Articles about M.2

TEAMGROUP has launched two new QLC SSDs: the MP33Q M.2 PCIe SSD and the T-FORCE VULCAN Z QLC SSD. The MP33Q is a high-performance NVMe SSD with up to 2,500MB/s read speeds, while the VULCAN Z is a 2.5-inch SATA SSD with up to 550MB/s read speeds.

The TEAMGROUP MP33Q M.2 PCIe SSD is designed with 3D QLC flash memory chips, PCIe Gen3x4 interface and NVMe 1.3 protocol. With up to 2,500MB/s in read speed and 2,100MB/s in write speed, it outperforms SATA III SSDs by five times and is available in capacities of up to 2TB.

Continue reading →

If you have a cutting-edge PC with PCIe 5.0, you will probably want to get a compatible solid state drive to maximize your performance. True, PCIe 5.0 SSDs are largely for bragging rights and benchmarks -- you probably won't notice a difference in actual use -- but still, you might as well go for the best if the difference in price isn't totally obscene.

Today, TEAMGROUP unveils an extremely fast M.2 2280 NVMe M.2 PCIe 5.0 solid state drive. Called "T-FORCE CARDEA Z540," this SSD comes with a graphene heatsink for added cooling. This drive is only being offered in a 2TB capacity, featuring read speeds up to 12,000MB/s and write speeds up to 10,000MB/s.

Continue reading →

Are all NVMe M.2 solid state drives the same from a performance perspective? Technically, no, but nowadays, even the lower-speed offerings are still rather fast. In other words, no NVMe SSD is "slow" although I would still caution to stick with trusted brands if you value your data. After all, it doesn't matter how speedy your drive is if it dies and your files are lost.

Samsung is probably the most trusted name in solid state storage. Not only are its SSDs historically very dependable, but very fast too. While a Samsung SSD may cost a bit more than some other brands, it is absolutely worth the premium if you want the best.

Continue reading →

M.2 PCIe Gen 4x4 solid state drives are nothing new -- there are plenty of them on the market. However, a Gen 4x4 SSD with RGB lighting is apparently non-existent -- until now, that is.

Today, Patriot launches the all-new VPR400 M.2 PCIe Gen 4x4 SSD under its popular VIPER sub-brand which is designed for gamers. The company claims it is the world's first M.2 PCIe Gen 4x4 SSD with RGB lighting. While there are a bunch of M.2 PCIe Gen 3x4 drives with RGB, as far as I can tell, this might really be the first 4x4 variant with that feature.

Continue reading →

Mushkin may not be a household name, but if you are a seasoned PC builder, you should be familiar with it. I have purchased the company's RAM several times, and have always been satisfied with the results. In other words, I can confidently recommend Mushkin products based on my experiences.

Today, Mushkin launches its latest solid state drive. Called "Redline Vortex," the M.2 SSD utilizes the INNOGRIT IG5236 PCIe 4.0 controller to achieve impressive performance. This drive features read speeds up to 7,415MB/s and write speeds up to 6,800MB/s. Very nice!

Continue reading →

When it comes to storage drives, faster is always better, right? Well, yes, but remember, better performance usually comes at a higher price. And so, if you don't need bleeding edge speeds, why should you pay for it?

Despite the prevalence of PCIe 4.0 solid state drives, and the emergence of PCIe 5.0 SSDs, the truth is, most consumers would probably not notice the speed benefits they offer over, say, a PCIe 3.0 SSD. Hell, many would likely see no difference between PCIe and SATA. For those consumers that don't need a PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 SSD, today, Silicon Power unveils a new PCIe 3.0 (Gen3x4) drive. Called "UD80," it actually has very respectable read and write speeds.

Continue reading →

Do you need a PCIe 4.0 NVMe solid state drive? Probably not. I mean, nobody really needs the fast speeds these drives offer. However, the drool-worthy performance is certainly nice to have. Look, if you can afford such an SSD and your computer supports it at full speed, you might as well get one. I mean, why not?

