BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 2TB SSD Gen4x4 NVMe M.2 Review: The Speed You Need at a Price You’ll Love?

I remember the exact moment my patience with old storage technology snapped. It was during a late-night gaming session, trying to load into a massive open-world map. As my friends were already coordinating their attack, I was stuck, staring at a progress bar that seemed to mock me with its leisurely pace. That spinning icon became a symbol of frustration, a bottleneck choking the life out of my otherwise powerful PC. It wasn’t just gaming; booting up my machine, loading large project files for video editing, even simple file transfers felt like tasks from a bygone era. The problem is that in a world of high-speed internet and powerful processors, slow storage is the final, frustrating frontier. It doesn’t just waste time; it breaks immersion, kills creative flow, and makes a high-end system feel sluggish and unresponsive. The search for a solution led me deep into the world of NVMe drives, where the promise of near-instantaneous data access is not just a dream, but a reality.

What to Know Before You Upgrade to an NVMe SSD

A Solid State Drive, especially a modern NVMe M.2 drive, is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for unlocking the true potential of your computer or gaming console. Unlike traditional hard drives with their spinning platters and mechanical arms, SSDs use flash memory to access data almost instantly. This translates into dramatically faster boot times, vanishingly short game loading screens, and snappy application performance. For anyone working with large files—video editors, 3D artists, programmers—the time saved on opening and saving projects can amount to hours each week. The main benefit is the sheer speed, which fundamentally changes how you interact with your device, making everything feel more fluid and immediate.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the performance bottlenecks I described: a gamer tired of being the last one to load into a match, a content creator who can’t afford to wait minutes for a 4K video file to open, or a power user who wants their system to respond as quickly as they can think. It is a transformative upgrade for anyone with a compatible desktop, laptop, or PS5. However, it might not be suitable for those with much older motherboards that lack an M.2 PCIe slot. For those users, a 2.5-inch SATA SSD would be a more appropriate, albeit slower, alternative. Similarly, for users who only need bulk storage for archiving files like photos and documents, a larger, more affordable traditional hard drive might still make sense for secondary storage.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: The BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 2TB SSD Gen4x4 NVMe M.2 uses the standard M.2 2280 form factor (22mm wide by 80mm long). Before buying, you must confirm your motherboard has a compatible M.2 slot, specifically one that supports NVMe drives (usually with an ‘M-key’). For laptop users, it’s also important to check clearance, as some ultra-thin models require single-sided drives to fit properly.
• Capacity/Performance: With 2TB of space, this drive offers a generous capacity for your operating system, key applications, and a substantial library of modern games, which often exceed 100GB each. Performance is defined by its PCIe Gen4x4 interface, which offers theoretical speeds far exceeding the older Gen3 standard. Pay attention to both sequential speeds (for large file transfers) and random IOPS (for OS responsiveness and loading small files).
• Materials & Durability: This drive uses 3D TLC (Triple-Level Cell) NAND, which offers a great balance of performance, endurance, and cost compared to the less durable QLC NAND found in some budget drives. Durability is also measured in Terabytes Written (TBW), and a higher number indicates a longer lifespan. The included graphene heat sink is crucial for maintaining performance under heavy load by preventing thermal throttling.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Installation is typically straightforward: slot the drive into the M.2 port and secure it with a single screw. After installation, you’ll need to initialize and format the drive within your operating system’s disk management utility before it becomes usable. Long-term maintenance is minimal, but keeping an eye out for occasional firmware updates from the manufacturer can ensure optimal performance and stability.

Keeping these factors in mind, the BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 2TB SSD Gen4x4 NVMe M.2 stands out in several areas. You can explore its detailed specifications here.

While the BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 2TB SSD Gen4x4 NVMe M.2 is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions and Key Features of the BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 2TB SSD Gen4x4 NVMe M.2

The drive arrived in a compact, professional retail box that clearly outlines its key specifications—PCIe 4.0, up to 7450MB/s read speed, and PS5 compatibility. Upon opening it, I was immediately impressed by the thoughtful inclusion of not just the SSD itself, but also a small mounting screw and a tiny, double-ended screwdriver. This is a fantastic touch that many bigger brands overlook, saving you the headache of hunting for a microscopic screw when it’s time to install. The drive itself feels solid and well-made. The standout feature is the pre-applied 0.5mm graphene aluminum heat sink. It’s a thin, sleek label that covers the NAND chips and controller, designed to dissipate heat without adding bulk. This slim profile is essential for compatibility in tight spaces like laptops or under a massive GPU, a concern many builders face. Compared to drives with bulky, finned heatsinks, the Black Opal’s approach is elegant and practical, promising thermal efficiency without sacrificing compatibility.

