Acer FA100 1TB SSD Review

Rating: 8.0.

Released at the same time as the SA100 2.5in SATA drive we recently reviewed, the FA100 is the first Acer-branded NVMe M.2 drive. The PCIe Gen3 x4 FA100 uses a combination of 3D TLC NAND and a 4-channel controller. Is it worth the £89.99 asking price?

The Acer FA100 product line comprises five capacities; 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB (the drive we are reviewing here) and a flagship 2TB model. The drives use an Innogrit Shasta+ (IG5216) 4-channel controller and 3D TLC NAND.

The 1TB drive has the fastest Sequential read/write ratings of the line-up, at up to 3,300MB/s and 2,700MB/s respectively. The 128GB drive is rated as up to 950MB/s reads and 650MB/s writes, the 256GB drive 1,950MB/s (reads) 1,300MB/s (writes), 512GB 3,200MB/s (reads) 2,200MB/s (writes) and the 2TB model, 3,150MB/s reads and 2,600MB/s writes.

4K Random performance for the 1TB drive is quoted as up to 325,000 IOPS for reads and up to 293,000 IOPS for writes. Random performance for the rest of the range is stated as up to 51,000 IOPS reads and 161,000 writes for the 128GB model, 100,000 IOPS and 273,000 IOPS (read/write respectively) for the 256GB drive, 190,000 and 296,000 (read/write respectively) for the 512GB drive and 379,000 IOPS reads and 280,000 IOPS writes for the 2TB drive.

Power consumption for the 1TB model is listed as 1.70W active read, 3.86W active write and 1.03W idle. Acer quotes a TBW endurance figure for the drive of 600TB and it's backed by a 5-year warranty.

Physical Specifications:

• Usable Capacities: 1TB.
• NAND Components:  3D TLC NAND.
• NAND Controller: Innogrit Shasta+ IG5216BBA (4-channel).
• Cache: DRAMless design, uses Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology.
• Interface: PCIe Gen3 x4, NVMe 1.4.
• Form Factor: M.2 2280.
• Dimensions: 22 x 80 x 2.3mm
• Drive Weight: 6.35g

Firmware Version: 1.Z.J.2X

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