Tag Archives: M.2 SSD

Samsung 980 Pro : Why It’s Now A Fast + Affordable SSD!

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The Samsung 980 Pro is still the epitome of a fast gaming SSD that will let you boot up instantly, and load massive games quickly.

Find out why it is still the favourite SSD for discerning gamers all over the world!

 

Samsung 980 Pro : Super Fast Gaming SSD!

When it was launched back in September 2020, the Samsung 980 Pro was amongst the best and fastest gaming SSD money could buy.

It boasted a brand new 8nm Samsung Elpis controller with a native PCIe 4.0 interface, as well as improved TurboWrite caching.

To keep it running at peak performance, the Elpis controller is nickel coated to improve heat dissipation. It also uses a heat spreader label to keep the NAND chips cool.

The 980 Pro SSD also uses Samsung’s latest V-NAND TLC flash memory, with storage capacities of up to 2 TB in an M.2 2280 form factor.

Each SSD comes with 512 GB to 2 GB of LPDDR4 cache, and uses some of its storage as a fast SLC cache of between 49 GB and 216 GB in size.

Thanks to this combination of both DRAM and SLC caching, the Samsung 980 Pro boasts sequential read speeds of 6.4 GB/s to 7.0 GB/s, and sequential write speeds of 2.7 GB/s to 5.1 GB/s.

Of course, once the write caches ran out, sustained write speed fell to 400 MB/s for the 250 GB model, 900 MB/s for the 500 GB model, and 1.7 GB/s for the 1 TB and 2 TB models. But this was generally not an issue for gaming PCs, where read speed is paramount.

Capacity Fixed Intelligent Total TurboWrite
Speed		 After
TurboWrite
250 GB 4 GB 45 GB 49 GB 2.7 GB/s 0.4 GB/s
500 GB 4 GB 90 GB 94 GB 5.0 GB/s 0.9 GB/s
1 TB 6 GB 108 GB 114 GB 5.0 GB/s 1.7 GB/s
2 TB 6 GB 210 GB 216 GB 5.1 GB/s 1.7 GB/s

But note that TurboWrite requires you keeping approximately 20% of the drive’s storage capacity free or empty. If you fill up the drive beyond that, the Intelligent portion of TurboWrite will be reduced.

Also, to fully utilise the Samsung 980 Pro, your gaming PC should  PCIe 4.0. It is backward compatible and will have no issues working with PCIe 3.0, but your drive will be limited to 3.5GB/s for sequential reads.

 

Samsung 980 Pro : Now A Fast SSD That Won’t Break The Bank!

When it was first released, the Samsung 980 Pro was not only expensive, it was much sought after and were consequently hard to come by.

The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t do us any favour, with computer part prices skyrocketing from a combination of increased demand and reduced production.

18 months later – the Samsung 980 Pro remains one of the better gaming SSDs money can buy, only it’s more affordable these days!

Of particular interest are the smaller 250GB and 500GB models. While they don’t offer that much storage space, they are much cheaper on a per GB basis.

Here is a look at the latest deals on the Samsung 980 Pro SSD globally :

Malaysia

Singapore

United States

United Kingdom

Australia

 

Samsung 980 Pro : Specifications

Specifications Samsung 980 PRO
Form Factor M.2 (2280)
Interface PCIe 4.0 x4 / NVMe 1.3c
Controller Samsung Elpis (8 nm)
NAND Storage Samsung 1xxL V-NAND TLC
Capacities 250 GB 500 GB 1 TB 2 TB
LPDDR4 Cache 512 MB 1 GB 2 GB
TurboWrite Cache
 49 GB 94 GB 114 GB 216 GB
Sequential Read
 6.4 GB/s 6.9 GB/s 7.0 GB/s
Sequential Write 2.7 GB/s 5.0 GB/s 5.0 GB/s 5.1 GB/s
Uncached Write 0.4 GB/s 0.9 GB/s 1.7 GB/s
Random Read 22,000 IOPS
Random Write 60,000 IOPS
Peak Random
Read 		500K IOPS 800K IOPS 1M IOPS
Peak Random
Write
 600K IOPS 1M IOPS
Endurance 150 TBW 300 TBW 600 TBW 1200 TBW
Security AES 256-bit
FDE, TCG / Opal v2.0, IEEE1667
TRIM Yes
Garbage Collection Yes
WNN No
Dimensions 80.15 mm long
22.15 mm wide
2.38 mm thick
Weight 9.0 grams

 

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The GIGABYTE AORUS RGB SSD Series Revealed!

