There are a lot of things I'd do differently the next time I build a PC. From picking an X870 motherboard to going AMD for the GPU, my priorities during my next build will be completely different. I'll buy the CPU and GPU based on relative performance, not specs, and almost every motherboard over $200 will give me the features I want. The SSD, however, will be my sole focus because of a crucial specification — the DRAM. The SSD determines a major chunk of the day-to-day PC experience, and I've seen the consequences of using a DRAM-less SSD firsthand. Next time, I'm not making the same mistake.

What does DRAM actually do?

What's the fuss all about?

You probably know that DRAM is a cache memory chip located on the SSD that serves as a high-speed buffer for the controller. It stores a mapping table for the SSD, informing the controller about the memory address of the data on the NAND flash cells. When the SSD is tasked with certain workloads, this high-speed memory buffer comes into play, speeding up the operation. It allows the controller instant access to the mapping table, avoiding needless checks to find the specific cells to write to. This prevents the kind of drastic slowdowns you'd see on DRAM-less drives.

You probably won't feel the difference between a DRAM and DRAM-less SSD in most games or day-to-day tasks. However, if you're into video editing, streaming games, or even copying a vast number of files to the SSD, that's where the DRAM shines. Where other drives would slow to a crawl after the first few seconds, a DRAM SSD will sustain the high transfer speeds you've bought it for.

Productivity and file transfers aren't the only reasons to buy a DRAM SSD, though. Having a high-speed memory buffer increases the lifespan of the drive, albeit slightly. Since flash memory has a limited number of Program/Erase (P/E) cycles, constant writing and deletion of data keeps eroding the remaining lifespan of the cells. SSDs use techniques like wear leveling to ensure all cells wear down at the same rate. The presence of a DRAM buffer between the SSD and the controller further helps reduce unnecessary wear on the cells, as the controller is able to manage data more efficiently by reducing the number of times data is written to the cells.

DRAM separates the best from the rest

HMB is a workaround, not a replacement for DRAM

It's not as if DRAM-less SSDs don't make use of a mapping table when accessing or writing data on the drive. They simply use a part of the system's RAM as the cache memory — this DRAM replacement is known as Host Memory Buffer (HMB). While the objective is the same, i.e., preventing drive slowdown and avoiding needless writes to the flash memory cells, the effectiveness of HMB is inferior to that of DRAM. As I said, most people won't notice the difference, but productivity users will. In my three years with the WD Black SN770, I've seriously missed having DRAM on my SSD.

A drive that looks good on paper can betray you in certain scenarios. In my case, whenever I've tried to multitask by editing a product video while a Steam download runs in the background, the SSD feels just a tad slower than normal. The difference isn't huge but enough to be annoying, and it adds up over time. I've also experienced sluggish access speeds when opening folders with hundreds of files. It takes just slightly longer for the contents to appear, but that's enough to make me feel I shouldn't have saved money on my primary SSD.

Depending on the kind of data you work with on your PC, you might value a faster, more efficient, and longer-lasting SSD. If gaming isn't the only "heavy" workload on your system, you should consider picking a DRAM SSD the next time you're buying one. In a time when all SSDs perform similarly in the most common workloads, DRAM is undoubtedly one of the most important SSD specs you should look out for.

The DRAM premium is barely $15

The benefits are worth it

DRAM SSDs might cost more than their DRAM-less counterparts, but the gulf is no longer enough to warrant settling for the latter. For instance, DRAM SSDs like the Samsung 990 Pro, WD Black SN850X, and XPG Gammix S70 Blade are priced only $15 higher (per TB) than drives like the Samsung 990 Evo Plus or WD Black SN7100. SSD prices have shot up in the last two months, but this difference remains true. A $15 premium for a 1TB, and $30 premium for a 2TB drive isn't too much if you're getting faster sustained speeds in demanding workloads and a longer lifespan, especially if your work depends on it.

If I'm being honest, my occasional productivity workloads won't make full use of a DRAM SSD, but I don't want to experience random slowdowns anymore. So, buying a DRAM SSD the next time I'm putting a build together is at the top of my list. It might cost significantly more than a DRAM-less SSD in my corner of the world, but I'm considering it an investment. I'm fine with using a mid-range GPU and 6-core CPU on my next PC, but an SSD directly impacts the snappiness of the system, and that's where I don't want to compromise.

DRAM SSDs should become the norm

In 2025, manufacturers should make DRAM a permanent fixture on all SSDs. The demands of modern PCs are increasing, more and more people are getting into content creation and freelancing, and many people will pay a slight premium for a better product. SSDs with DRAM will continue to benefit demanding workloads, and as DRAM awareness rises, consumers will come around.