PC Gamer's Hardware Awards have named three nominees for the best gaming SSD of 2025, a year when memory prices created headwinds for storage upgrades even as players demanded faster load times. The field spans internal NVMe drives and portable options, underscoring diverse needs for desktop rigs and game libraries on the go. The three nominees highlighted by PC Gamer are the WD Black SN8100 NVMe SSD, the Crucial P510 NVMe SSD, and the Sandisk Extreme Pro external SSD. Among them, the WD Black SN8100 is noted as the fastest by a significant margin, while the Crucial P510 offers compelling value at under $150, and the Sandisk Extreme Pro delivers portable performance.
PC Gamer stresses that the awards are not a single-brand showcase. Each nominee differs in capacity and form factor, including an external option in the mix, ensuring gamers can find a drive that fits their system and budget. The winners will be revealed on New Year's Eve, as part of PC Gamer's year-end hardware coverage.
Beyond the nominees themselves, the discussion reflects broader market conditions. PC Gamer notes ongoing memory price volatility as 2026 approaches, a factor that can influence pricing and availability for upgrades. The mix of an ultra-fast internal drive and a rugged external option gives gamers a spectrum of choices as they plan new builds or upgrades.
For performance-minded builders, the WD Black SN8100 remains the standout in speed, delivering the kind of load-time gains that matter in shooter campaigns and open-world titles. The Crucial P510 offers a balance of price and performance for those who want strong NVMe performance without a premium, with its price point highlighted at under $150. The Sandisk Extreme Pro, as an external SSD, provides convenient game storage that can travel between rigs or serve as a portable shelf for a library of titles.
PC Gamer notes that the awards will be announced on New Year's Eve, and the final winners will accompany detailed scoring and context as part of the publication's hardware coverage. This report consolidates the three nominees and the rationale highlighted by editors, giving readers a snapshot of the year in storage hardware and what to expect as prices shift in the early months of 2026.
Finally, readers can anticipate the official results and a detailed breakdown when PC Gamer publishes the winners on New Year's Eve, completing a year-in-review for storage hardware and offering guidance as prices move through 2026.
