Building a new PC is exciting. However, looking at the spec sheet for a new motherboard can be confusing. You see terms like "Gen4" and "Gen5" everywhere. The biggest question most builders face today is pcie 4.0 vs 5.0.
Is the newer version actually worth the extra money? Or is it just marketing hype?
PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is the connection standard that connects your high-speed components like Graphics Cards and SSDs to your processor. Think of it like a highway. The higher the number, the faster the speed limit.
Whether you are looking for a reliable KingSpec PCIe 4.0 SSD for gaming or trying to future-proof your workstation, this guide will break down the differences simply. We will help you decide if you need the cutting-edge speed of Gen5 or the proven value of Gen4.
The Key Takeaways
- Speed: PCIe 5.0 is effectively twice as fast as PCIe 4.0 in raw bandwidth.
- Gaming: Currently, there is almost zero difference in FPS or load times between Gen4 and Gen5.
- Heat: PCIe 5.0 SSDs run extremely hot. They usually require massive heatsinks or tiny, noisy fans.
- Compatibility: They are backward compatible. You can put a Gen4 drive in a Gen5 slot, and it works perfectly.
- Verdict: PCIe 4.0 is still the sweet spot for 99% of gamers and everyday users.
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What is PCIe?
To understand the difference between 4.0 and 5.0, you first need to understand what PCIe actually is. You do not need an engineering degree. You just need to visualize traffic.
Think of your computer motherboard as a city. The CPU (Processor) is the Mayor's office. The SSD (Storage) is the Library. The GPU (Graphics Card) is the Art Museum.
PCIe is the highway system connecting all these buildings.
- Lanes (x1, x4, x16): You will often see "x4" or "x16" next to PCIe. This refers to the number of lanes on the highway. An SSD usually uses 4 lanes (x4). A Graphics Card usually uses 16 lanes (x16).
- Generation (4.0, 5.0): This refers to the speed limit of the highway.
The Speed Limit Change
- PCIe 3.0 was like a standard city street.
- PCIe 4.0 doubled the speed limit. It turned the street into a highway.
- PCIe 5.0 doubles it again. It turns the highway into a futuristic super-speedway.
When we talk about an SSD being "Gen4" or "Gen5," we are talking about how fast it is allowed to travel on this highway.
If you are currently using an older computer with a hard drive or a SATA SSD, you are driving on a dirt road. Moving to any form of NVMe PCIe is a massive upgrade.
Read our comparison on NVMe vs SATA to see just how big that jump is.
PCIe 4.0 vs. PCIe 5.0: Speed and Bandwidth
Let's look at the raw data. On paper, PCIe 5.0 looks like a massive leap forward.
PCIe 4.0 (Gen4)
- Released: 2017
- Max Speed per Lane: 2 GB/s
- Max Speed for an SSD (x4): ~8 GB/s (Real world ~7,400 MB/s)
- Status: This is the current "Gold Standard" for high-end gaming PCs and the PlayStation 5.
PCIe 5.0 (Gen5)
- Released: 2019 (Available in consumer parts around 2022)
- Max Speed per Lane: 4 GB/s
- Max Speed for an SSD (x4): ~16 GB/s (Real world ~14,000 MB/s)
- Status: This is the "Enthusiast Tier" for professionals and data servers.
As you can see, Gen5 effectively doubles the bandwidth. It is like widening the highway from 4 lanes to 8 lanes. However, here is the catch.
Just because the highway is wider doesn't mean your car can drive faster. Your software (games and apps) has to actually use that speed.
Does it Matter for Gaming?
This is the most common question we get. "Will a Gen5 SSD give me more FPS?"
The short answer is No.
The Load Time Test
We have seen extensive testing on this. Imagine loading a massive level in a game like Cyberpunk 2077 or Starfield.
- SATA SSD: Loads in 20 seconds.
- PCIe 3.0 SSD: Loads in 13 seconds.
- PCIe 4.0 SSD: Loads in 12 seconds.
