The ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade is a solid contender in the PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD market, offering impressive performance and a competitive price point, making it an excellent choice for gamers and content creators looking to upgrade their storage without breaking the bank. While it might not always hit the absolute peak speeds of some top-tier drives, its consistent performance, efficient heatsink design, and robust build quality ensure a smooth and responsive user experience, particularly under sustained loads. It strikes a compelling balance between speed, thermal management, and value, proving itself a reliable workhorse for demanding applications.
Here’s a comparison of the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade against some of its key competitors:
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- Key Features: PCIe Gen4 x4 interface, NVMe 1.4, up to 7,400 MB/s read, 6,800 MB/s write, 3D NAND Flash, slim aluminum heatsink.
- Average Price: Varies by capacity, generally competitive for a Gen4 drive.
- Pros: Excellent sustained performance, effective passive heatsink, good value for money, PS5 compatible.
- Cons: Can run warm under extreme sustained stress though heatsink helps mitigate, peak speeds sometimes slightly below top-tier competitors.
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- Key Features: PCIe Gen4 x4 interface, NVMe 2.0, up to 7,450 MB/s read, 6,900 MB/s write, Samsung V-NAND, DRAM cache, nickel-coated controller.
- Average Price: Typically higher than the S70 Blade.
- Pros: Consistently top-tier performance, excellent endurance, reputable brand, robust software suite.
- Cons: Premium price, heatsink version is bulkier.
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- Key Features: PCIe Gen4 x4 interface, NVMe 1.4, up to 7,300 MB/s read, 6,600 MB/s write, purpose-built gaming drive, integrated heatsink option.
- Average Price: Similar to or slightly higher than the S70 Blade.
- Pros: Optimized for gaming, great random read/write performance, solid endurance, available with integrated heatsink.
- Cons: Can be pricier, performance uplift over SN850 isn’t massive for everyday use.
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- Key Features: PCIe Gen4 x4 interface, NVMe 1.4, up to 6,600 MB/s read, 5,000 MB/s write, Micron 176-layer 3D TLC NAND.
- Average Price: Often slightly more affordable than the S70 Blade.
- Pros: Good all-around performance for its price segment, reliable, good value.
- Cons: Peak sequential speeds are lower than top Gen4 drives, less aggressive thermal solution.
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- Key Features: PCIe Gen4 x4 interface, NVMe 1.4, up to 7,000 MB/s read, 7,000 MB/s write, 3D TLC NAND, low-profile graphene aluminum heat spreader.
- Average Price: Comparable to the S70 Blade.
- Pros: Excellent read and write speeds, effective thin heat spreader, strong endurance.
- Cons: Less widely available than some competitors, can still run warm.
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- Key Features: PCIe Gen4 x4 interface, NVMe 1.4, up to 7,000 MB/s read, 6,850 MB/s write, Phison E18 controller, available with large heatsink.
- Average Price: Competitive, often a good value for its performance.
- Pros: Strong performance, especially with Sabrent’s dedicated heatsink, good for heavy workloads.
- Cons: Can run hot without proper cooling, the bare drive might throttle.
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- Key Features: PCIe Gen4 x4 interface, NVMe 1.4, up to 7,000 MB/s read, 6,500 MB/s write, SK hynix 176-layer 3D TLC NAND, integrated controller.
- Average Price: Often a premium option.
- Pros: Very efficient, excellent power consumption, strong sustained performance, good for laptops.
- Cons: Can be harder to find, sometimes at a higher price point.
Unpacking the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade: A Deep Dive into its Performance
When you’re looking at NVMe SSDs, especially for a high-performance system like a gaming rig or a workstation, the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade often pops up as a compelling option.
It’s designed to leverage the PCIe Gen4 interface, meaning it has the potential for some seriously fast data transfers.
But what does that really mean for your day-to-day use, or for those moments when you’re pushing your system to its limits? Let’s peel back the layers and see how this drive stacks up.
Architectural Blueprint: Controller, NAND, and Cache
Every high-performance SSD is a symphony of components working in concert.
For the S70 Blade, understanding its core architecture is key to appreciating its capabilities and limitations.
