Introduction
Kingston has been very open about their parts-swapping strategy for their NV storage lineup. Initially a way to circumvent the parts shortage of the 2020s, the Kingston NV2 saw consistent specs over time, transcending its image as a budget part to become the go-to starter SSD for general use. Most markets see the Kingston NV series as a best-seller, effectively becoming the benchmark for the newer batch of DRAM-less brands emerging from Taiwan and China.
Still, Kingston has its name to rely on, and today we finally have a true Gen4 successor to the NV2: the Kingston NV3.
Following the success of the NV2, Kingston positions the NV3 as a budget-oriented PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD aimed at entry-level users looking for an affordable performance uplift over SATA and older Gen 3 drives. While still a DRAM-less solution, the Kingston NV3 promises notable improvements in efficiency and NAND technology.
In this review, we’ll discover its specifications, part variance (the “Hardware Lottery”), and whether Kingston’s latest budget drive can keep up with modern expectations.
Features & Specification
| Specification | 500GB | 1TB | 2TB | 4TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 | |||
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe | |||
| NAND Flash | 3D NAND (QLC in most regions) | |||
| Seq. Read | 5,000 MB/s | 6,000 MB/s | 6,000 MB/s | 6,000 MB/s |
| Seq. Write | 3,000 MB/s | 4,000 MB/s | 5,000 MB/s | 5,000 MB/s |
| Endurance (TBW) | 160 TB | 320 TB | 640 TB | 1280 TB |
| Warranty | Limited 3-year warranty (Region Dependent) | |||
Series Comparison: NV1 vs NV2 vs NV3
| Feature | Kingston NV1 | Kingston NV2 | Kingston NV3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Max Read | 2,100 MB/s | 3,500 MB/s | 6,000 MB/s |
| Max Write | 1,700 MB/s | 2,800 MB/s | 5,000 MB/s |
| Endurance (TBW) | 960 TB | 1280 TB | 1280 TB |
Closer Look: The Hardware Lottery
Kingston ships the NV3 in a standard blister pack. The drive itself remains single-sided even at 2TB, using only two NAND chips. This keeps the back flat and bare, perfect for thin laptops or motherboards with integrated heatspreaders.
Note: The drive does not include a heatsink. Given the 6,000 MB/s speeds, it will throttle under heavy sustained loads. We highly recommend using your motherboard’s M.2 heatsink.
Under the Sticker: What did we get?
With consumers becoming more aware of part revisions, we peeled back the sticker to see exactly what powers the NV3. Our 2TB sample features:
- Controller: TenaFE TC2201 (DRAM-less, PCIe 4.0)
- Flash: Kingston FP01T08VCY1-54 (Rebranded YMTC 232-layer QLC)
- DRAM Cache: None (Uses 64MB HMB)
This confirms that the NV3 (at least this batch) is using QLC NAND paired with a newer, less common TenaFE controller. This combination allows for high burst speeds but relies heavily on the pseudo-SLC cache to hide the slower native write speeds of QLC.
Performance Testing
- Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
- Motherboard: ROG Maximus Z890 HERO
- Memory: Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5-6400 32GB
- Test Drive: Kingston NV3 2TB
- OS Drive: Kingston FURY Renegade SSD
Linear Performance (AIDA64)
We use a script to write 1GB data files to fill up the drive until we hit the saturation point.
CrystalDiskMark
The industry standard for measuring peak burst throughput.
PCMark 10 Storage Benchmark
Real-world traces involving application launching and small file manipulation.
3DMark Storage Benchmark
Simulates game loading times (Battlefield V, Overwatch, CoD) and game installation.
Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail Benchmark
Total loading time across all benchmark scenes.
PlayStation 5 Performance
The NV3 is fully compatible with the PS5. Below is the internal read speed test results after formatting.
Verdict: Is the NV3 Worth It?
Back2Gaming Verdict
The Kingston NV3 is a successful evolution of the NV2. It doesn’t try to be a flagship killer; it tries to be the best “Default Drive” for the masses. By jumping to 6,000 MB/s, it offers a tangible snapiness improvement over older budget drives.
However, the QLC reality is undeniable. Once the cache fills up, sustained write speeds drop hard. This makes it an excellent drive for gamers (who mostly read data) but a poor choice for video editors (who write massive files constantly).
✅ THE GOOD
- Excellent Price-to-Performance ratio.
- 6,000 MB/s Read Speed is a massive jump from NV2.
- Runs relatively cool (Great for laptops).
- Single-sided design fits anywhere.
❌ THE BAD
- Sustained writes suffer due to QLC NAND.
- Hardware Lottery: Components may vary by batch.
- 3-Year Warranty (in some regions) vs 5-Year standard.
Kingston backs the NV3 with a 3-year warranty. We give it our B2G Recommended Seal for budget builds and game libraries!
Binili ko to dahil sa review ni sir RK Visda hahaha
Kuya Rygell! haha
Back2Gaming Baka RK yan hahaah!