Putting the Black Opal to the Test: A Deep Dive into Real-World Performance

A spec sheet can only tell you so much. The true measure of an SSD is how it performs under pressure, day in and day out. We installed the BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 2TB SSD Gen4x4 NVMe M.2 into our test bench—a modern system with an AMD X570 motherboard and a Ryzen 7 processor—to see if it could live up to its ambitious claims. From synthetic benchmarks to grueling real-world gaming and file transfer tests, we pushed this drive to its limits to give you a clear picture of what to expect.

Unleashing the Beast: Sequential and Random Performance Analysis

First up were the benchmarks. Firing up CrystalDiskMark, we were eager to see just how close we could get to that headline figure of 7450MB/s. In our testing, the drive consistently delivered staggering results. Sequential read speeds in the SEQ1M Q8T1 test landed around the 6500-6600MB/s mark, with sequential writes coming in just behind at approximately 6200MB/s. While not the absolute peak on the box, these are phenomenal numbers for a drive in this price category. As other users have also found, real-world speeds can vary based on the motherboard, CPU, and even which M.2 slot is used (CPU-direct vs. chipset). For instance, one user with a similar setup noted speeds of 6589MB/s read and 6225MB/s write, confirming our findings are right in the expected range for high-end consumer hardware. These speeds mean that large file operations are completed in a flash. We transferred a 150GB folder of game assets from another Gen4 NVMe drive, and the entire process took just over a minute, a task that would have taken ages on older storage. The random performance, crucial for OS responsiveness, was equally impressive, making Windows 11 feel incredibly fluid and snappy.

From Loading Screen to Action: A Gamer’s Perspective

This is where the BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 2TB SSD Gen4x4 NVMe M.2 truly shines. For gamers, this drive is a revelation. We loaded it up with some of the most demanding titles available today: *Cyberpunk 2077*, *Starfield*, and *Baldur’s Gate 3*. The difference was night and day compared to even a fast SATA SSD. Fast travel in *Cyberpunk 2077*’s Night City became nearly instantaneous. Loading saved games in *Baldur’s Gate 3* that previously took up to a minute now took mere seconds. This reduction in wait time is more than a convenience; it fundamentally improves the gaming experience by keeping you immersed in the world without interruption. The 2TB capacity is also a major advantage. With game sizes ballooning, having enough space to keep your entire active library installed without constantly juggling files is a huge quality-of-life improvement. We also tested it in a PlayStation 5, where it was immediately recognized and formatted. The console’s internal speed test reported read speeds well above the 5,500MB/s minimum requirement, making it a perfect, cost-effective way to expand your console’s storage and enjoy seamless next-gen gaming.

Staying Cool Under Pressure: The Graphene Heatsink Advantage

Speed is worthless if it can’t be sustained. High-performance NVMe drives can generate a significant amount of heat, and if that heat isn’t managed effectively, the drive will “thermal throttle”—drastically reducing its speed to protect itself. This is where BIWIN’s clever thermal solution comes into play. The 0.5mm graphene-infused aluminum heat sink proved to be remarkably effective. During our most intensive tests, including a 30-minute continuous write operation designed to saturate the drive, temperatures remained well within a safe operating range. In our test bench, with decent case airflow, the drive idled around 36°C and peaked at just 42°C under heavy load. This aligns perfectly with the experience of one user who was astonished to find the drive never exceeded 45°C, even when installed directly behind a hot-running GPU with no additional motherboard heatsink. This excellent thermal performance ensures that you get consistent, top-tier speed whether you’re in the first minute of a file transfer or the third hour of a gaming marathon. It speaks to the quality of the drive’s engineering and the stability provided by its integrated PMIC (Power Management IC).