- Phison E18 Controller: At the heart of the S70 Blade lies the Phison PS5018-E18 controller. This is a powerhouse controller, widely adopted by many top-tier Gen4 drives due to its robust performance capabilities. It’s an 8-channel controller, which allows for parallel data access to the NAND flash, significantly boosting both read and write speeds. The E18 is known for its ability to manage high sequential and random I/O operations, making it suitable for demanding tasks like 4K video editing, large file transfers, and, of course, fast game loading.
- 3D TLC NAND Flash: The S70 Blade utilizes 3D TLC Triple-Level Cell NAND flash memory. TLC NAND stores three bits of data per cell, offering a good balance between cost-effectiveness, performance, and endurance compared to QLC Quad-Level Cell which stores four bits but has lower endurance and often slower writes, or MLC Multi-Level Cell which is faster and more durable but significantly more expensive. The “3D” aspect refers to the vertical stacking of NAND cells, which allows for higher capacities and greater density within a smaller footprint, improving efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs.
- DRAM Cache and SLC Caching: Like most high-performance NVMe SSDs, the S70 Blade incorporates both a DRAM cache and an SLC cache. The DRAM cache acts as a buffer for the controller, storing mapping tables and frequently accessed data for rapid retrieval. This significantly speeds up random read/write operations. The SLC Single-Level Cell cache, on the other hand, is a dynamic portion of the TLC NAND that temporarily operates in SLC mode storing only one bit per cell. This allows for much faster writes, as data can be written to the SLC buffer at higher speeds before being “flushed” or converted to TLC mode during idle periods. The size and efficiency of this SLC cache are critical for maintaining high write speeds, especially during large file transfers. When the SLC cache is exhausted, write speeds will drop to the native TLC speeds, which are considerably slower.
Raw Performance Numbers: Sequential and Random Operations
When you look at SSD specifications, you’ll often see two main types of performance numbers: sequential and random.
Each tells a different story about how the drive will perform in various real-world scenarios.
- Sequential Read/Write Speeds: ADATA advertises the S70 Blade with sequential read speeds of up to 7,400 MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 6,800 MB/s for the larger capacities. These numbers represent the maximum theoretical throughput when reading or writing large, contiguous blocks of data, like copying a massive video file or loading a huge game map. In benchmarks like CrystalDiskMark, the S70 Blade often comes very close to these advertised figures, demonstrating its ability to saturate the PCIe Gen4 interface. This is where you see the benefit for professional content creation workflows or extensive file archiving.
- Random Read/Write IOPS: While sequential speeds are flashy, random read/write IOPS Input/Output Operations Per Second are often more indicative of a drive’s responsiveness in everyday tasks. These metrics measure how many small, scattered data blocks the drive can read or write per second. Think about loading an operating system, launching multiple applications, or browsing the web – all these activities involve numerous small, random data accesses. The S70 Blade generally offers strong random performance, with IOPS often in the range of 700,000 to 750,000 for random reads and writes. This translates to a snappy user experience, quicker application launches, and smoother multitasking, even when the drive is handling many small requests simultaneously. For gaming, high random read performance is crucial for quick asset loading and reducing stutter.
Thermal Management: The Slim Heatsink Advantage
One of the critical challenges with high-performance NVMe SSDs, especially Gen4 drives, is heat. All that speed generates heat, and if not properly dissipated, it can lead to thermal throttling, where the drive reduces its performance to prevent overheating and damage.
- Passive Aluminum Heatsink: The “Blade” in the S70 Blade’s name refers to its integrated, slim aluminum heatsink. This isn’t just for aesthetics. it’s a crucial component for thermal management. Unlike some bulkier heatsinks, ADATA’s design is thin enough to fit comfortably into most PC builds, including laptops though always check dimensions and crucially, the PlayStation 5’s SSD slot.
- Effectiveness under Load: In testing, the S70 Blade’s heatsink proves quite effective. While the drive can get warm under very sustained, heavy workloads e.g., writing hundreds of gigabytes continuously, the heatsink significantly delays and often prevents severe thermal throttling that might otherwise occur on a bare drive. For typical gaming sessions or general productivity, temperatures remain well within acceptable limits, ensuring consistent performance. This is a big plus, as you don’t want your blazing-fast SSD to suddenly slow down because it’s getting too hot.
