Best 250GB PCIe 3.0 AIC SSDs
There are 4 250GB PCIe 3.0 AIC SSDs compared here. The fastest is the Plextor M9Y+ AIC at 3400 MB/s read, and the highest-rated for endurance is the Plextor M8PeY (768 TBW). Sequential reads across the group span 2500–3400 MB/s at 250GB.
Why this configuration
A 250GB PCIe 3.0 AIC SSD is an affordable NVMe step up from SATA. Gen3 is roughly six times SATA's throughput yet often costs little more, making it the easy default for a first NVMe drive or a laptop that only supports Gen3.
250GB covers an OS and core apps with little room for a large game library.
Usually chosen for: budget builders, laptop upgraders and anyone leaving SATA behind.
Good fit: mainstream desktop and laptop builds.
Ranked list
| # | Model | Tier | Controller | Read MB/s (at 250GB) | TBW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Plextor M9Y+ AIC 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | High-end | Marvell 88SS1092 (3-Core ARM Corte | 3400* | 640 | Find on Amazon |
| 2 |  Plextor M9Pe 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | High-end | Marvell 88SS1093 "Eldora" | 3200* | 640 | Find on Amazon |
| 3 |  Plextor M8PeY 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | High-end | Marvell 88SS1093 | 2500* | 768 | Find on Amazon |
| 4 |  OCZ RD400 AIC 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Mid-range | TOSHIBA TC56NCP070GSB (POSSIVELMEN | 2600* | 592 | Find on Amazon |
* family rating — the manufacturer does not publish a 250GB figure for this drive.
The parts, explained
250GB fits an OS plus core apps.
PCIe 3.0 x4 reaches about 3,500 MB/s — plenty for everyday use and gaming, and cheaper than Gen4.
Add-in-card drives use a PCIe slot, often with a large heatsink.