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At CES 2019, GIGABYTE revealed their latest storage product – the AORUS RGB SSD Series! And they are launching it in not one, but two, form factors – AIC and M.2.

The GIGABYTE AORUS RGB SSD Series Revealed!

AORUS RGB M.2 SSD

The GIGABYTE AORUS RGB M.2 SSD is available in two storage capacities – 256 GB and 512 GB. It delivers sequential read speeds up to 3480 MB/s and sequential write speed up to 2000 MB/s and is built with anodized, aluminium heatsinks.

The AORUS RGB M.2 SSD also features digital LED lighting that synchronises with AORUS motherboard, and a hairline finish on its heatsink.

AORUS RGB AIC SSD

The AORUS RGB AIC SSD offers larger storage capacity sizes of 512 GB and 1 TB, with sequential read speeds up to 3480 MB/s and sequential write speeds up to 3080 MB/s.

It comes with a 5 mm thick dark grey aluminium matte heatsink with a cross-cut design for increased heat dissipation area, as well as a thick LAIRD thermal pad.

The AORUS RGB AIC SSD’s heatsink has also been treated with fine sandblasting on the surface, multi-step anodisation and laser engraving. Even its screw holes were CNC processed for accuracy and aesthetics.

Finally, it boasts frontside RGB lighting with default RGB wave patterns. You can also customise its lighting effects using the new RGB Fusion 2.0 app.

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The 512 GB GIGABYTE M.2 SSD Revealed!

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GIGABYTE just revealed their 512 GB GIGABYTE M.2 SSD, an affordable solid state storage solution for the mainstream market. Learn more about GIGABYTE’s latest M.2 solid state drive!

 

The 512 GB GIGABYTE M.2 2280 SSD Revealed!

Based on the NVMe architecture, the 512 GB GIGABYTE M.2 SSD utilises PCIe Gen3 x2 lanes to deliver higher bandwidth and transfer speeds compared to the traditional SATA interface. Like the earlier 128 GB and 256 GB models, the 512 GB GIGABYTE M.2 SSD supports TRIM and S.M.A.R.T technologies.

The 512 GB GIGABYTE M.2 SSD is built around TLC flash memory, with Host Memory Buffer (HMB) to improve performance at a more affordable price point.

 

Why PCIe x2, Not PCIe x4?

With reduced SSD prices in recent years, many users have made the transition from SATA devices to M.2 devices. Despite the upgrade, storage performance from their M.2 SSDs is often bottlenecked by the utilization of SATA 6Gb/s lanes on their storage devices.

The SATA 6Gb/s interface cannot match the read/write speeds of the SSDs, holding back their storage devices. NVMe based storage devices that utilize PCIe Gen3 lanes circumvent this issue but these devices usually come with PCIe Gen3 x4 lanes which makes them significantly more expensive.

While users are looking for better performance, NVMe based PCIe Gen3 x4 solid state drives are expensive. GIGABYTE M.2 SSD is based on NVMe architecture but uses PCIe Gen3 x2 lanes to reduce cost, while using Host Buffer Memory (HMB) to maximise performance.

HMB technology uses system memory to cache and improve the SSD‘s performance. This eliminates the need for dedicated cache memory, allowing GIGABYTE to keep costs low.

 

GIGABYTE M.2 SSD Price + Availability

The GIGABYTE M.2 SSD series comes with a 3 year warranty, and three capacity sizes of 128GB, 256GB and the newly-announced 512GB. Here are some direct purchase links (with prices accurate as of 24 December 2018) :

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United States

United Kingdom

Malaysia

 

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The Plextor M8Se NVMe SSD Series Launched

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Plextor just announced the debut of the Plextor M8Se series solid state drives (SSDs) that built around the ultra-high-speed NVMe interfaces. The drives also use the industry’s flagship TLC NAND and control chip components, and specialized heat sinks with streamlined aesthetic design.

