If you’re looking for an affordable PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, then the Kingston NV2 might be the top choice. It offers good real-world performance and is suitable for most users and everyday tasks. The NV2 is a PCIe 4.0 x4, 2280 form factor M.2 NVMe SSD with a DRAM-less design and 144-layer Kingston-labeled QLC NAND. It comes with a three-year warranty or 320TBW per terabyte of capacity, which is lower than most NVMe SSDs, but still acceptable for average users.
The NV2 is priced at $28 for the 250GB model, $38 for the 500GB, $52 for the 1TB, $100 for the 2TB, and $187 for the 4TB, making it one of the most affordable PCIe 4.0 SSDs on the market. In terms of performance, the NV2 is one of the slowest PCIe 4.0 SSDs tested, but it still offers speeds of up to 3.5GBps/2.8GBps for the 2TB and 4TB capacities. It may not be the fastest, but it is still very fast in the grand scheme of storage.
While the NV2 may not be the best choice for running an operating system due to slower 4K transfers, it is suitable for users on a tight budget or those looking for external storage. However, it is not recommended for enthusiasts or prosumers regularly writing large amounts of data. Overall, the Kingston NV2 offers good performance at a very attractive price point.
