Video editing is a heavy task that often pushes the components of your computer to their absolute limit. One of the most important things that beginner video editors overlook is the importance of an excellent SSD for video editing.
Table of Contents - Best SSD for Video Editing - Adata XPG SX8200 Pro (1TB) - Samsung 970 Pro (1TB) - Intel SSD 670p (1TB) - Samsung 970 EVO Plus (500GB) - Samsung 980 Pro (1TB) - WD Black SN850 - Crucial P5 Plus - Patriot Viper VPR100 - Buyers Guide to Buy SSD for Video Editing - Form Factor - Interface - Capacity - Power Consumption - Controller - Storage Memory Type - Performance - Why Do You Need SSD for Video Editing?
A high-quality SSD can significantly improve your system’s performance during video editing. By choosing the right SSD, you will increase your computer’s responsiveness, import/export speed, and overall smoothen out your workflow.
In this article, we’ll go over the eight best SSDs that you can choose to improve your computer’s performance in video editing.
Let’s dive right into it.
Best SSD for Video Editing
| Suggestion/Device | Best SSD for Video Editing | Live Product | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our Pick | Samsung 970 Pro | View on Amazon | $269 |
| YouTube Video Editing | WD Black SN850 | View on Amazon | $164.99 |
| Performance | Adata XPG SX8200 Pro | View on Amazon | $99.99 |
| Capacity | Patriot Viper VPR100 | View on Amazon | $159.99 |
1. Adata XPG SX8200 Pro (1TB)
The Adata XPG SX8200 Pro offers a fantastic value for performance that can significantly improve your system’s overall performance, including video editing. It’s an M.2 SSD boasts a whopping 3500 MB/s write speed and 3000 MB/s read speed.
The SX8200 Pro has several models, but it’s generally a good idea to invest in the 1TB or higher model for video editing. Today’s videos are storage hogs, so you’ll thank yourself later down the line for getting more storage.
Adata XPG SX8200 Pro (1TB) Features
- Capacity: 1TB
- Form Factor: M.2 (2280)
- Interface: PCIe Gen 3.0 x4
- Write: up to 3500 MB/s
- Read: up to 3000 MB/s
PROS - Top-notch performance - Power-efficient - SSD toolbox - Cloning software - Black PCB for better aesthetics
CONS - Durability is similar to the non-pro model - Not compatible with Mac
2. Samsung 970 Pro (1TB)
When it comes to durable and high-quality SSDs, it’s almost impossible to exclude the Samsung 970 Pro products lineup. Samsung has proven that the durability of their SSDs is worth the premium price tag they are asking you.
Despite having a lower write speed than the XPG SX8200 Pro, the 970 Pro offers better performance consistency which could make a lot of difference for your workflow. Samsung also provides a 5-year warranty for their 970 Pro lineup.
Samsung 970 Pro (1TB) Features
- Capacity: 512GB/1TB
- Form Factor: M.2 (2280)
- Interface: PCIe Gen 3.0 x4 / NVMe 1.3
- Write: up to 2700 MB/s
- Read: up to 3500 MB/s
PROS - Superb durability (1,200 TBW) - Stable performance - SSD toolbox - Cloning software - Data encryption - Dynamic Thermal Guide - 5-year warranty
CONS - More expensive than market price - Limited capacity options (512GB or 1TB)
3. Intel SSD 670p (1TB)
If you’re not concerned about how much you spend for an SSD, the Intel SSD 670p can be an excellent storage option that can boost your system’s performance by a lot. Intel offers reliable performance at a reasonably affordable price, even for their larger capacity models.
The Intel SSD 670p also features 256-bit AES hardware encryption, which is famous for being uncrackable. When you choose this SSD, your data security is in good hands.
Intel SSD 670p (1TB) Features
- Capacity: 1TB
- Form Factor: M.2 (2280)
- Interface: PCIe 3.0 x4
- Write: up to 2500 MB/s
- Read: up to 3500 MB/s
PROS - Reliable performance - High endurance rating (370 PBW) - Relatively affordable - AES 256-bit encryption
CONS - Average write speed - No data loss protection
4. Samsung 970 EVO Plus (500GB)
While storage capacity is a crucial factor to consider for video editing, there’s also a budget limitation for most people that prevents them from getting the most significant capacity SSDs. If that’s the case for you, the Samsung 970 EVO Plus 500GB offers a perfect middle ground between storage capacity and superb performance.
The EVO Plus lineup is marketed as Samsung’s best SSDs in terms of performance, durability, and power efficiency. There are also more storage options to choose from, including 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB.
Samsung 970 EVO Plus (500GB) Features
- Capacity: 250GB/500GB/1TB
- Form Factor: M.2 (2280)
- Interface: PCIe 3.0 x4 / NVMe 1.3
- Write: up to 3300 MB/s
- Read: up to 3500 MB/s
PROS - Reliable durability (300 TBW) - Stable performance - High Read/Write speed - Magician Software for SSD management - Storage options - 5-yr warranty
CONS - More expensive than market price
5. Samsung 980 Pro (1TB)
If you want the absolute best for your video editing rig, the Samsung 980 Pro has everything you need. It features a whopping 7,000 MB/s read speed which could get your footage imported to your timeline in the blink of an eye.
The 5-year warranty and included software package are also an excellent addition to incentivize the premium price tag Samsung charges you for this beast. Samsung also pairs it with their in-house Elpis 8nm PCIe controller with their fastest V-NAND – which means unbeatable performance.
