Best 720GB SATA DRAM-less SSDs
There are 4 720GB SATA DRAM-less SSDs compared here. The fastest is the Netac N500S at 550 MB/s read at 720GB. Sequential reads across the group span 520–550 MB/s at 720GB.
Why this configuration
A 720GB SATA DRAM-less SSD is a budget and compatibility choice. SATA won't win benchmarks, but it's the cheapest way to add solid-state speed and fits essentially any PC or laptop with a 2.5-inch bay.
Usually chosen for: reviving older machines, cheap capacity upgrades and second drives.
Good fit: value builds and gaming where cost per gigabyte matters; budget upgrades, older PCs and second drives.
Look elsewhere for: databases, virtual machines and other sustained random-write workloads; large-file creative work where NVMe pulls ahead.
Ranked list
Speeds on this page are the manufacturer's 720GB ratings where published (4 of 4 drives), not the family headline figure. 1 of the 4 are rated slower at 720GB than at their fastest capacity. Rated writes at 720GB run 460–500 MB/s.
| # | Model | Tier | Controller | Read MB/s (at 720GB) | TBW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Netac N500S 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 60GB, 320GB, 720GB | Low-end | Silicon Motion SM2258XT (1-Core, 4 | 550 | — | Find on Amazon |
| 2 |  Netac N600S 1TB, 720GB | Low-end | Silicon Motion SM2258XT (1-Core, 4 | 550 | — | Find on Amazon |
| 3 |  Weijinto WEIJINTO 500GB, 1TB, 960GB, 720GB | Low-end | SILICON MOTION SM2259XT (1-Core, 4 | 520 | — | Find on Amazon |
| 4 |  Palit UVS 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 60GB, 720GB, 360GB | — | Phison S3111-S11 | 530 | — | Find on Amazon |
The parts, explained
SATA III tops out around 550 MB/s, but it is the cheapest interface and fits any 2.5-inch bay or older laptop.
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.
Common questions
Is a DRAM-less 720GB 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.
Is SATA fast enough in 2026?
For an OS, apps and most games you won't notice the difference versus NVMe in daily use. NVMe pulls ahead mainly on large file transfers and load-heavy creative work.