- PS5 Compatibility: The slim heatsink is particularly noteworthy for PlayStation 5 owners. The PS5’s expansion slot has specific dimension requirements for SSDs, and many drives with pre-attached, large heatsinks simply won’t fit. The S70 Blade’s design meets these requirements, making it a popular and excellent choice for expanding the PS5’s internal storage, allowing for faster game loading times compared to the console’s internal drive for many titles.
Endurance and Warranty: How Long Will It Last?
An SSD isn’t just about speed. it’s also about longevity. The endurance of an SSD is measured in TBW Terabytes Written, indicating the total amount of data that can be written to the drive before its warranty expires or its reliability may degrade.
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TBW Ratings: The S70 Blade comes with competitive TBW ratings for its capacities: Msi Delta 15 Review
- 1TB: 740 TBW
- 2TB: 1480 TBW
- 4TB: 2960 TBW
These numbers are quite generous for consumer-grade SSDs and translate to many years of typical usage, even for demanding users.
For context, writing 1TB of data every day to a 1TB drive, it would take 740 days over 2 years to reach the TBW limit. Most users write significantly less data daily.
- MTBF: The drive also typically boasts a high MTBF Mean Time Between Failures, often around 2 million hours, which is a statistical measure of its expected reliability.
- 5-Year Limited Warranty: ADATA backs the S70 Blade with a 5-year limited warranty. This provides peace of mind, knowing that the manufacturer stands behind their product for a substantial period. However, note that the warranty is often limited by whichever comes first: the 5-year period or the TBW limit being reached. For the vast majority of users, the time limit will be reached long before the TBW limit.
Real-World Applications: Gaming, Content Creation, and More
So, how does all this technical jargon translate into practical benefits for you? The S70 Blade’s performance characteristics make it well-suited for several demanding applications.
- Gaming: For gamers, the S70 Blade is a dream. Faster game loading times are the most immediate and noticeable benefit. Games with large open worlds or intricate levels, like Cyberpunk 2077 or Starfield, can see significant reductions in load screens. Its strong random read performance helps in quickly pulling game assets, textures, and levels, leading to a smoother, more fluid gameplay experience and reduced stuttering, especially in titles designed to leverage NVMe direct storage features. Whether it’s on a PC or a PlayStation 5, this drive will deliver a noticeable upgrade.
- Content Creation: If you’re into video editing especially 4K or 8K footage, 3D rendering, or large-scale graphic design, the S70 Blade’s high sequential read and write speeds are invaluable.
- Video Editing: Scrubbing through timelines, importing large video clips, and rendering projects all benefit from the drive’s ability to move massive files quickly. This significantly cuts down on waiting times, allowing you to focus more on the creative process.
- 3D Rendering and CAD: Applications that constantly access and write to storage, like those used in 3D modeling and CAD, will see improved responsiveness. Compiling large codebases or working with massive datasets also benefits from the rapid I/O.
- General Productivity and Multitasking: Even if you’re not a gamer or a professional content creator, the S70 Blade offers a noticeable upgrade over slower SATA SSDs or even older Gen3 NVMe drives for everyday tasks.
- Faster Boot Times: Your operating system will boot up in seconds.
- Quicker Application Launches: Programs will open almost instantly.
- Smoother Multitasking: Switching between multiple demanding applications will feel seamless, as the drive can handle numerous simultaneous requests without bogging down.
- Large File Transfers: Copying large folders or backing up significant amounts of data will be much faster.
Software and Utilities: ADATA SSD Toolbox
While not as feature-rich as some competitors like Samsung’s Magician software, ADATA does provide its own utility, the ADATA SSD Toolbox.
- Drive Monitoring: This software allows you to monitor the drive’s health status, temperature, and estimated remaining lifespan. This is useful for keeping an eye on your investment and identifying potential issues early.
- Firmware Updates: The Toolbox can also facilitate firmware updates for the SSD. Keeping your drive’s firmware up to date is crucial as it can improve performance, fix bugs, and enhance compatibility.
- System Optimization: It may offer basic system optimization features, such as TRIM optimization, which helps maintain the drive’s performance over time by allowing the operating system to tell the SSD which data blocks are no longer in use and can be erased.
