The Acer FA300 2 TB is presented as an impressive and practical addition to the PCIe Gen 5 SSD market, offering high speeds paired with efficient power management. Available in both 1 TB and 2 TB capacities, this mid-range M.2 NVMe drive utilizes PCIe Gen 5 technology.
The drive incorporates the Silicon Motion SM2504XT controller coupled with Kioxia 218-layer TLC NAND memory. The controller features a DRAM-less design, relying instead on the Host Memory Buffer (HMB) function defined in the NVMe 2.0 specification to manage data mapping using system RAM.
A key physical feature is that the entire PCB is single-sided, ensuring compatibility with various devices including laptops, ultrabooks, and the PS5 expansion slot. Furthermore, its active power consumption is reported at approximately 2.4 W, a figure significantly lower compared to the typical 6 to 8 W draw of high-end Gen 5 SSDs.
Performance specifications are robust: Acer rates the 2TB model for up to 11,000 MB/s sequential read and 10,000 MB/s sequential write. Random performance metrics reach up to 1,600,000 read IOPS and 1,600,000 write IOPS. The larger 2TB capacity offers a distinct advantage in writing speed over the 1TB model because it utilizes two NAND packages that allow the controller to interleave data across eight channels.
The FA300 2TB achieved transfer speeds close to its rated maximums during real-world testing and maintained consistent performance during laptop battery life testing, outlasting all other Gen5 SSDs evaluated in that round-up. The drive uses an SLC write cache for burst operations; however, once this cache fills during lengthy large-file transfers, the write speed drops back to the native TLC speed.
To mitigate its inherent speed limitation, the 2TB model features a larger SLC cache than the 1TB version, helping sustain peak speeds for longer periods. Additionally, the SM2504XT controller is noted for keeping thermals controlled without requiring an integrated heatsink, which is unusual for PCIe 5.0 drives.
Acer provides a five-year limited warranty for the FA300. The 2TB model carries an impressive 1,500 TBW endurance rating (1.5 PBW). This translates to roughly 822 GB of writes per day before reaching the warranty threshold over five years. Even a power user transferring 50 GB daily would exceed the rated endurance for this period in over 80 years.
The review summary suggests that the Acer FA300 2TB is an optimal Gen5 choice for laptop users and those building systems with thermally restrictive enclosures. Its combination of single-sided layout, low 2.4 W power draw, and lack of required heatsink makes it a highly practical upgrade option. While ideal for general productivity, gaming, and large-capacity storage where heat management is key, desktop enthusiasts needing maximum sustained write throughput should consider alternatives like the Acer Predator GM9000 2TB or Samsung 9100 Pro.
The unit’s strengths include its M.2 2280 single-sided form factor for compatibility, reliable Kioxia 218-L TLC NAND, and a competitive cost derived from its DRAM-less HMB design. Primary drawbacks are the limitations imposed by the DRAM-less architecture during heavy sustained workloads, potential write speed dips after SLC cache exhaustion, the absence of an included heatsink in retail packaging, and Acer being a newer player in the SSD market.
Source: TechPowerUp