fanxiang M.2 SSD 1TB PCIe Gen4 x4 Review: The Budget NVMe Drive That Punches Above Its Weight

There’s a unique kind of digital agony that comes from waiting. The slow, creeping progress bar as your operating system boots up. The agonisingly long loading screens that pull you out of the immersion of your favourite game. The glacial pace of a large file transfer when you’re on a tight deadline. I’ve been there, staring at the screen, willing my machine to just *go faster*. For years, we were told that the CPU or RAM was the key to speed, but the real bottleneck for most modern systems has been storage. A traditional hard disk drive (HDD), with its spinning platters and moving read/write heads, is ancient technology in a world that demands instant access. Not solving this storage bottleneck means you’re not getting the full performance you paid for from the rest of your components. It’s like putting budget tyres on a sports car; you’re simply not equipped for high performance.

What to Consider Before Buying a PCIe Gen4 SSD

A Solid State Drive is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for unlocking your system’s true potential. By eliminating moving parts and using flash memory, an NVMe SSD like the fanxiang M.2 SSD 1TB PCIe Gen4 x4 delivers data at speeds that were unimaginable just a decade ago. The primary benefit is a dramatic reduction in latency across your entire system. This means Windows boots in seconds, applications launch instantly, and game levels load so quickly you barely have time to read the on-screen tips. It’s a fundamental upgrade that makes your entire computing experience feel more responsive, snappy, and modern.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone looking for a significant, cost-effective performance uplift for their desktop, laptop, or even PS5. This includes gamers tired of long load times, content creators who work with large files, or any general user whose system is still running on an older SATA SSD or a mechanical hard drive. However, it might not be the best fit for users with much older motherboards that lack an M.2 PCIe Gen4 slot; while it’s backward compatible with PCIe 3.0, you won’t get the full speed benefits. In that case, a dedicated PCIe 3.0 drive or a high-quality 2.5-inch SATA SSD might offer better value. For enterprise users needing extreme endurance for constant, heavy database writes, a more expensive drive with TLC or MLC NAND might be more appropriate.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: This drive uses the standard M.2 2280 form factor (22mm wide, 80mm long). You must ensure your motherboard or laptop has a compatible M.2 slot. Also, consider cooling; while this drive includes a graphite sticker, high-performance systems or PS5 installations will benefit greatly from a dedicated heatsink, which your motherboard may already provide.
• Capacity/Performance: The advertised speeds of up to 4800 MB/s read are impressive for this price point. However, it’s important to understand the underlying technology. This is a QLC (Quad-Level Cell) NAND drive, which leverages an intelligent SLC (Single-Level Cell) cache for its top speeds. For everyday use and gaming, this is fantastic. For sustained, massive file writes (hundreds of gigabytes at once), you may see speeds drop after the cache is exhausted.
• Materials & Durability: The drive features high-quality 3D NAND particles and has undergone rigorous testing. The key durability metric is its TBW (Total Bytes Written) rating, which is 320 TBW for the 1TB model. This is a substantial figure, ensuring years of reliable service for typical desktop use and gaming. The 5-year warranty is a strong statement of confidence from the manufacturer in the drive’s longevity.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Installation is straightforward for anyone comfortable opening their PC case. A huge plus, as we discovered and other users confirmed, is the inclusion of a small screwdriver and an M.2 screw. This is a thoughtful touch that saves you from hunting for tiny, easily lost parts. Once installed, the drive is maintenance-free; modern operating systems handle TRIM and other optimisations automatically.

Keeping these factors in mind, the fanxiang M.2 SSD 1TB PCIe Gen4 x4 stands out in several areas, particularly its value proposition. You can explore its detailed specifications and current pricing here.

While the fanxiang M.2 SSD 1TB PCIe Gen4 x4 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: A Surprisingly Complete Package

Unboxing the fanxiang M.2 SSD 1TB PCIe Gen4 x4 was a pleasant surprise. The drive arrives in a sleek, professional-looking box that gives a better first impression than many other budget-oriented components. Inside, the SSD itself is securely nestled in a plastic tray. The drive is a standard M.2 2280 stick, unassuming and compact. What immediately caught our attention, however, was the inclusion of a small baggie containing not just the requisite M.2 mounting screw but also a small, functional Phillips head screwdriver. As many fellow builders know, these tiny screws are notorious for getting lost, and not all motherboards come with spares. This thoughtful addition, confirmed by numerous user reviews, is a fantastic touch that streamlines the installation process and demonstrates a user-focused approach that is often missing from bigger brands. The drive also comes with a separate graphite thermal sticker, giving you the choice to apply it or use your motherboard’s own M.2 heatsink, which is what we opted for in our primary test bench. The overall build quality feels solid, with no sense of fragility, inspiring confidence right out of the box.

