speeds of up to 7,000 MB/s. Samsung’s PCIe 5.0 9100 PRO family offers up to 14,800 MB/s sequential read and 13,400 MB/s sequential write speeds, depending on capacity. Kingston KC3000, Samsung specifications

Does a 7,000 MB/s SSD make a computer 14 times faster than a 500 MB/s SSD?

No. A drive’s advertised transfer speed does not mean every computer task becomes faster by the same proportion.

Transferring a large video file and opening a browser are different workloads. Everyday performance also depends on the processor, memory, software and access to small files.

As a result, moving from a SATA SSD to a powerful NVMe SSD may not feel as dramatic as moving from an HDD to an SSD. High sequential speeds are particularly useful when working with large files and storage-intensive workloads.

Why don’t you always see the advertised speed?

An “up to 7,000 MB/s” specification refers to sequential transfer performance under suitable test conditions.

In practice, the other drive’s speed, file sizes, connection, temperature and cache behaviour can affect the result. Performance may change during sustained writes in particular.

Read and write speeds also do not have to be identical. Both should be checked separately when choosing an SSD.

Will a new SSD reach its full speed in an older computer?

The supported connection generation and number of PCIe lanes matter. For example, a compatible PCIe 5.0 SSD operating through a PCIe 4.0 connection cannot use the full transfer bandwidth of PCIe 5.0.

You should also check whether the M.2 slot supports SATA or NVMe, which drive lengths fit and whether there is enough clearance for a heatsink.

Rather than choosing the product with the highest advertised speed, choose one your computer supports and your workload can benefit from.

What could change in storage technology?

The future of storage involves more than increasing MB/s figures. Potential developments include:

Higher capacities in compact drives.
Lower energy consumption per unit of data transferred.
More consistent performance during sustained workloads.
Reduced latency when accessing small files.
Better temperature management under heavy use.

These are expectations about future development, not guarantees about a particular product or release date. As faster connections are developed, SSD controllers, flash memory and computers must also evolve to make use of the available bandwidth.

For users, the real benefit is completing work more quickly and reliably, rather than simply seeing a larger number in a benchmark.

Choosing an SSD upgrade in Muğla

If your computer still uses a mechanical hard drive, an SSD upgrade may be worth considering. If you already have an SSD, first assess your capacity requirements, drive health and the delays you experience during normal use.

Explore Muğla Bilişim’s technical support services to discuss compatible SSDs and upgrade options for your device.

Share your computer’s make and model with us so we can help assess the SSD types it supports and upgrade options suited to your needs.

From HDD to NVMe SSD: How Did Computer Storage Get So Fast?