For a fast, reliable 4TB drive for video editing, the Samsung 990 PRO is a frequently recommended choice for most users due to its balanced performance on PCIe 4.0 systems. If you need maximum transfer speeds for professional-level 8K workflows, PCIe 5.0 options like the Crucial T700 or WD Black SN8100 provide significantly higher throughput.
3Samsung 990 PRO 4TB NVMe M.2 SSDThis drive is suggested as the best fit for most editors. It delivers strong speeds and reliability on PCIe 4.0 hardware. It is ideal for those seeking a balance between performance, compatibility, and reasonable system costs.31%
For a powerful video editing PC, raw sequential read/write speeds matter immensely—especially when scrubbing through high-bitrate 4K/8K footage or caching heavy project files. The absolute fastest 4TB drives leverage the PCIe 5.0 x4 interface, doubling the theoretical speeds of previous-gen PCIe 4.0 drives.[1]
The top choices for a high-performance 4TB video editing drive break down as follows:
For a powerful video editing PC, you'll want an M.2 NVMe SSD that offers not only blistering peak read/write speeds, but also strong sustained write performance (so the drive doesn't slow down when you're dumping huge 4K/8K video files or rendering heavy timelines) and a high TBW (Terabytes Written) endurance rating.
The Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB is the absolute fastest 4TB SSD available, delivering blazing sequential read speeds of up to 14,800 MB/s and write speeds up to via the PCIe 5.0 interface.[1]
In actual Blackmagic disk testing, the 4TB 9100 PRO reached about 9,542 MB/s read and 9,908 MB/s write, substantially ahead of PCIe 4.0 drives such as the 990 PRO and SN850X.
Two alternatives worth considering
Crucial T705 4TB - $649.75 (newegg.com)
Samsung 990 PRO 4TB - $839.95 (newegg.com)
WD_BLACK SN850X 4TB - $699.99 (newegg.com)
Crucial T705 4TB — Also PCIe 5.0, rated at 14,100/12,600 MB/s read/write. It's a particularly interesting choice if you find it substantially cheaper than the 9100 PRO.
Samsung 990 PRO 4TB — PCIe 4.0, up to 7,450/6,900 MB/s. It's considerably slower than the Gen5 drives, but still extremely fast and may make more sense if your motherboard doesn't support PCIe 5.0.
One important consideration
For a video-editing workstation, don't buy the fastest SSD without considering cooling. PCIe 5.0 drives can generate significant heat during sustained transfers. The 9100 PRO is available with an integrated heatsink, and your motherboard may also provide an M.2 heatsink.
If you're building a high-end Premiere Pro/DaVinci Resolve PC, I'd actually recommend using multiple SSDs rather than putting everything on one 4TB drive—for example, one fast SSD for Windows/apps, one for active projects/cache, and another for footage.
If you tell me your budget (e.g. $2,000 / $3,000 / $5,000+) and whether you're editing 4K or 8K, I can spec the entire PC around the SSD.
Speeds: Up to 14,800 MB/s Read / 13,400 MB/s Write
Why it's great: This is a top-tier PCIe 5.0 powerhouse. It features Samsung's reliable in-house controller, high-end TLC V-NAND, and a generous DRAM cache (up to a 4GB LPDDR4x cache on the 4TB model). It maintains exceptional sustained performance for massive professional media workflows. You can check availability on B&H Photo-Video-Audio.[1]
WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB
Speeds: Up to 14,900 MB/s Read / 14,000 MB/s Write
Why it's great: Western Digital’s flagship PCIe 5.0 drive trades blows with Samsung, offering slightly higher peak sequential write numbers and top-notch endurance (2,400 TBW). It is heavily optimized for heavy creative applications and complex timeline rendering. Pricing and details can be found on B&H Photo-Video-Audio.[1]
Corsair MP600 ELITE 4TB (PCIe 4.0 Alternative)
Speeds: Up to 7,000 MB/s Read / 6,200 MB/s Write
Why it's great: If your motherboard or budget doesn't support blazing-hot PCIe 5.0 drives (which require robust motherboard heatsinks and careful thermal management), a high-end PCIe 4.0 drive like this is a stable, cooler-running workhorse that still maxes out standard editing needs. Available directly via Corsair.[1]
Note on PCIe 5.0: If you go with the Samsung or WD option, ensure your motherboard has an integrated M.2 heatsink designed for Gen 5 drives, as they run significantly hotter under heavy multi-gigabyte continuous write loads.
Would you like help checking if your motherboard is compatible with PCIe 5.0 NVMe drives , or do you need recommendations for a secondary scratch/backup drive setup?
The Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB is currently one of the fastest 4TB consumer NVMe SSDs available:
Sequential read: up to 14,800 MB/s
Sequential write: up to 13,400 MB/s
Random read/write: up to 2.2M / 2.6M IOPS
PCIe 5.0 x4
TLC NAND
2,400 TBW endurance
5-year warranty
Importantly for your use case, independent testing with Blackmagic Disk Speed Test measured about 9,542 MB/s read and 9,908 MB/s write on the 4TB 9100 PRO—excellent performance for video-editing workloads.
The T705 is also a PCIe 5.0 drive, rated at 14,100 MB/s read and 12,600 MB/s write for the 4TB version.
SSD
4TB sequential read
4TB sequential write
Interface
Samsung 9100 PRO
14,800 MB/s
13,400 MB/s
PCIe 5.0 x4
Crucial T705
14,100 MB/s
12,600 MB/s
PCIe 5.0 x4
Samsung 990 PRO
Samsung's published specifications confirm the 9100 PRO's 14.8/13.4 GB/s ratings, while current comparison data puts the 9100 PRO ahead of the T705 on both sequential figures.
One important caveat: PCIe 5.0 SSDs run hot, so make sure your motherboard has a substantial M.2 heatsink or use the heatsink version. Also, your motherboard/CPU needs a PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slot to get these speeds.
If you're building a Premiere Pro / DaVinci Resolve workstation, I'd actually consider two 4TB SSDs rather than one: one for OS/apps + active projects and another dedicated to footage/cache/scratch. That can make a bigger practical difference than simply buying the single fastest SSD.
Excellent sustained performance for large video files and editing workloads.
For Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, After Effects, and large 4K/6K/8K projects, those very high sequential speeds are particularly useful when moving large media files, caching, and working with high-bitrate footage.
The 990 PRO is still extremely fast, and for many editing workflows the difference from Gen5 won't be dramatic. If you're building an uncompromising workstation, however, I'd go Gen5.
One important catch: PCIe 5.0 SSDs run hot. Make sure your motherboard has a substantial M.2 heatsink or use the 9100 PRO version with Samsung's heatsink. The 4TB 9100 PRO is rated at 14,800/13,400 MB/s and 2,400 TBW.
If you tell me your budget for the entire PC (e.g. $2,500 / $4,000 / $6,000+), I can spec out the complete video-editing build—CPU, GPU, RAM, motherboard, cooling, PSU, and a sensible multi-SSD setup.
Depending on whether your motherboard supports cutting-edge PCIe 5.0 or standard PCIe 4.0, the top 4TB options break down as follows:
Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB (PCIe 5.0) : If you are building a top-of-the-line system with a PCIe 5.0-compatible motherboard and want the absolute fastest consumer drive available, this is a heavy-duty powerhouse. It delivers staggering sequential read speeds up to 14,800 MB/s and write speeds around 13,400 MB/s. It features a robust DRAM cache and advanced thermal control, making it ideal for massive 8K workflows and heavy scratch disks. You can check availability on the Samsung 9100 PRO Product Page or view listings on B&H Photo Video.[1][2]
WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB (PCIe 5.0) : Another elite PCIe 5.0 choice that pushes the envelope of the M.2 interface, clocking up to 14,900 MB/s read and 14,000 MB/s write speeds. It features exceptional power efficiency for a Gen 5 drive and top-tier endurance, though you'll definitely want to ensure your motherboard has a good heatsink or buy the version with integrated cooling. Look at specs or purchase via Newegg.[1]
Samsung 990 PRO 4TB (PCIe 4.0) : If you want maximum reliability and world-class PCIe 4.0 speeds without paying the extreme early-adopter tax (or dealing with the higher heat output) of Gen 5 drives, the 4TB 990 PRO is a staple for content creators. It maxes out the PCIe 4.0 bandwidth at roughly 7,450 MB/s read and 6,900 MB/s write. Its sustained performance during large file transfers is remarkably stable. View pricing on Newegg or B&H Photo Video.[1]
WD_BLACK SN850X 4TB (PCIe 4.0) : A legendary gaming and professional drive that offers rapid burst speeds (7,300 MB/s read) and excellent software management via the WD Dashboard. It's widely trusted in editing rigs for project files and cache storage, though make sure to opt for a model with a heatsink if your motherboard doesn't have built-in M.2 thermal guards. Find details on Ubuy.
To help narrow down the best pick, could you tell me:
What motherboard and CPU are you planning to use (to check for PCIe 5.0 support)?
Are you using this drive as a single main drive for OS + projects, or as a dedicated scratch/cache disk alongside an archive drive?