- Data Migration Often Separate: While not always integrated directly into the Toolbox, ADATA often bundles or recommends third-party data migration software like Acronis True Image ADATA Edition with their higher-end SSDs. This is invaluable if you’re upgrading from an older drive and want to transfer your entire operating system and all your files without a fresh installation.
Value Proposition: Price vs. Performance
The ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade consistently lands in a sweet spot in the market. It offers near top-tier PCIe Gen4 performance without demanding the absolute premium price tag often associated with drives like the Samsung 990 Pro.
- Competitive Pricing: ADATA has positioned the S70 Blade very competitively, especially considering its robust performance and integrated heatsink. It often provides a better performance-per-dollar ratio than some more expensive drives that only offer marginal speed improvements in real-world scenarios.
- “Sweet Spot” for Users: For the vast majority of users, the performance difference between the S70 Blade and the absolute fastest Gen4 drives which might hit 7,500 MB/s vs. 7,400 MB/s is negligible in everyday use. The S70 Blade offers more than enough speed for demanding applications and gaming, while still being accessible price-wise. This makes it an ideal choice for enthusiasts looking for serious performance without having to empty their wallets.
- Long-Term Value: Given its solid endurance ratings and a 5-year warranty, the S70 Blade represents a strong long-term investment. You’re getting a drive that’s built to last and perform consistently for years to come.
Potential Drawbacks and Considerations
No product is perfect, and while the S70 Blade is excellent, there are a few minor points to consider.
- Sustained Write Performance after SLC Cache Exhaustion: Like all TLC-based SSDs, the S70 Blade’s write performance will drop once its dynamic SLC cache is filled during extremely large, sustained write operations e.g., copying a file larger than 200GB+ depending on capacity. For most users, this is rarely an issue, as typical file transfers don’t hit this limit. However, if you are constantly writing terabytes of data in one go, you might eventually see a dip in speed until the cache can clear.
- Temperature under Extreme Load: While the heatsink is effective, under synthetic benchmarks designed to push the drive to its absolute limits for extended periods like an hour of continuous writes, it can still run warm. However, in typical gaming or professional workloads, thermal throttling is generally not an issue due to the heatsink. Ensure your PC case has adequate airflow for optimal performance of any high-speed component.
- Software Ecosystem: As mentioned, ADATA’s SSD Toolbox is functional but not as polished or feature-rich as Samsung’s Magician software. This is a minor point for most users who just want the drive to work, but some enthusiasts appreciate more advanced monitoring and optimization tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade?
The ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade is a high-performance M.2 NVMe Solid State Drive SSD that utilizes the PCIe Gen4 x4 interface, designed for faster data transfer speeds suitable for gaming, content creation, and general high-demand computing.
Is the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade good for gaming?
Yes, the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade is an excellent choice for gaming. Its high sequential and random read speeds significantly reduce game loading times and improve overall in-game responsiveness, especially for titles designed to leverage NVMe.
Is the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade compatible with PS5?
Yes, the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade is fully compatible with the PlayStation 5. Its slim heatsink design meets Sony’s dimension requirements for the PS5’s M.2 expansion slot.
What are the maximum sequential read/write speeds of the S70 Blade?
The ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade advertises sequential read speeds of up to 7,400 MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 6,800 MB/s, depending on the capacity. Samsung Galaxy A42 5G Review
Does the S70 Blade come with a heatsink?
Yes, the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade comes with a pre-attached slim aluminum heatsink designed for effective passive thermal management.
What controller does the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade use?
The ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade typically uses the Phison PS5018-E18 controller, which is a high-performance 8-channel PCIe Gen4 NVMe controller.
What type of NAND flash does the S70 Blade use?
The S70 Blade uses 3D TLC Triple-Level Cell NAND flash memory.
How long is the warranty for the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade?
The ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade comes with a 5-year limited warranty, or until the drive reaches its TBW Terabytes Written limit, whichever comes first.
What are the TBW ratings for the S70 Blade?
The TBW ratings for the S70 Blade are typically 740 TBW for 1TB, 1480 TBW for 2TB, and 2960 TBW for 4TB capacities.
How does the S70 Blade compare to the Samsung 990 Pro?
The S70 Blade offers very competitive performance to the Samsung 990 Pro at a generally lower price point.
