Gaming
Intel’s 12th, 13th and 14th generation Core processors (aka ‘Alder Lake’ and ‘Raptor Lake’) support PCIe Gen5. Tese PCIe Gen5- compatible CPUs will need to live in a PCIe Gen5-compatible motherboard. Motherboards with the AMD X670E, X670, B650E or Intel Z890, Z790 and Z690 chipsets support PCIe Gen5. Gamers will need to check the motherboard’s specifications to ensure PCIe Gen5 compatibility is listed, since there are other chipsets that are compatible but only on some motherboards. Te motherboard chipset alone does not determine PCIe Gen5 compatibility.
Does PCIe Gen 5 enhance gaming on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, or just PC games? Tis is a good question, and very important for gamers. PCIe Gen 5 SSDs are not needed by all users. For example, the Sony PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are designed to support Gen 4 SSDs with a heatsink. A Gen 4 NVMe SSD with a heatsink is capable of providing the speed required to optimise load times and gameplay performance on these game consoles. In fact, for many gamers, Gen 4 SSDs will be more than suitable
sequential read speeds exceeding 14,000MB/s. While this latest generation is perfect for high-performance workloads, it is for PC gaming that it comes into its own.
We do have to make clear that the theoretical speeds above are estimated without external elements, including NAND speed, controller limitations and optimisation for real-world efficiency and cooling. Te improvements offered by each generation are more than just
marginal; they deliver noticeably higher data transfer rates, vastly expanded capacity, and the kind of efficiency that will be noticed and appreciated by even the most ardent gamers.
Is everyone adopting PCIe NVMe Gen5? Te short answer is, not yet. Many older computers still use Gen 3 or even SATA SSDs and can receive a significant performance boost if upgraded to Gen 4. Gen 5 is a more recent solution and is primarily being bought not just by gamers but also by users with intense computer needs, such as those interested in AI model training. Let’s have a closer look at the key advantages of using the latest
generation of PCIe SSDs. Firstly, there is the unprecedented speed that Gen 5 SSDs offer, at
more than double the read and write speeds of Gen 4, and ideal for top-end gamers. Because PCIe Gen 5 provides futureproofing, it is widely regarded
as a long-term investment that will remain relevant for years, even as soſtware and hardware developments demand higher performance. And, of course, for applications and hardware that don’t currently utilise Gen 5, it is backwards compatible. Te increased bandwidth translates to lower latency, which
ensures smoother performance for high-end applications, including gaming. Intel and AMD have a considerable and expanding selection of
CPUs that are compatible with PCIe Gen5 NVMe SSDs. AMD Ryzen 7000-series and later processors are also PCIe 5.0 compatible. All of
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when it comes to speed and at an affordable price. Gen5 is aimed at serious gamers looking for top-tier performance. In the gaming community, live streaming is increasingly
popular, with the dedicated streaming service, Twitch, hosting over 240 million monthly active users. Many gamers are looking to optimise their PCs for the best quality video game streaming. As well as making sure it’s cleaned to prevent overheating and has a processor and graphics card duo designed to enhance stream quality, an upgrade to a gaming NVMe Gen 5 SSD will keep the system responsive and make the entire streaming experience faster and smoother. Microsoſt DirectStorage, which was designed to provide gamers
with the ability to take advantage of the speeds being offered by modern SSDs, has been slow to take off, with relatively few games featuring the soſtware. However, this is about to change. It is automatically included in Windows 11, which, as support for Windows 10 has now been withdrawn, is set to be adopted more rapidly, making DirectStorage more accessible and more likely to be supported by developers for their PC games. Tis will put gamers using PCIe Gen5 SSDs at a distinct
advantage, able to take advantage of the raw speeds available, resulting in fewer bottlenecks and reduced load times. Each generation of PCIe NVMe SSDs has marked a new
standard when it comes to performance, but that doesn’t mean that all gamers should rush out to install Gen5. PCIe Gen 3 is still suitable for general use, and Gen 4 will be sufficient for many gaming needs. Gen 5, however, will provide the very best performance and meet the demands of even the most discerning gamer. For gamers thinking about an upgrade, it’s important for them
to evaluate their needs and budget. For PS5 owners, PCIe Gen 4 SSDs deliver fantastic value. For professionals and early adopters seeking top-tier performance, investing in a Gen 5 SSD is a game- changer. PC gamers will get the fastest load times available today by pairing a PCIe Gen 5 motherboard and PCIe Gen 5 SSD, which importantly provides them with a competitive edge.
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