by 538 reviews.
ORICO NVMe SSD 256GB M.2 with Heatsink Review: A Budget-Friendly Storage Solution
If you're looking for an affordable yet reliable NVMe SSD to upgrade your system, the ORICO NVMe SSD 256GB M.2 with Heatsink might be on your radar. This PCIe Gen3x4 SSD promises speeds of up to 1800MB/s read and 1300MB/s write, making it a solid choice for gamers, professionals, and DIY enthusiasts. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the details based on real customer experiences.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
Performance and Speed
The ORICO NVMe SSD delivers decent performance for its price point. Many users have praised its ability to handle light tasks like gaming and media storage without breaking a sweat. One reviewer mentioned, "Speeds are as advertised, games are running perfectly fine on it!" However, it’s worth noting that this SSD uses QLC NAND and lacks DRAM, which can lead to slower performance over time, especially under heavy workloads.
For secondary storage or light tasks, this SSD performs admirably. But if you’re looking for a high-performance drive for intensive workloads, you might want to consider alternatives.
Ease of Installation
One of the standout features of this SSD is its easy installation process. Multiple users have highlighted how straightforward it is to set up. A customer shared, "No issues, easy install!" The inclusion of a screw and a small screwdriver in the package is a thoughtful touch, making the installation process even smoother.
However, some users noted that the heatsink might not fit in all systems. For instance, one reviewer mentioned, "Not using the heatsink since it wouldn't fit with the cutout on the backside of the Gigabyte b550i motherboard's second m.2 slot." If space is a concern, you may need to remove the heatsink or opt for a different cooling solution.
Durability and Reliability
Durability is a mixed bag when it comes to the ORICO NVMe SSD. While many users have had positive experiences, some have reported premature failures. One customer who purchased four drives for a NAS setup shared, "1 has failed already, 15 days past my return window." Another update revealed a 50% failure rate, which is concerning.
On the flip side, other users have found the SSD to be reliable for light tasks. A reviewer using it as a secondary drive for Linux Mint mentioned, "Haven't had any issues with the drive." It seems that the SSD performs well in less demanding scenarios but may struggle under heavy or continuous use.
Thermal Performance
The included heatsink is a nice addition, but it’s not always practical. Some users found that the SSD runs quite warm, especially during large file transfers. One reviewer noted, "It gets pretty hot when doing so much and seemed to throttle down a bunch from the heat."
To combat this, some users recommend pairing the SSD with a high-quality enclosure like the Orico M2PV-C3, which features a larger heatsink. A customer shared, "The M2PV-C3 ran at 51C, more acceptable, but still the hottest of all my drives." Proper cooling is essential to prevent thermal throttling and extend the SSD’s lifespan.
Value for Money
At its price point, the ORICO NVMe SSD offers excellent value for money. One satisfied customer said, "I picked this up on sale around Black Friday for less than $40USD." For those on a budget, this SSD is a great way to add fast storage to your system without breaking the bank.
However, as the old adage goes, "You get what you pay for." While the SSD is affordable, it may not be the best choice for heavy workloads or mission-critical applications.
Final Verdict: Is the ORICO NVMe SSD Worth It?
The ORICO NVMe SSD 256GB M.2 with Heatsink is a solid option for budget-conscious users looking to upgrade their storage. Its easy installation, decent performance, and affordable price make it a great choice for light tasks like gaming, media storage, or secondary drives.
However, it’s not without its flaws. The lack of DRAM, potential thermal issues, and reports of premature failures are significant drawbacks. If you’re planning to use this SSD for heavy workloads or in a NAS setup, you might want to explore more reliable alternatives.
Who Should Buy It?
- Gamers looking for a budget-friendly SSD to store games.
- Professionals needing extra storage for light tasks.
- DIY enthusiasts building portable SSDs.
Who Should Avoid It?
- Users requiring high-performance SSDs for intensive workloads.
- Those needing reliable storage for mission-critical applications.
In conclusion, the ORICO NVMe SSD is a good budget option for casual users, but it’s not without its limitations. If you’re okay with its trade-offs, it’s a worthwhile investment. Otherwise, consider spending a bit more for a higher-quality SSD.
Specification ORICO NVMe SSD 256GB M.2 with Heatsink, PCIe Gen3x4 2280 Internal Solid State Drive, SLC Cache 3D NAND, Up to 1800MB/s, Compatible with Laptop and PC Desktops -J10:
Comments from Amazon:
Great additional 1tb drive for my mini ITX PC. Not using the heatsink since it wouldn't fit with the cutout on the backside of the Gigabyte b550i motherboard's second m.2 slot, but temps have still been fine anyways. I picked this up on sale around Black Friday for less than $40USD. Speeds are as advertised, games are running perfectly fine on it! I didn't need it to do any heavy lifting, just an additional game drive, so it works very well for that purpose.
For secondary storage this drive is fine, no dram and for light tasks as a media scratch disk its kept up. Not the fastest as it has no dram, especially in an usb enclosure where hmb doesn't exist. I would recommend Oricos own M2PV-C3 enclosure as it has a large heatsink as this drive does get quite warm at times, just make sure to update the firmware. The clear plastic kinds with smaller heatsink surface area for looks such as the TCM2-C3 will not suffice. The TCM2-C3 ran at 57C, the M2PV-C3 ran at 51C, more acceptable, but still the hottest of all my drives where the norm is closer to 25-40C. Even my internal 980 pro only runs at 40C. Its not a bad thermister reading as it feels unusually warm to the touch when in the TCM2-C3, its more reasonably warm in the M2PV-C3, I think insufficient cooling is the major cause of any premature failures, but so far so good as its survived being written to several times over already as a download drive.
There’s an old rule of thumb in the software industry: if you want fast, cheap, and good, the best you’re going to do is two out of three. That’s the deal here. Like most budget SSDs, this one is PCIe 3.0 and uses QLCs. Which is fine if that’ll work for you. It’s slower than some other SSDs, and will bog down over time. But the slowest SSD is still an SSD, so you still get the inherent advantages of an SSD over a spinning disk. That’s the “slow” part. “Cheap” is self-evident … this sells at an attractive price point. And as for “good,” I’ve bought a few of these Orico drives and they’re well made and nicely packaged. Orico makes sure to include the screw for the drive, a heat sink, and even a little screwdriver. IMO this drive isn’t a bad deal if you’re not looking for top performance.
I bought 4 of these to use in a NAS setting. Storage drives not cache. 1 has failed already, 15 days past my return window. Dont buy. 25% failure rate is unacceptable. *** MAY2025 Update This review elicited the seller to send a replacement drive. Received replacement drive sooner than expected. It was a good thing! Another drive failed at 3am tonight. Beeping NAS woke me up. Second nvme drive out of 4 failed. 50% failure rate...
Using this with the Orico NVMe enclosure. Since the enclosure was only usb 3.1. The speeds were about 900mb per second. Using this on a Mac Mini for storage. Initially I was copying about 100 GB in files. It gets pretty hot when doing so much and seemed to throttle down a bunch from the heat. After the first big transfer it’s been a champ. I do keep it raised up from a surface so it has plenty of air circulation around it.
Haven't heard of this manufacture name but bought it because the price was good. Put this in a laptop to try out Linux Mint and haven't had any issues with the drive.
no issues, easy install!