Best SSD for DELL XPS 13, 15, 17

The Dell XPS line of laptops are known for their premium build quality, high performance and sleek aesthetic. However, one area where they can be improved is the internal storage. The base models of XPS laptops typically come with a SSD, which while fast, are not as speedy as NVMe SSDs that utilize the PCIe interface.

Upgrading to a faster NVMe SSD can dramatically improve the performance of an XPS laptop. From faster boot times to quicker application launches and file transfers, a high quality NVMe SSD makes the XPS experience even smoother. In this article, we will look at the best SSD upgrade options for the Dell XPS 13, Dell XPS 15 and Dell XPS 17.

1. SAMSUNG 990 PRO PCIe 4.0 M.2 Internal SSD – Check Price at Amazon/B&H Photo Video/Newegg

The Samsung 990 PRO ushers in a new era of blistering fast solid state drive performance. Leveraging PCIe 4.0 and Samsung’s latest V-NAND and controller, this M.2 NVMe SSD delivers up to 7,450MB/s sequential reads and 6,900MB/s writes along with up to 1,400k/1,550k random read/write IOPS. This translates to real world performance up to 65% faster than previous gen SSDs for gaming and creative workloads.

The 990 PRO brings 50% improved power efficiency over the 980 PRO with an advanced nickel coated heat spreader that enables effective thermal control in tight laptop spaces. Samsung Magician software helps you optimize performance and monitor drive health.

As the #1 brand for flash storage since 2003, Samsung pulls out all stops with the 990 PRO, including in-house components like their renowned 3-bit MLC V-NAND flash and cutting edge controller. If you demand the absolute fastest SSD performance for gaming, creative work or productivity on your Dell XPS laptop, the Samsung 990 PRO delivers. Backed by a 5 year warranty and free Adobe Creative Cloud membership, this SSD brings uncompromising speed that lives up to the PRO name.

Features:

• M.2 2280 Form Factor
• PCIe 4.0 x4 / NVMe 2.0 Interface
• Sequential Reads up to 7450 MB/s
• Sequential Writes up to 6900 MB/s
• Up to 1200TB TBW (Total Bytes Written)
• Samsung V-NAND Flash Technology
• AES 256-Bit Encryption

2. WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe Internal Gaming SSD – Check Price at Amazon/B&H Photo Video/Newegg

The WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe Internal Gaming SSD delivers lightning-fast speeds and premium performance for avid gamers. With sequential read speeds up to 7300 MB/s, this PCIe 4.0 SSD loads games and levels incredibly fast, saving you precious time so you can jump right into the action. The SSD reaches near max speeds of the PCIe Gen 4 interface to extract every ounce of performance from your system. Write speeds are equally impressive at up to 6600 MB/s. The SN850X also features high random read and write speeds of 1.2 million and 1.1 million IOPS for quick access to game assets. The drive comes with a generous 2TB capacity, giving you plenty of room for even the most storage-hungry games. Designed for gaming, the SN850X has Game Mode 2.0 to optimize Windows performance. Features like load prediction and overhead balancing improve frame rates and smoothness. With a rugged build, MTTF of 1.75 million hours, and endurance of 1200TB, the SN850X is made to last through marathon gaming sessions. For PC gamers who want one of the fastest performing NVMe SSDs to slash game load times, the WD_BLACK SN850X delivers uncompromising speed and premium features.

Features:

• The WD_BLACK Dashboard monitors your drive’s health, controls your RGB style and can automatically detect games to turn on Game Mode 2.0 (Windows only).
• Predictive Loading, Overhead Balancing, and Adaptive Thermal Management features come to the SN850X to juice up your gaming performance.
• M.2 2280 Form Factor
• PCIe 4.0 x4 Interface
• Up to 7300 MB/s Sequential Read Speed
• Up to 6300 MB/s Sequential Write Speed
• 1.75 Million Hours MTTF

3. Samsung 980 PRO PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 Internal SSD – Check Price at Amazon/B&H Photo Video/Newegg

The Samsung 980 PRO PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 Internal SSD delivers lightning-fast speeds and next-level performance. Using Samsung’s own V-NAND 3-bit MLC flash technology and Elpsis controller, it offers up to 7000 MB/s sequential read and 5100 MB/s sequential write speeds over a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface. This M.2 2280 SSD is optimized for bandwidth-hungry tasks like 4K video editing, 3D modeling, and data analytics. With its compact form factor, the 980 PRO can be easily installed in desktops or laptops without taking up much space. To manage heat dissipation, Samsung employs nickel coating on the controller and a label-based heat spreader on the NAND chip. Combined with thermal throttling algorithms, the 980 PRO maintains fast yet stable speeds during extended use. Security is handled via TCG Opal encryption. For monitoring and maintenance, Samsung’s Magician software lets users check drive health, optimize performance, and update firmware. Overall, the Samsung 980 PRO PCIe 4.0 SSD delivers exceptional real-world speed and responsiveness for tech enthusiasts, hardcore gamers, and power users.

