When it comes to storage drives for desktop PCs and laptops, Serial ATA (SATA) is the most common interface. SATA has gone through several generations of improvement, with each bringing increased bandwidth and therefore, faster potential drive speeds.
For many users, picking the fastest SATA drive is about finding the right balance of performance, capacity, and price. While top-of-the-line drives push the limits of speed, more affordable options still provide a significant boost over older hard disk drives.
What is SATA?
SATA stands for Serial ATA and it refers to both an interface and protocol for connecting storage devices like hard drives and SSDs to a computer’s motherboard. The interface uses a serial connection, meaning data is transferred one bit at a time, as opposed to parallel connections that send multiple bits at once.
The first version, simply called SATA 1.0, was introduced in 2003 as a replacement for the older Parallel ATA (PATA) standard. Since then, new SATA versions have steadily increased the maximum bandwidth:
- SATA 1.0 – 1.5Gbps
- SATA 2.0 – 3Gbps
- SATA 3.0 – 6Gbps
- SATA 3.1 – 16Gbps
- SATA 3.2 – 22Gbps
Currently, SATA 3.0 (6Gbps) and SATA 3.2 (22Gbps) are the most common versions in use. SATA remains the dominant interface for 2.5″ SSDs in laptops and desktops, while M.2 SSDs may use either SATA or PCI Express.
Measuring SATA Drive Performance
Drive manufacturers usually advertise the maximum sequential read and write speeds to represent performance. These speeds are measured in megabytes per second (MB/s).
Sequential speeds refer to transferring large, contiguous blocks of data at once. This may represent copying large files like videos or games. Here are some typical speeds for common SATA drive types:
| Drive Type | Typical Speeds |
|---|---|
| SATA 3 HDD | 100 – 160 MB/s |
| SATA 3 SSD | 500 – 550 MB/s |
| SATA 3.2 SSD | 550 – 580 MB/s |
While important, these speeds alone don’t tell the whole story. Random access performance, as required for booting an OS and launching programs, is also critical.
4K random read and write speeds indicate how quickly drives can access non-sequential storage locations. Values are measured in inputs/outputs per second (IOPS). A faster drive is able to access many small files or filesystem metadata in less time.
| Drive Type | 4K Random Speeds |
|---|---|
| SATA 3 HDD | 1 – 120 IOPS |
| SATA 3 SATA | 90,000 – 100,000 IOPS |
| SATA 3.2 SSD | Up to 250,000 IOPS |
As you can see, SSDs provide a giant leap in small file performance versus traditional hard drives. Between SSDs, later SATA generations allow even greater 4K speeds.
Fastest SATA SSDs
Now let’s look at some recommendations for the fastest SATA drives currently available.
Samsung 870 EVO SSD
The Samsung 870 EVO is one of the fastest SATA 3 drives thanks to Samsung’s latest V-NAND flash memory and controller. It’s available in 250 GB up to 4 TB capacities. Sequential read/write speeds are rated up to 560/530 MB/s, with random reads up to 98,000 IOPS.
The 870 EVO excels at everyday usage like operating system and application loading. It includes a 5-year warranty and the same reliability as Samsung’s more premium EVO Pro SSDs. While not the absolute fastest, it hits a sweet spot between price and performance.
WD Black SN750 SSD
From Western Digital, the WD Black SN750 brings excellent performance to the SATA 3 interface. It uses 3D NAND flash paired with WD’s own SSD controller. Capacities range from 250 GB to 2 TB.
Rated speeds are 560/530 MB/s sequential and 90,000 random read IOPS. A heatsink option further improves sustained performance. The SN750 is a good choice for gaming and productivity under $250.
Seagate FireCuda 530 SSD
On the more premium end, the Seagate FireCuda 530 hits the upper limit of SATA 3 performance. It uses faster PCIe Gen4 speeds on compatible motherboards or SATA 3 fallback. Capacities go from 500 GB to 4 TB.
This SSD reaches sequential reads/writes up to 7300/6850 MB/s and random read speeds up to 825,000 IOPS with PCIe 4.0. Even in SATA mode, it achieves 550/520 MB/s and 90,000 IOPS. With a 5-year warranty, the FireCuda 530 is great for high-demand gaming and productivity tasks.
