by 23 reviews.
Yottamaster NG5 1TB M.2 SATA SSD Review: A Reliable and Affordable Storage Upgrade
If you're looking to upgrade your laptop, desktop, or PC with a fast and reliable storage solution, the Yottamaster NG5 1TB M.2 SATA SSD might be just what you need. This internal solid-state drive offers read speeds of up to 500MB/s and write speeds of up to 450MB/s, making it a solid choice for improving system performance, reducing boot times, and speeding up file transfers. With 3D NAND Flash technology and a SATA III 6Gb/s interface, this SSD is designed to deliver consistent performance for everyday tasks, gaming, and more.
But how does it hold up in real-world use? Let’s dive into the pros and cons based on customer feedback to help you decide if this SSD is worth your investment.
Pros and Cons of the Yottamaster NG5 1TB M.2 SATA SSD
Performance and Speed
One of the standout features of the Yottamaster NG5 SSD is its performance. Many users have praised its ability to deliver near-advertised speeds, with one reviewer reporting read speeds of 549.94 MB/s and write speeds of 438.81 MB/s in real-world tests. This makes it a great choice for tasks like booting up your operating system, loading games, or transferring files.
However, it’s important to note that this is a SATA-based M.2 SSD, not an NVMe drive. While SATA SSDs are slower than NVMe drives, they are still significantly faster than traditional HDDs. As one user pointed out, unless you’re doing large drive-to-drive copies, the difference in speed may not be noticeable in everyday use.
Compatibility and Installation
The Yottamaster NG5 SSD is designed with a B+M Key interface and a 2280 form factor, making it compatible with a wide range of devices. It’s particularly useful for older systems that only support SATA-based M.2 drives. One user successfully installed it in a Dell Wyse 5070 thin client, where it performed well as a boot drive for Windows 11.
However, compatibility can be a double-edged sword. Some newer systems may not support SATA M.2 drives, so it’s crucial to check your device’s specifications before purchasing. Additionally, users have noted that the SSD requires formatting for certain systems, such as Macs, but the process is straightforward and hassle-free.
Build Quality and Durability
The Yottamaster NG5 SSD is built with triple protection functions, including SMART algorithms, NCQ, Trim, and bad block management, which help ensure data security and reliability. Users have reported no issues with file corruption or drive recognition, even after extended use.
That said, some customers have mentioned minor quality control issues, such as the sticker on the SSD peeling off slightly. While this doesn’t affect performance, it’s worth noting for those who prioritize aesthetics or long-term durability.
Temperature Management
Temperature management is another area where the Yottamaster NG5 SSD shines. Users have reported that the drive stays cool under normal usage, though it can heat up during large file transfers. Fortunately, the SSD is designed to regulate itself by slowing down speeds when temperatures rise, preventing overheating and ensuring stable performance.
Price and Value
The Yottamaster NG5 SSD is competitively priced, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers. However, some users have pointed out that it’s priced similarly to well-known brands, which may offer better reliability or customer support. If you’re looking for a no-frills, entry-level SSD, this drive delivers solid performance for the price. But if you’re willing to spend a bit more, you might find better value in more established brands.
Conclusion: Is the Yottamaster NG5 1TB M.2 SATA SSD Worth It?
The Yottamaster NG5 1TB M.2 SATA SSD is a reliable and affordable storage solution for those looking to upgrade their system’s performance. Its near-advertised speeds, compatibility with older systems, and effective temperature management make it a solid choice for everyday tasks, casual gaming, and system upgrades.
However, it’s not without its drawbacks. The SATA interface limits its speed compared to NVMe drives, and the build quality could be improved, particularly with the peeling sticker issue. Additionally, while the price is competitive, it’s worth considering whether you’d prefer to invest in a more established brand for better long-term reliability.
Final Verdict: If you’re on a budget and need a dependable SSD for basic tasks or older systems, the Yottamaster NG5 is a great option. But if you’re looking for top-tier performance or a more recognizable brand, you might want to explore other alternatives.
