Nextorage NEM-PA

Introduction

If you're a PlayStation 5 owner hunting for storage expansion that carries Sony's DNA or a PC enthusiast seeking a Gen 4 drive with proven pedigree, the Nextorage NEM-PA deserves your attention. Born from Sony's storage engineering team and now backed by Phison, this PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD represents an intriguing middle ground between mainstream performance and premium positioning. With read speeds up to 7300 MB/s and factory-applied thermal management specifically designed for PS5 compatibility, this drive targets gamers who want confidence that their storage upgrade won't cause headaches. The NEM-PA sits in the premium tier of Gen 4 drives, competing directly with established players like the WD Black SN850 and Seagate FireCuda 530 while bringing its own unique heritage to the table.

Product Overview

The Nextorage NEM-PA arrives as an M.2 2280 form factor drive in two capacities: 1TB and 2TB. Under its factory-installed aluminum heatsink coated with radioactive black alumite for enhanced thermal dissipation, you'll find hardware that reads like a greatest hits compilation of current-generation SSD technology. The drive utilizes the Phison PS5018-E18 controller, the same workhorse powering many of today's fastest Gen 4 drives, paired with 176-layer 3D TLC NAND from Micron. This newer NAND generation offers performance and endurance advantages over the 96-layer chips found in older competing drives.

The NEM-PA features DDR4 DRAM cache scaling with capacity, providing 1GB for the 1TB model and 2GB for the 2TB version. This proper DRAM cache arrangement, combined with dynamic SLC caching that can utilize up to one-third of the total drive capacity, ensures sustained performance even during extended gaming sessions or large file transfers. The drive supports PCIe 4.0 x4 interface and complies with NVMe 1.4 specifications, delivering the bandwidth necessary for modern gaming and creative workloads. Each drive comes with a comprehensive 5-year warranty, backed by endurance ratings of 700TB for the 1TB model and 1400TB for the 2TB version.

Performance & Real World Speed

Nextorage rates the NEM-PA at up to 7300 MB/s sequential read and 6000 MB/s write for the 1TB model, with the 2TB version pushing write performance to 6900 MB/s. In real-world PC benchmarking, the drive consistently delivers on these promises, with CrystalDiskMark tests showing sequential reads around 6600-6900 MB/s and writes between 6000-6500 MB/s depending on test conditions and file sizes. Random read performance peaks at 750,000 IOPS for the 1TB model and 1,000,000 IOPS for the 2TB version, while random writes reach 1,000,000 IOPS across both capacities.

For PS5 users, the critical metric is Sony's internal benchmark score. The 1TB NEM-PA consistently achieves readings between 6100-6539 MB/s in multiple test runs, comfortably exceeding Sony's 5500 MB/s minimum requirement and placing it among the top performers for console storage expansion. This translates to game load times that match or slightly trail the PS5's internal SSD, with differences measured in fractions of seconds rather than meaningful delays. Games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and Demon's Souls demonstrate near-identical loading performance whether installed on the internal drive or the NEM-PA expansion.

In practical PC scenarios, the NEM-PA handles DirectStorage-ready gaming with aplomb, delivers snappy Windows boot times under 10 seconds from cold start, and manages large file transfers for video editing or content creation workloads with sustained speeds that rarely dip below rated specifications. The drive's SLC cache proves robust enough for most consumer workloads, only showing slight performance degradation when writing files exceeding several hundred gigabytes in a single sustained operation.

Thermal Management

Gen 4 NVMe drives generate substantial heat under load, and the NEM-PA addresses this concern head-on with its factory-installed heatsink. This isn't a token thermal label slapped on for marketing purposes; it's a properly engineered aluminum cage design with radioactive black alumite coating specifically chosen for enhanced heat conductivity. The heatsink completely surrounds the drive in a bay configuration, with strategic openings at the tail end allowing airflow and heat escape. Six precisely positioned screws ensure even pressure distribution across thermal pads that contact both the controller and NAND chips.

During sustained testing across 18 benchmark runs with only one-minute cooling intervals, the NEM-PA peaked at just 44 degrees Celsius, demonstrating exceptional thermal control. This temperature management proves particularly important for PS5 users, as Sony requires any expansion drive to include adequate cooling—the NEM-PA's heatsink satisfies this requirement while fitting comfortably within the console's 11.25mm height restriction. The drive remains well below thermal throttling thresholds even during extended gaming sessions or when transferring multiple games consecutively.

For PS5 installation, the heatsink slides perfectly into the console's M.2 expansion bay without interference, and the aluminum cover plate closes without any clearance issues. The thermal design means you won't experience performance degradation from heat buildup during marathon gaming sessions, maintaining consistent speeds whether you're five minutes or five hours into gameplay. The factory application of thermal compound ensures optimal contact and heat transfer efficiency that's difficult to replicate with aftermarket heatsink installations.