13,400 MB/s
For video editing, massive 4K/8K file transfers, and real-time rendering, top-tier 4TB SSD choices vary by performance tier and budget:
Watch this detailed guide on high-performance storage to see how sustained write endurance and cache types impact heavy video editing workloads:
Key Considerations for Video Editing Storage
PCIe 5.0 vs. PCIe 4.0: Gen 5 drives like the Samsung 9100 PRO and Crucial T705 offer double the theoretical bandwidth of Gen 4 drives . However, they run hotter and require a robust motherboard heatsink or an integrated fan solution to prevent thermal throttling during massive multi-gigabyte video renders.[1][2]
DRAM Cache: Always look for a dedicated DRAM cache (included on the Pro and T705 series) rather than Host Memory Buffer (HMB) drives. A dedicated cache maintains stable, high-speed writing when moving huge video project files back and forth.
Endurance (TBW): Video editing involves constantly writing and deleting gigabytes of cache and scratch files. High-end 4TB drives feature high Terabytes Written (TBW) ratings (often 2,400 TBW or higher), ensuring the drive won't wear out prematurely under heavy professional workloads.[1][2][3]
If you want to narrow down your selection, tell me:
What motherboard are you planning to use (does it support PCIe Gen 5 M.2 slots)?
For a high-end video-editing PC, I’d go with a 4TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD rather than a SATA SSD or older Gen4 model.
🏆 My top pick: Samsung 9100 Pro 4TB
Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe - $893.74 (apltech.dz)
The Samsung 9100 Pro 4TB is my first choice for a serious editing workstation. It reaches roughly 14,800 MB/s sequential read and 13,400 MB/s sequential write, and current testing specifically highlights it for sustained professional workloads such as video production.
For editing 4K, 6K, or 8K footage, that combination of capacity, very high sequential throughput, and sustained performance makes it a particularly strong workstation drive.
Other excellent choices
WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB - $843.00 (Newegg.com - Global Electronic Treasure Store + others)
WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB — Another excellent Gen5 option, rated around 14,900 MB/s for sequential throughput. It's an especially compelling alternative if you find it substantially cheaper.
Crucial T705 4TB — Extremely fast, around 14,100 MB/s read / 12,600 MB/s write. Excellent for large media transfers, but it needs good cooling.
Samsung 990 Pro 4TB — My pick if your motherboard only supports PCIe 4.0. It reaches 7,450 / 6,900 MB/s read/write and remains an excellent editing drive.
Kingston Fury Renegade G5 4TB — High-end Gen5 alternative with speeds up to roughly 14GB/s.
One important recommendation
For a video-editing workstation, don't choose solely by peak read/write numbers. Large video projects can involve sustained writes for cache, proxies, previews, and exports, so NAND type, controller, thermals, and endurance matter too.
If you're building a no-compromise PC, I'd actually consider two 4TB NVMe drives:
Drive 1: Windows + Premiere/Resolve + applications
Drive 2: Current video projects + scratch/cache
Separate large HDD/NAS: archival footage and backups
That can be considerably better for editing than putting everything on one SSD.
Bottom line: If your motherboard has a PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slot, Samsung 9100 Pro 4TB would be my choice. If you want the best value rather than absolute maximum speed, Samsung 990 Pro 4TB is still an excellent buy.
If you tell me your CPU/motherboard and whether you use Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve, I can pick the exact SSD setup—and the rest of the PC—for your editing workload.
If you're building a high-end video-editing PC, I'd go with a 4TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD rather than a Gen4 drive. For large 4K/6K/8K footage, the extra sequential bandwidth is useful when moving large media files.
🏆 My top pick: Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB
Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB with Heatsink - $918.95 (newegg.com)
The Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB is an excellent choice for a serious editing workstation:
Sequential read: up to 14,800 MB/s
Sequential write: up to 13,400 MB/s
PCIe 5.0 x4 / NVMe
4TB capacity
2,400 TBW endurance
Excellent random I/O performance
5-year warranty
Available with an integrated heatsink
For comparison, current 4TB options are roughly:
SSD
Read
Write
Best for
Samsung 9100 PRO
14,800 MB/s
13,400 MB/s
🏆 Overall
WD_BLACK SN8100
14,900 MB/s
14,000 MB/s
Maximum throughput
Crucial T705
14,100 MB/s
12,600 MB/s
High-end alternative
990 PRO
The WD SN8100 actually edges out the Samsung on rated sequential speeds—14.9 GB/s read and 14.0 GB/s write—and has 2,400 TBW endurance.
WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB with Heatsink - $849.99 (newegg.com)
What I'd buy for your editing PC
If money isn't an issue: Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB or WD SN8100 4TB.
If you want the best value: I'd seriously consider a 4TB Gen4 SSD instead. In real video-editing applications, you won't always see anything close to a 2× improvement simply because the SSD has twice the benchmark bandwidth. The Samsung 990 PRO, for example, is still capable of 7,450/6,900 MB/s.
