Crucial T700 Prices 2026: First Mainstream Gen5 SSD

⚡Quick Answer+

The Crucial T700 is the first mainstream Gen5 SSD and remains excellent value in 2026. With 12,400 MB/s read speeds, Micron's 232-layer TLC NAND, and proven reliability since its 2023 launch, it delivers genuine Gen5 performance at a mature price point. The 2TB with heatsink ($354) is the sweet spot. Critical: A heatsink is mandatory - the T700 throttles within minutes without cooling. Best for: content creators, professionals handling large files, and enthusiasts who want Gen5 without paying top dollar.

Key Takeaways:

First mainstream Gen5 SSD - proven since 2023
12,400 MB/s read, 11,800 MB/s write
Heatsink REQUIRED - throttles without cooling
2TB with heatsink is sweet spot ($354)
Best for content creators, not gaming

The Crucial T700 made history as the first widely available consumer PCIe 5.0 SSD when it launched in mid-2023. While competitors promised Gen5 drives "soon," Crucial (Micron's consumer brand) delivered first, establishing the benchmark for the new generation.

Two years later, the T700 remains a compelling choice. With sequential read speeds up to 12,400 MB/s — nearly double Gen4's best — and Micron's reliable 232-layer TLC NAND, it offers genuine Gen5 performance at a mature price point. Firmware is stable, thermal characteristics are well-understood, and reliability is proven through extensive real-world use.

Critical note: The T700 requires a heatsink. Without proper cooling, the drive throttles within minutes under load. Always buy the heatsink version or ensure your motherboard provides adequate M.2 cooling. For Gen4 alternatives that run cooler, see our NVMe SSD comparison.

Crucial T700 Specifications

Specification	1TB	2TB	4TB
Sequential Read	11,700 MB/s	12,400 MB/s	12,400 MB/s
Sequential Write	9,500 MB/s	11,800 MB/s	11,800 MB/s
Random Read	1,300K IOPS	1,500K IOPS	1,500K IOPS
Random Write	1,500K IOPS	1,800K IOPS	1,800K IOPS
Endurance (TBW)	600 TBW	1,200 TBW	2,400 TBW
NAND Type	Micron 232-Layer 3D TLC
DRAM Cache	Yes (DDR4)
Controller	Phison E26
Interface	PCIe Gen 5 x4, NVMe 2.0
Form Factor	M.2 2280
Power (Active)	9W	10W	11W
Heatsink Required	Yes (included with HS version)
Warranty	5 Years
PS5 Compatible	✓ (runs at Gen4 speeds)

T700 Key Features

12,400 MB/s Sequential

Nearly double Gen4 speeds. Genuine bandwidth improvement for content creation and large file transfers.

Gen5 Performance

First-Mover Maturity

2+ years on market. Stable firmware, proven reliability, and well-understood thermal characteristics.

Proven Technology

Micron 232-Layer NAND

Crucial's parent company Micron supplies cutting-edge NAND with excellent endurance ratings.

Quality Components

Phison E26 Controller

Industry-standard Gen5 controller with mature firmware optimizations and broad compatibility.

Reliable Platform

Heatsink Version Available

Factory-installed heatsink maintains performance under sustained loads. Essential for Gen5.

Thermal Solution

Up to 4TB Capacity

Maximum capacity for demanding users. Best $/TB value at 4TB for Gen5 storage needs.

High Capacity

⚠️ Heatsink Required — Critical Information

The Crucial T700 will thermal throttle without a heatsink. Under sustained load, the bare drive reaches 100°C+ within 2-3 minutes and throttles significantly to protect itself.

Temperature comparison:

Idle: 45°C (no heatsink) → 38°C (with heatsink)
Light load: 68°C (no heatsink) → 52°C (with heatsink)
Sustained write: 95°C+ throttling (no heatsink) → 65°C stable (with heatsink)

Recommendation: Always buy the heatsink version, or verify your motherboard has a quality M.2 heatsink before purchasing the bare drive. If thermal management concerns you, consider Gen4 alternatives like the Samsung 990 Pro which runs much cooler.

T700 vs T705: Which Crucial Gen5 SSD?

Feature	Crucial T700	Crucial T705
Price (2TB)	$354 (with heatsink)	$240
Sequential Read	12,400 MB/s	14,500 MB/s
Sequential Write	11,800 MB/s	12,700 MB/s
Heatsink Included	✓ Yes (HS version)	✗ No
Track Record	2+ years proven	~1 year
Thermal Profile	Lower heat output	Higher (faster = hotter)

Choose T700 if: You want the included heatsink, prefer proven reliability, or prioritize lower thermals.

