Difference Between Gen5 SSD and Gen4 SSD
From the above, we can see that Gen5 SSDs and Gen4 SSDs have significant differences in terms of interfaces and protocols used. This difference certainly has an impact on the performance and features offered by the two generations of SSDs.
Here are some differences between Gen5 SSDs and Gen4 SSDs:
- Speed: Gen5 SSDs can reach read/write speeds of up to 14,000 MB/s, while Gen4 SSDs can only reach read/write speeds of up to 7,000 MB/s. This difference is due to the higher bandwidth offered by PCIe 5.0 and NVMe 2.0. These higher speeds can improve boot times, load times, and data transfer times from SSDs.
- Capacity: Gen5 SSDs can offer more capacity than Gen4 SSDs, thanks to the ZNS feature that NVMe 2.0 has. ZNS allows SSDs to group data by zone, reducing the amount of write amplification, which is a phenomenon where data is written more than once to the SSD. By reducing write amplification, SSDs can save storage space, increase durability, and reduce power consumption.
- Compatibility: Gen5 SSDs require motherboards that support PCIe 5.0 and NVMe 2.0, while Gen4 SSDs can work with motherboards that support PCIe 4.0 and NVMe 1.4. Today, motherboards that support PCIe 5.0 and NVMe 2.0 are rare and expensive, so Gen5 SSDs may not be suitable for all computer systems. However, Gen5 SSDs can operate in PCIe 4.0 and NVMe 1.4 modes, albeit with lower performance.
- Price: Gen5 SSDs tend to be more expensive than Gen4 SSDs, as they use newer, more advanced technology. The price of Gen5 SSDs is also influenced by market demand and supply, which is currently still low and limited. The price of Gen5 SSDs can change with technology and industry developments.
Gen5 SSD and Gen4 SSD Product Examples
To give you a clearer idea of the differences between Gen5 SSDs and Gen4 SSDs, here are some examples of SSD products from both generations, along with their specifications and prices:
| Product Name | Generation | Capacity | Read/Write Speed | Price |
| Corsair MP600 Pro XT | Gen5 | 1 TB | 7,100 / 6,800 MB/s | IDR 4,500,000 |
| Samsung 980 Pro | Gen4 | 1 TB | 7,000 / 5,000 MB/s | IDR 3,000,000 |
| WD Black SN850 | Gen4 | 1 TB | 7,000 / 5,300 MB/s | IDR 2,800,000 |
| Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus | Gen4 | 1 TB | 7,100 / 6,600 MB/s | IDR 2,700,000 |
From the table above, we can see that Gen5 SSDs have higher read/write speeds than Gen4 SSDs, but also have a higher price. Gen4 SSDs have almost the same read/write speeds as Gen5 SSDs but have a more affordable price. Gen4 SSDs also have a greater variety of products than Gen5 SSDs, which are still limited to a few brands.
Conclusion
Gen5 SSDs and Gen4 SSDs are two different generations of SSDs, which are defined by the interface and protocol used. Gen5 SSDs use PCIe 5.0 and NVMe 2.0, which offer higher bandwidth, reliability, and features than PCIe 4.0 and NVMe 1.4, which are used by Gen4 SSDs.
Gen5 SSDs can also offer greater capacity thanks to the ZNS feature owned by NVMe 2.0. However, Gen5 SSDs also have a higher price and require motherboards that support PCIe 5.0 and NVMe 2.0, which are still rare and expensive.
Therefore, the choice of Gen5 SSD or Gen4 SSD depends on the needs, budget, and computer system owned by the user. If users need very high speed and capacity and have a motherboard that supports PCIe 5.0 and NVMe 2.0, then a Gen5 SSD can be the right choice.
However, if users only need enough speed and capacity, and have a motherboard that supports PCIe 4.0 and NVMe 1.4, then Gen4 SSDs can be a more economical choice.