 

The Plextor M8Se NVMe SSD Series

The Plextor M8Se series also caters to a variety of user requirements for SSD upgrades or system assembly, with both PCIe and M.2 2280 specifications. The PCIe version adopts lines drawn from fluid mechanics and a professional blue and black high-performance heat sink design. This presents dynamic ultra-fast speed aesthetics, along with more efficient thermal conductivity that can quickly eliminate the heat generated by M8Se’s high speed transmission and help the computer system maintain optimal operating efficiency.

The M8Se series has the most trustworthy service life and stability of any SSD. The Marvell control chip and Toshiba Super-High-Performance TLC NAND flash memory also allow the M8Se series to have outstanding performance, read/write service life, capacity, and stability, even better than the usual TLC SSD.

The M8Se series is powered by the latest generation NVMe PCIe Gen 3x 4 super high-speed transmission interface that delivers high bandwidth and low latency that allows sequential read/write access speeds of up to 2,450/1,000 MB/s and random read/write speeds of up to 210,000/175,000 IOPS. Whether it’s for work, fun, or multimedia applications, the M8Se is the perfect solution to speed up your system and provide the ultimate user experience.

Equipped with Plextor firmware technology and advanced LDCP debugging capability, the M8Se series has greatly enhanced read/write reliability. Its exclusive PlexNitro write cache technology can ensure the most reliable read/write performance, and its extended SSD service life guarantees peace of mind to long-term users.

 

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The Plextor M8Se Series Availability

The Plextor M8Se series is anticipated to officially reach the market in June 2017. In addition to providing the PCle expansion card and M.2 2280 specifications, capacities of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB are also available to satisfy players’ diverse needs for system construction and expansion.

The M8Se series products have passed Plextor’s stringent quality tests, with a 1.5 million hour MTBF (mean time between failures) guarantee in addition to a 3-year warranty period.

 

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The ADATA SU800 M.2 2280 SSD Launched

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Taipei, 3 November 2016 – ADATA Technology today launched the M.2 2280 version of the ADATA SU800 3D NAND SSD. With higher density, faster performance, and longer lifespan than 2D NAND SSDs, the new SU800 SSD fits on a compact card while still available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB and offered at very attractive price points.

It supports a DRAM Buffer and SLC Caching mode to boost performance up to 560MB/s read and 520MB/s write, with LDPC error correction, Data Shaping, and a RAID Engine to bolster data integrity. For users that want a simple, cable-free, and low energy draw SSD upgrade, the ADATA SU800 M.2 2280 has much to offer.

The ADATA SU800 M.2 2280 SSD

Denser, faster, and longer-lasting SSD with a smaller footprint

The ADATA SU800 M.2 2280 fits on a compact PCB and slots directly into M.2 ports, which are increasingly common on desktop PCs and the standard on notebooks. It uses 3D NAND with an SMI controller and fits up to 1TB. Unlike 2.5” SSDs, it does not require cables and only needs very minimal power, supplied straight from the motherboard.

The direct motherboard link also helps reduce latency and increase performance by roughly 10% compared to 2.5” SATA 6Gb/s drives. The SU800 M.2 2280 reaches 560MB/s read and 520MB/s write. It also lasts longer than 2D NAND drives, with an MTBF (mean time between failures) of 2,000,000 hours versus 1,500,000.

Packed with performance-enhancing and data integrity-ensuring features

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The ADATA SU800 M.2 2280 integrates a DRAM Cache for speed acceleration on demand, complemented by SLC Caching mode (single-level cell performance). For data integrity and safety, LDPC (low density parity check) error correction, RAID Engine, and Data Shaping are deployed, the latter helping even out read/write cycle loads to prolong SSD lifespan.

Extremely power efficient – and easy on batteries

Like all M.2 cards, the ADATA SU800 needs very little power to operate. It helps extend battery life on notebooks and reduces overall system power requirements for users building a desktop PC. The drive uses DEVSLP (Device Sleep) technology to go into a dormant, extra low-power state when idle to reduce energy consumption even further.

An immediately obvious upgrade

For users moving from 3.5” and 2.5” mechanical drives, the ADATA SU800 M.2 2280 offers a striking increase in performance combined with a massive reduction in drive size, noise, heat, and energy draw. Even for SATA 6Gb/s SSD users, it presents a much simpler, neater, and more reliable SSD solution that is well worth considering.

