Question M.2 NVMe SSD: recommendations on a specific manufacturer ?

[Manuel Jordan]

Hello Friends

According with your experience in general for M.2 NvME PCIe for 512GB, 1TB and 2TB

Do you have any special recommendation on a specific manufacturer?

It about performance, failures (time of Live)

Thanks in advance

 

[Lutfij]

I've worked with Samsung, Klevv, TeamGroup and Solidigm. What is the make and model of your motherboard and what will the drive in question be used for? Where are you located, what is your budget for your drive and what is your preferred site for purchase?

It about performance, failures (time of Live)
They are relative terms, what are you looking for specifically out of your NVMe drive purchase?

 

[triplex1]

Depending on the size.
What system are you going to put it on?
And what are you going to do?

 

[Manuel Jordan]

Hello Friends

As an introduction, around 2003/2005/2010 the time of life for a HDD starting from 80GB to 320GB had a short time life (1.5 yrs to 3yrs) against 30GB, 50GB, 60GB. I changed 6 HDD within their warranty. Same experience with 2 friends too.

I want to know if it happens in some way for SSD and M.2 NvME PCIe about 2TB to up
Yes, I know it is other technology but I want to know if is very safe has SSD/M.2 starting with 2TB

Of course, it based in your own experience and friends/family too

Thanks in advance

 

[Lafong]

Hello Friends

According with your experience in general for M.2 NvME PCIe for 512GB, 1TB and 2TB

Do you have a especial recommendation about a specific manufacturer?

It about performance, failures (time of Live)

Thanks in advance

Failures: you need luck more than you need anecdotes from the Internet. What is there to be learned from a random "I've had good luck with brand X"?

Performance: probably a lot less variation than you'd expect, unless you are hypnotized by benchmarks. Many are.

 

[Rokinamerica]

I have an 8-year-old 500GB PNY in my (8 Y.O.) laptop, an equally old Corsair 500GB in my equally old backup desktop both used at least weekly since they stopped being my daily drivers for work from 2016 to 2021, and a nearly 4-year-old Samsung 1TB in my daily WFH desktop, as well as a 4-year-old Samsung 500GB in an external drive with my music backups. All still work great.

I still make sure all critical data is backed up in several different ways though, because there is always going to be that 1st time a drive fails.

 

[CountMike]

Similar to RAM, there are literary hundreds of SSD "manufacturers " but only few real manufacturers of actual chips built in. Beside those that just use and combine chips from main chip manufactures some just buy whole thing and stick their labels and I have seen some that didn't even bother to flash firmware with their name and others just flash firmware in their name. Right now I have an obvious Samsung 960 evo + with sticker and firmware that reads HP.

 

[Manuel Jordan]

Hello Friends

Some time ago I found a friend of the university, he told me he has a friend that manages a store about computers in other city. It was requested to him to fix the laptop of his sister. The point is:

The salesman/technical guy told him that Kingston about SSD in general (I am assuming even M.2 too) is slower than Western Digital and other manufacturers.

I always bought Kingston for pendrive and RAM. Zero problems. I have the intention to buy a M.2 NVMe but the friend's commentary is in some way a concern.

Pls could you share thoughts? Of course based in your experience/friends/family/co-workers

Thanks in advance

 

[Manuel Jordan]

Hello Friends

Do you have experience for Patriot about performance and durability?
It for SSD 2.5'' and MVM3 PCIe?

Thanks in advance

 

[Lutfij]

I've merged your 3(yes 3) threads into one, please stop spamming our forums with the same thread with minute changes. Sticking to one thread helps keep thoughts in one place.

 

[Aeacus]

I always bought Kingston for pendrive and RAM. Zero problems.

I too am using Kingston USB thumb drives and RAM. Both are also my #1 choice regarding those.

I have the intention to buy a M.2 NVMe but the friend's commentary is in some way a concern.

Read a review.

"Value" options of Kingston SATA SSDs are best to be avoided. Like Kingston SSDNow Vxxx-series.
Review: https://hardwaresecrets.com/kingston-a400-120-gib-ssd-review/

But A400 is good. So is HyperX 3K (latter drive i have in use myself).