Compatibility

The Nextorage NEM-PA functions as a standard M.2 2280 NVMe drive compatible with any desktop motherboard or laptop featuring an M.2 slot with key M orientation and PCIe 4.0 support. The drive maintains backward compatibility with PCIe 3.0 systems, though speeds will be limited to Gen 3 specifications. Modern motherboards from Intel's 11th generation onward and AMD's Ryzen 3000 series and newer provide native PCIe 4.0 support. The drive works seamlessly across Windows, Linux, and macOS operating systems, requiring no proprietary drivers or software.

For PlayStation 5 internal expansion, the NEM-PA ticks every compatibility box Sony requires. It meets the minimum 5500 MB/s read speed specification with substantial headroom, utilizes the proper M.2 2280 form factor, connects via PCIe 4.0 NVMe interface, and includes the mandatory heatsink within acceptable dimensional limits. Installation follows Sony's standard procedure: remove the PS5 cover plate, remove the M.2 slot screw and spacer, insert the drive at the 2280 marking, secure with the included screw, and replace the cover. The PS5 automatically detects and formats the drive upon next boot, adding it as supplemental storage alongside the internal SSD.

However, Xbox Series X/S compatibility requires absolute clarity: the Nextorage NEM-PA is NOT compatible with Xbox Series X/S internal storage expansion. Microsoft's consoles exclusively support proprietary Seagate Storage Expansion Cards for internal-speed storage of optimized games. The NEM-PA could theoretically be used in an external USB enclosure for storing Xbox One backwards-compatible titles, but this defeats its performance capabilities and makes little practical sense given more affordable alternatives for external storage.

The pre-installed heatsink largely precludes laptop use unless your specific laptop model features exceptional M.2 slot clearance, which remains rare. Users considering the NEM-PA for laptop upgrades should carefully measure available vertical space before purchase, as removing the heatsink voids the warranty and significantly compromises thermal performance.

Strengths & Weaknesses

The Nextorage NEM-PA brings considerable strengths to the table, starting with its impressive 176-layer TLC NAND that outclasses the 96-layer chips found in older competing drives. This newer NAND generation delivers better performance consistency and endurance characteristics. The factory-applied heatsink represents another major advantage, engineered specifically for optimal thermal contact and applied in controlled manufacturing conditions rather than left to consumer installation variability. The Sony heritage and current Phison backing provide reassurance about component quality and long-term support, while the drive's solid 5-year warranty demonstrates manufacturer confidence.

Performance benchmarks consistently validate the drive's rated specifications, with real-world speeds matching or exceeding advertised numbers across various workload types. The drive excels particularly in sustained write scenarios where its dynamic SLC cache and thermal management work in concert to maintain speed. For PS5 users specifically, the drive's positioning as a Sony-affiliated product brings psychological comfort even if practical performance differences between top-tier Gen 4 drives remain minimal in actual gameplay.

The weaknesses begin with pricing that historically positioned the NEM-PA above competing alternatives like the WD Black SN850, though this gap has narrowed considerably since the drive's initial Japanese launch. Availability outside Japan took longer than initially promised, creating early adopter frustration. The endurance rating of 700TB for the 1TB model, while adequate for most users, trails the Seagate FireCuda 530's more robust 1275TB rating at the same capacity. The pre-installed heatsink, though beneficial for PS5 use and desktop scenarios with vertical space, limits laptop compatibility and prevents use with motherboards featuring built-in M.2 heatsinks unless you're willing to void the warranty through heatsink removal.

Random read IOPS on the 1TB model (750,000) lag slightly behind the FireCuda 530 (800,000) and WD Black SN850 (1,000,000), though these differences prove negligible in real-world application responsiveness. The drive also suffers from relative obscurity in Western markets compared to established brands, potentially complicating warranty service or creating hesitation among buyers unfamiliar with the Nextorage name despite its Sony connections.

Verdict: Should You Buy It?

Buy this if:

• You're expanding PS5 storage and want a drive with proven Sony engineering heritage and guaranteed compatibility

• You value factory-applied thermal solutions over aftermarket heatsink installation

• You're building or upgrading a gaming PC and prefer newer 176-layer NAND for longevity

• Current pricing positions it competitively against alternatives like the WD Black SN850 or Samsung 980 Pro

• You appreciate the psychological comfort of a drive backed by both Sony's storage division alumni and Phison's controller expertise

• You need reliable Gen 4 performance without venturing into the extreme (and expensive) Gen 5 territory

Skip this if:

• You already own a comparable Gen 4 drive like the FireCuda 530, WD Black SN850, or Samsung 980 Pro—performance gains would be marginal

• Maximum endurance matters for your use case and the FireCuda 530's superior TBW rating justifies any price premium

• You need laptop compatibility and cannot accommodate the pre-installed heatsink

• You're shopping solely on price and can find WD Black SN850 or Samsung 980 Pro at significantly lower cost

• You prefer established Western brands with easier warranty service in your region

• Your motherboard features robust built-in M.2 heatsinks and you'd rather save money buying a bare drive