Like other ADATA SSDs, the ADATA SU800 M.2 2280 includes licenses for SSD Toolbox drive management and Migration Utility data migration apps.

 

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Apacer Z280 M.2 PCIe Gen 3 x4 SSD Introduced

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The Apacer Z280 is Apace’s latest answer to advanced SSDs. It supports PCIe Gen 3 x4 and is compliant with NVMe 1.2 in a M.2 form factor. The blazing speed will boost the game status without getting too costly.

With sustained read/write performance at 2500MB/s and 1350MB/s, the compact M.2-2280 keeps everything efficient at a massive capacity of 480GB. Want to be one step ahead of others? Look no further than Z280, the high-performing SSD that is compatible with mini PCs and laptops.

Apacer Z280 M.2 PCIe SSD

Fast & Large Storage

The cutting-edge Apacer Z280 is compliant with NVMe 1.2 standard and features the latest PCIe Gen 3 x4 interface to provide up to 4 times of bandwidth – up to 2500 MB/s read & 1350MB/s write. Offering a massive memory capacity of 480GB, the Apacer Z280 has a random write of 175,000 IOPs to ensure all actions in each gaming scene is smoothly processed, fluid and sharp, efficiently boosting a gamer’s status.

With only 80mm in length, the Apacer Z280 adopts the ultra slim size of M.2-2280 and fits most of the laptops and mini PCs, easily turning any devices into highly portable gaming tools. With utmost performances and superb qualities, the Apacer Z280 is undoubtedly the most powerful booster you can find for gameplay enhancement.

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Stable & Safe Storage

The Apacer Z280 is equipped with several advanced features to ensure PCIe Gen 3 x4 performs at optimum, including ECC with 120bit/2KB BCH, End-to-End Data Protection, Smart ECC, Global Wear Leveling, for fortified SSD life, SmartRefresh, for maintaining accuracy and safety of data access, and S.M.A.R.T. monitoring system to keep all performances at their smoothest.

Meanwhile, Apacer publishes specially designed Apacer SSDWidget software which allows users to examine the SSD status as well as instant firmware update. In addition, the Apacer Z280 is an efficient power saver, capable of performing at low-power consumption, enabling to the laptop battery to sustain longer and PCs to be eco-friendlier.

 

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GIGABYTE Aero 14 Gaming Laptop Revealed

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On the third day of Computex 2016, we were invited to the GIGABYTE VIP Showroom up on the 36th floor of Taipei 101. On display was the new GIGABYTE Aero 14 gaming laptop [Amazon]. It claims the title of the world’s most portable 14″ gaming laptop. Let’s find out why.

 

GIGABYTE Aero 14 Overview

In this video, Cyril Largent, GIGABYTE Senior Marketing – Europe, gives us an overview of the new GIGABYTE Aero 14 gaming laptop’s key features.

 

Unique Aesthetics

The GIGABYTE Aero 14 uses a unique and environmentally-friendly Nano-Imprint Lithography process to impart a 3D look while retaining the solid metallic feel with its full aluminium chassis.

You may be surprised to learn that the Aero 14 is only 19.9 mm thick, and weighs just under 1.9 kg. The Aero 14 will come in three colour options – black, green and orange.

 

Gaming Performance

The GIGABYTE Aero 14 is no ordinary Ultrabook. It is a gaming Ultrabook  powered by the latest 6th Generation Intel Core i7 processor with dual-channel DDR4 memory and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M/965M GPU.

It also features M.2 SSD internal storage, with a Type C USB 3.1 port for external storage. Even with so much high-end hardware, the Aero 14 has a battery life of 10 hours, thanks to its large battery capacity of 94.24 Wh.

Gamers will also enjoy the customisable Macro keys on the keyboard. They can use the GIGABYTE Macro Hub software to customise them to assign them to launch key combinations.

 

Brilliant Display

The GIGABYTE Aero 14 also comes with a magnificent IPS display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440, so gamers will have a great gaming experience on-the-go.

Gamers who prefer larger, and higher-resolution displays will love the fact that it comes with both a HDMI 2.0 port and a Mini DisplayPort. This allows the Aero 14 to display out to, not one, but two 4K monitors simultaneously!