Choose T705 if: You need maximum speed, already have quality cooling, or want better price-to-performance (T705 is currently cheaper and faster).

Platform Requirements

The T700 requires a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to achieve full speeds. Compatibility by platform:

Intel 12th Gen (Z690): ✓ Usually 1 Gen5 slot — check motherboard specs
Intel 13th/14th Gen (Z790): ✓ Full support on most boards
AMD Ryzen 7000 (X670E/B650E): ✓ Full support
AMD Ryzen 7000 (X670/B650 non-E): ⚠️ Often Gen4 only — verify specs
AMD Ryzen 5000 and older: ✗ Runs at Gen4 speeds
Intel 11th Gen and older: ✗ Runs at Gen4 speeds
PlayStation 5: ✗ Runs at Gen4 speeds (buy Gen4 instead)

Important: If your system doesn't support Gen5, buy a Gen4 drive instead. A T700 running at Gen4 speeds is an overpriced Gen4 drive.

Best Use Cases for T700

Excellent For ✓

Video Editing: Timeline scrubbing, exports, and media ingest see real improvements. The doubled bandwidth genuinely helps when working with 4K/6K/8K footage.

Large File Transfers: Moving game libraries, backing up drives, and managing datasets is noticeably faster. A 100GB transfer completes in ~9 seconds vs ~17 seconds on Gen4.

Professional Workloads: Database operations, VM disk I/O, and development builds benefit from Gen5 bandwidth.

Overkill For △

Gaming: Real-world improvement is 0.5-1 second per game load. The Samsung 990 Pro delivers 95% of the gaming experience at lower cost.

General Computing: Web browsing, office work, and typical apps don't benefit from 12,400 MB/s speeds.

PS5: The console only supports Gen4 speeds. Buy a Gen4 drive instead.

Which Capacity Should You Buy?

1TB ($150 with heatsink): Entry into Gen5. Good for boot drive with secondary storage. Limited game capacity. Check 1TB drives for alternatives.

2TB ($354 with heatsink) — Recommended: The sweet spot. Room for OS, applications, and substantial project files. Best balance for most Gen5 buyers. Compare with 2TB options.

4TB ($589): Maximum capacity. Best $/TB in T700 lineup. Ideal for video editors with large project files.

All Crucial T700 Prices — Sorted by $/TB

Compare T700 options including heatsink versions. Prices updated hourly from Amazon.

Product	Capacity	Price	$ / TB	Price Drop	Brand	Interface

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Crucial T700 worth it in 2026?

For content creators and professionals, yes. The doubled sequential bandwidth genuinely improves video editing, large file transfers, and professional workloads. For gaming, probably not — Gen4 drives deliver nearly identical gaming performance at significantly lower cost.

Does the T700 need a heatsink?

Absolutely yes. The T700 throttles within minutes without cooling, reaching 95-100°C+ under sustained load. Always buy the heatsink version, or verify your motherboard has a quality M.2 heatsink. This is not optional.

Can I use the T700 in my PS5?

Yes, but it's a waste of money. The PS5 only supports Gen4 speeds (~7,000 MB/s), so the T700 runs at half its rated speed. Buy a Gen4 drive like the Samsung 990 Pro for PS5 — same performance, lower cost.

T700 vs T705 — which should I buy?

Surprisingly, the T705 is often the better buy — it's faster (14,500 vs 12,400 MB/s) AND currently cheaper ($240 vs $354 for 2TB). The T700's advantage is the included heatsink and longer track record. If you have quality cooling already, get the T705.

T700 vs Samsung 990 Pro?

Different use cases. The T700 (Gen5) has nearly double the sequential bandwidth for content creation. The 990 Pro (Gen4) costs less, runs cooler, and delivers virtually identical gaming performance. For gaming, get the 990 Pro.

Is the T700 reliable?

Yes, proven reliable. After 2+ years on market, the T700 has demonstrated excellent reliability with mature, stable firmware. The 5-year warranty and up to 2,400 TBW endurance provide confidence.

What size T700 should I buy?

2TB is the sweet spot for most users — enough for OS, applications, and substantial fast storage. 1TB works for boot drive with secondary storage. 4TB offers best $/TB for video editors.

Can I use T700 in a Gen4 slot?

Yes, but don't. The T700 runs at Gen4 speeds in Gen4 slots (~7,000 MB/s), defeating the purpose. If your system lacks Gen5 support, buy a Gen4 drive — same performance, lower cost.