Are Gen 4 SSDs Worth It?

The short answer is – it depends. For hardcore gamers and power users who want the absolute fastest load times or transfer speeds, then yes, upgrading to a PCIe 4.0 SSD is certainly worthwhile.

However, for more mainstream usage, Gen 3 NVMe drives still deliver speedy performance at a lower cost. The value of moving to Gen 4 really comes down to your specific needs.

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll help you decide if Gen 4 is the right choice for your build and workload. Here‘s what we‘ll cover:

What is PCIe 4.0 and How Fast is it?

PCI Express (PCIe) is the interface that connects your CPU to key components like graphics cards and SSDs. With each new generation, the bandwidth doubles:

PCIe 1.0	250MB/s per lane
PCIe 2.0	500MB/s per lane
PCIe 3.0	1000MB/s per lane
PCIe 4.0	2000MB/s per lane

As you can see, PCIe 4.0 has double the transfer speed compared to PCIe 3.0. This additional bandwidth allows SSDs to move data much faster.

Here are the sequential read/write speeds of leading Gen 4 SSDs today:

Samsung 980 Pro	Up to 7000/5000 MB/s
WD Black SN850	Up to 7000/5300 MB/s
Seagate FireCuda 520	Up to 5000/4400 MB/s

That‘s nearly 2x faster than the fastest Gen 3 drives!

Real-World Speed Improvements

But what do these crazy fast sequential specs mean for real-world use?

Well, Gen 4 SSDs can load games, files, and programs at least twice as fast compared to Gen 3 drives.

Here are some real-world examples:

• Windows Boot Time
  • Gen 3 SATA SSD: 15 seconds
  • Gen 3 NVMe SSD: 10 seconds
  • Gen 4 NVMe SSD: 5 seconds
• Game Load Times
  • Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2)
    • Gen 3 SSD: 66 seconds
    • Gen 4 SSD: 35 seconds (2x faster!)
  • Horizon Zero Dawn
    • Gen 3 SSD: 26 seconds
    • Gen 4 SSD: 12 seconds (2x faster!)

As you can see, Gen 4 SSDs cut load times nearly in half across the board. That‘s a massive improvement in responsiveness when booting your OS or loading huge game files.

Gen 4 Gaming Performance

Faster load times are great, but what about actual gameplay performance?

Well, here‘s the thing – once game levels are loaded into memory, your GPU becomes the bottleneck, not your SSD. So for in-game framerates, Gen 4 provides little benefit over Gen 3 SSDs.

However, Nvidia‘s upcoming RTX 40 series GPUs are rumored to better utilize PCIe 4.0 thanks to advanced rendering techniques like DirectStorage. AMD‘s next-gen RDNA3 graphics cards should also take advantage of the extra bandwidth.

So while Gen 4 doesn‘t do much for gaming right now, future GPUs are designed with PCIe 4.0 in mind. Upgrading today future-proofs your rig for smoother gaming down the road.

Gen 4 SSD Pricing

The biggest downside of moving to Gen 4 is the higher cost compared to Gen 3 drives. For example:

• 1TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus (Gen 3): $109
• 1TB Samsung 980 Pro (Gen 4): $149

However, pricing is starting to improve. In 2019, that Gen 4 SSD was nearly $200! As Gen 4 becomes more mainstream in 2024-2024, costs will align more closely with Gen 3 drives.

If you‘re on a tight budget, a Gen 3 SSD still delivers great performance for the money. But for peak speeds, Gen 4 is worth the premium.

Do You Need a Gen 4 SSD Heatsink?

Due to the blazing fast speeds, Gen 4 SSDs run warmer than previous generations. Adding a heatsink can lower temperatures by 15°C, maintaining peak performance.

Most modern motherboards now include built-in M.2 heatsinks. But an aftermarket unit is a good idea if:

• Your motherboard lacks a heatsink
• You have poor case airflow
• You transfer very large files continuously

Just make sure your SSD has thermal pads for proper heat transfer to the heatsink. Most aftermarket units will include pads.

Gen 4 SSD Requirements

To fully utilize a Gen 4 SSD, your system must meet these requirements:

• Modern AMD or Intel CPU (Ryzen 3000/5000 or Intel 11th/12th Gen)
• X570, B550, Z590 or Z690 chipset motherboard
• CPU, motherboard and SSD must all be PCIe 4.0 compatible

Without PCIe 4.0 support, your shiny new SSD will simply downshift to Gen 3 speeds. Be sure to check compatibility before purchasing!

SSD Lifespans – Gen 3 vs. Gen 4

Many people wonder if those screaming Gen 4 transfer speeds come at the cost of endurance. Thankfully, that‘s not the case!

PCIe 4.0 SSDs use the latest 3D TLC NAND flash rated for the same lifespan as Gen 3 drives:

• Budget SSDs: 0.3 – 0.5 drive writes per day (DWPD)
• Prosumer SSDs: 1+ DWPD

For most consumers, even a budget Gen 4 SSD will easily last 5-10 years under normal usage. Prosumer models are rated for full drive writes daily for 5 years straight.

The key is not filling up the drive completely. Leave 10-20% free space for optimal performance and longevity.

The Verdict – Upgrading to Gen 4 SSD

The bottom line:

For gaming and mainstream use, Gen 3 SSDs still deliver responsive performance for less money.

But…

If you want the absolute fastest load/transfer speeds, a Gen 4 upgrade cuts time almost in half.

Here are some good rules of thumb:

✅ Upgrade to Gen 4 if you:

• Build high-end gaming rigs or workstations
• Frequently load huge programs and files
• Need to move giant files as fast as possible

↻ Stick with Gen 3 if you:

• Game or use apps casually
• Don‘t mind waiting a bit longer for loading
• Care more about price/GB than peak speeds

Hopefully this detailed guide gave you some insight into real-world Gen 4 SSD performance and whether upgrading makes sense for your needs. Let me know if you have any other questions!