Why 2TB is the gaming sweet spot
A single modern game can exceed 100GB, so a 1TB drive fills fast once Windows is installed. 2TB roughly doubles your headroom for a small premium and usually carries the lowest price per terabyte in the range, which is why it is the default recommendation for a new build.
Three-tier recommendation
| Tier | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Lexar NM790 / Crucial P3 Plus 2TB | Best £/TB, fine for gaming |
| Balanced | Crucial T500 / WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB | DRAM, flagship Gen4 speed |
| Premium | Samsung 990 Pro 2TB | Fastest Gen4, 5-year warranty |
Honest trade-off
Skip Gen5 at 2TB unless you specifically want it: the gaming benefit over Gen4 is marginal and it runs hotter. A DRAM Gen4 drive is the best balance of price, speed and reliability for a gaming PC or the PS5.