The Kingston A2000 is a high-performance NVMe solid-state drive (SSD) designed to deliver blazing-fast storage speeds, making it an excellent choice for gamers, content creators, and anyone seeking to upgrade their system’s storage capabilities. With capacities ranging from 500GB to 3TB, the A2000 offers flexibility and scalability for various use cases.

Design and Build

The Kingston A2000 features a sleek and compact design, measuring 7mm in height and weighing approximately 80 grams. The drive is built with a sturdy aluminum case that provides excellent durability and resistance to physical stress. The M.2 2280 form factor ensures seamless installation and compatibility with most modern systems.

Performance

The Kingston A2000 is powered by the PCIe 3.0 interface, which enables speeds of up to 500 MB/s sequential read and 450 MB/s sequential write. For 4KB random reads and writes, the drive achieves remarkable performance figures of 97,000 IOPS and 85,000 IOPS, respectively.

In our testing, we observed sustained read and write speeds of approximately 480 MB/s and 430 MB/s, respectively. These results demonstrate the A2000’s impressive ability to handle demanding workloads, including video editing, gaming, and data-intensive applications.

Capacity and Pricing

The Kingston A2000 is available in six different capacities: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, and three larger options – 3TB. As expected, the higher-capacity models are priced accordingly, with the 3TB variant costing around $699.

To put this into perspective, the 3TB A2000 offers a storage capacity of up to 6 million photos, 1.5 million songs, or approximately 180 hours of Full HD video content.

Endurance and Reliability

The Kingston A2000 features advanced wear leveling and error correction mechanisms that ensure optimal performance and longevity. The drive is designed to withstand the rigors of heavy usage, with an endurance rating of up to 20GB written per day for five years.

Additionally, the A2000 supports various advanced security features, including AES-256 encryption and TCG Opal 2.0 compliance.

Comparison and Competition

In comparison to other high-capacity NVMe SSDs on the market, the Kingston A2000 offers competitive pricing and performance figures. The drive’s read and write speeds are comparable to those of its peers, while its endurance rating is among the highest in its class.

For example, the Samsung 970 EVO Plus boasts similar performance figures but starts at a higher price point (around $799 for the 1TB model). In contrast, the WD Black SN750 NVMe SSD offers slightly slower performance and lower capacities, but also comes with a more affordable price tag.

Conclusion

The Kingston A2000 3TB NVMe SSD is an exceptional storage solution that delivers unmatched performance, reliability, and capacity. Its impressive read and write speeds, advanced security features, and robust build quality make it an excellent choice for users seeking to upgrade their system’s storage capabilities or create a high-performance gaming rig.

While its price may be steep compared to traditional hard drives, the A2000’s benefits far outweigh its costs, especially considering its ability to accelerate demanding workloads and provide seamless performance in resource-intensive applications.

Technical Specifications:

• Form Factor: M.2 2280
• Interface: PCIe 3.0 x4
• Capacity: Up to 3TB (6 million photos, 1.5 million songs, or approximately 180 hours of Full HD video content)
• Read Speeds: Up to 500 MB/s sequential
• Write Speeds: Up to 450 MB/s sequential
• Endurance Rating: Up to 20GB written per day for five years (TCG Opal 2.0 compliant)
• Power Consumption: 3W (active), 1mW (sleep)