Is PCIe 4.0 SSD actually worth it over Gen3 for gaming?
I’m looking to add another 2TB SSD to my desktop mainly for gaming.
Right now I’m trying to decide between a PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD and a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.
From what I’ve seen, Gen4 drives are clearly faster on paper, but I keep seeing mixed opinions about real-world gaming benefits.
Some people say load times are basically the same, while others say Gen4 is noticeably better for newer open-world games and asset streaming.
My situation:
Gaming only (no video editing / productivity workloads)
Mostly Steam library storage
Budget matters, but I can afford either
So my questions are:
Is there any real-world gaming difference between Gen3 and Gen4 in 2026?
Are Gen4 SSDs actually worth the extra cost for game loading times?
Or is Gen3 still the “sweet spot” for a dedicated game drive?
I’m trying not to overpay for something I won’t actually notice in gameplay.
Any real-world experience would be appreciated, especially from people who have used both in gaming setups.