Fastest SATA 3.2 SSDs
SATA 3.2 supporting motherboards and SSDs continue to roll out. These newer solutions push bandwidth to 22 Gbps, nearly 4x the speed of SATA 3. Some initial models include:
Seagate FireCuda 530
Along with SATA 3.0 support, the FireCuda 530 also unleashes faster performance with SATA 3.2 interfaces. It can reach up to 2750 MB/s sequential reads and 2500 MB/s writes. This makes it one of the fastest consumer SSDs available.
Corsair MP600 PRO LPX
Using the Phison E18 controller and 176-layer 3D TLC NAND, the Corsair MP600 Pro LPX hits 7,000/6,800 MB/s sequential speeds in SATA 3.2 mode. It’s an excellent choice for workstations and high-end gaming PCs with a SATA 3.2 port.
WD Black SN770 SSD
From Western Digital, the SN770 also takes advantage of SATA 3.2 for substantially better performance. It’s capable of sequential reads/writes up to 3,450/3,000 MB/s and random reads up to 515,000 IOPS when using a SATA 3.2 connection.
While the market is still developing, these SSDs show the performance potential of SATA 3.2. As more compatible platforms become available, higher speed SATA storage will become mainstream.
M.2 vs SATA SSDs
For the absolute fastest consumer SSD speeds, M.2 drives using the PCI Express interface surpass any SATA option. However, this comes with some caveats.
M.2 was designed as a form factor, not a protocol. M.2 drives may still use the SATA protocol and therefore be limited to SATA 3 or SATA 3.2 bandwidth. Alternatively, they can use up to 4 lanes of PCIe for substantially higher performance.
Current PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 drives can reach sequential speeds over 7,000 MB/s and even 14,000 MB/s on PCIe 5.0. The downsides are much higher costs per GB and requiring a motherboard with PCIe M.2 slots.
For many mainstream users, SATA SSDs provide an excellent blend of improved responsiveness and affordability over hard drives. Even budget SATA SSDs are 3-5x faster than HDDs for system boot and game loads.
Top SATA 3 options nearly saturate the 6Gbps interface bandwidth, while new SATA 3.2 drives take another leap. For everyday usability, they are “fast enough” for most.
Ideal Uses for Fast SATA SSDs
While the absolute speed crown belongs to M.2 PCIe SSDs, the latest fast SATA drives provide big benefits over hard drives at lower costs. Some examples of good fits include:
- OS drive: Fast boot and launch times compared to HDDs.
- Primary games drive: Much faster level and game loading versus HDDs.
- Workstation storage: Great for small file speeds like compiling code, multimedia editing.
- Laptop/mobile storage: Durable and shock-resistant for on-the-go use.
For secondary mass storage, HDDs are still cheaper per GB. Using a smaller fast SATA SSD along with a high capacity HDD gives a good balance of speed and storage capacity.
Tips for Getting the Most from SATA SSDs
To maximize your SATA SSD performance, here are some tips:
- Use SATA 3.0 or SATA 3.2 ports – Make sure your motherboard has 6Gbps or faster SATA ports.
- Keep at least 10-20% free space – Less than full SSDs perform better.
- Enable TRIM – TRIM helps clear unused blocks, maintaining write speeds.
- Avoid excessive partitioning – More partitions can reduce controller effectiveness.
- Regularly update firmware – Firmware updates may provide performance fixes and improvements.
The Bottom Line
While the SATA interface generations may be getting older, they continue to improve. SATA 3 pushes the limits of 6Gbps bandwidth, while brand new SATA 3.2 doubles it to over 20Gbps.
Top SATA SSDs like the Samsung 870 EVO or WD Black SN750 offer impressively fast speeds for everyday computing. Newer options designed for SATA 3.2 like the Seagate FireCuda 530 demonstrate there’s still room to grow.
For a responsive system and quick game loads without breaking the bank, the latest high-performance SATA SSDs hit a sweet spot for most PC users.