Kingston NV3 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD Review

NVMe SSDs have become the de facto standard when it comes to personal computer storage devices, thanks to their great performance. Furthermore, the popularity of NVMe SSDs along with advancements in technology and manufacturing has allowed brands to release more affordable models in higher capacities than ever before.

The recently released Kingston NV3 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD is one such drive. The new entry-level model is available in 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities. The 2TB variant that we got is rated for read/write speeds of up to 6,000/5,000 MB/s, has an MTBF of 2 million hours and a TBW of 650TB.

Here are technical specifications of the Kingston NV3:

Form FactorM.2 2280
InterfacePCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe
Capacities2500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
Sequential Read/Write1500GB – 5,000/3,000MB/s
1TB – 6,000/4,000MB/s
2TB – 4TB – 6,000/5,000MB/s
NAND3D
Endurance (Total Bytes Written)3500GB – 160TB
1TB – 320TB
2TB – 640TB
4TB – 1280TB
Storage Temperature-40°C~85°C
Operating Temperature0°C~70°C
Dimensions22mm x 80mm x 2.3mm
Weight7g (All capacities)
Vibration Non-operating20G (10-1000Hz)
MTBF2,000,000 hours
Warranty/Support4Limited 3-year warranty with free technical support

The NV3 features a one-sided design, meaning all of its components are located on the side that’s usually in contact with the motherboard NVME slot cover’s thermal pad, which may help with thermal performance.

One of the ways Kingston has pulled off the one-side layout of the NV3 is by utilizing a DRAM-less design as well as using QLC NAND flash chips, which has grown in popularity thanks to their cheaper cost and higher capacity per chip.

Kingston NV3 NVMe SSD Review

Given its position as a more affordable NVMe SSD option, the NV3 doesn’t come with the bells and whistles you tend to see in premium models, such as an included heatsink. It only comes with a sticker label you usually see in most SSDs.

We tested the Kingston NV3’s performance using CrystalDiskMark, AS SSD, and ATTO Disk Benchmark to confirm the drive’s rated performance.

Kingston NV3 NVMe SSD Review

Kingston NV3 NVMe SSD Review

Our CrystalDiskMark results show the NV3 performing above its rated speeds, with the drive reaching a peak of 6112.07 MB/s in the read test and 5844.59 MB/s in the write test. The write test is notable due to how much faster it’s performing compared to its rated speed. On the other hand, our AS SSD tests tell a different and interesting story.The NV3 ended up below its rated speeds in the read test, peaking at 4879.25 MB/s while once again going over its rated speed in the write test at 5415.28 MB/s.

The difference in results is due to how each benchmark test is done. CrystalDiskMark shows what the NV3 can do in more ideal read/write situations while AS SSD is the opposite, showing results based on more difficult read/write operations. Nonetheless, the NV3 still shows more than decent results as the average between the two read tests leans closer to the rated read speed of the NV3, while the write tests sees the NV3 overperforming quite a bit.

Kingston NV3 NVMe SSD Review

As for our ATTO Disk Benchmark test, its results show that the NV3 is able to get close to its rated speeds once the transfer size reaches 128KB, peaking at a transfer size of 2MB. The read test results interestingly peak at around the average of our previous tests while the write test again shows the NV3 consistently exceeding its rated speed once again.

Kingston NV3 NVMe SSD Review

Kingston NV3 NVMe SSD Review

The NV3 also showed very impressive results in CrystalDiskMark’s IOPS test, showing a peak of 967k and 986k in read and write I/O operations per second, respectively. While the AS SSD IOPS test showed a peak of 532k in the read test and 712k in the write test, both of which are still decent results for a drive in this category.

Kingston NV3 NVMe SSD Review

Our access time tests also returned decent results, with CrystalDiskMark showing the NV3 with read and write access times of 60.77 ?s and 14.19 ?s, respectively. On the other hand, AS SSD shows an read access time of 51 ?s and a write access time of 112 ?s. While the write access time in our AS SSD test was notably slower than expected, the average with our CrystalDiskMark test still resulted in a satisfactory result.

Kingston NV3 NVMe SSD Review

Our AS SSD compression benchmark, which tests speeds based on the level of compressibility of the data. The graph shows a noticeable dip in write performance at the 50% mark, around a performance drop of 23%, but the rest of the graph is mostly stable so it isn’t much of an issue.

Kingston NV3 NVMe SSD Review

Lastly, our ASS copy benchmark, which tests the performance when copying files of different file sizes and structures showed impressive results. The NV3 was able to complete each transfer in less than a couple of seconds, with the fastest being the ISO test at 0.25 seconds and the slowest being the Program test at only 1.55 seconds.

CONCLUSION

The Kingston NV3 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD is a pretty impressive offering, giving you decent performance at an affordable price tag. While the 500GB and 1TB variants are good options for those on very tight budgets, the 2TB is where the NV3’s performance starts to shine. The larger capacity also has the added benefit of maintaining the performance of the drive for much longer, as QLC NAND flash-based SSDs may start seeing performance drops once their capacity is filled. It also means that the NV3 is not something we’d recommend for those wanting a high-performance drive that can handle demanding write tasks, such as video editing and server workloads. However, if you’re building a new PC and you’re looking for an SSD for installing your OS, apps, and games, the NV3 is a great choice that gives you decent performance while allowing you to put more of your budget into other parts of your build.