Great value Gen4 NVMe with fast everyday speed and easy, painless upgrades.
If your PC takes ages to boot, games crawl on load, or your laptop is begging for space, a simple SSD swap can feel like a full system refresh. I’ve been there. That’s why I tested the Crucial P3 Plus PCIe Gen4 NVMe 2TB SSD. It promises up to 5,000MB/s reads, quick installs, and a friendly price. The goal? Make your machine feel new without paying flagship money. Here’s how it did in real life, and whether it’s right for you.
Is Crucial P3 Plus PCIe Gen4 NVMe 2TB SSD Good?
Yes. The Crucial P3 Plus PCIe Gen4 NVMe 2TB SSD is a strong buy for everyday users, budget builders, and gamers who want fast loads without paying flagship prices. It hits its stride with boot drives, Steam libraries, and general work. If you hammer your drive with huge, sustained writes every day, you may want a pricier, DRAM-equipped model. For most people though, this drive is the sweet spot.
I dropped the Crucial P3 Plus PCIe Gen4 NVMe 2TB SSD into a mid-range Ryzen desktop. Windows felt snappier, Chrome tabs popped open, and game levels loaded fast. I also cloned a laptop’s 512GB drive to it. The job took under an hour, and that older laptop now feels brand new.
My First Impression for Crucial P3 Plus PCIe Gen4 NVMe 2TB SSD
It arrived in compact, no-nonsense retail packaging. Inside, the Crucial P3 Plus PCIe Gen4 NVMe 2TB SSD sat in a clear clamshell—clean, simple, and protected. The PCB looks tidy and solid, with a minimalist label. There’s no heatsink in the box, which is normal at this price.
Install was easy. I slotted it into an M.2 socket, tightened one screw, and my BIOS picked it up at once. Windows setup was smooth, and a quick benchmark showed strong Gen4 reads. My first reaction? Relief and a grin. It met my expectations for a value Gen4 drive and ran cool in a case with average airflow.
What Makes It Stand Out / Key Features
- Up to 5,000MB/s sequential read speed for quick boots and fast game loads.
- PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe performance with easy backward compatibility on Gen3 boards.
- Big 2TB capacity for large game libraries, apps, and project files.
- Value-focused design that brings Gen4 speed to budget builds.
- Low-profile 2280 form factor fits most modern laptops and desktops.
- Efficient architecture that runs cool in typical cases; optional heatsink support.
- Crucial software support for firmware updates, drive health, and cloning.
What I Like
- Real-world speed boost in Windows and games you can feel right away.
- Simple install and fast setup, even for first-time builders.
- Great price-to-capacity ratio for a Gen4 NVMe 2TB drive.
- Runs cool and quiet in a standard airflow case.
- Solid brand reputation and easy-to-use software tools.
- Backwards compatible with PCIe Gen3 systems for flexible upgrades.
What Could Be Better
- Not the best choice for heavy, sustained writes (large 4K projects or frequent massive file moves).
- No included heatsink; some small-form-factor builds may benefit from one.
- There are faster Gen4 options if you need top-tier peak performance.
My Recommendation
If you want a fast, roomy upgrade without overspending, the Crucial P3 Plus PCIe Gen4 NVMe 2TB SSD is a great pick. It shines as a boot drive and as a big game library. Creators who work with large files will still like it as a secondary drive. If your work is very write-heavy, you may choose a premium model instead. For most builders, this is the right balance of speed, size, and cost.
| Best for | Why |
|---|---|
| Budget and mid-range gaming PCs | Fast loads and large 2TB capacity at a friendly price |
| Everyday laptops and desktops | Snappy boots, quick app launches, and easy install |
| Secondary storage for creators | Roomy vault for assets and projects with solid Gen4 reads |
| Silent or small builds | Runs cool and quiet; low-profile 2280 design |
Alternative Products You Can Consider
Samsung 980 Pro 2TB — A faster Gen4 drive with stronger sustained writes and a DRAM cache. It suits power users and creators who edit large 4K projects or move big files often. It costs more, but you get better peak and long-run performance. If you want higher headroom, this is a step up from the Crucial P3 Plus PCIe Gen4 NVMe 2TB SSD.
WD Black SN770 2TB — A value-focused Gen4 drive like the P3 Plus, but tuned a bit differently. It’s DRAM-less too, yet performs very well in real workloads and gaming. Often priced close to Crucial’s option, it’s a strong rival if you find a good sale. If you’re a gamer, you’ll be happy with either.
| Product | Best For | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Crucial P3 Plus PCIe Gen4 NVMe 2TB SSD | Everyday users and gamers on a budget | Great price-to-speed balance; up to 5,000MB/s reads |
| Samsung 980 Pro 2TB | Power users and creators | Stronger sustained writes and top-tier Gen4 performance |
| WD Black SN770 2TB | Value-driven gaming and daily use | Similar price class; very good game load times |
Final Verdict: Which Should You Buy?
The Crucial P3 Plus PCIe Gen4 NVMe 2TB SSD nails the value brief. It boots fast, loads games quickly, and gives you a generous 2TB without a premium price. For most people, that’s exactly what you need.
Pick the Crucial P3 Plus if you want a smart, affordable upgrade that makes your system feel new. Choose the Samsung 980 Pro if you push heavy workloads and need stronger sustained performance. Consider the WD Black SN770 if pricing swings in its favor and you want a similar value option. For everyday speed and space, the Crucial P3 Plus is the easy, budget-friendly win.
FAQs Of Crucial P3 Plus PCIe Gen4 NVMe 2TB SSD Review
Will it work in my laptop or desktop?
Yes, if your system has an M.2 2280 slot that supports NVMe PCIe. Check your manual to confirm compatibility.
Is a heatsink required?
No, not for most builds. A heatsink can help in tight or hot cases, but many users run it bare without issues.
Is it backward compatible with PCIe Gen3?
Yes. It will run at Gen3 speeds on Gen3 motherboards, and at Gen4 speeds on Gen4 boards.
Is it good for video editing?
For light to moderate editing and as a project storage drive, yes. For frequent, very large sustained writes, a higher-end Gen4 SSD may be better.
How do I move my files or OS to it?
Use cloning software. Crucial provides tools to help you clone your old drive and migrate your system with minimal effort.
Everett Ashford is a tech reviewer at mytechgrid.com specializing in SSDs, cameras, TVs, earbuds, headphones, and other consumer electronics. He provides honest, data-driven reviews based on hands-on testing and real-world performance analysis. Everett simplifies complex tech details to help readers make smart, confident buying decisions.