But when it comes to M.2 drives, there are bad ones, like;
NV1 - bad choice; review: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/kingston-nv1-1-tb/
NV2 - avoid; review: https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/kingston-nv2-ssd
NV3 - poor choice; review: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/ssds/kingston-nv3-ssd-review

But also good ones, like;
KC3000 - a bit expensive; review: https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/kingston-kc3000-m2-ssd-review
Fury Renegade - decent; review: https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/kingston-fury-renegade
Predator - high power draw; review: https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/kingston-hyperx-predator-480gb-m2-pcie-ssd,4113.html
A1000 - only "meh"; review: https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/kingston-a1000-nvme-ssd,5631.html
A2000 - solid option; review: https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/kingston-a2000-m2-nvme-ssd
Etc.

If you want solid performance, you can't go wrong with Samsung.

With Kingston SSDs (SATA and M.2 NVMe), do read a review before buying one.

 

[Manuel Jordan]

Lutfij:

Understood

Aeacus:

Huge thanks for the set of links. I am going to read them

 

[Manuel Jordan]

To the audience

Some thoughts about the PNY manufacturer?

Thank You

 

[Aeacus]

When it comes to M.2 SSDs, only good ones are Samsung and Western Digital. Both are dedicated storage media producers. All other brands have issue or more.

PNY is most known making GPUs. PNY is one of the smaller/lesser GPU makers. Big ones are: Asus, Gigabyte, MSI and Sapphire. (Well, EVGA too but EVGA ended their GPU manufacture.) Smaller ones include: Zotac, PNY, Colorful, PowerColor, Inno3D etc.

PNY SSDs are mostly budget ones. Good if you are willing only to pay peanuts and can handle monkeys afterwards.

For better idea, i'll say it again:

Read a review.

E.g PNY CS2140: https://www.pcworld.com/article/620019/pny-cs2140-nvme-ssd-review-fast-everyday-pcie-3-storage.html
or PNY CS3030: https://goughlui.com/2022/07/31/quick-review-pny-xlr8-cs3030-2tb-pcie-gen3x4-nvme-ssd/
or PNY CS3140: https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pny-xlr8-cs3140-ssd-review
or PNY CS3150: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/ssds/pny-cs3150-1tb-ssd-review

 

[Manuel Jordan]

Aeacus:

As usual, Huge thanks for the set of links. I am going to read them

 

[CountMike]

When it comes to M.2 SSDs, only good ones are Samsung and Western Digital. Both are dedicated storage media producers. All other brands have issue or more.

PNY is most known making GPUs. PNY is one of the smaller/lesser GPU makers. Big ones are: Asus, Gigabyte, MSI and Sapphire. (Well, EVGA too but EVGA ended their GPU manufacture.) Smaller ones include: Zotac, PNY, Colorful, PowerColor, Inno3D etc.

PNY SSDs are mostly budget ones. Good if you are willing only to pay peanuts and can handle monkeys afterwards.

For better idea, i'll say it again:

E.g PNY CS2140: https://www.pcworld.com/article/620019/pny-cs2140-nvme-ssd-review-fast-everyday-pcie-3-storage.html
or PNY CS3030: https://goughlui.com/2022/07/31/quick-review-pny-xlr8-cs3030-2tb-pcie-gen3x4-nvme-ssd/
or PNY CS3140: https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pny-xlr8-cs3140-ssd-review
or PNY CS3150: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/ssds/pny-cs3150-1tb-ssd-review

Samsung and WD only ?? Kingston and Patriot, are even older chip manufacturers specializing in memory chips. Western Digital is a newcomer to SSDs and don't manufacture own chips.
Samsung recently had bad problems with some of their SSDs and is not consistent with control chips with same product. Mostly overpriced too.

 

[Aeacus]

Samsung and WD only ?? Kingston and Patriot, are even older chip manufacturers specializing in memory chips. Western Digital is a newcomer to SSDs and don't manufacture own chips.

These are my preferences. You don't have to agree with me.

Memory chips aren't used solely as SSDs. That also includes RAM and USB thumb drives.
And if you did read my 1st reply, i actually praised Kingston over their USB thumb drives and RAM. While Kingston SSDs are both good and bad (just read the reviews i linked).
Western Digital actually does manufacture their own flash memory. WD does it as a joint venture with Kioxia. And WD has been in business for a long time, specializing on storage media (mostly known by the HDDs they make). Heck, WD even bought Hitachi/HGST, where once 4 big HDD manufacturers (Seagate, Toshiba, WD, Hitachi) ended up as 3 big HDD manufacturers (Seagate, Toshiba, WD).