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Transcend SSD370S Now Available In Malaysia

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April 26th 2016, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia – Transcend Information, Inc. (Transcend) is proud to announce the availability of its high-performance solid-state drive for enthusiasts and professionals intended for games and other high-speed storage applications as well faster storage for notebooks.

The Transcend SSD370S 2.5” solid-state drive feature high-quality synchronous MLC NAND flash for superior stability complimented by Transcend’s protective technologies for an extended lifespan.

 

Transcend SSD370S

MORE SPACE, MORE TO STORE
The Transcend SSD370S is rated at up to 560MB/s read and 460MB/s write giving graphic designers and multimedia professionals a more responsive experience from their system while giving gamers faster loading times. With sizes ranging from 32GB all the way to 1TB, Transcend offers a capacity fit for your needs.

PROTECTIVE TECHNOLOGY LEADS TO HIGH PERFORMANCE
The Transcend SSD370S features multiple built-in technologies for maximum reliability including Error Correction Code (ECC) to help detect and correct potential transfer errors, Device Sleep (DevSleep) mode to reduce power consumption and shorten the response time upon wake-up from Sleep or Hibernate, and the S.M.A.R.T. function to efficiently monitor SSD health conditions. More standard mechanisms include Intelligent Block Management and Wear-levelling algorithm to protect data integrity and prolong SSD lifespan.

[adrotate banner=”5″]TAKE CONTROL WITH SSD SCOPE
Monitor and maintain your Transcend SSD and keep it running in top condition with the advanced SSD Scope software application available for free download so you can check on your SSD730S’ status anytime. SSD Scope allows you to check and get informed how your SSD370S solid-state drive is doing by providing health status information via S.M.A.R.T. technology, enable TRIM command to maintain optimal write speeds and update the SSD firmware via a single click. All of these are presented in a user-friendly tool for ease of use.

EASY UPGRADE
The Transcend SSD370S is a quick and easy way to improve productivity in both your desktop and notebook. At only 6.8mm and weighing at 63g, it fits most modern notebook and replaces the heavier traditional hard drive providing faster application loading times and start-up speeds as well as dropping power consumption to help improve battery life. A 3.5mm bracket is included for desktop upgraders with the easy cloning tool making migration easy via SSD Scope. No need to reinstall.

 

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Transcend MTS800 1TB M.2 SSD Now Available

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Kuala Lumpur, April 22 2016 – Transcend Information, Inc. (Transcend) is proud to announce the availability of 1 Terabyte M.2 Solid State Drive coming with 2280 form factor for ultra-thin computing devices, such as Ultrabook, tablet computers and laptops.

The Transcend MTS800 M.2 SSD is equipped with high-quality MLC NAND flash to maintain its excellent stability, and is exclusively built with protective technologies, such as Global Wear-levelling, Advanced Garbage Collection, and Device Sleep mode.

 

Trancend MTS800 1TB M.2 Solid State Drive

Spacious Capacity and Super Speed
By utilizing next-generation SATA III 6Gb/s interface, the Transcend MTS800 is capable of delivering sequential read/write performance of up to 560MB/s and 460MB/s respectively. The newly released spacious 1TB supplies the MTS800’s capacity to its full scale ranging from 32GB to 1TB, which is determined to satisfy the needs of various market fields and individual consumer with personal budget plans.

Protective Technology Leads to High Performance
The Transcend MTS800 features multiple built-in technologies for optimum protection, including Error Correction Code (ECC) that helps detect and correct potential transfer errors, Device Sleep mode to reduce power consumption and shorten the response time upon wake-up from Sleep or Hibernate, and the S.M.A.R.T. function to efficiently monitor SSD health conditions. More standard mechanisms include Intelligent Block Management and Wear-levelling algorithm to protect data integrity and prolong SSD lifespan.

Intel Smart Response Technology (ISRT) Supported
Transcend’s MTS series supports Intel Smart Response Technology (ISRT) in which an SSD is used as a cache between the hard disk drive and the computer system to memorize the applications and files that are most frequently accessed. This allows the hard disk more storage capacity to process and store other programs and files so as to improve the overall efficiency.

Apart from Transcend MTS800 available in 32GB~1TB capacities, two other Transcend’s MTS400 and MTS600 M.2 SSD models are also available in 32GB~512GB. All the MTS series are backed by Transcend’s Three-year Limited Warranty.

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