Biwin M560 2TB SSD Review: A DRAM-less PCIe 5.0 Powerhouse

The SSD market is constantly evolving, and today we're diving into an exciting new contender: the Biwin M560 2TB SSD. This drive aims to deliver next-gen PCIe 5.0 performance without the traditional DRAM cache, utilizing the rarely seen SMI SM2504XT controller. After thorough testing, it's clear this isn't just another budget option; it's a remarkably capable drive that carves out a significant niche for itself.

Quick Verdict

The Biwin M560 2TB is an outstanding PCIe 5.0 SSD, offering class-leading responsiveness, top-tier application and gaming performance, and exceptional power efficiency. It's a true standout in the DRAM-less category and easily one of the best all-around drives we've evaluated, earning our Editor's Choice.

Introduction: Redefining DRAM-less Performance

Biwin has been making strides in the SSD space, and the M560 represents a bold step forward. It leverages the SMI SM2504XT SSD controller, a piece of hardware we've been eager to see in retail products. This drive targets the growing PCIe 5.0 DRAM-less segment, promising high performance without the higher power draw and heat often associated with more premium, DRAM-equipped counterparts. This makes it an attractive option for users seeking a modern, fast, and efficient storage solution.

Key Specifications and Design Insights

The Biwin M560 is currently available in 1TB and 2TB capacities. While some might lament the absence of a 4TB option – a capacity that has made drives like the Lexar NM790 particularly popular – the 2TB model we tested hits a sweet spot for this type of controller. With four dies per channel, 2TB provides the ideal amount of flash for the SM2504XT controller, ensuring optimal performance.

At a price point of $364.99 for the 2TB model, it aligns well with comparable PCIe 5.0 DRAM-less drives, such as the Crucial P510. It also positions itself competitively below more expensive, top-tier PCIe 5.0 drives that include DRAM, like the Samsung 9100 Pro, offering a compelling value proposition.

Performance ratings are genuinely impressive for a DRAM-less drive. It boasts sequential read speeds of up to 11,000 MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 10,000 MB/s. Even more striking are its random read and write IOPS, both rated at an astounding 1,700K. This significantly surpasses the 1.3 million IOPS typically seen on paper from rival Phison E31T-based drives, like the Corsair MP700 Elite, positioning the M560 as a true performance beast in its class.

Durability isn't overlooked either. Biwin provides a robust five-year warranty, covering an impressive 1,500TB of writes for the 2TB model. This endurance rating is about 25% higher than what's typically offered, which is a welcome bonus for users concerned about long-term reliability.

From a physical design perspective, the M560 is a single-sided M.2 2280 drive, which is always a plus. This design choice contributes to its versatility, allowing it to fit into a wider range of machines, including laptops, and generally making it easier to cool. The top label serves a dual purpose as a heat spreader, further aiding in thermal management. The back label provides essential drive information, including a listed 3.3V / 2.0A rating, indicating a maximum power draw below 7W.

Performance and Efficiency: The M560's Strengths

Where the Biwin M560 truly shines is in its real-world performance and remarkable efficiency. Despite its rated maximum power draw, internal S.M.A.R.T. reports suggest an 8W peak, but testing reveals the drive is far more comfortable at around 4W, with a maximum well below 6.5W and an average consumption approximately half of that. This exceptional power efficiency is a major advantage, making the M560 an ideal candidate for laptops where heat and battery life are critical considerations. Its cool operation even when operating in PCIe 4.0 systems is a significant benefit.

Its class-leading responsiveness translates into a snappy user experience for everyday tasks, heavy applications, and demanding games. The low 4KB random read latency is a key factor here, contributing to the feeling of speed and fluidity that users expect from a high-end SSD. While its sequential writes may slow down once the cache is saturated, for the vast majority of consumer workloads, the M560’s performance profile is more than adequate, often exceeding expectations for a DRAM-less solution.

Software and User Experience

Biwin offers practical software support for the M560. Users can download data recovery tools for both Windows and macOS, a thoughtful inclusion that covers a broader user base. Additionally, the Biwin Intelligence SSD toolbox, available for Windows, provides essential functions like drive health monitoring and firmware updates, ensuring users can maintain their drive's optimal performance and longevity.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Exceptional application and gaming performance
• Outstandingly low 4KB random read latency
• Superb power efficiency, making it great for laptops
• Impressive sequential read and write speeds
• Higher-than-average endurance rating and solid five-year warranty
• Single-sided M.2 2280 form factor for broad compatibility

Cons:

• Only available in 1TB and 2TB capacities, lacking a 4TB option
• Sequential write performance may decrease after the SLC cache is exhausted (a common characteristic for DRAM-less drives, but worth noting)

Buying Recommendation

The Biwin M560 2TB SSD is a highly recommended purchase for anyone seeking a high-performance, efficient, and responsive PCIe 5.0 storage solution. Its stellar performance in applications and games, coupled with its excellent power efficiency, makes it particularly attractive for laptop users or PC builders looking for a fast, cool-running drive without the higher cost or heat of some DRAM-equipped PCIe 5.0 alternatives. While the absence of a 4TB option might deter some power users, the 2TB model offers a fantastic balance of capacity, performance, and value that's hard to beat in its category.

FAQ

Q: Is a DRAM-less SSD like the Biwin M560 good for gaming? A: Absolutely. The Biwin M560 delivers top-tier application and gaming performance with class-leading responsiveness and extremely low 4KB random read latency, making it an excellent choice for gamers who demand fast load times and smooth in-game experiences.

Q: Does the Biwin M560 require a heatsink? A: While PCIe 5.0 drives generally benefit from cooling, the Biwin M560 stands out for its excellent power efficiency. It typically operates at a much lower wattage (around 4W average) than many other PCIe 5.0 drives, meaning it generates less heat. Its single-sided design and heat-spreading label further aid in cooling, making it viable for laptops and systems with limited cooling solutions, though a motherboard heatsink is always beneficial for sustained heavy workloads.

Q: How does the Biwin M560 compare in value to other PCIe 5.0 SSDs? A: The Biwin M560 offers exceptional value by delivering impressive PCIe 5.0 speeds and efficiency at a price point that's competitive with other DRAM-less drives like the Crucial P510, and significantly below many high-end, DRAM-equipped PCIe 5.0 SSDs. It provides a strong balance of performance and cost, especially for its 2TB capacity.