Addlink A95
M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe Gen 4
Introduction
The Addlink A95 is a high-performance PCIe 4.0 NVMe solid-state drive designed to meet the demands of modern computing and gaming. As storage requirements continue to grow, the A95 offers an impressive combination of speed, capacity, and compatibility, making it a compelling option for tech enthusiasts and gamers alike.
Product Overview
The Addlink A95 is a M.2 2280 form factor SSD that utilizes the PCIe 4.0 x4 interface and NVMe 1.4 protocol. It's available in capacities ranging from 1TB to 4TB, catering to various storage needs. The drive is engineered to deliver exceptional performance for both PC and PlayStation 5 users, positioning itself as a versatile storage solution.
Key Features
Blazing Fast PCIe 4.0 Performance
The A95 leverages the PCIe 4.0 interface to achieve remarkable speeds, with sequential read speeds of up to 7400 MB/s and write speeds of up to 7000 MB/s. This performance level ensures rapid data access and transfer, significantly reducing load times for applications and games.
Advanced 3D TLC NAND
Utilizing Micron's 176-layer 3D TLC NAND flash memory, the A95 offers a balance of performance, endurance, and capacity. This advanced NAND technology contributes to the drive's impressive speeds and reliability.
Efficient Thermal Management
The A95 comes equipped with a slim aluminum heatsink, featuring a shark-fin design and heat-conducting silica gel pad. This thermal solution helps maintain optimal operating temperatures, ensuring consistent performance even under heavy loads.
Performance Analysis
Sequential Speeds
The Addlink A95 excels in sequential performance, with read speeds reaching up to 7400 MB/s and write speeds up to 7000 MB/s. These speeds represent a significant improvement over PCIe 3.0 SSDs and are approximately 14 times faster than traditional SATA SSDs. Such performance translates to near-instantaneous file transfers and rapid application loading.
Random Performance
While specific IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) figures are not provided in the available information, PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs typically offer exceptional random read and write performance. This characteristic is crucial for tasks involving numerous small file operations, such as operating system responsiveness and game level loading.
Thermal Management
The A95's thermal design, featuring a low-profile aluminum heatsink with a shark-fin structure and silica gel pad, effectively dissipates heat generated during intensive operations. This thermal solution helps prevent thermal throttling, ensuring the drive maintains its high performance even during extended use periods.
Compatibility
PlayStation 5
The Addlink A95 is fully compatible with the PlayStation 5, meeting Sony's requirements for expandable storage. In PS5 benchmark tests, the drive achieved impressive read speeds of 6557 MB/s, surpassing Sony's recommended minimum of 5500 MB/s. This performance ensures seamless gaming experiences and quick load times for PS5 titles.
PC Systems
The A95 is designed for compatibility with a wide range of PC systems supporting the M.2 PCIe 4.0 interface. It's backward compatible with PCIe 3.0 systems, though at reduced speeds. The drive's 9.1mm height with the heatsink attached ensures compatibility with most desktop PCs and many laptops.
Advantages and Limitations
Strengths
Exceptional sequential read and write speeds
PlayStation 5 compatibility with verified performance
Effective thermal management solution
Available in high capacities up to 4TB
Utilizes advanced 176-layer 3D TLC NAND for reliability and performance
Constraints
Premium pricing compared to PCIe 3.0 SSDs
Full performance benefits require a PCIe 4.0 compatible system
The included heatsink may limit compatibility with some ultra-thin laptops
Lacks AES 256-bit hardware encryption for sensitive data protection
Limited availability of 8TB+ capacities compared to some competitors
Conclusion
The Addlink A95 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD stands out as a high-performance storage solution suitable for demanding users, particularly gamers and content creators. Its exceptional speeds, effective thermal management, and PlayStation 5 compatibility make it an attractive option for those looking to upgrade their storage subsystems. While it comes at a premium price point and may have some compatibility limitations with ultra-thin devices, the A95's performance and feature set justify its position in the high-end SSD market. For users with PCIe 4.0 capable systems or PS5 consoles seeking top-tier storage performance, the Addlink A95 is a compelling choice that delivers on its promises of speed and reliability.
Works Cited
Addlink Technology. "A95 GEN4X4 NVMe." Addlink, www.addlink.com.tw/pcie-a95. Accessed 25 Feb. 2025.
"Addlink A95 M.2 2280 PCIe GEN4X4 NVMe 1.4 SSD Memory 2TB with Heatsink(PS5)." Baba PC, babapckw.com/product/addlink-a95-m-2-2280-pcie-gen4x4-nvme-1-4-ssd-memory-2tb-with-heatsinkps5/. Accessed 25 Feb. 2025.
Alcorn, Paul. "New Sony PS5-Optimized A95 SSD Brings Extreme Speeds Up to 7.4/7.0 GB/s." Tom's Hardware, 17 Sept. 2021, www.tomshardware.com/news/addlink-launches-a95-ssds-for-ps5. Accessed 25 Feb. 2025.
Hanson, Matt. "Addlink A95 PS5 SSD Review – Bringing it's A Game?" NAS Compares, 15 Oct. 2021, nascompares.com/2021/10/15/addlink-a95-ps5-ssd-review-bringing-its-a-game/. Accessed 25 Feb. 2025.
