Best 1TB PCIe 4.0 Addlink DRAM-less SSDs
There are 4 1TB PCIe 4.0 Addlink DRAM-less SSDs compared here. The fastest is the Addlink A93 at 7400 MB/s read at 1TB. Sequential reads across the group span 5000–7400 MB/s at 1TB.
Why this configuration
A 1TB PCIe 4.0 Addlink DRAM-less SSD is the value-performance sweet spot. You keep Gen4's high sequential speed — the part game loading and everyday tasks actually use — while dropping the DRAM chip (HMB fills in) trims the price. Addlink specifically tends to be chosen here for its firmware track record and warranty support.
1TB is the capacity most single-drive builds settle on.
Usually chosen for: value-minded gamers and upgraders chasing NVMe speed at the lowest sensible cost.
Good fit: value builds and gaming where cost per gigabyte matters.
Look elsewhere for: databases, virtual machines and other sustained random-write workloads.
Ranked list
Speeds on this page are the manufacturer's 1TB ratings where published (4 of 4 drives), not the family headline figure. Rated writes at 1TB run 3200–6500 MB/s.
| # | Model | Tier | Controller | Read MB/s (at 1TB) | TBW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Addlink A93 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | Mid-range | Maxio MAP1602 | 7400 | — | Check price on Amazon |
| 2 | Addlink S93 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | Mid-range | Maxio MAP1602 | 7400 | — | Check price on Amazon |
| 3 | Addlink S90 Lite 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | Value | Phison E21T | 5000 | — | Check price on Amazon |
| 4 | Addlink S91 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | Value | Phison E21 | 5000 | — | Check price on Amazon |
The parts, explained
1TB is the mainstream single-drive capacity.
PCIe 4.0 x4 delivers roughly 7,000 MB/s, the current price-to-performance sweet spot for most builds.
DRAM-less drives use the Host Memory Buffer (HMB) instead — cheaper, and fine for everyday use and gaming, with a small penalty under heavy random writes.
Staying with Addlink means consistent firmware, tooling and warranty handling across the range.
Common questions
Is a DRAM-less 1TB SSD good enough?
For gaming and everyday use, yes — HMB covers those workloads well. If you run sustained heavy random writes (databases, VMs), a drive with a DRAM cache stays more consistent.