Creative professionals in fields like video editing, photography, animation, and design demand high-performance internal storage solutions to manage large datasets, reduce wait times, and increase productivity. With the emergence of PCIe Gen 5 in consumer-grade SSDs, 2025 has introduced some of the fastest and most efficient options ever seen.
This article reviews the most reliable and highest-performing internal SSDs available in Canada, combining insights from real user feedback and expert benchmarks.
1. Samsung 9100 PRO (PCIe 5.0, up to 8TB)
- Interface: PCIe Gen 5 x4, NVMe 2.0
- Sequential Read/Write: Up to 14,800 / 13,400 MB/s
- NAND: 236-layer Samsung V-NAND
- Expert Reviews: Praised by StorageReview and Tom’s Hardware for pushing PCIe 5.0 to the edge of consumer-grade performance.
- User Feedback (Amazon, Reddit): Generally very positive regarding speed and reliability, though several users noted a need for proper heatsinking and limited motherboard support.
- Best Use Case: 8K video editing, multi-stream projects, AI-assisted creative workloads
2. Crucial T705 (PCIe 5.0, up to 4TB)
- Interface: PCIe Gen 5 x4
- Sequential Read/Write: Up to 14,500 / 12,700 MB/s
- NAND: Micron 232-layer
- Expert Reviews: Considered a strong competitor to the Samsung 9100 PRO, often leading in real-world application benchmarks and consistent throughput.
- User Feedback: Many Amazon and Reddit users note excellent thermals and value, especially when bundled with a heatsink.
- Best Use Case: High-resolution rendering, 3D content creation, media asset management
3. WD Black SN850X (PCIe 4.0, up to 4TB)
- Interface: PCIe Gen 4
- Sequential Read/Write: 7,300 / 6,600 MB/s
- Expert Reviews: Reliable under sustained load, low latency, and among the best PCIe 4.0 SSDs for creative and gaming workloads.
- User Feedback: Amazon customers rate it highly for responsiveness and durability. No major complaints, aside from slightly elevated thermals in non-heatsink versions.
- Best Use Case: Mixed media projects, fast scratch disk performance
4. Samsung 990 PRO (PCIe 4.0, up to 4TB)
- Interface: PCIe Gen 4 x4
- Sequential Read/Write: 7,450 / 6,900 MB/s
- Expert Reviews: Strong synthetic and real-world performance, reliable firmware support, and good endurance ratings.
- User Feedback: Users report smooth performance even under intensive use, and Samsung Magician software is widely appreciated.
- Best Use Case: High-performance workstation upgrades, large design files, 4K editing
5. Crucial T500 (PCIe 4.0, up to 2TB)
- Interface: PCIe Gen 4
- Sequential Read/Write: 7,400 / 7,000 MB/s
- Expert Reviews: Delivers excellent value for the price with impressive efficiency and controller tuning.
- User Feedback: Highly rated for laptop use and entry-level workstations. Often mentioned as a quiet and cool-running drive.
- Best Use Case: Portable or compact workstations, moderate creative workloads
Key Considerations
- Interface Compatibility: PCIe Gen 5 drives require newer CPUs and motherboards. PCIe Gen 4 remains widely supported and sufficient for most workloads.
- Thermal Requirements: PCIe 5.0 drives often demand advanced cooling due to higher power draw.
- Capacity Planning: Consider 2TB or larger if working with video, 3D, or RAW photography.
- Endurance (TBW): Check write endurance specs if your workflow involves frequent large data transfers.
Final Recommendation
- For high-end workflows: Choose the Samsung 9100 PRO or Crucial T705 if your system supports PCIe 5.0.
- For most professional users: PCIe 4.0 drives like the Samsung 990 PRO or WD SN850X still deliver outstanding performance at a lower total cost.
All listed SSDs are available for business pricing and fast shipping in Canada through MemoryShop.ca. Contact us for volume quotes or to discuss integration options with your existing systems.