- PCIe 5.0 SSD: Loads in 11.5 seconds.
Going from a slow SATA drive to NVMe saves you 7 seconds. That is huge. Going from Gen4 to Gen5 saves you half a second. That is barely noticeable.
Why is the difference so small?
Games are not just limited by raw transfer speed. They are also limited by the CPU's ability to "decompress" the data.
The SSD sends the data so fast that the CPU cannot unpack it quickly enough. The bottleneck is no longer the storage. It is the rest of the computer.
DirectStorage
There is a new technology called DirectStorage. This allows the Graphics Card to pull data directly from the SSD, bypassing the CPU.
- In theory, this makes Gen5 drives much better.
- In reality, current Gen4 KingSpec NVMe SSDs are already fast enough to saturate this technology. We have not yet seen a game that requires Gen5 speeds to work properly.
Unless you are a professional esports player looking for every single millisecond of advantage, Gen4 is perfect.
If you are building a gaming rig, invest in a higher-end graphics card, or check out our guide to the Best DDR4 RAM for Gaming to ensure your memory keeps up with your system.
PCIe 4.0 vs. PCIe 5.0: The Heat Problem (The Hidden Cost)
There is a catch with PCIe 5.0 that marketing teams do not like to talk about. Heat.
Moving data at 14,000 MB/s generates a massive amount of friction and electrical heat. When an SSD gets too hot, it does something called "Thermal Throttling." It intentionally slows down to prevent itself from melting.
PCIe 4.0 Cooling
A standard KingSpec PCIe 4.0 SSD runs reasonably cool. It works perfectly with a thin metal sticker or the simple heatsink included on most motherboards. It is silent and efficient. This makes it perfect for laptops and compact PCs.
PCIe 5.0 Cooling
Gen5 drives run extremely hot. To keep them cool, manufacturers have to use extreme measures.
- Massive Heatsinks: Some Gen5 drives come with heatsinks that are 2 inches tall. This can block your CPU cooler or Graphics Card.
- Active Fans: Many Gen5 drives actually have tiny, whiny fans attached to them. These fans add noise to your system. They are another moving part that can break.
For most users, especially those who want a quiet PC, the heat and noise of Gen5 are a dealbreaker. A cool-running Internal SSD that does not sound like a jet engine is usually the better choice for daily use.
Who is PCIe 5.0 Actually For?
If gamers do not need it, who is it for? Why does it exist?
PCIe 5.0 is designed for Professionals and Enterprise Servers.
1. Video Editors (8K RAW)
If you edit video for Hollywood or high-end YouTube channels, you might work with 8K RAW footage. These files are gigantic. The double bandwidth of Gen5 allows you to "scrub" (scroll) through the timeline instantly without any lag.
2. Data Scientists and AI
Training AI models involves moving terabytes of data back and forth constantly. For a data scientist, cutting a transfer time from 4 hours to 2 hours saves money.
3. Server Farms
Servers that handle cloud computing or database management need to serve thousands of users at once. The massive throughput of PCIe 5.0 is essential here.
For these users, time is money. For everyone else, it is just a luxury. If you are a professional looking to maximize your workflow, you should also ensure your memory latency is tuned correctly.
👉 Read our guide on What CL for DDR5 RAM means for workstation performance.
PCIe Compatibility and Motherboards
One of the best things about the PCIe standard is Backward Compatibility. This means the new stuff works with the old stuff.
Can I mix and match?
- Gen4 SSD in a Gen5 Slot: YES. It will work perfectly. It will run at Gen4 speeds.
- Gen3 SSD in a Gen5 Slot: YES. It will work perfectly. It will run at Gen3 speeds.
- Gen5 SSD in a Gen4 Slot: YES. It will work, but it will slow down to Gen4 speeds. You are wasting money by doing this.
Motherboard Selection
- Intel: Most Z690 and Z790 motherboards have at least one PCIe 5.0 slot for the SSD.
- AMD: The AM5 platform (Ryzen 7000/9000) heavily supports PCIe 5.0.