Specification Yottamaster NG5 1TB M.2 SATA SSD, M.2 2280 NGFF SSD SATA III 6Gb/s Internal Solid State Drive SSD, Read/Write Speed up to 500/450 MB/s, Internal M.2 SATA SSD with B+M Key for Laptop PC Desktop:
Comments from Amazon:
This is just a cheap generic SATA m.2 drive. If you buy this, be sure you know what you are getting. This is SATA, not NVMe. Most modern systems will take either, but there are exceptions: Some older machines (usually more than about 5 years old) will *only* take SATA m.2. Some very new systems might *not* support SATA m.2, or might support it in only one slot. Be sure to check your machine's technical documentation to see what type of m.2 it supports. As other reviewers have mentioned, SATA is much slower than NVME. That said, unless you're doing large drive-to-drive copies, there isn't really much difference in the real world. All modern SSDs are pretty fast, and unless you just like running benchmarks, any of them are generally fine so long as they are supported by your system. This particular SATA m.2 drive is from a company I have never heard of, but the components are standard. When I peeled the label off this one, I was able to see an Silicon Motion SM2259XT controller (which is used in other SSD's from name brand manufacturers). It's a basic, ordinary entry level SATA controller used for entry level SATA drives. It works just fine, and runs at full SATA speed. For 99% of the people, that's fine. Yes, if your machine will support an NVMe SSD, then you might as well get that instead, since it is measurably faster. I put this in a Dell Wyse 5070 thin client (which only supports SATA drives). It worked just fine, and was fast enough to boot Windows 11 with no noticeable delay. Mine is only the 128gb version, but for a basic surfing or (in my case) for a "project" machine, that's perfectly adequate. If you want a disk to load a lot of software or games on, then this isn't big enough. It's nothing special, but if you just want a basic drive for a surfing or small projects, then it's just fine.
This SSD, so far, seems decently fast, works normally, and is as expected. The sticker on the SSD itself was coming off a bit on the edge, but it's not a big deal and hasn't affected anything in my experience so far. Just for those who don't know, you'll need to Format/Erase the drive for certain systems. I formatted it for my Mac (connected with an external M.2 NVME/SATA SSD enclosure), so I used Disk Utility to Erase and format it. Went fast and easy. I transferred some files to test the speed and, while I didn't capture all the fancy metrics, it seemed to work as fast as advertised; it took about 12 seconds to transfer a 6GB file, which seems about right. Of course, the real test will be longevity, and I can't review that till it dies, so I'll try to remember to come back and update my review so we know how long it might last. Overall, it works as expected, and was easy to install, format, and use, so I'm pleased!
NGFF / SATA based M.2 drives are getting harder to find and their performance is not great nor are their prices relative to their NVME cousins. But if you have an older system or can get one for cheap then it certainly could be worth it. The problem with this drive is that it is an unknown brand and cost as much as well known brands. There isn't a great reason to select this over similarly priced drives. You can see in the benchmark that the performance of reads are basically theoretical max but writes are 50 to 100 MB/s lower than could be. When you get to larger sizes the price vs competitors gets worse.
I have an ancient HP/Compaq DC5700 that had been sitting for years. I lost the screws for the slide bracket and SATA cable for the hard drive and had not thought about using M.2 SATA drive. Actually I am unfamiliar with them and purchased a M.2 NVMe Enclosure which I discovered will not work with this M.2 SATA SSD. I then purchased a GLOTRENDS PA09-SA M.2 NGFF SATA SSD Adapter PCI-Express X1, installed the Yottamaster and cloned WATTOS Linux from another machine. I was surprised that it ran well enough to keep six tabs open, watch a YouTube Video and switch between the tabs with no lag. The last time the DC5700 was running with another Linux distribution and a regular 7200 rpm drive it benched at a paltry 52 and there was quite a bit of lag. While 247 is slow by todays standards for SSD's given the computers age I think it is acceptable. I did an email, news, shopping run for a few hours after the install plus watched a few videos. I would say the computer can now be put back into service as a daily driver for someone who just needs to do the basic tasks I tried. Not sure if I would get this particular brand again since there are recognizable name brands for the same price. I did not have any issues with the Yottamaster besides the sticker falling off.
I've been using this drive as a boot drive for Windows 10 and the SSD has been performing great. There's been no issues of the drive not getting recognized or files corrupting. I play games on it, smaller sized games, and the drive has been great. The games load reasonably quick and the experience has been smooth. I've monitored the temperatures of the SSD and it's been able to main cool most of the time. The times that it does get hot is when I'll do large file transfers over an extended amount of time to and from other another SSD, but this Yottamaster does a good job regulating itself by slowing the speeds. I did benchmark the speeds of the drive to see how they fair. Under the NVMe SSD and Peak Performance profile, the speeds meet what is being advertised where the Read is 559.88 MB/s and the Write is 493.04 MB/s. As for the Real World Performance test, I'm impressed as the read speed is 549.94 MB/s and the write speed is 438.81. Overall, I'm happy with the reliability of the SSD so far. As a boot drive and for playing casual games, I'm happy with it.