SATA SSDs have now become old technology. Almost all of us have used them in any way. Either in the form of an internet SSD or an external storage device, SSDs are around us for a long. So, as we all know that the older technologies start to fade away with the latest releases, here is the same thing happening with the SATA SSDs.
NVMe SSDs which are using the fast data lanes of PCIe are way faster than the SATA SSDs. Almost all the popular M.2 NVMe SSDs can reach up to the sequential read speed of 3 GB/s. However, the write speed will be more than 2 GB/s even with a low-end NVMe SSD.
We can’t say that the SATA SSDs are overtaken by the NVMe SSDs because there are still thousands of reasons to choose them. This could be the price, storage space, system compatibility, and the size itself. But, I am going to give you the 7 main reasons why you should not choose the SATA SSD in 2023.
So, without any further delays, let’s get started.
Also Read: A Brief SSD Buyer’s Guide 2023
Why you should not buy a SATA SSDs?
Note: Before making a decision on any M.2 NVMe SSD, make sure to check whether your motherboard supports the NVMe protocol or not. Read this article for more information.
1. NVMe SSDs are not very expensive anymore
Gone are the days when you were not able to buy any 120GB M.2 NVMe SSD below 100 USD. But, this is the time when lots of companies are offering very cheap products in this field.
As an example, the price of SAMSUNG’s 980 1TB SSD is 130 USD. However, companies like Crucial and WD are offering much cheaper SSDs. The popular Crucial P2 500GB SSD can be bought just for 59 USD.
I know that the NVMe SSDs have not reached the price point where SATA SSDs are. But, if you look at the price to performance ratio, NVMe is clearly the winner.
2. Most of the latest motherboards support M.2 NVMe
In the earlier days, people used to stay with the SATA SSDs because their laptops or desktop motherboard weren’t made for the NVMe SSDs. But, these days, even very low-end motherboards will come along with the M.2 NVMe ports and support.
So, it’s good news for all of us. However, I would suggest you confirm the compatibility before making the purchase.
3. SATA SSD can bottleneck high end systems
Even if you are using a very costly and high-end SATA SSD on an advanced motherboard, you can never achieve a read/write speed of more than 600MB/s. Because of the AHCI protocol (which wasn’t actually made for the SSDs), any system with the SATA SSD can never go beyond that speed.
So, if you are thinking about a system for professional video editing, gaming, 3D animation, high-end programming, or any other hardcore work, your SATA SSD can bottleneck the overall system.
So, if a very fast computer build is your core requirement, SATA SSDs may not be the best option for you.
4. SATA SSDs will occupy more physical space
That’s an obvious reason which is clear to all of us. The SATA 2.5″ SSD is way bigger and heavier than the M.2 NVMe and M.2 SATA SSD as well. So, if require a lot of space with multiple SATA SSDs, you will need a lot of space to adjust them.
As an example, see the two images below. The first one is a desktop with a SATA 2.5″ SSD and the next one is another desktop with an NVMe SSD.
Note: M.2 SATA SSD may look just like an M.2 NVMe SSD but they are completely different. The M.2 SATA will give you the same performance features as the SATA 2.5″ i.e. up to 600MB/s.
So, if you are thinking about installing multiple SSDs or setting up a RAID, SATA SSDs are going to consume a lot of space. The wire management can become tough and your system will look messy.
5. Most of the SATA SSDs are not self-encrypted
This is a big one. Almost all the latest NVMe SSDs are coming with the encryption protocols such as AES 256-bit encryption. This thing helps with safer data storage without any impacts on the overall lifespan. In fact, I have seen that the SSDs with the self-encryption last longer than those without it.
I know that most of the latest SATA SSDs are coming up with the self-encryption features but unfortunately, most of them are not. So, it is better to buy a faster NVMe and make the most out of this feature as well.
6. NVMe SSDs is a safer investment
At this time, we can say that the NVMe SSDs are the easily available consumer SSDs with the faster read/write speed. So, even if your want to upgrade your system in the future, you can use your NVMe SSD there as well. However, it is possible that the upcoming systems may not work great with the SATA SSDs or result in bottlenecks.
This is not the direct reason not to opt for an SATA SSD. But, if you are a professional and think about the future, going for the NVMe SSD is a good choice.
Note: I would suggest you reading this M.2 Buying guide to not get confused between the M.2 SATA, M.2 PCIe, and M.2 NVMe SSDs.
Final Verdict
I hope I have given my thorough views on the reason why you should not choose the SATA SSD and go for the M.2 NVMe instead. If you have liked this article, consider sharing it with others as well.
