Kingston NV2 2TB vs Samsung 960 PRO 2TB
The site holds no current price for at least one of these, so what follows compares specifications alone.
| Specification | KingstonNV2 2TB | Samsung960 PRO 2TB |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity (GB) | 2000 | 2000 |
| Sequential read (MB/s) | 3500 | 3500 |
| Sequential write (MB/s) | 2100 | 2100 |
| Current best price | — | — |
| Price per TB | — | — |
| DRAM cache | No | Yes |
| NAND type | tlc | tlc |
How these two compare
Sequential throughput
Kingston NV2 2TB is rated 3500 MB/s read and 2100 MB/s write; Samsung 960 PRO 2TB, 3500 MB/s read and 2100 MB/s write. These are peak sequential rates over PCIe — the speed you would see copying one large file. For boot, app launches and everyday feel, random access matters more than this headline figure.
DRAM cache
Kingston NV2 2TB is DRAM-less; Samsung 960 PRO 2TB carries a DRAM cache. A DRAM cache holds the drive's mapping table — the index of where each block physically sits — so the controller places and finds data without an extra flash lookup. A DRAM-less drive borrows a little system memory (HMB) or a slice of its own flash instead, and is likelier to slow once a long run of random writes outlasts its fast cache.
NAND and warranty
NAND: Kingston NV2 2TB uses TLC and Samsung 960 PRO 2TB uses TLC. The tier is bits per cell — SLC, MLC, TLC and QLC from one to four — trading density against endurance and sustained-write speed: QLC is cheapest per gigabyte, TLC the mainstream balance, and the denser the cell the sooner sustained writes taper. On the cover: Kingston NV2 2TB does not state one, Samsung 960 PRO 2TB carries a 5-year warranty. The length is the maker's own vote of confidence, and on an SSD it tends to track the endurance rating — a longer warranty usually meaning more rated writes.
Which to buy
With a price missing for at least one side, there is no cost verdict to give. What separates two otherwise-similar drives is up in the sections above — sustained and random behaviour, whether there is a DRAM cache, the flash tier and the warranty — so weigh those against what your build needs.
Common questions about this pair
- Which is faster, Kingston NV2 2TB or Samsung 960 PRO 2TB?
- Kingston NV2 2TB is rated 3500 MB/s read and 2100 MB/s write; Samsung 960 PRO 2TB, 3500 MB/s read and 2100 MB/s write. These are peak sequential rates over PCIe — the speed you would see copying one large file. For boot, app launches and everyday feel, random access matters more than this headline figure.
- Should you buy Kingston NV2 2TB or Samsung 960 PRO 2TB?
- With a price missing for at least one side, there is no cost verdict to give. What separates two otherwise-similar drives is up in the sections above — sustained and random behaviour, whether there is a DRAM cache, the flash tier and the warranty — so weigh those against what your build needs.