Kioxia EXCERIA PRO G2 4TB: True PCI Express 5.0 Performance
After nearly four years since the debut of the first EXCERIA PRO solution, Kioxia has renewed its high-end offering with the new EXCERIA PRO G2, an SSD that places the Japanese manufacturer directly in the race for the top of the PCIe 5.0 market.
The 4TB model (4,096 GB) represents the most complete version of the range, both in terms of capacity and performance. It targets scenarios such as AI, content creation, and advanced gaming, similar to its counterparts.
The EXCERIA PRO G2 is based on a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface and NVMe 2.0d protocol, with an M.2 2280 form factor. The heart of the drive is made up of next-generation BiCS FLASH TLC memory (likely BiCS8 with 218 layers), while the controller is a Silicon Motion SM2508, which has already been seen in some competitors' products.
This controller is manufactured with TSMC N6 (6 nm) FinFET technology, unlike other models at 12 nm such as the Phison E26 and InnoGrit IG5666. This offers a significant advantage in terms of efficiency and temperatures, a common issue with first-generation PCIe 5.0 SSDs. The main specifications indicated by Kioxia are as follows:
- Sequential Read: Up to 14,900 MB/s
- Sequential Write: Up to 13,700 MB/s
- IOPS Read/Write: 2,300,000 / 1,950,000
- Endurance (TBW): 2,400 TB
- Active Power Consumption: ~8.5 W
- Warranty: 5 years
These specifications place this model exactly at the theoretical limit of the PCIe 5.0 x4 interface, which is now saturated by the best next-generation SSDs after a phase where we witnessed the launch of "intermediate" products with sequential read speeds around 10 GB/s.
With peaks of 14,900 MB/s in reading, the EXCERIA PRO G2 aligns with the best SSDs currently available, entering direct competition with models like WD Black SN8100, Samsung 9100 Pro, and Corsair MP700 Pro XT.
The Kioxia SSD does not include any heatsinks, neither pre-installed nor to be installed, but features an integrated heat-dissipating label to improve thermal management. Of course, it is always advisable to have motherboards equipped, at least in the first slot, with good cooling systems dedicated to the SSD.
The endurance value of 2,400 TBW for the 4 TB model is perfectly in line with high-end TLC memory. Additionally, it supports TRIM and garbage collection, standard features of modern SSDs. Kioxia's SSD Utility software allows users to monitor the health (SMART) of the drive and update the firmware. Nothing outstanding, but the basic functionalities are present.
As the tests show, the EXCERIA PRO G2 performed well, although it did not excel.
Unfortunately, the rising prices of SSDs and memory in general do not facilitate the purchase of solutions like this: with a price of over €500 at best, it remains practically unattainable. Similar solutions are not too distant, but generally remain overpriced compared to a few months ago. It is unclear when prices may drop, but given that this is a widespread issue, little can be attributed to Kioxia.