One important thing: PCIe 5.0 drives run hot. Make sure your motherboard has a substantial M.2 heatsink or use the SSD's heatsink version. Sustained video-file transfers can generate considerably more heat than gaming.
If you're building a Premiere Pro / DaVinci Resolve workstation, I'd actually recommend two or three SSDs rather than putting everything on one 4TB drive—for example, separate OS/apps, active project/media, and cache/scratch drives. That can make a bigger practical difference than simply buying the fastest possible single SSD.
For a powerful video editing PC, you want a 4TB M.2 NVMe SSD that not only boasts high peak sequential read/write speeds (crucial for scrubbing through massive 4K/8K RAW video files) but also maintains high sustained write performance without thermal throttling or running out of cache.
The top-performing 4TB options depend on whether your motherboard supports the cutting-edge PCIe 5.0 standard or maxes out at PCIe 4.0:
The Absolute Fastest (PCIe 5.0)
If your motherboard and CPU (such as recent Intel or AMD platforms) support PCIe 5.0, these drives push the absolute limits of current hardware interface speeds:
WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB (NVMe PCIe 5.0): Offers blazing sequential speeds up to 14,900 MB/s read and up to 14,000 MB/s write . It features a robust DRAM cache and excellent power efficiency/thermal profiles for a Gen5 drive, making it a stellar powerhouse for heavy workloads like high-bitrate video editing and rendering. You can check availability and pricing on B&H Photo-Video-Audio.[1]
Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB (NVMe PCIe 5.0): Samsung's premier enterprise/enthusiast-grade PCIe 5.0 drive delivers sequential reads up to 14,800 MB/s and writes up to 13,400 MB/s . Equipped with a 5nm controller, a massive 4GB LPDDR4x DRAM cache, and an integrated heatsink option, it is engineered for extreme professional creator workstations. Detailed specs and ordering can be found via B&H Photo-Video-Audio.[1]
The Best Value & Cool-Running (PCIe 4.0)
If your budget is tighter, or if you want to save your PCIe 5.0 lanes for a GPU (or simply want a drive that runs cooler and consumes less power), top-tier PCIe 4.0 drives still max out the older interface and handle video editing effortlessly at lower temperatures:
Add to list Delivers reliable sequential reads around 7,100 MB/s and writes up to 6,800 MB/s with high endurance and a substantial aluminum heatsink. It's a workhorse choice for professional scratch disks. View details directly on the Corsair Store.[1]
To help narrow down the ideal pick, let me know:
What CPU and motherboard are you using for this build?
Will this 4TB drive be your primary OS/boot drive or a dedicated scratch/project disk for video files?
For a high-end video-editing PC, I’d go with a 4TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD rather than a Gen4 drive.
🏆 My top pick: Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB
Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB - $1,149.95 (newegg.com)
The Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB is an excellent choice for Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, After Effects, and large 4K/6K/8K projects.
Capacity: 4TB
Interface: PCIe 5.0 x4 / NVMe 2.0
Sequential read:14,800 MB/s
Sequential write:13,400 MB/s
Random read: up to 2.2M IOPS
Random write: up to 2.6M IOPS
NAND: TLC
Endurance: 2,400 TBW
Warranty: 5 years
That's about 2× the sequential performance of a typical top-end PCIe 4.0 SSD. Samsung specifically rates the 4TB model at 14.8/13.4 GB/s read/write.
Other excellent choices
WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB - $999.99 (Micro Center)
Crucial T705 4TB - $599.99 (Micro Center)
Crucial T710 4TB - $699.99 (Micro Center)
Corsair MP700 PRO SE 4TB - $759.99 (CORSAIR)
WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB — potentially the fastest of the group, with advertised read speeds around 14,900 MB/s. It's a particularly attractive workstation/creative option.
Crucial T705 4TB — extremely fast Gen5 drive and currently showing a much lower price than the Samsung in the shopping results.
Crucial T710 4TB — another very strong creative-workstation drive, advertised at up to 14,500 MB/s read.
One important thing for your build
Don't buy a Gen5 SSD just because the numbers look impressive. Your motherboard needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, and these drives generate substantial heat. I'd use the motherboard's M.2 heatsink or a substantial aftermarket heatsink.
For video editing, I'd actually recommend two SSDs if your budget allows:
4TB Gen5: active projects, cache/scratch, current footage
4–8TB Gen4/Gen5: project library and completed footage
Large HDD/NAS: long-term archive/backups
That setup can be considerably more practical than putting absolutely everything on one 4TB drive.
If you're building a "no-compromise" editing PC, my pick is the Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB. If you tell me your budget (e.g. $3,000, $5,000, $10,000) and whether you're using Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve, I can spec the entire PC around it—including CPU, GPU, motherboard, RAM, cooling, PSU, and additional storage.