Deep Dive: Putting the fanxiang S690Q to the Test

A spec sheet only tells part of the story. To truly understand a drive’s character, you have to push it, live with it, and see how it performs when the benchmarks stop and real work begins. We installed the fanxiang M.2 SSD 1TB PCIe Gen4 x4 into our test system, a mid-range gaming PC with a B550 motherboard, and used it as our primary OS and games drive for over a week. Our experience was overwhelmingly positive, revealing a drive that consistently performs beyond its budget-friendly price tag.

Real-World Speed and Benchmark Performance

The first thing we did after a fresh Windows install was to run a series of benchmarks, and the results were immediately impressive. Using CrystalDiskMark, we consistently achieved sequential read speeds of around 4750 MB/s and write speeds of just over 2800 MB/s. This is remarkably close to the advertised maximums of 4800/2900 MB/s and confirms that this drive is not just making empty promises. This sentiment was echoed by several users who shared their own benchmark screenshots, showing that these speeds are readily achievable on a properly configured Gen4 system. But benchmarks are synthetic. The real magic is in how this speed translates to daily use. The difference was night and day compared to our old SATA SSD. Windows 11 boot time was cut in half, from around 20 seconds to under 10. Heavy applications like Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro launched almost instantaneously. In gaming, the impact was profound. Loading into a large, open-world map in a game like Cyberpunk 2077 or Elden Ring was significantly faster, drastically reducing downtime and keeping us immersed in the action. The drive’s performance is powered by a combination of HMB (Host Memory Buffer) technology, which uses a small portion of your system’s RAM as a cache, and an intelligent SLC cache. This setup is incredibly effective at accelerating the burst-heavy workloads that define most consumer computing tasks, making the entire system feel incredibly responsive.

Installation and Compatibility: From PC to PS5

Getting the fanxiang M.2 SSD 1TB PCIe Gen4 x4 up and running was a breeze, thanks in no small part to the included tools. As one user aptly noted, having the screw and screwdriver is a “nice addition as saves looking around for one to fit.” We simply located the M.2 slot on our motherboard, removed the pre-installed heatsink, slotted the drive in at an angle, pushed it down, and secured it with the provided screw before replacing the heatsink. The whole process took less than five minutes. After booting into the BIOS to ensure it was recognized, we proceeded with our OS installation without a single hitch. The drive is fully plug-and-play on modern Windows and Linux systems.

The PS5 compatibility is where the story gets more complex. The product is advertised as PS5-compatible, and indeed, many users reported successful installations. The process involves opening the PS5, installing the drive, and letting the console format it upon the next boot-up. However, there are two key considerations. First, the PS5 absolutely requires a heatsink on any expansion SSD, so you must use one, either your own or one specifically designed for the console; the included graphite sticker is not sufficient. Second, while the drive meets the minimum speed requirements set by Sony, we encountered an alarming user report detailing system crashes (error code ce-108262-9) that were attributed directly to this drive. While this appears to be an isolated incident, it’s a critical data point. Our recommendation for PS5 users is cautious optimism. The drive is an incredibly affordable way to expand your console’s storage, but given the potential for issues, those seeking guaranteed, rock-solid stability may be better served by a slightly faster, more established model. For those willing to try it, the value is undeniable, but it’s a decision that comes with a small degree of risk.

Thermals, Endurance, and the QLC Question

Heat is the enemy of performance and longevity for NVMe SSDs. We tested the fanxiang M.2 SSD 1TB PCIe Gen4 x4 both with our motherboard’s substantial heatsink and with just the included graphite sticker. With the motherboard heatsink, temperatures remained excellent, never exceeding 50°C even under sustained load. One user tested the drive without any heatsink at all and reported temperatures reaching 54°C after three consecutive benchmark runs, which is warm but not dangerously hot for a controller. This indicates the drive has decent thermal management on its own, but we strongly recommend using a proper heatsink for optimal performance and lifespan, especially in a laptop or PS5 where airflow is restricted.

The drive’s use of QLC NAND is the key to its affordability, but it comes with inherent trade-offs. QLC stores more bits per cell than the more expensive TLC (Tri-Level Cell) NAND, which reduces cost but also lowers raw endurance and sustained write performance. We confirmed this behavior, which one perceptive user also noted: performance was excellent until a massive data transfer of over 400GB, at which point the SLC cache was exhausted and write speeds dropped significantly. It’s crucial to put this in context. This scenario is extremely rare for a typical user or gamer. You would have to be moving a file the size of a massive AAA game multiple times in a row to experience this slowdown. For installing games, loading applications, and general use, the SLC cache is more than sufficient to provide a consistently fast experience. The 320 TBW endurance rating is also very robust. To put it in perspective, you would need to write over 175 GB of data every single day, for five years straight, to reach this limit. For the vast majority of users, this drive will last for the entire lifespan of their system and then some, making the 5-year warranty a very reassuring guarantee.