Big names in flash memory manufacture, starting from the highest market share, are: Samsung, Kioxia, Western Digital, SK Hynix, Micron. And then come other smaller ones.
Kingston makes flash memory thanks to their stake in Kioxia. And Patriot doesn't manufacture flash memory at all. Only thing that Patriot manufactures, are flash-based SSDs.
Further source of education: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_solid-state_drive_manufacturers

Samsung recently had bad problems with some of their SSDs and is not consistent with control chips with same product. Mostly overpriced too.

Everyone has problems. Nothing new there. And if you're not willing to pay premium for great performance, reliability and durability, no-one is forcing you to go with Samsung. There are plethora of "budget" options as well.

In the end of the day, read a reputable review to know how a specific product fares.

 

[CountMike]

These are my preferences. You don't have to agree with me.

Memory chips aren't used solely as SSDs. That also includes RAM and USB thumb drives.
And if you did read my 1st reply, i actually praised Kingston over their USB thumb drives and RAM. While Kingston SSDs are both good and bad (just read the reviews i linked).
Western Digital actually does manufacture their own flash memory. WD does it as a joint venture with Kioxia. And WD has been in business for a long time, specializing on storage media (mostly known by the HDDs they make). Heck, WD even bought Hitachi/HGST, where once 4 big HDD manufacturers (Seagate, Toshiba, WD, Hitachi) ended up as 3 big HDD manufacturers (Seagate, Toshiba, WD).

Big names in flash memory manufacture, starting from the highest market share, are: Samsung, Kioxia, Western Digital, SK Hynix, Micron. And then come other smaller ones.
Kingston makes flash memory thanks to their stake in Kioxia. And Patriot doesn't manufacture flash memory at all. Only thing that Patriot manufactures, are flash-based SSDs.
Further source of education: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_solid-state_drive_manufacturers


Everyone has problems. Nothing new there. And if you're not willing to pay premium for great performance, reliability and durability, no-one is forcing you to go with Samsung. There are plethora of "budget" options as well.

In the end of the day, read a reputable review to know how a specific product fares.

Point is that performance and reliability are not only Samsung's domain, any others, even "budget" are just as good or good enough for everyday use. Anybody smart will maintain backup anyway, data is often more valuable than drives it's on. Last what, some last 12-15 years I had at least 30+ SSDs in all configurations. any older ones I kept (about 6) are now used over USB interface instead of dongles and running 5 NVMe SSDs of different makes and models on main PC and few on others. Oldest one is Samsung 960 evo + and newest KC 3000. Only one that "died" was Samsung 850 evo that got it's FW scrambled but I was able to flash it but now reads as Hitachi.

 

[Aeacus]

or good enough

"Good enough" is very subjective.

In the end of the day, people buy what they like. We can only suggest based on our knowledge/experience. But we can not force anybody to buy specific item.

Last what, some last 12-15 years I had at least 30+ SSDs in all configurations.

In my years, that reliably did fail on me, were WD Blue 500GB HDDs. 1 year of use and HDDs were toast. Same model 1TB units i still have as offline storage and none have failed thus far.
With SSDs, my 1st 970 Evo Plus 2TB did fail on me within 30 days. But i RMAd it under warranty and got replacement drive, which works to this very day (2.5 years old as of now).
I've seen my fare share of failed drives, but i have multiple copies of my data, both on SSDs and on HDDs, as online and as offline storage. No cloud storage though.

 

[CountMike]

"Good enough" is very subjective.

In the end of the day, people buy what they like. We can only suggest based on our knowledge/experience. But we can not force anybody to buy specific item.


In my years, that reliably did fail on me, were WD Blue 500GB HDDs. 1 year of use and HDDs were toast. Same model 1TB units i still have as offline storage and none have failed thus far.
With SSDs, my 1st 970 Evo Plus 2TB did fail on me within 30 days. But i RMAd it under warranty and got replacement drive, which works to this very day (2.5 years old as of now).
I've seen my fare share of failed drives, but i have multiple copies of my data, both on SSDs and on HDDs, as online and as offline storage. No cloud storage though.

Yeah backup is the key, everything could fail at any moment and usually finds most inopportune time to do it. So it doesn't really matter which one except for considerations like speed and capacity, depending on usage. For OS, what makes most difference is RAM cache built in. Some like Lexar use system RAM as cache which is not too shabby either. In all, SSDs are now reliable enough for everyday use.
USB dongles and SD cards less so as they do not use same technology as SSDs. They are much smaller and denser.
HDDs are all different "beasts". Their mechanical parts fail before everything else but apparently retain data longer when stored for long time.