Acer FA300 and Predator GM9000: PCIe Gen 5 SSDs with Two Different Profiles
The market for fifth-generation NVMe SSDs is undergoing a rapid maturation phase: while until recently PCIe Gen 5 drives were the exclusive domain of demanding enthusiasts, today manufacturers are starting to propose solutions aimed at increasingly broader user segments. Of course, the historical context remains problematic, marked by the "memory crisis" and generally higher prices for RAM and SSDs compared to previous years, but that's another story.
For some time now, Acer, known for its laptops, has entered the storage world with branded units. The Taiwanese company positions itself in this scenario with two products that deliberately have distinct placements - the FA300 and Predator GM9000 - which share the M.2 2280 form factor and PCIe Gen 5 x4 NVMe interface, but cater to very different types of users.
The FA300 represents Acer's bet on the entry-level segment of Gen 5. The choice to adopt a DRAM-less SMI 2504 controller and Kioxia BiCS8 flash helps keep costs down while still maintaining remarkable sequential performance: up to 11,000 MB/s read and 9,700-10,000 MB/s write, depending on the capacity. These numbers would have seemed unrealistic just a few years ago, even for flagship drives. The range is available in two capacity sizes - 1 and 2 TB - with a five-year warranty and write endurance of 750 and 1,500 TBW respectively. We tested the 1 TB model.
On the other hand, the Predator GM9000 is aimed decidedly higher. Equipped with an SMI 2508 controller and Micron B58R TLC flash, it also benefits from a dedicated DRAM cache - from 1 GB up to 8 GB depending on the model - allowing it to push sequential reads up to 14,000 MB/s and writes at 13,000 MB/s in the 2 TB variants and above. The catalog covers four capacities, from 1 to 8 TB, with the latter adopting a double-sided profile of 3.85 mm to accommodate a greater density of memory. Write endurance also scales proportionally, reaching 6,400 TBW in the maximum size - a value designed for workstations and intensive storage systems, as well as for the most demanding gamers.
These two products define the parameters of this review: on one side, an accessible unit that brings PCIe Gen 5 to a more mainstream audience without sacrificing speed; on the other, a reference solution for those who do not accept compromises on peak performance or the capability to sustain prolonged workloads.
Regarding the Predator GM9000 model, it is interesting to note that along with the SSD, there is also a dedicated cooling system, which can be mounted as needed. The heatsink integrates a dual-layer thermal solution, combining a heatsink with a cooling fan; according to Acer, this solution provides up to 23% greater cooling efficiency compared to the standard GM9000. Of course, using this heatsink is optional, and if you use the unit as the main SSD in a modern motherboard, you may already have a slot well cooled by large passive heatsinks.
Let’s move on to the tests: As expected, the two Acer PCI Gen 5 x4 SSDs perform differently. While the Predator aims to offer performance close to the theoretical maximum of the interface, similar to other drives from historic industry manufacturers, the FA300 is a more mainstream unit that we can see fitting well in both mid-range PCs and the latest-generation laptops. Based on the tests, we observe both highs and lows for both units, something that could likely be optimized by working on the firmware.
Both units are available for purchase on Acer’s website at €209.90 for the 1TB FA300 and €399.90 for the 2TB Predator GM9000. The prices are not exactly low, but this is reflective of the entire sector impacted by the "memory crisis." However, they are roughly in line with the competition, with the Predator offering a better quality-to-price ratio compared to the FA300.