How to Choose an Internal SSD , Types of SSD , Best SSD for laptops

There few checks needed before choosing the internal ssd

1. Check compatibility first

To find out the form factor, consult your motherboard or laptop manual. The most frequently used slot type is usually M.2 (2280) which is 22mm wide and 80mm long. Older systems may only have 2.5" SATA bays.

Interface: M.2 slots can be NVMe (PCIe) or SATA. Some slots have just one, so read the manual. Do NOT purchase a drive as if all M.2 drives were interchangeable.

The generation of PCIe drives: Gen3, Gen4 and Gen5 all fit into the same slot, with the faster drive just running at the slot's speed. Gen5 is a driver of only if it's available on your board and your workload requires it.

Laptops and consoles: Some (PS5 and some ultrabooks) require special features such as heatsinks or single-sided drives. Check before buying.

2. Choose the appropriate level of use

For general purposes, office or browsing: A mid-range Gen3 or Gen4 NVMe drive will suffice. Most people would do best at Gen4.

Gaming: Gen4 is okay. Gen5 doesn't provide a lot of anything real-world in games.

Sustained write speed, not the headline number, and a DRAM cache are the things to look for when it comes to video editing, large file work and heavy transfers.

Older PC or cheap upgrade: A SATA SSD will still be quite a leap from a hard drive.

3. Specs that do not matter.

DRAM cache: These drives have DRAM (or HMB on some budget ones) to hold up better under sustained or heavy workloads. An inexpensive DRAM-less drive can become very slow when it is full or very busy.

NAND type: TLC will be considered as a safe choice. QLC is low cost, low speed for sustained writes and good for storage, light use or secondary drives.

Total Terabytes Written (TBW): Number of Terabytes written during the warranty period. Almost any modern drive has more than ample for normal use. It's more important when there's lots of writing.

Typical: A warranty of 3-5 years is typical; the longer the warranty, the more confident the manufacturer is in its product.

Controller and brand: Brands that have already been made are known to have the better firmware and support. Use caution with an unknown brand, particularly the ones that are priced at a bargain.

4. Capacity

Today, 500GB is just a bit short for an OS, apps and games.

Most people will find 1TB to be the minimum size they need and 2TB to be comfortable.

5. Practical extras

Gen4 and Gen5 drives will throttle without cooling. A large number of motherboards have M.2 heatsinks, and laptop drives typically do not require additional cooling.

Types of SSD form factors

The only thing that defines SSD form factor is the body design and the type of connector that the drive has. The M.2 format is a small gumstick-shaped card, typically 22mm wide by 80mm long, and available in two types: M.2 SATA performs at the same speed as a 2.5" SATA drive, but is supported by only boards with SATA support for that slot. M.2 NVMe operates over the PCIe interface (Gen3, Gen4 or Gen5) and is the most common form of M.2 in most modern desktops, laptops and handhelds. The older mSATA card is only used in a few legacy mini PCs and laptops, and is not commonly seen anymore.

All the other formats are primarily used for servers and workstations. U.2 and U.3 drives are similar in look and feel to a thick 2.5" drive (around 15mm), but are based on PCIe NVMe. E1.S and E3.S (EDSFF) stands for long narrow modules constructed for the data center. PCIe add-in cards are very similar to PCI cards but fit into a PCIe slot and are designed to meet the needs of a workstation for additional drives or capacity.

M.2 drives are identified by their width and length measured in millimeters (mm). 2280 (22mm wide, 80mm long) is by far the most common. Other numbers include 2230, which is used in console handhelds such as the Steam Deck; 2242 and 22110 which are longer in design and has a higher capacity. See what length of slot or bracket your machine will hold? The notch of the connector (the keying) also has an impact on fit. B+M key drives, typically SATA, and M key drives, typically NVMe, are not interchangeable in all the slots, so check the key and type of the slot (NVMe, SATA or both).

If the board has the space, then most people who are purchasing today should go with an M.2 2280 NVMe drive, while older boards should opt for a 2.5" SATA drive. 

Just tell me your motherboard or laptop model and I can tell you what form factor and interface it supports.