This means you can buy a "future-proof" motherboard today that supports Gen5, but save money by installing a KingSpec PCIe 4.0 SSD right now. In three years, when Gen5 drives are cheaper and cooler, you can upgrade easily.
PCIe 4.0 vs. PCIe 5.0 The Cost of Speed
Let's talk about your wallet. The price difference is significant.
- 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD: Typically costs around $60 to $80.
- 1TB PCIe 5.0 SSD: Typically costs around $150 to $180.
You are paying double the price for a drive that loads your games 0.5 seconds faster and makes more noise.
The Smart Strategy: Instead of buying a 1TB Gen5 drive, you could buy a 2TB Gen4 drive for the same money. For a gamer, having double the storage space is infinitely more valuable than having a slightly higher theoretical top speed. You can install twice as many games without worrying about deleting them.
If you are upgrading an older machine that doesn't support NVMe at all, don't worry. A standard Best SATA SSD is still a massive upgrade over a mechanical hard drive.
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Conclusion
The battle of pcie 4.0 vs 5.0 comes down to value.
PCIe 5.0 is an impressive technology. It is undoubtedly the future of computing. However, right now, it suffers from "Early Adopter Tax." It is expensive. It runs hot. It offers little real-world benefit for 99% of users.
PCIe 4.0 remains the king of value and performance. It is fast enough for the most demanding games. It is cool enough to fit in laptops and PlayStation 5 consoles. It is affordable enough to allow you to buy high capacities.
Final Thought: Don't get caught up in the hype of big numbers. Unless you are using your computer to make money by editing 8K video, you do not need Gen5 yet. Save your money. Buy a larger Gen4 drive. Enjoy your games.
Upgrade Your Storage Today
Ready to boost your PC performance? Browse our collections to find the right fit.
- PCIe 4.0 Collection - The gold standard for modern gaming PCs.
- PCIe 3.0 Collection - Perfect for budget builds and upgrades.
- USB-C External SSDs - High-speed backups for your data.
- Internal SSD Collection - Reliable upgrades for every budget.
FAQs PCIe 4.0 vs. PCIe 5.0
Can I put a PCIe 5.0 SSD in a PCIe 4.0 slot?
Yes, you can. It will fit physically because the connector is exactly the same shape. However, the speed will be limited to the PCIe 4.0 maximum (around 7,400 MB/s). You will be paying for expensive Gen5 speed but only getting Gen4 performance. It is generally a waste of money unless you plan to upgrade your motherboard very soon.
Do I need a special motherboard for PCIe 5.0?
Yes. To get the full speeds, both your motherboard and your CPU must support PCIe 5.0.
- Intel: 12th Gen, 13th Gen, and 14th Gen processors support it.
- AMD: Ryzen 7000 and 9000 series processors support it. Check your motherboard manual to see if the specific M.2 slots are rated for Gen4 or Gen5. Sometimes only the top slot is Gen5, while the bottom slots are Gen4.
Will PCIe 5.0 make my computer boot faster?
Probably not. Boot times are mostly limited by the time it takes your motherboard to initialize the hardware (BIOS time). The actual loading of Windows from a fast Gen4 SSD is already nearly instantaneous. Moving to Gen5 saves maybe a fraction of a second. You would not notice the difference without a stopwatch.
Is PCIe 5.0 necessary for the RTX 4090?
Surprisingly, no. Even the most powerful graphics cards available today, like the NVIDIA RTX 4090, utilize the PCIe 4.0 interface. They don't even saturate the full bandwidth of Gen4 yet. We are likely a few years away from Graphics Cards strictly needing Gen5 to run at full power.
Does the PlayStation 5 support PCIe 5.0?
No. The Sony PlayStation 5 supports PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSDs. If you buy a Gen5 drive for your PS5, it might work, but it will run at Gen4 speeds. More importantly, the massive heatsink on a Gen5 drive probably won't fit inside the PS5's expansion slot. Stick to a high-quality Gen4 drive for console gaming.