Today, Western Digital launches its latest such PCIe 4.0 SSD. Called "WD_BLACK SN770," it features blazing fast speeds and capacities up to 2TB. While this SSD is designed for gamers, it should prove to be a solid choice for any and all storage needs. In other words, even non-gamers should check it out

Continue reading →

The vast majority of consumers don't own a computer with PCIe 4.0 support, so almost no one is currently reaping the benefits of a PCIe 4.0 solid state drive. Hell, most consumers don't really need anything more than a meager SATA SSD these days. Enthusiasts that desire the "latest and greatest" are the only ones truly clamoring for hardcore PCIe 4.0 SSD performance -- mostly just for bragging rights.

Of course, the computer industry will continue to push boundaries in an effort to avoid being stagnant. And so, PCIe 5.0 is on the horizon -- even though it is largely unnecessary. TEAMGROUP is happy to manufacture such an SSD, and today, it teases exactly that. Under the company's T-FORCE gaming brand, a PCIe 5.0 NVMe 2.0 SSD should hit stores later this year.

Continue reading →

The transition to PCIe 4.0 is in full effect, with more and more computers and motherboards having the new standard. Whether or not the user truly needs the benefits of PCIe 4.0 is debatable, but it is still cool regardless. After all, it is important to continually push boundaries.

One of the best aspects of PCIe 4.0 is faster solid state drives. For instance, today, Patriot launches a new such SSD. Called "P400," the M.2 drive uses the 4th-gen PCIe interface to deliver fast speeds while its graphene heatshield will keep things cool.

Continue reading →

So, you bought a laptop that only has USB-C ports and now you are regretting it, eh? Yeah, I totally get it -- it's no fun having to buy dongles and adapters to connect your favorite accessories and devices. Even Apple learned its lesson and brought "legacy" ports back to the newest MacBook Pro. Thankfully, there are multiport adapters on the market that can transform a single USB-C port into several useful ports.

Today, Satechi launches its latest such product. Called "USB-C Hybrid Multiport Adapter," the portable dock offers HDMI, dual USB-A, and USB-C pass-through power delivery. But wait, what makes it a hybrid device as the name implies? Ah, that is the coolest aspect -- the adapter also serves as an M.2 solid state enclosure! Unfortunately, only SATA SSDs (such as this one) are compatible -- NVMe drives will not work. Other potential downsides? The adapter does not offer an Ethernet port or an SD card reader.

Continue reading →

The transition to PCIe Gen4 is currently in full effect. More and more computers and motherboards with the new standard are being released all the time. Whether or not the average computer user truly needs the benefits of PCIe 4.0 is debatable, but it is still cool regardless. After all, it is important to continually push boundaries.

As you can imagine, one of the best aspects of PCIe 4.0 is faster solid state drives. Today, CORSAIR launches its latest such SSD. Called "MP600 PRO XT," the M.2 PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD is insanely fast. To keep it cool and maintain its speedy performance, it is equipped with an enormous heatspreader. Seriously, folks, that heatsink is quite the chonky boy!

Continue reading →

Is the Sony PlayStation 5 better than the Xbox Series X? Absolutely. It has better exclusive games, a more futuristic design, and quite frankly, a much better name too. I mean, Series X? Microsoft has begun mocking its own ridiculous naming scheme lately.

Thanks to a new firmware update (currently in beta) you can finally expand the PlayStation 5's internal storage too, using an ultra-fast NVMe SSD. And now, TEAMGROUP is releasing a new such M.2 SSD for PlayStation 5. It is called "T-FORCE CARDEA A440 Pro Special 5eries," and no, the word "Series" being stylized with a 5 is not a typo -- it is a clever way to indicate it is designed for the PS5.

Continue reading →

The transition to PCIe Gen4 is in full effect, with more and more computers and motherboards having the new standard. Whether or not the user truly needs the benefits of PCIe 4.0 is debatable, but it is still cool regardless. After all, it is important to continually push boundaries.

One of the best aspects of PCIe 4.0 is faster solid state drives. For instance, today, Micron unveils the latest such SSD from Crucial. Called "P5 Plus," the PCIe Gen4 M.2 SSD is insanely fast. The drive features 6600MB/s read speed across all capacities. The 1TB and 2TB capacities offer 5000MB/s write speed, while the 500GB variant offers 3000MB/s.

Continue reading →