Who a 1TB gaming SSD suits
- Budget builds: the cheapest way to get fast NVMe storage into a gaming PC.
- Small active library: ideal if you rotate a few games rather than hoard them.
- Secondary game drive: a cheap 1TB alongside a boot drive.
- Not ideal if you install many 100GB+ titles: buy 2TB instead.
Value picks
| Tier | Pick | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest | Lexar NM790 / Crucial P3 Plus | Best £/TB, DRAM-less |
| Balanced | WD_BLACK SN770 | Fast Gen4, gaming-tuned |
| Premium | Samsung 990 Pro 1TB | Fastest, 5-year warranty |
Honest trade-off
At 1TB the price gap to 2TB is often small, and 2TB is the better value per terabyte. Buy 1TB to hit a budget or as a second drive; otherwise the extra capacity pays off quickly as game installs grow.