While the 990 Pro might have a slight edge in some metrics, the S70 Blade provides excellent value and often similar real-world performance for most users.
Can the S70 Blade be used in a laptop?
Yes, if your laptop has an M.2 2280 slot that supports PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSDs and has enough clearance for the slim heatsink, the S70 Blade can be used.
Always check your laptop’s specifications for compatibility.
Does the S70 Blade suffer from thermal throttling?
The S70 Blade’s integrated heatsink significantly helps to mitigate thermal throttling under typical workloads. Amazon Fire Tv Stick 4K Max Review
While it can get warm under extremely sustained, heavy writes, for most gaming and daily use, performance remains consistent.
Is the S70 Blade faster than a PCIe Gen3 NVMe SSD?
Yes, the S70 Blade, being a PCIe Gen4 drive, is significantly faster than most PCIe Gen3 NVMe SSDs, offering roughly double the theoretical bandwidth.
Does the S70 Blade have a DRAM cache?
Yes, the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade includes a dedicated DRAM cache for improved random read/write performance.
Does the S70 Blade utilize SLC caching?
Yes, like most TLC-based NVMe SSDs, the S70 Blade uses a dynamic SLC cache to boost write speeds by temporarily writing data to NAND cells operating in faster SLC mode.
What is the form factor of the S70 Blade?
The S70 Blade is an M.2 2280 form factor SSD, meaning it is 22mm wide and 80mm long.
What software does ADATA provide for the S70 Blade?
ADATA provides the ADATA SSD Toolbox utility, which allows for drive monitoring, firmware updates, and basic system optimization.
Is the S70 Blade good for video editing?
Yes, its high sequential read and write speeds make the S70 Blade very good for video editing, especially for 4K and 8K footage, as it significantly speeds up file transfers, scrubbing, and rendering.
What capacities is the S70 Blade available in?
The ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade is commonly available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities.
How does the S70 Blade compare to the WD Black SN850X?
Both are high-performance Gen4 drives.
The S70 Blade is often more competitively priced while offering very similar performance, making it a strong alternative to the SN850X for gaming and demanding applications. Sandisk Professional G Drive Armoratd Review
Can I install the S70 Blade in an older motherboard?
You can install the S70 Blade in an older motherboard with an M.2 slot, but if the slot only supports PCIe Gen3, the drive will operate at Gen3 speeds and you won’t get the full Gen4 performance benefits.
Is the S70 Blade suitable as a boot drive?
Yes, the S70 Blade is an excellent choice as a boot drive due to its extremely fast read speeds, leading to rapid operating system boot times and quick application launches.
Does the S70 Blade need extra cooling in a PC?
While the S70 Blade comes with an effective heatsink, ensuring good airflow within your PC case is always recommended for optimal performance and longevity of all components, especially under sustained heavy loads.
How much faster is PCIe Gen4 than Gen3 for SSDs?
PCIe Gen4 offers roughly double the bandwidth of PCIe Gen3. While Gen3 typically maxes out around 3,500 MB/s, Gen4 drives like the S70 Blade can reach speeds of 7,000 MB/s or more.
What is the MTBF Mean Time Between Failures for the S70 Blade?
The S70 Blade typically has an MTBF of around 2 million hours, indicating high statistical reliability.
Is the S70 Blade a reliable SSD?
Yes, with its robust Phison E18 controller, 3D TLC NAND, competitive TBW ratings, and a 5-year warranty, the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade is considered a highly reliable SSD.
Does the S70 Blade use NVMe 1.4?
Yes, the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade typically conforms to the NVMe 1.4 standard, which offers performance and efficiency improvements over earlier versions.
Can I remove the heatsink from the S70 Blade?
While technically possible, it is not recommended to remove the heatsink as it is designed for optimal thermal performance and removing it could void your warranty or lead to overheating and throttling.
What is the benefit of the slim heatsink on the S70 Blade?
The slim heatsink on the S70 Blade allows it to fit into more restrictive spaces, such as the PlayStation 5’s M.2 expansion slot and certain laptops, while still providing effective thermal dissipation.
Is the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade good value for money?
Yes, the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade is widely regarded as offering excellent value for money, providing near top-tier PCIe Gen4 performance at a competitive price point with effective thermal management. Sandisk Professional G Drive Ssd Review
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