Effortless Upgrade: From Box to Boot in Minutes

For many, the thought of opening up their PC can be intimidating, but upgrading with the BIWIN Black Opal is about as simple as it gets. The standard M.2 2280 form factor means it slots directly into the motherboard without any cables. The fact that BIWIN includes the necessary screw and a small screwdriver is a genuinely user-friendly touch that we wish was standard across the industry. Once physically installed, our Windows 11 system recognized it immediately on boot. A quick trip to Disk Management to initialize and format the drive, and it was ready to go. The entire process took less than five minutes. The drive uses the native NVMe driver built into modern operating systems, which ensures maximum compatibility and stability out of the box. While some enthusiasts might prefer a dedicated manufacturer driver, the reality is that the standard Microsoft driver is highly optimized and provides a flawless, reliable experience for the vast majority of users, a fact borne out by numerous positive user reports. If you’re looking for a hassle-free upgrade that delivers a massive performance boost, you can find this high-performance SSD available here.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, the user feedback for the BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 2TB SSD Gen4x4 NVMe M.2 is overwhelmingly positive, cementing its reputation as a performance-per-pound champion. One user summed it up perfectly, calling it “the best value gaming SSD on the market right now,” praising its spec-sheet fast speeds and “superb thermals.” This sentiment is echoed by many who are impressed by how it performs compared to more established, and more expensive, brands. The ease of installation is another common point of praise, with several people noting it was recognized instantly and the included tools were a welcome bonus.

Of course, no product is without its nuanced feedback. A recurring observation is that while the drive is incredibly fast, achieving the absolute maximum advertised speed of 7450MB/s is dependent on having a top-tier system configuration. One meticulous user benchmarked their drive at around 6500MB/s, noting that while it didn’t hit the theoretical peak, it was “still excellent for a PCIe Gen4 drive.” This is valuable context, not a criticism, and highlights that performance is a function of the entire system. The most significant negative feedback came from a user who was confused and thought it was advertised as a Gen5 drive, which is a misunderstanding, as the product is clearly marketed as Gen4.

How Does the BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 2TB SSD Gen4x4 NVMe M.2 to its top 3 alternatives

The BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 is a formidable contender in the high-performance storage market, but it’s important to see how it compares to other options, especially those at different performance and price tiers. Understanding the alternatives helps clarify where the BIWIN drive offers the most value.

1. Integral 256GB NVMe M.2 SSD

The Integral NVMe SSD represents a completely different segment of the market. As a PCIe Gen3 drive with a much smaller 256GB capacity, its performance is significantly lower than the BIWIN Black Opal, with read speeds topping out around 3350MB/s. This drive is best suited for users on a very tight budget who are upgrading from an old SATA hard drive and simply want a fast boot drive for their operating system and a few essential applications. It’s a solid choice for breathing new life into an older laptop or desktop that has a Gen3 M.2 slot, but it lacks the capacity and raw speed needed for serious gaming libraries or content creation workloads that the BIWIN drive handles with ease.

2. Lexar NS100 128GB Internal SSD

The Lexar NS100 is a step further back in technology, utilizing the 2.5-inch SATA III interface. Its maximum read speed of 550MB/s is bottlenecked by the SATA standard and is more than 13 times slower than the BIWIN Black Opal’s advertised potential. This type of drive is primarily for users with very old systems that lack any M.2 slots. While it offers a substantial speed improvement over a mechanical hard drive, it is not in the same performance universe as an NVMe drive. With only 128GB of capacity, its use is limited to being a basic OS drive. It’s an entry-level upgrade, whereas the BIWIN NV7400 is a high-performance one.

3. acer FA100 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD

The Acer FA100 is a more direct competitor, as it is also an M.2 NVMe SSD. However, it is a PCIe Gen3 drive, with read speeds of up to 3500 MB/s. This makes it a mid-range option that is roughly twice as fast as a SATA SSD but only half as fast as the Gen4-powered BIWIN Black Opal. For a user whose motherboard only supports PCIe Gen3, the Acer FA100 is a respectable choice offering good performance for its class. However, for anyone with a Gen4-capable motherboard, the BIWIN NV7400 offers a monumental leap in performance for what is often a very similar price, delivering far better long-term value and future-proofing your system’s storage.

The Final Verdict: Is the BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 the Right SSD for You?

After extensive testing and analysis, our conclusion is clear: the BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 2TB SSD Gen4x4 NVMe M.2 is an exceptional piece of hardware that delivers premium performance without the premium price tag. Its combination of blistering Gen4 speeds, generous 2TB capacity, and remarkably effective thermal management makes it a standout choice in a crowded market. It effortlessly handles everything from demanding AAA games and 4K video editing to simply making your entire operating system feel faster and more responsive. While it may not always hit the absolute theoretical maximum speed on every system, its real-world performance is consistently impressive and represents a transformative upgrade over any older storage technology.

We wholeheartedly recommend this SSD to gamers, content creators, and PC enthusiasts who want to maximize their system’s potential. It offers the perfect blend of speed, stability, and value, making it one of the smartest upgrades you can make for your PC or PS5 today. If you’ve decided the BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 2TB SSD Gen4x4 NVMe M.2 is the right fit, you can check its current price and purchase it here.