Model files are large. Llama 3 70B at Q4 is ~40 GB. A full ComfyUI setup with several models can hit 200 GB+. Fast NVMe makes model loading instant. Here’s what to buy.
Best NVMe — Samsung 990 Pro 2TB
Consistently the fastest consumer NVMe. Sequential reads up to 7,450 MB/s — models load in seconds. The 2 TB variant is the sweet spot for a primary AI drive.
Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe
PCIe 4.0 · 7,450 MB/s read · 6,900 MB/s write · 5-year warranty
Value NVMe — WD Black SN850X 2TB
Just behind the 990 Pro in benchmarks, often cheaper. Excellent sustained performance under repeated model load operations.
WD Black SN850X 2TB
PCIe 4.0 · 7,300 MB/s read · 6,600 MB/s write · Great sustained perf
Bulk Storage — Seagate IronWolf 8TB HDD
For model archives and dataset storage, a high-capacity HDD is the cost-effective choice. IronWolf is NAS-rated — built for 24/7 operation.
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