Crucial P310 1TB NVMe SSD: PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 specs and who it suits

The Crucial P310 (model CT1000P310SSD8) is a 1TB internal solid state drive in the M.2 2280 format. It uses NVMe over PCIe Gen4, which means it plugs directly into a motherboard slot and talks to the processor far faster than older SATA drives. Crucial describes it as a way to speed up gaming and boot times on both laptops and desktops.

What M.2 2280 and NVMe mean

M.2 2280 is the drive's shape: a small card roughly 22 mm wide and 80 mm long that sits flat on the motherboard. NVMe is the protocol it uses, designed for flash memory. The drive needs an M.2 slot that supports NVMe. Some M.2 slots only support SATA drives, so check your device's specifications.

Reading the speed figure

Crucial rates the drive at sequential reads up to 7,100 MB/s. Sequential speed shows how fast large files move, for instance when loading a big game level or copying video footage. For comparison, SATA SSDs are typically limited to around 550 MB/s. The listing does not give write speeds, so check Crucial's datasheet if sustained writing matters for you.

Maximum speeds are measured under specific test conditions, and everyday performance varies with the rest of the system.

Gen3 and Gen4 compatibility

Crucial says the P310 is compatible with Gen3 and Gen4 laptops and desktops. In general, a PCIe Gen4 drive works in a Gen3 slot, but at lower speeds, because Gen3 has roughly half the bandwidth of Gen4. This makes the drive usable in older machines now and ready to run faster if you move it into a newer computer later.

Faster gaming and booting

An NVMe drive typically cuts the time it takes to start the operating system and open large applications. In games, the main gain is shorter load times. Frame rates usually depend on the graphics card and processor rather than the drive.

Size and installation

The drive is a bare card with no heatsink listed. Installing it typically takes a single screw to hold it in the slot. Many motherboards include their own heatsink, and some laptops have a cover plate. If you plan to use it in a console or a thin device, check the manufacturer's clearance guidance first.

Who it suits

It suits anyone replacing a hard drive or a slower SATA SSD, a PC builder who needs a 1TB main drive, and laptop owners with a free M.2 slot who want more speed.

What to check before you buy

• Slot: confirm an M.2 2280 slot with NVMe support.
• Generation: a Gen3 slot works but at reduced speed.
• Capacity: 1TB can fill quickly with large games and video files.
• Cooling: check whether your system provides a heatsink.
• Moving data: plan how to clone or reinstall your system on the new drive, and keep a backup.

The short version

• A 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe SSD on PCIe Gen4, model CT1000P310SSD8.
• Crucial rates sequential reads at up to 7,100 MB/s.
• Compatible with Gen3 and Gen4 laptops and desktops.
• Aimed at faster boot times and game loading.
• Check slot type and cooling before installing.

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