Kingston NV3 M.2 2230 1TB (SNV3SM3/1T0) – Hardware Review
When gaming, many gamers are looking for the best possible performance, and hard drives are often overlooked here. This is even more the case when gaming on consoles or handhelds. We often think about Micro SD cards when thinking about handheld devices, but handhelds such as the Steam Deck also have their own internal M.2 drive that does a lot of the heavy lifting. Today, we’ll be looking at one of those options to upgrade your trusty Steam Deck, albeit without too much technical mumbo jumbo.
Actual benchmarks here are a bit less important when it comes to Steam Deck usage, as you’ll get the best of what PCIe 3.0 speeds are capable of, with the technological upgrades of PCIe 4.0. This means that you’ll pretty much get the ‘maximum’ read/write speeds out of the experience, while also benefiting from less heat. It perhaps may not make sense to insert a more advanced drive into a PCIe 3.0 device, but here, it actually does.
As this is an M.2 SSD designed for Steam Deck users, be sure to either look up guides on how to replace the original SSD in Valve’s handheld or visit a professional shop to have it done for you. In most cases, the installation process is quite easy, but if you’re uncertain, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Also, keep in mind to make sure you have the correct screwdriver to open your Steam Deck, as the original screws are easily stripped. If you already have the 1TB base model, the upgrade will not be as significant compared to when you have a smaller drive, but you’ll still notice slightly better performance, and these newer drives also have fewer issues with overheating.
Of course, these tiny drives can also be used for your consoles, such as the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S. When doing so, ensure that a heat sink is applied to prevent overheating. Even with the 1TB capacity, you’ll still be able to install quite a few of your favorite games. Performance is also great in these devices. If you’re on a budget and you’re looking to increase storage capacity while also keeping performance in mind, then this is a solid investment for console gaming.
Conclusion
Kingston’s NV3 M.2 2230 1TB is a great storage solution for Steam Deck players who want to upgrade their handheld devices. Of course, other users can still enjoy what these drives have to offer too, but we mainly focused on the handheld gaming part for our short review. After the installation process, we were up and running in moments, and we have been able to enjoy our Steam Deck to the fullest. For those who have the model with the base 1TB storage solution, you’ll still get a small upgrade with this drive, but it will still be capped at PCIe 3.0 speeds.
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