Nextorage G Series PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD

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Gen 4.0 M.2 NVMe solid state drives have arrived in a big way for next-generation users. It wasn’t that long ago that these quicker SSDs were promised to be the ultimate in last mile storage, though scarcity and absurdly high prices haven’t made the transition easy. Fortunately, things have settled significantly and it’s now possible to upgrade to the next-gen as the market is now spoiled for choice.

But which Gen4 NVMe is the absolute best? You’ve got tons of options and they’re all very good, but it’s possible to get the same value and quality without paying the ‘name brand’ tax on top of it. Enter Nextorage and their G Series NVMe SSD (NE1N), a high-performance internal drive offering both capacity and excellent reliability in a no-nonsense gaming package. Ideal for PC gamers and content creators looking to squeeze the most out of  their hardware.

Japanese Newcomer

Who exactly is Netorage? They’re a Japanese brand concentrated in storage and memory products for prosumer and enterprise users, with an underlying emphasis on being built for industrial durability. The company is relatively young but appears to be a surprising upstart compromised of dedicated engineers associated with Sony, although operating as an independent subsidiary with their own production R&D.

In terms of appearance, if you’ve ever seen a 2280 PCIe-type SSD before, then you have a good idea what the NE1N looks like. At 22 x 3.4 x 80 mm (0.87 x 0.13 x 3.15 inches) it’s thin and standard but the components of the NE1N are of respectable quality. On the bottom, there’s your typical labels denoting the storage capacity, serial number with QR code, and country of origin – typical stuff you would expect.

For reference, Nextorage currently offers the G Series in three different capacities: 1TB (NE1N1TB), 2TB (NE1N2TB) and 4TB (NE1N4TB). My test unit is the top spec 4TB model which has the most space available, respectable longevity, and an international exclusive at the time of this writing.

Components

The NE1N also packs in some powerful components, the controller is a Phison PS5018-E18 module with a fourth generation LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) that has advanced detection and correction technology for random bit errors and data corruption. The NAND itself is equally impressive sporting a 176L 3D TLC NAND (IA7BG94AYA), a memory type that other high-end NVMe SSD currently enjoy differentiating EEPROM performance from cheaper models. DRAM cache for in my example utilizes 2GB of DDR4-2666 memory and projected maximum sequential read/write speeds are 7300MB/s and 6900MB/s respectively, while max random access speeds are 940,000 IOPS (read) and 1,000,000 IOPS (write).

Due to Nextorage being quiet about internal specifications, it’s a welcome surprise to see that this directly competes against the Samsung (990 Pro/980 Pro), WD (BLACK SN850), and Seagate (Game Drive M2) in real-world usage.

Benchmarking: G vs NEM-PA

I want to briefly discuss benchmarking since I had the opportunity to review both this G Series, along with its PlayStation 5-oriented counterpart: the NEM-PA Series. The short version of my testing reveals that both models are essentially identical in spec and performance, with final choice coming down to preference or use purpose—The NE1N in its bare form is better suited for PC/desktop duty, while the NEM-PA can withstand more heat thanks to its integrated heatsink.

In terms of performance though, both models did incredibly well in synthetic rundowns and performed more-or-less the same, with only the newest Samsung 990 Pro beating both out marginally. CrystalDisk scores in 1GB/4GB/16GB stress tests were equally consistent, with read, write, and mix scores topping out at 6968MB/s, 6915MB/s, and 6659MB/s respectively.

Speaking of purpose, Nextorage recommends that the NE1N be used in desktops, where ATX/eATX/mATX/mITX chassis typically have more breathing room for temperature control. Conversely, the NEM-PA has a better chance of surviving in places where air circulation is much tighter, namely inside a PlayStation 5 console.

To note, the G Series will also work inside a PS5, but heat buildup could be a major issue without a dedicated heatsink fitted beforehand.

Conclusion

Nextorage makes a bold impression with the G Series NVMe SSD. A brand that is gaining a reputation outside of their home market and into the performance mainstream, being a respectable choice in terms of architecture and build quality to back it up. Admittedly, prices are a little higher for the privilege of owning 4 terabytes, but so is the competition. Regardless, Nextorage remains a compelling option if you want to effectively quadruple your storage bang for the buck.