Kingston A2000 1 TB M.2 NVMe SSD

W1zzard · Jun 30, 2020

The Kingston A2000 has recently received a firmware update, which makes a big difference in performance. It now rivals the Samsung 970 EVO, at much better pricing. With just $128 for the tested 1 TB version, or 13 cents per GB, the A2000 offers better value than most SSDs on the market.

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FilipM · Jun 30, 2020

How do you update the firmware on one of these? I got the 500GB Version of the A2000. Nice review, I'm surprised with the performance

Edit: Kingston SSD Manager, nvm

zmeul · Jun 30, 2020

what new FW? mine is on S5Z42105

W1zzard · Jun 30, 2020

zmeul said:
what new FW? mine is on S5Z42105

that's the new version

zmeul · Jun 30, 2020

this is confusing as hell - S5Z42105 was released back in January, this is not recent

Caring1 · Jul 1, 2020

I'm on the current Firmware version and can't complain about anything.
Definitely would buy more if needed.

zmeul said:
this is confusing as hell - S5Z42105 was released back in January, this is not recent

The Firmware update was recent as in within the last 6 months, but the Review is new and current.

Thanks @W1zzard

QUANTUMPHYSICS · Jul 1, 2020

I did a close look at my personal data and realized that I have less than 3TB of total data: personal files/folders, STEAM library games and porn.

I was going to buy Samsung's 8TB SSD, but now I'm thinking a 4TB would be fine - unless than 8TB is priced at or around $1000.

Kingston has a 4TB drive I was looking at as well which I'd consider, but these 1TB drives, to me are good for nothing when a 2TB is about twice the price.

If you run just your OS and a few games from it and add everything else to HDD, then I guess it's OK. I want everything on SSD.

RandallFlagg · Jul 1, 2020

Just gotta say I really appreciate all the real-world app testing you guys do. I'm so tired of seeing reviews based 90% on synthetics. So many people say there isn't much difference in SSDs in real life, all you gotta do is look at this to dispel that thought.

450s, 4 1/2 minutes difference top to bottom :

Raendor · Jul 1, 2020

Is it better than 970 evo then?

W1zzard · Jul 1, 2020

Raendor said:
Is it better than 970 evo then?

What's your opinion after reading the review?

Assimilator · Jul 1, 2020

@W1zzard page 1: "The SM2263 is a four-channel design, whereas the SM2263 on the KC2000 uses eight flash channels." - second SM2263 should be SM2262.

W1zzard · Jul 1, 2020

Assimilator said:
@W1zzard page 1: "The SM2263 is a four-channel design, whereas the SM2263 on the KC2000 uses eight flash channels." - second SM2263 should be SM2262.

Fixed, thanks

fowl · Jul 9, 2020

@W1zzard in the thermal throttling section, the 3rd graph has a different temperature scale than the others - slightly confusing. Ta

Palladium · Jul 10, 2020

W1zzard said:
What's your opinion after reading the review?

Some people just can't be bothered to muster an SLC cell worth of independent thought.

GLeader · Jul 28, 2020

Hi,

in other reviews they say the cache is 512M DDR4
(tomshardware / tweaktown)

and in this review it's 1G DDR3L-1866.

witch one is correct ?

thanks.

W1zzard · Jul 28, 2020

GLeader said:
Hi,

in other reviews they say the cache is 512M DDR4
(tomshardware / tweaktown)

and in this review it's 1G DDR3L-1866.

witch one is correct ?

thanks.

The chip is B5116ECMDXGJD

Note the "5116" part which stands for 512Mx16 = 8 Gigabit = 1 Gigabyte

GLeader · Jul 28, 2020

W1zzard said:
The chip is B5116ECMDXGJD

Note the "5116" part which stands for 512Mx16 = 8 Gigabit = 1 Gigabyte

ok thaks for the fast response, much appreciated.

i guss other reviews juste qouted some kingston spec file or somthing

Searinity · Aug 10, 2020

Hi,
Thanks for the article.
I have a A2000, I installed SSD Manager and ran it as Administrator.
SSD Manager detects a new firmware is available but when I click on update I got the following error message "An unexpected error occured when attempting to update the firmware".
Am I the only one? Thanks for any help

W1zzard · Aug 10, 2020

Searinity said:
but when I click on update I got the following error message "An unexpected error occured when attempting to update the firmware".
Am I the only one?

