In today’s storage landscape, NVMe SSDs have become increasingly common, offering a plethora of options to suit various needs and budgets. One brand that stands out for its reliability and affordability is Kingston. Their latest model, the Kingston NV3 SSD, aims to succeed the popular NV2 series. But the question remains: Is the Kingston NV3 a worthy upgrade for budget-conscious consumers?
Unboxing
The packaging of the Kingston NV3 is straightforward, albeit slightly oversized for the SSD itself. It utilizes the PCIe Gen 4 M.2 2280 interface, which ensures faster performance compared to Gen 3 drives. With read speeds reaching up to 6000MB/s, the NV3 is positioned as an excellent choice for those seeking a quick and affordable storage upgrade. It is particularly attractive for users looking to enhance boot times and overall system responsiveness without straining their budget.
We tested the 2TB variant of the Kingston NV3 SSD. As is typical with SSDs, performance scales with the number of NAND chips present. This model features two 1TB QLC NAND chips on the front, contributing to its speed and efficiency in handling larger data loads compared to lower-capacity options. The SSD has a clean blue PCB design, and the lack of components on the backside gives it a sleek appearance. This configuration makes it a solid option for users seeking a balance between performance and capacity at a reasonable price.
A notable perk of purchasing the Kingston NV3 is access to a specialized version of Acronis True Image for Kingston. This software simplifies the migration process, allowing users to clone their existing drives directly onto the new SSD. Consequently, you can transfer all your files, applications, and even the operating system without the hassle of reinstalling Windows. This feature is particularly beneficial for those looking to upgrade their storage while minimizing downtime and maintaining their current setup.
The Kingston NV3 SSD, initially unveiled at Computex 2024 under the codename “Kenting Bay,” utilizes the Silicon Motion SM2268XT2G-AA controller and is categorized as a DRAM-less SSD. While the absence of DRAM can impact performance during heavy workloads, it generally does not hinder everyday usage. Users can still expect reliable performance for standard tasks such as booting the operating system, launching applications, and transferring files.
Benchmark
The Kingston NV3 SSD lives up to its performance claims impressively. During testing with CrystalDiskMark, the SSD achieved read speeds approaching 6000MB/s, with write speeds closely trailing. This performance is particularly remarkable given that the NV3 is a DRAM-less SSD, which typically impacts speed under heavy loads. However, in typical scenarios, it delivers competitive performance that satisfies most users’ needs.
In more demanding tests, such as the AIDA64 linear write torture test, the Kingston NV3 SSD showed a noticeable drop in write speeds once the buffer reached its capacity. This behavior is common among DRAM-less SSDs, where the absence of a dedicated DRAM cache can limit sustained write performance. It’s important to note that such scenarios usually arise during bulk transfers of large files, which the average user is unlikely to encounter often. For everyday tasks, the NV3 provides reliable performance that meets most consumers’ needs.
Final Thoughts
The Kingston NV3 sets itself apart from many budget SSDs with its use of QLC NAND flash, offering a cost-effective solution with a lower price per gigabyte. For example, the local MSRP for the 2TB model is RM 625, which translates to approximately RM 0.3125 per gigabyte. While this pricing strategy makes it an appealing choice, it’s important to acknowledge that the NV3 may encounter performance limitations during sustained heavy workloads.
That said, the NV3 is well-suited for everyday tasks such as quick file transfers, game launches, and software loading. However, it may struggle with large, continuous data transfers due to the absence of a dedicated DRAM cache. For most users, this limitation is unlikely to significantly impact daily performance needs. Additionally, Kingston provides free technical support and includes Acronis True Image software with the NV3, which streamlines the data migration process from older drives and enhances the overall upgrade experience.
Overall, the Kingston NV3 offers exceptional value for budget-conscious consumers seeking speed and reliability without a high price tag. However, users should temper their expectations if they require consistent high-speed performance for demanding tasks, such as video editing or large-scale data processing. For mainstream users in search of a dependable and fast SSD for everyday applications, the Kingston NV3 emerges as a compelling contender in the budget SSD market.
