Kingston NV3 4000GB

The Kingston NV3 4000GB represents a mid-range evolution in the PCIe 4.0 NVMe landscape, serving as the direct successor to the widely distributed Kingston NV2 4000GB. The drive uses a DRAM-less architecture with Host Memory Buffer (HMB) to map translation tables to system RAM. Some initial revisions of the 4000GB model have used the Silicon Motion SM2268XT controller paired with Kioxia BiCS6 162-layer QLC NAND, but Kingston defines the drive by performance parameters rather than fixed internal components. The design relies on aggressive pseudo-SLC caching to achieve its rated 6,000 MB/s throughput and is a single-sided M.2 2280.

Key Specifications

• Interface: PCIe Gen 4.0 x4 / NVMe 1.4
• Sequential Read/Write: 6,000 MB/s / 5,000 MB/s
• Controller: Silicon Motion SM2268XT (Common) / Variable
• NAND Type: 3D QLC (Likely Kioxia BiCS6)
• DRAM Cache: None (HMB Support)
• Endurance: 1,280 TBW
• Physical Layout: Single-sided M.2 2280 (optimizes thermal compatibility with laptops)

Hardware Alternatives

• Crucial P3 Plus 4000GB: Shares the same architectural philosophy—pairing a DRAM-less PCIe 4.0 controller with QLC NAND; NV3 generally offers higher peak sequential speeds due to a newer controller generation.
• Solidigm P41 Plus: Another DRAM-less QLC option utilizing the SM2269XT controller, with similar sustained performance characteristics but generally lower burst throughput than the NV3.
• WD Black SN770: A DRAM-less Gen4 alternative using proprietary controllers and TLC NAND, offering superior sustained write consistency and higher endurance ratings than QLC-based NV3.
• Lexar NM790 4000GB: Based on the Maxio MAP1602 reference design; competes in the same DRAM-less category but can saturate the PCIe 4.0 bus more fully (up to 7,400 MB/s) and uses TLC NAND, placing it in a slightly higher performance bracket.