No such issue here when I updated mine. Try to contact Kingston support, I keep hearing good things about their support. Do let us know the outcome please

ObiwanCODnobi · Aug 10, 2020

Excellent in depth review, probably more comprehensive than my intellect can handle!

Had the effect of making me sign up to the forum AND push notifications...off to read up on the Lancool ii now..Many thanks

Searinity · Aug 10, 2020

W1zzard said:
No such issue here when I updated mine. Try to contact Kingston support, I keep hearing good things about their support. Do let us know the outcome please

Will do. Thanks!

W1zzard · Aug 10, 2020

ObiwanCODnobi said:
probably more comprehensive than my intellect can handle!

If you have any questions, just ask, we're always happy to explain

Caring1 · Aug 11, 2020

Searinity said:
Hi,
Thanks for the article.
I have a A2000, I installed SSD Manager and ran it as Administrator.
SSD Manager detects a new firmware is available but when I click on update I got the following error message "An unexpected error occured when attempting to update the firmware".
Am I the only one? Thanks for any help

Is it possibly due to already having the latest firmware?

Searinity · Aug 16, 2020

Caring1 said:
Is it possibly due to already having the latest firmware?

Hi,
I checked, I don’t have the latest firmware.

Searinity · Aug 21, 2020

Hi,
I'm in touch with Kingston Support but so far this is not efficient

I had to open my laptop to send a picture of a revision sticker on the SSD and now they say there is a bug in SSD Manager and this revision of the SSD already has the new firmware.
But, I bought this SSD back in Oct 2019, before the latest firmware was released and SSD Manager clearly states I have the old firmware, S5Z42102. So I don't think they put the finder on the issue.

Processor	Ryzen 7 5700X
Memory	48 GB
Video Card(s)	RTX 4080
Storage	2x HDD RAID 1, 3x M.2 NVMe
Display(s)	30" 2560x1600 + 19" 1280x1024
Software	Windows 10 64-bit

System Name	Brutus
Processor	AMD Ryzen 5600X PBO
Motherboard	Asus Prime X570-P
Cooling	EKWB AIO 240MM Push-Pull fans
Memory	Patriot Viper Steel DDR4 4000 32GB (4x8) @4066 CL16, Custom Timings
Video Card(s)	MSI RTX 3080 SuprimX 10GB
Storage	Kingston A2000 500GB + Toshiba 1TB HDD
Display(s)	Samsung 24" S24D300 + 2x LG LED 24"
Case	Cooler Master H500
Audio Device(s)	SB X-Fi Titanium Fatality Professional
Power Supply	Sama Forza Modular 750W 80+ Gold
Mouse	Cooler Master Master Keys Lite
Keyboard	Cooler Master Master Keys Lite
Software	Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit

Processor	Intel i7 13700K
Motherboard	ASUS PROArt Z690 Creator WiFi
Cooling	Liquid Freezer II - 280
Memory	Kingston 32GB DDR5 @ 6200 MT/s
Video Card(s)	Palit RTX3070 GamingPRO
Storage	TrueNAS CORE
Case	Phanteks ECLIPSE P600S
Audio Device(s)	Creative Sound Blaster AE-5
Power Supply	SEASONIC CONNECT 750W

Processor	Ryzen 7 5700X
Memory	48 GB
Video Card(s)	RTX 4080
Storage	2x HDD RAID 1, 3x M.2 NVMe
Display(s)	30" 2560x1600 + 19" 1280x1024
Software	Windows 10 64-bit