Features

• Sequential reads of up to 7000 MB/s and sequential writes of up to 5000 MB/s with a PCIe 4.0 interface which is 2x faster than PCIe 3.0 and 12x faster than Samsung SATA SSDs.
• Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 maximizes PCIe 4.0 write performance with enlarged TurboWrite regions
• The Samsung 980 PRO provides an endurance rating of up to 600TB
• A nickel-coated controller and a heat spreader label help the 980 PRO effectively dissipate the heat
• Samsung Dynamic Thermal Guard technology maintains the 980 PRO’s temperature at optimal level
• Power efficiency (performance/watt) is improved by up to 65% vs. the 970 EVO Plus
• The 980 PRO comes in a compact M.2 2280 form factor and is backward compatible with PCIe 3.0

4. Samsung 970 EVO Plus M.2 Internal SSD – Check Price at Amazon/B&H Photo Video/Newegg

The Samsung 970 EVO Plus M.2 Internal SSD delivers lightning-fast speeds and reliable performance perfect for tech enthusiasts. Using Samsung’s innovative V-NAND 3-bit MLC flash technology, this NVMe SSD offers enhanced bandwidth, low latency, and excellent power efficiency in a compact M.2 2280 form factor compatible with a wide range of devices. With blazing sequential read/write speeds up to 3500/3300 MB/s via PCIe 3.0 x4 and an endurance rating of 600 TBW, the 970 EVO Plus handles intensive tasks like 4K video editing, 3D rendering, and high-end gaming with ease. The Dynamic Thermal Guard automatically monitors temperatures to prevent performance drops, while AES 256-bit encryption and support for SMART and TRIM ensure your data stays secure. Download Samsung’s user-friendly Magician software to monitor drive health, boost performance, and update firmware. Backed by a 5-year limited warranty, the 1TB 970 EVO Plus brings fast, reliable solid state storage perfect for tech hobbyists building a high-performance PC or upgrading a laptop. Its optimized V-NAND technology and compact form factor make this NVMe SSD a great choice for handling intensive bandwidth-hungry tasks.

Features:

• ALWAYS EVOLVING SSD: Faster than the 970 EVO, the 970 EVO Plus is powered by the latest V-NAND technology and firmware optimization; It maximizes the potential of NVMe bandwidth for unbeatable computing; Comes in capacities of up to 2TB, with reliability of up to 1,200 TBW.
• LEVEL UP PERFORMANCE: The 970 EVO Plus reaches sequential read/write speeds up to 3,500/3,300 MB/s,* up to 53%** faster than the 970 EVO; Powered by the latest V-NAND technology—which brings greater NAND performance and higher power efficiency
• DESIGN FLEXIBILITY: The 970 EVO Plus fits up to 2TB onto the compact M.2 (2280) form factor, greatly expanding storage capacity and saving space for other components; Samsung’s innovative technology empowers you with the capacity to do more and accomplish more
• EXCEPTIONAL ENDURANCE: Get up to 1,200 TBW*** with a 5-year limited warranty**** for lasting performance; The 970 EVO Plus provides exceptional endurance powered by the latest V-NAND technology and Samsung’s reputation for quality
• UNPARALLELED RELIABILITY: Samsung’s advanced nickel-coated controller and heat spreader on the 970 EVO Plus enable superior heat dissipation; The Dynamic Thermal Guard automatically monitors and maintains optimal operating temperatures to minimize performance drops
• SAMSUNG MAGICIAN: Keep an eye on your drive with software that provides a suite of user-friendly tools that help you keep your drive up to date, monitor drive health and speed, and even boost performance

5. Samsung 870 EVO SATA III 2.5″ Internal SSD – Check Price at Amazon/B&H Photo Video

The Samsung 870 EVO SATA III 2.5″ Internal SSD offers speedy performance and robust reliability perfect for creators, IT professionals, and everyday users alike. With sequential read and write speeds up to 560MB/s and 530MB/s respectively, this SSD can quickly access, transfer, and store large files like 4K video. Its 2.5″ form factor ensures compatibility with most notebooks and desktops. The SATA III interface enables those fast speeds, while the 2GB LPDDR4 cache memory, MKX controller, and 1XXL V-NAND 3-bit MLC flash memory enable sustained performance. With an impressive 1.5 million hour MTBF and 1200TB total bytes written endurance rating, this SSD provides exceptional longevity backed by a 5-year limited warranty. Data protection is also supplied via the drive’s compatibility with Samsung Magician software for monitoring drive health, optimizing performance, and updating the SSD. Overall, the combination of rapid speeds, cutting-edge components, robust endurance and reliability ratings, and useful software make the Samsung 870 EVO an easy choice for an SSD upgrade whether you’re a creative professional, IT expert, or casual user.

Features:

• 2.5″ Form Factor
• SATA III 6 Gb/s Interface
• 2GB LPDDR4 Cache
• Up to 560 MB/s Sequential Read Speed
• Up to 530 MB/s Sequential Write Speed
• Samsung MKX Controller
• MLC V-NAND Technology
• MTBF Rating: 1.5 Million Hours

6. SanDisk Ultra 3D NAND Internal SSD – Check Price at Amazon

The SanDisk Ultra 3D NAND Internal SSD delivers lightning-fast speeds and enhanced reliability for a smooth computing experience. With sequential read speeds up to 560MB/s and write speeds up to 520MB/s, this SSD allows near-instant boot up and quick access to programs and files. The nCache 2.0 technology maintains high speeds by caching frequently used data on the SSD for faster access. Built with advanced 3D NAND flash memory, the drive enables greater endurance and efficiency with optimized power consumption. Shock-resistant construction provides durability and data safety even if your laptop is dropped. For an affordable price, the SanDisk Ultra 3D SSD provides a simple upgrade to dramatically improve the performance and responsiveness of your PC. With faster start-up, speedy file transfers, and lasting reliability, this easy-to-install SSD is a smart choice for enhancing everyday computing.

Features:

• Accelerate your PC for faster boot-up and blazing-fast gaming and graphics
• Ultra-fast: sequential read speeds of up to 560MB/s; sequential write speeds of up to 520MB/s (1 MB/s = 1 million bytes per second. Based on internal testing; performance may vary depending upon host device, usage conditions, drive capacity, and other factors. IOPS = input/output operations per second.)
• 3D NAND provides greater endurance so your drive lasts longer and uses less power
• nCache 2.0 technology delivers blazing-fast speeds
• Shock-resistant to help keep your data safe—even if you drop your computer