What Other Users Are Saying

Scouring user feedback provides a broader picture of a product’s real-world performance, and the consensus on the fanxiang M.2 SSD 1TB PCIe Gen4 x4 is largely positive, centring on its incredible value. One user captured this sentiment perfectly, stating they were “happy with the price, storage capacity, and speed of this SSD.” Many, like us, were delighted by the inclusion of the installation kit, calling the screwdriver and screw a “nice addition.” Multiple users confirmed with their own benchmarks that the drive “holds the promised speeds realistically,” with one noting it reached “90% of the promised performance” right out of the box, which is excellent and typical for the industry.

However, the feedback isn’t universally perfect, providing a balanced view. The most serious negative report came from a PS5 user whose console began crashing after installation, a significant issue that potential console buyers should consider. Another user pointed out the performance drop during very large file transfers, confirming our findings about the SLC cache behaviour on a QLC drive. They noted that after about 400GB of continuous writing, the “speed of writing and reading drops a lot.” While this is a valid technical observation, it’s a limitation that most users are unlikely to ever encounter in day-to-day use.

Alternatives to the fanxiang M.2 SSD 1TB PCIe Gen4 x4

While the fanxiang S690Q offers a compelling package, the SSD market is fiercely competitive. Depending on your specific needs and budget, one of these alternatives might be an even better fit for your system.

1. Lexar NM790 2TB SSD

If raw, unadulterated speed is your top priority, the Lexar NM790 is a powerhouse. Boasting staggering sequential read/write speeds of up to 7400/6500 MB/s, it operates at the upper echelon of the PCIe Gen4 standard. This makes it an ideal choice for hardcore enthusiasts, professional content creators editing 4K or 8K video, and PS5 users who want to exceed Sony’s speed recommendations for guaranteed flawless performance. While it commands a higher price, you’re paying for top-tier performance that will handle the most demanding workloads without breaking a sweat. It’s the go-to option for those who want to eliminate storage as a bottleneck entirely.

2. KIOXIA EXCERIA PLUS G3 1TB NVMe SSD

The KIOXIA EXCERIA PLUS G3 positions itself as a direct competitor to the fanxiang drive, but with a slight edge in performance and brand recognition. KIOXIA, formerly Toshiba Memory, is a major NAND manufacturer, giving them a strong reputation for quality. With speeds of up to 5000/3900 MB/s, it offers a noticeable step up in both read and especially write performance compared to the S690Q. This makes it a great middle-ground option for users who are willing to spend a little more for faster write speeds and the peace of mind that comes with a well-established brand in flash storage.

3. Fikwot FX550 2TB NVMe M.2 SSD

For users with slightly older systems that are limited to the PCIe 3.0 interface, the Fikwot FX550 is an excellent value-focused choice. Paying for Gen4 speeds you can’t use doesn’t make sense, and this drive delivers the maximum performance that the Gen3 standard can offer, with read speeds up to 3,500 MB/s. It still provides a massive upgrade over any SATA-based drive, dramatically improving boot times and application loading. If your motherboard lacks a Gen4 M.2 slot, this drive allows you to get a huge capacity and a significant performance boost without overspending on unnecessary speed.

Final Verdict: An Unbeatable Value for Mainstream Upgrades

After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the fanxiang M.2 SSD 1TB PCIe Gen4 x4 is clear: it is an exceptional value proposition for the vast majority of users. It successfully delivers on its promise of PCIe Gen4 speeds, providing a transformative upgrade for anyone moving from an older storage technology. The snappy responsiveness it brings to OS booting, application launching, and game loading makes your entire system feel newer and more powerful. The inclusion of installation tools is a wonderfully user-friendly touch that we wish more brands would adopt.

It’s not without its compromises; the QLC architecture means it isn’t the ideal choice for professionals who perform constant, massive file writes, and the isolated report of PS5 instability warrants caution for console owners. However, for its target audience of gamers, students, and everyday desktop users, these are edge cases that do not detract from the superb day-to-day performance. If you are looking for the most impactful performance upgrade for your PC without breaking the bank, this drive is incredibly difficult to beat. If you’ve decided the fanxiang M.2 SSD 1TB PCIe Gen4 x4 is the right fit, you can check its current price and purchase it here.