INTRODUCTION

   With PCIe 5.0 Gen5 M.2 NVMe SSDs pretty much absent from the global consumer market (for now at least) storage media manufacturers are currently faced with two options, developing and producing high-end PCIe 4.0 Gen4 models for demanding users and gamers or cost-effective ones (primarily DRAM-less) for the masses. Well, lately as many of you must have noticed many have opted for the 2nd option and even though DRAM-less SSDs are clearly not aimed at heavy/intense workloads they are more than sufficient for everyday use. To date BIWIN has released quite a few M.2 NVMe SSD models on behalf of Acer and today I'll be testing their latest PCIe 4.0 Gen4 one, the Predator GM7 1TB.

   Predator branded storage products are designed and manufactured by BIWIN Storage Technology company, a leading maker of quality flash memory, DRAM memory and solid-state drives (SSDs). Delivering premium products for serious gamers and overclocking enthusiasts looking for the ultimate experience, our mission is to provide best-in-class memory modules and solid-state drives that enhance overall system performance and gameplay. Defined by faster speeds and gaming-inspired design, these Predator storage products are built to be the Number One choice for gamers worldwide. Founded in 2010, BIWIN focuses on providing global customers with high-quality storage products and specializes in the research, development, manufacturing and sales of memory chip application products.

   The Predator GM7 line of PCIe 4.0 Gen4 M.2 NVMe SSDs is currently available in 512GB/1/2TB capacities (4TB is also listed on the box but as of now i don't have details like TBW) and is one of the very first models to feature the DRAM-less MAP1602 12nm quad-channel (R5) NAND flash controller by MaXio which BIWIN has paired with 2400 MT/s 128-layer 3D TLC NAND flash by YMTC. Now even though BIWIN states that this is an NVMe v1.4 drive the MaXio MAP1602 controller actually supports the latest NVMe v2.0 specification and even though at the center of its focus are enterprises and data centers getting increased performance and durability (at least on paper) is always a good thing for everyone. The MAP1602 12nm quad-channel NAND controller by MaXio also packs quite a few features including advanced wear leveling algorithms, Host Memory Buffer (HMB) architecture (uses a fraction of your PC's system memory to cache mapping tables), pseudo SLC cache, bad block management strategy, hardware error-correction, L1.2 ultra-low power state and sudden power-loss protection, TRIM, NCQ, hardware support for AES256/SM4 encryption and support for TCG OPAL2.0. BIWIN covers the entire Predator GM7 line with a 5-year limited warranty and in terms of durability they report a TBW (terabytes written) of 300 for the 512GB model, 600TB for the 1TB model and 1200 for the 2TB model.