In early 2023, the tech world got its first look at the advanced PCIe Gen5 NVMe SSDs, showcasing phenomenal read and write speeds of up to 10,000 MB/s. However, as the technology evolved, even quicker drives were destined to hit the market. With broader accessibility thanks to new AMD and Intel motherboards, Gen5 platforms became available to a wider audience. Starting with 10 GB/s speeds, manufacturers quickly improved upon this by optimizing thermal designs and employing cutting-edge NAND technology. Among the frontrunners in this race is KLEVV, a rapidly growing SSD manufacturer. The company unveiled its impressive Genuine G560 SSD at Computex 2024, and it’s now available for us to review.
Today we’re putting the spotlight on the KLEVV Genuine G560 2 TB SSD, which features a Phison E26 controller aimed squarely at the high-end storage market. As expected, it comes with a premium price tag.
The KLEVV Genuine G560 SSD is part of their new “Genuine” series. These Gen5 SSDs are equipped with the latest Micron 232-layer TLC 3D NAND flash, allowing for larger capacities, impressive performance enhancements over Gen4 drives, and complete compliance with Microsoft’s DirectStorage API. Notably, the KLEVV Genuine G560 is built around the high-performance Phison E26 Gen5 controller—a favorite amongst top-tier Gen5 SSDs.
This SSD boasts an impressive array of features, including a PCIe Gen5x4 interface, an innovative duotone aluminum heatsink for cooling, DRAM cache for faster performance, and intelligent SLC caching technology. It offers robust AES 256-bit encryption, providing enhanced data protection.
In terms of specifications, the KLEVV Genuine G560 SSD utilizes the NVMe 2.0 PCIe Gen 5 x4 interface on an M.2 2280 form factor. The drives are available in 1 TB, 2 TB, and up to 4 TB capacities with sequential read and write speeds reaching up to 14 GB/s and 12 GB/s, respectively. Most Gen 5 drives currently on the market are capped at 12 GB/s read and 11 GB/s write speeds, making this drive notably quick. A large heatsink helps significantly reduce thermal throttling, which is a key feature of this device. Furthermore, it supports Microsoft’s DirectStorage API for accelerated load times.
The 2 TB model tested delivered sequential read speeds of 14,000 MB/s and write speeds of 12,000 MB/s. It also offered 1400K IOPS for both random reads and writes, with an endurance rating of 1400 TBW.
The SSD’s package is sleek, utilizing a black-and-white color scheme with a prominent image of the drive. It highlights key features like its capacity and Gen5 interface. Inside, the SSD comes with a robust aluminum alloy heatsink, adding to its durability and appeal. The passive-cooled design makes it a quieter alternative to active-fan solutions.
The heatsink encloses the SSD completely except for the M.2 slot connector. Disassembly reveals large thermal pads for effective heat management. The SSD comprises a Phison E26-52 controller, two DDR4-2400 DRAM modules, and four NAND Flash dies, providing a total of 8 GB of LPDDR4 cache.
Our test setup included an Intel Core i9-13900K processor on an MSI Z790 ACE motherboard, paired with 32 GB of G.Skill Trident Z5 DDR5 memory, and powered by an MSI MEG Ai1300P PSU, with graphics provided by an MSI GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM X. This setup is designed to push modern-day SSDs to their limits.
Benchmark tests using tools like AS SSD and ATTO Disk Benchmark confirmed the KLEVV Genuine G560’s superior performance. It stands out among some of the top Gen 5 SSDs, offering unparalleled speed and reliability, making it a compelling option for those seeking elite-level storage solutions in their systems.Are you exploring the cutting-edge world of Gen 5 SSDs? If you’re looking to dive into high-performance storage, you’ll be excited to learn that the scene is not only evolving rapidly but also becoming more accessible in terms of pricing.
Testing different manufacturers’ RAID controllers, storage controllers, host bus adapters (HBAs), and drives has never been easier thanks to benchmarking tools like ATTO Disk Benchmark and CrystalDiskMark 7.0. These tools allow you to measure sequential read/write speeds and test data in a controlled environment, emphasizing the performance capabilities of various drives.
Among the giants in Gen 5 SSDs are names like MSI’s Spatium M580 Frozr and M570 PRO Frozr, KLEVV’s Genuine G560, ADATA’s Legend 970 Pro, Team Group’s T-Force CARDEA Z540, and PNY’s XLR8 CS3150. These drives represent the pinnacle of storage technology, and even more exciting is the fact that their prices are falling, making them more accessible to a broader audience.
Previously, owning a Gen 5 SSD with speeds north of 12 GB/s might have set you back between $350 to $400. However, as the technology progresses and becomes more ubiquitous, prices have dropped significantly. Today, you can find top-tier Gen 5 SSDs like the KLEVV Genuine G560 for under $300, offering unparalleled performance and speed at a fraction of the cost from just a year ago.
PCMark 10’s Storage Benchmark and other real-world performance tests, like transferring a 100 GB file, give us valuable insights into these SSDs’ capacities. Equipped with pre-attached heatsinks, models such as the KLEVV Genuine G560 ensure optimized thermal performance even under intense workloads. This thermal design means you can push the drive to its limits without worrying about overheating, which is crucial as software like DirectStorage becomes more prevalent, potentially enhancing SSD effectiveness further.
The future looks promising for Gen 5 SSDs. They offer not just future-proofing potential but also outstanding performance that keeps up with the pace of technological advancement. As software evolves to better utilize these advanced storage solutions, investing in a high-quality Gen 5 SSD now can mean you’re ready for the demands of tomorrow’s applications and games.
And let’s face it, with their impressive specs and steadily decreasing cost, Gen 5 SSDs are becoming a must-have for anyone serious about high-speed computing. Whether you’re a gamer, a creative professional, or someone who simply needs speed and reliability, there’s likely a Gen 5 SSD that fits perfectly into your setup.
Embark on the path to enhanced storage solutions today and explore how these drive offerings can elevate your tech game.