Samsung 980 Pro (1TB) Features
- Capacity: 1TB
- Form Factor: M.2 (2280)
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4 / NVMe 1.3c
- Write: up to 5,000 MB/s
- Read: up to 7,000 MB/s
PROS - Unmatched performance - AES 256-bit encryption - Magician Software for SSD management - 5-year warranty
CONS - Average durability rating - More expensive than market price
6. WD Black SN850
The WD Black SN850 is a solid competitor for Samsung’s 980 Pro. It offers a comparable read/write speed at a slightly lower price than the competitor. The WD SN850 works with the company’s new 16nm controller that significantly improves their product’s performance from the previous generation.
However, the SN850 isn’t very power efficient and can get pretty hot under heavy load. It also lacks the AES 256-bit encryption that the 980 Pro offers.
WD Black SN850 Features
- Capacity: 1TB
- Form Factor: M.2 (2280)
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Read: up to 7,000 MB/s
- Write: up to 5,300 MB/s
PROS - Top-tier performance - Black PCB for better aesthetics - Software package - 5-year warranty
CONS - High power consumption - Can get hot under load - No hardware encryption
7. Crucial P5 Plus
The P5 Plus is Crucial’s improved version of their previous P5 lineup that has significantly better performance. The P5 is built for gamers and creative professionals who demand faster load times and more efficient workflows.
Crucial offers the P5 Plus for its high price-for-performance ratio, which resonates with most of their consumers. Despite the mid-tier performance, the P5 Plus is an excellent alternative if you can’t afford to shell out for 980 Pro or SN850.
Crucial P5 Plus Features
- Capacity: 500GB/1TB/2TB
- Form Factor: M.2 (2280)
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 NVMe
- Read: up to 6,600 MB/s
- Write: up to 5,000 MB/s
PROS - Price-for-performance - AES 256-bit encryption - 5-year warranty - Blacked out PCB - Software suite
CONS - Average performance - High power consumption on idle - Inefficient under load
8. Patriot Viper VPR100
The Patriot Viper VPR100 is a perfect choice for beginner editors who don’t reasonably need the top-of-the-line performance but still can benefit from higher read/write speed. If you’re into the aesthetics of your PC, the VPR100 also features RGB lighting and a stylish heatsink that can spice up the look of your system.
Patriot Viper VPR100 Features
- Capacity: 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB
- Form Factor: M2 (2280)
- Interface: PCIe 3.0 x4 / NVMe 1.3
- Read: up to 3,300 MB/s
- Write: up to 2,900 MB/s
PROS - Solid performance for its price - RGB lights - Storage options
CONS - Lighting may affect performance - No SSD toolbox - No cloning software
Buyers Guide to Buy SSD for Video Editing
These are the factors that you should consider before buying an SSD for video editing:
Form Factor
There are several different SSD form factors – make sure that you pick the correct form factor according to your device.
- 2.5-inch SSD: The standard form factor of an SSD connects to the system through a SATA connector.
- mSATA SSD: A smaller form factor of an SSD typically used in laptops and ultra-thin devices.
- M.2 SSD: The smallest SSD form factor primarily used in ultrabooks and tablets.
Interface
The interface of an SSD dramatically affects its performance. There are currently three interfaces used for SSDs:
- Serial ATA (SATA): This is the most common and affordable interface of the bunch. The latest generation (SATA 3.0) can support 6 Gb/s data transfer.
- PRI Express (PCIe): Originally designed to connect motherboard-mounted peripherals with minimal latency and high bandwidth. The NVMe-enabled PCIe SSDs typically have high performance.
- Serial Attached SCSI (SAS): This form factor is generally used in enterprise storage solutions that offer a reliable and solid performance.
Capacity
Storage capacity is crucial when you decide to buy an SSD to improve video editing. With today’s mind-boggling video file sizes, you’ll be better off getting SSDs that are at least 1TB in capacity.
Power Consumption
SSDs don’t consume too much power. As far as computer power consumption goes, the SSD probably only contributes to ~10% of it. If you find a model that’s a perfect fit for your needs, chances are you can ignore the power consumption rating.
Controller
Your SSD controller is like the processor for your storage. If you’re end-users, chances are you won’t be interested in finding out what controllers your SSDs have. Samsung is famous for having an SSD controller that significantly improves their storage performance – so you can go with their products for a safe bet.
Storage Memory Type
There are four types of storage memory (NAND flash):
- Single-Level Cell: SLC is the first form of flash storage, but it has been outdated for a while due to its inefficiency in storing data bits.
- Multi-Layer Cell: MLC is the Second generation of flash storage. It’s slower than the predecessor, but it can store more data and cost less.
- Triple-Layer Cell: TLC is generally slower than MLC, but it’s capable of storing more data in a smaller form factor.
- Quad-Level Cell: This is the current standard of flash storage and SSD. It allows SSDs to be more compact and store more data simultaneously, resulting in lower prices.
Performance
Generally speaking, the higher the read/write speed your SSDs have, your system will perform better. But as with anything, higher performance usually means higher cost. While having the fastest SSDs for video editing is ideal, it’s also essential to stick to your budget.
Why Do You Need SSD for Video Editing?
Video editing is a system-taxing task that relies significantly on various hardware in your computer. Having your footage and application stored in an SSD can improve your workflow’s overall smoothness and efficiency.
If you’re looking for a cost-efficient way to improve your video editing efficiency, SSDs are the way to go.
Conclusions
There’s no single best SSD for everyone, but there’s always the right product for you. There are plenty of factors to consider when buying an SSD for video editing, but these are the most important ones:
- Storage
- Performance
- Form factor
If you’re looking for an SSD that can improve your video editing, we hope that this buyers’ guide can give you some hints on which one to get.
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