# Acer FA300 2TB NVMe SSD detailed specifications (2026)

The Acer FA300 2TB pairs the efficient Silicon Motion SM2504XT controller with Kioxia 218-layer TLC NAND to deliver PCIe 5.0 transfer speeds in a single-sided, low-power package.

Quick answer: The Acer FA300 2TB is the right Gen5 SSD for laptop owners and anyone building in a thermally constrained enclosure. Its single-sided layout, 2.4 W power draw, and lack of required heatsink make it one of the most practical PCIe 5.0 upgrades available. Desktop enthusiasts who need maximum sustained write throughput for video editing or data scrubbing should consider the Acer Predator GM9000 2TB or Samsung 9100 Pro instead. For gaming, general productivity, and large-capacity storage without the heat, the FA300 2TB is a strong value pick that balances speed, efficiency, and capacity in a laptop-friendly package.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 2 TB |
| Interface | M.2 5.0 |
| Controller | Silicon Motion SM2504XT |
| Memory type | Kioxia 218-L TLC |
| DRAM cache | HMB |
| Sequential read | 11000 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 10000 MB/s |
| Random read IOPS | 1600000 |
| Random write IOPS | 1600000 |
| Endurance | 1500 TBW |
| MTBF | 1500000 |
| Warranty | 5 years |

## Performance

Acer rates the 2TB FA300 at up to 11,000 MB/s sequential read and 10,000 MB/s sequential write, with random performance up to 1,600,000 read IOPS and 1,600,000 write IOPS. The write speed advantage over the 1TB model comes from having two NAND packages that the controller can interleave across eight channels simultaneously.

In real-world testing by The SSD Review, the FA300 2TB achieved transfer speeds close to its rated maximums in CrystalDiskMark and ATTO benchmarks. More importantly, it maintained consistent performance during laptop battery life testing, outlasting every other Gen5 SSD evaluated in that round-up by a comfortable margin. The SM2504XT controller keeps thermals under control without requiring a heatsink, which is unusual for PCIe 5.0 drives that often throttle under sustained loads.

Like all TLC-based SSDs, the FA300 uses an SLC write cache for burst operations. Once that cache fills during extended large-file transfers, writes drop to the native TLC speed. The 2TB model has a larger SLC cache than the 1TB, so burst write operations sustain peak speeds for longer. For typical consumer workloads including game installs, OS boot, and application loading, the cache is more than sufficient and the drive consistently delivers Gen5-level responsiveness without thermal throttling.

## Endurance, TBW & Warranty

Acer backs the FA300 with a five-year limited warranty. The 2TB model carries a 1,500 TBW endurance rating (1.5 PBW), which is the total amount of data that can be written before the warranty coverage ends. Spread across five years, 1,500 TBW equals roughly 822 GB of writes per day to reach the warranty threshold. Even a power user moving 50 GB of data daily would need over 80 years to exhaust the rated endurance. The drive reports health status through SMART attributes accessible via CrystalDiskInfo or the motherboard's storage utility, letting you track total bytes written and remaining spare blocks over the drive's lifetime.

## Pros and Cons

**Pros:**

- Single-sided M.2 2280 fits laptops and PS5
- 10,000 MB/s sequential write at 2TB capacity
- Active power draw around 2.4 W, runs cool
- 1,500 TBW endurance with five-year warranty
- Kioxia 218-L TLC NAND for consistent reliability
- DRAM-less HMB design keeps cost competitive
**Cons:**

- DRAM-less design limits heavy sustained workloads
- SLC cache slows writes on extended transfers
- No included heatsink in retail packaging
- Acer is a newer entrant in the SSD market


## Verdict

The Acer FA300 2TB is the right Gen5 SSD for laptop owners and anyone building in a thermally constrained enclosure. Its single-sided layout, 2.4 W power draw, and lack of required heatsink make it one of the most practical PCIe 5.0 upgrades available. Desktop enthusiasts who need maximum sustained write throughput for video editing or data scrubbing should consider the Acer Predator GM9000 2TB or Samsung 9100 Pro instead. For gaming, general productivity, and large-capacity storage without the heat, the FA300 2TB is a strong value pick that balances speed, efficiency, and capacity in a laptop-friendly package.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does the Acer FA300 2TB work in a PS5?

Yes. The FA300 is a single-sided M.2 2280 NVMe SSD with a read speed of 11,000 MB/s, well above Sony's 5,500 MB/s minimum. Its low profile and minimal heat output make it a natural fit for the PS5 expansion slot, and the 2TB capacity holds roughly 30 to 40 large PS5 games depending on file sizes.

### How does the FA300 2TB compare to the Predator GM9000?

The Predator GM9000 uses the SM2508 controller with dedicated DRAM and reaches 14,000 MB/s read, making it faster for sustained workloads. The FA300 uses the DRAM-less SM2504XT and draws significantly less power. Choose the GM9000 for desktop performance; choose the FA300 for laptop efficiency and lower cost.

### What is the endurance of the Acer FA300 2TB?

The FA300 2TB is rated at 1,500 TBW (terabytes written), which Acer also expresses as 1.5 PBW. This is a strong endurance figure for a consumer SSD and means the drive can handle approximately 822 GB of writes per day for five years before the warranty threshold is reached.

### Is the Acer FA300 2TB single-sided or double-sided?

It is single-sided. All components, including the SM2504XT controller and two Kioxia NAND packages, are mounted on one side of the PCB. This is important for laptop and PS5 compatibility, where double-sided drives may interfere with the M.2 socket or retaining screw.

### Does the FA300 need a heatsink?

The FA300 is designed to run without a heatsink thanks to the SM2504XT's low 2.4 W active power draw. In The SSD Review's laptop battery testing, the FA300 ran cooler than all other Gen5 drives tested. Most desktop motherboards include an M.2 heatsink that will work if you want extra thermal headroom, but it is not required.

### Who manufactures the Acer FA300?

The FA300 is manufactured by BIWIN Storage, a Shenzhen-based company that produces SSDs under the Acer brand as part of a licensing partnership. BIWIN also manufactured the earlier Acer FA200. The SM2504XT controller is from Silicon Motion and the NAND is from Kioxia.

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Last updated: 2026-06-06. Source: https://ssdrive.net/acer-fa300-2-tb