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Introduction

　　Although the mainstream PC storage still uses the 2280 specification M.2 NVMe SSD, some mini PCs and classic handheld devices use the 2230 size specification SSD. Handheld devices such as the familiar Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and GPD Win Mini 2024 all use 2230 specification SSDs, while mini PCs like some models of ASUS NUC and ROG NUC also adopt M.2 2230 SSDs. Currently, the selection of M.2 2230 specification SSDs has become rich, and today we share with you the latest Kingston NV3 M.2 2230 SSD, which has a maximum capacity of 2TB and outstanding sustained read performance among many 2230 specification SSDs. Coupled with Kingston’s 5-year warranty support, it is very suitable for handheld gamers seeking long-term stable operation to upgrade.

　　Of course, as a PSSD solution, the 2230 specification SSD is also smaller in overall size, and this article will also test it as a mobile hard drive solution.

Kingston NV3 PCIe 4.0 M.2 2230 SSD Unboxing

Specifications

　　The Kingston NV3 PCIe 4.0 M.2 2230 SSD comes in three capacity models: 512GB, 1TB, and the 2TB discussed in this article. The 2TB model also has the highest read and write performance among the three capacities. If price is a concern, the 1TB capacity model is also a very good choice for handheld devices, as the read performance is at full speed. Currently, the price for the 2TB model on JD.com is 999 yuan.

Overall

Kingston NV3 PCIe 4.0 M.2 2230 SSD 2TB

Back View

　　The 2230 size specification M.2 SSD measures only 22mm x 30mm, saving space, while the read speed is also within the mainstream range. Therefore, many handheld devices, mini PCs, and PSSDs adopt this specification SSD.

Controller and Chips

Silicon Motion SM2268XT Controller

　　This SSD, like many 2230 specification SSDs, is designed without a cache, resulting in lower power consumption. The chip near the interface is the Silicon Motion SM2268XT PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD controller, which targets the high cost-performance market. It uses TSMC’s 12nm process with a dual-core ARM Cortex-R8 processor, reaching a frequency of 725MHz, supporting PCIe 4.0 x4, and up to 4 NAND channels. This controller also has excellent power consumption control, with standby power consumption of less than 5mW, making it very suitable for users sensitive to power consumption, such as handheld devices. Additionally, the Kingston NV3 M.2 2230 SSD uses the upgraded version SM2268XT2, which supports the NVMe 2.0 protocol and NAND flash memory speeds of 3200MT/s, providing better support for future high-speed chips.

Single-Sided Chip Design

Testing

　　For the testing platform, we used a Zero刻 EQi12 mini PC, which has a processor and memory frequency that is not very strong but supports PCIe 4.0 x4 channel M.2 interface, making it more representative for testing the benchmark performance of this SSD. Although the 2230 specification SSD is small, it still requires an independent heatsink to assist with heat dissipation.

Testing Platform

CDI (Temperature After Benchmark Testing)

AS SSD Benchmark Test

AS SSD Copy Test

CDM Test 1GB Sample

CDM Test 32GB Sample

TxBENCH Benchmark Test

　　Even when paired with the low-power 2P+8E i3-1220P, the read and write performance in the CDM benchmark test exceeded the rated data. Such performance is suitable for handheld devices and even for applications requiring higher write performance in PC productivity and office scenarios.

Daily Use

　　As one of the choices for PSSD solutions, we tested it with a fanless 2230 specification hard drive enclosure, the Haibeisi MC13, which is a metal shell hard drive enclosure designed specifically for 2230 specification M.2 interface SSDs, with a Type C interface and a maximum speed of 10Gbps. Although this speed interface cannot fully utilize the performance of the Kingston NV3 SSD, the temperature control is excellent. In an environment with a room temperature of 29 degrees Celsius, after continuously writing 63GB of data, the CDI showed a temperature of only 45℃.

CDI Data

AS SSD Test

AS SSD Copy Benchmark Test

CDM 8GB Sample Benchmark Test Easily Reaches the Speed Limit of the Hard Drive Enclosure

FastCopy Transfer of 63GB File Average Write Speed 731MB/s

FastCopy Transfer of 63GB File Average Read Speed 781MB/s

Conclusion

　　The Kingston NV3 M.2 2230 NVMe 2TB SSD performs well and is very suitable for daily applications, office work, and gaming on handheld devices or mini PCs. Its compact size, combined with the Silicon Motion SM2268XT controller and single-sided chip design, results in excellent overall power consumption control. With reasonable heat dissipation support, the temperature control is also good. Kingston’s consistent focus on stability and excellent after-sales support is also a key factor that makes this product stand out among its peers.

Kingston NV3 M.2 2230 NVMe 2TB SSD

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