Processor	Intel i7 13700K
Motherboard	ASUS PROArt Z690 Creator WiFi
Cooling	Liquid Freezer II - 280
Memory	Kingston 32GB DDR5 @ 6200 MT/s
Video Card(s)	Palit RTX3070 GamingPRO
Storage	TrueNAS CORE
Case	Phanteks ECLIPSE P600S
Audio Device(s)	Creative Sound Blaster AE-5
Power Supply	SEASONIC CONNECT 750W

System Name	H7 Flow 2024
Processor	AMD 5800X3D
Motherboard	Asus X570 Tough Gaming
Cooling	Custom liquid
Memory	32 GB DDR4
Video Card(s)	Intel ARC A750
Storage	Crucial P5 Plus 2TB.
Display(s)	AOC 24" Freesync 1m.s. 75Hz
Mouse	Lenovo
Keyboard	Eweadn Mechanical
Software	W11 Pro 64 bit

System Name	Legion
Processor	i7-12700KF
Motherboard	Asus Z690-Plus TUF Gaming WiFi D5
Cooling	Arctic Liquid Freezer 2 240mm AIO
Memory	PNY MAKO DDR5-6000 C36-36-36-76
Video Card(s)	MSI Gaming RTX 5070 12G Ventus 3X
Storage	WD SN770 512GB m.2, Samsung 980 Pro m.2 2TB
Display(s)	Acer K272HUL 1440p / 34" MSI MAG341CQ 3440x1440
Case	Montech Air X
Power Supply	Corsair CX750M
Mouse	Logitech MX Anywhere 25
Keyboard	Logitech MX Keys
Software	Lots

Processor	Intel Core i7 11700
Motherboard	Asus b560-i ROG
Cooling	Thermalright Assassin King Mini
Memory	G.Skill Trident Z 3600
Video Card(s)	RTX 3080 FE
Display(s)	Dell S2721DGF
Case	Ncase M1
Power Supply	Corsair SF750
Mouse	HyperX
Keyboard	HyperX

System Name	Firelance.
Processor	Threadripper 3960X
Motherboard	ROG Strix TRX40-E Gaming
Cooling	IceGem 360 + 6x Arctic Cooling P12
Memory	8x 16GB Patriot Viper DDR4-3200 CL16
Video Card(s)	MSI GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Ventus 2X OC
Storage	2TB WD SN850X (boot), 4TB Crucial P3 (data)
Display(s)	Dell S3221QS(A) (32" 38x21 60Hz) + 2x AOC Q32E2N (32" 25x14 75Hz)
Case	Enthoo Pro II Server Edition (Closed Panel) + 6 fans
Power Supply	Fractal Design Ion+ 2 Platinum 760W
Mouse	Logitech G604
Keyboard	Razer Pro Type Ultra
Software	Windows 10 Professional x64

System Name	Utter Garbage
Processor	9800X3D
Motherboard	B650 Aorus Elite AX
Cooling	ID Cooling SE214XT
Memory	Teamgroup 2x16GB DDR5 6000C30
Video Card(s)	Zotac RTX 3070
Storage	Hynix 1TB P31
Display(s)	AOC Agon 1440p240 QD-OLED
Case	Silverstone Fara R1 Pro V2
Audio Device(s)	iLoud Precision 6, Topping D50 III
Power Supply	Seasonic G 650W

System Name	Windows 7 64Bit
Processor	Intel E5300 2.6Ghz
Motherboard	Asus P5KPL-AM SE
Cooling	NQ-3360A
Memory	2GB Kingston PC2-6400 + 2GB Kingston PC2-5300
Video Card(s)	Sapphire HD5770 Vapor-x 1GB
Storage	4x80GB (2xSATA + 2xATA) :(
Display(s)	CRT
Case	Who need it ;)
Audio Device(s)	Realtek ALC662
Power Supply	NQ-4775-850-flex Black Magic
Benchmark Scores	FSB (200Mhz) OC 270MHz CPU (2.6Ghz) OC 3.51GHz / Vcore 1.3v RAM (667Mhz) OC 900MHz / 2v GPU (860M

Kingston A2000 1 TB M.2 NVMe SSD

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