If you're building a gaming PC, then one thing that you can't be without is a solid-state drive. SSDs deliver the fastest speeds, and in addition to moving files and performing tasks, they also load games and stream open worlds at a much faster rate than disk-based hard drives. This results in quick loading times and stutter-free open-world gameplay, something that's harder for your PC to handle with an HDD.

However, selecting a solid-state drive for your PC isn't as easy as just buying the first one you see. There are a few different types of SSDs that you should know about before you pick the right one. SATA SSDs are the most common and require you to connect them to your power supply and motherboard's SATA ports. M.2 SSDs are a faster option and require you to plug them into the M.2 slots on your motherboard--you'll want to make sure your motherboard has M.2 slots prior to your purchase.

M.2 SSDs also come in a number of different configurations. M.2 SATA is the slowest, as it uses the same standard that hard drives have used for years. M.2 PCIe, on the other hand, is much faster. Most M.2 PCIe SSDs make use of the NVMe memory standard, which lets the SSDs read and write at their full speed potential. Both M.2 SATA and M.2 PCIe can be inserted into the same slots on your motherboard, but you'll likely benefit more from an M.2 PCIe SSD because of that extra speed. M.2 PCIe NVMe SSDs typically cost more, but you can often find NVMe SSDs at a lower price than their regular, thanks to sales.