Tech Desk 
Sep 11, 2024
The Steam Deck, a revolutionary portable gaming PC, has taken the gaming world by storm. Unfortunately, this ultra-compact system will most likely not have the internal storage capacity to keep up. Giving your system a high-performance solid-state drive (SSD) upgrade will go a long way toward upgrading that gaming experience. Here's a rundown of the best SSD recommendations for your Steam Deck.
What to Look for in an SSD?
Some key aspects when it comes to choosing an SSD for Steam Deck include performance, capacity, power efficiency, and compatibility.
The ideal SSD will be single-sided with an M.2 form factor of 2230 and Peripheral Component Interconnect Express solid-state drive (PCIe) 4.0 x 4 interfaces. More powerful units with Triple-level cell (TLC) NAND can work even better.
Best 1TB SSDs for Steam Deck:
- Corsair MP600 Mini 1TB: Offers high performance, good power efficiency, and TLC NAND.
- Sabrent Rocket 2230 1TB: A cost-effective option with TLC NAND and a range of capacities.
- Inland TN446 1TB: Inexpensive and offers a long warranty.
Best 2TB SSDs for Steam Deck:
- Crucial P310 2TB: Provides excellent power efficiency, high performance, and a new controller with faster Quad-level cell NAND (QLC NAND).
- Teamgroup MP44S 2230 2TB: Offers high capacity, efficiency, and affordability, but uses QLC NAND.
- Sabrent Rocket Q4 2230 2TB: A quick way to get 2TB storage, but uses QLC NAND and is more expensive.
| SSD | Performance | Battery Life | Temperature | Specifications |
| Corsair MP600 Mini E27T 1TB | 271.4 | 333 | 59 | PCIe 4.0 x4, Phison E27T, 162-Layer Kioxia TLC |
Crucial P310 2TB | 268.1 | 353 | 62 | PCIe 4.0 x4, Phison E27T, 232-Layer Micron QLC |
| WD Black SN770M 2TB | 267.9 | 316 | 58 | PCIe 4.0 x4, WD NVMe, 112-Layer Kioxia TLC |
| Inland QN446 2TB | 262.4 | 316 | 55 | PCIe 4.0 x4, Phison E21T, 176-Layer Micron QLC |
| Corsair MP600 Core Mini 2TB | 260.3 | 333 | 61 | PCIe 4.0 x4, Phison E21T, 176-Layer Micron QLC |
| Sabrent Rocket 4 1TB | 260.3 | 316 | 57 | PCIe 4.0 x4, Phison E21T, 176-Layer Micron TLC |
| WD SN740 2TB | 259.6 | 333 | 66 | PCIe 4.0 x4, WD NVMe, 112-Layer Kioxia TLC |
| Sabrent Rocket Q4 2TB | 259.2 | 316 | 59 | PCIe 4.0 x4, Phison E21T, 176-Layer Micron QLC |
| Lexar Play 1TB | 258.5 | 333 | 56 | PCIe 4.0 x4, Silicon Motion SM2269XT, 176-Layer Micron TLC |
| Teamgroup MP44S 1TB | 257.1 | 300 | 60 | PCIe 4.0 x4, Phison E21T, 176-Layer Micron QLC |
| Corsair MP600 Mini 1TB | 255.6 | 316 | 59 | PCIe 4.0 x4, Phison E21T, 176-Layer Micron TLC |
| Addlink S91 2TB | 253.3 | 300 | 54 | PCIe 4.0 x4, Phison E21T, 176-Layer Micron QLC |
| Silicon Power UD90 2TB | 252.0 | 316 | 59 | PCIe 4.0 x4, Phison E21T, 176-Layer Micron QLC |
| Silicon Power UD90 2TB | 231.5 | 316 | 61 | PCIe 4.0 x4, Phison E21T, 176-Layer Micron TLC |
| Silicon Power UD90 2TB | 229.1 | 316 | 65 | PCIe 4.0 x4, Phison E19T, 112-Layer Kioxia TLC |
| Valve 64GB eMMC | 43.1 | 316 | 35 | PCIe 2.0 x2, N/A, TLC |
Why upgrade your Steam Deck's SSD?
Upgrading your Steam Deck SSD can increase loading time and even the general performance and battery life considerably. With the right SSD, you should be able to enjoy seamless gaming on the go.
