# ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade 1 TB (Original Version): An IG5236 PCIe 4.0 SSD (2026)

The ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade 1 TB -- the original launch version of ADATA's IG5236-driven PCIe 4.0 flagship, distinct from the later 2023 Update -- pairs 7,400 MB/s reads with a five-year, 740 TBW warranty that still holds up in 2026.

Quick answer: Buy the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade 1 TB (Old Version) on the used market or clearance when the price undercuts a new DRAM-equipped PCIe 4.0 drive, because the IG5236 platform and 740 TBW endurance still deliver a competent Gen4 experience for gaming and general use. Skip it at full retail or when the 2023 Update is priced similarly, since the newer version's 176-layer TLC brings better sustained write behaviour and the 1 TB model's 5,500 MB/s write ceiling is behind current PCIe 4.0 class leaders. The Samsung 980 Pro 1 TB is the closest alternative -- similar peak reads, marginally faster sustained writes, and a more established firmware support record -- while the WD Black SN850 1 TB trades a slight TBW deficit for a longer independent review history. The verdict on the original S70 Blade 1 TB is that it was a well-judged PCIe 4.0 flagship at launch and it remains a serviceable, DRAM-backed Gen4 drive in 2026, provided the price reflects its discontinued status.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 1 TB |
| Interface | M.2 4.0 x 4 |
| Controller | Innogrit IG5236 |
| Memory type | Micron 96-L TLC |
| DRAM cache | Yes |
| Sequential read | 7400 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 6400 MB/s |
| Random read IOPS | 740000 |
| Random write IOPS | 740000 |
| Endurance | 740 TBW |
| MTBF | 2000000 |
| Warranty | 5 years |

## Performance

On the 1 TB ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade Old Version, sequential reads are rated at up to 7,400 MB/s over a PCIe 4.0 x4 link, and random performance is rated at up to 740,000 read IOPS and 740,000 write IOPS. ADATA's product-page specification sheet for the 1 TB lists sequential writes at up to 5,500 MB/s, below the 6,400 MB/s the 2 TB model can sustain, a gap that is typical for smaller-capacity NVMe drives whose fewer NAND dies reduce write striping parallelism. The SLC cache absorbs burst writes at the full rated speed until it fills, after which writes settle to the native Micron TLC rate, and the 1 TB carries the smaller cache in the line so it drops out of burst earlier than the 2 TB under a long contiguous transfer.

In daily use the S70 Blade is quick but not class-leading. Independent reviewers at launch found game load times within a second of the Samsung 980 Pro and WD Black SN850, meaning the gap is invisible outside of stopwatch testing. Where the IG5236 platform earns its keep is on mixed-I/O workloads: the eight-channel controller and discrete DRAM buffer keep latency low when the drive is serving reads and writes simultaneously, something DRAM-less HMB designs struggle with. For a pure gaming desktop or a PS5 that largely reads from the drive, the 1 TB Blade is indistinguishable from newer PCIe 4.0 flagships at a distance. For a video scratch disk or a database workload, the sustained write limits of the 1 TB model make the 2 TB or a newer drive with a larger cache the better choice. No heatsink beyond the pre-applied strip is included in the box, and the IG5236 runs warm enough under sustained load that motherboard heatsink coverage is recommended.

## Endurance, TBW & Warranty

ADATA covers the XPG Gammix S70 Blade 1 TB with a five-year limited warranty, ending early only if the 740 TBW endurance rating is exceeded. That figure sits comfortably above the PCIe 4.0 class average of roughly 600 TBW per terabyte and matches the endurance of the Samsung 980 Pro 1 TB at launch, though Samsung later raised the 980 Pro to 600 TBW for the 1 TB and the Blade's 740 TBW remains ahead. At a typical consumer workload of around 20 GB of writes per day, the 1 TB Blade would need roughly a century to exhaust the NAND, so in practice the five-year warranty term expires long before the flash endurance does. Even at a heavier 50 GB per day the drive clears four decades. ADATA rates the drive at two million hours MTBF, but treat that figure as a population-reliability projection across a large fleet rather than a lifespan promise for any single unit. The warranty is handled through ADATA's standard RMA process, and ADATA has maintained reasonably responsive warranty service for XPG-branded SSDs, though turnaround times vary by region.

## Pros and Cons

**Pros:**

- 7,400 MB/s sequential reads over PCIe 4.0 x4
- 740 TBW endurance on the 1 TB model
- InnoGrit IG5236 eight-channel controller with DRAM
- Single-sided M.2 2280 PCB fits PS5 and thin laptops
- Pre-applied low-profile heatsink clears PS5 height limit
- Five-year warranty, TBW-limited
- Proven reliability track record from independent reviews
**Cons:**

- 1 TB model limited to 5,500 MB/s sequential writes
- Discontinued; replaced by the 2023 Update with 176L NAND
- No independent firmware support track record like Samsung or WD
- IG5236 runs warm under sustained writes without motherboard heatsink
- Slower sustained writes than PCIe 4.0 leaders like 990 Pro or SN850X
- Smaller SLC cache than the 2 TB variant


## Verdict

Buy the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade 1 TB (Old Version) on the used market or clearance when the price undercuts a new DRAM-equipped PCIe 4.0 drive, because the IG5236 platform and 740 TBW endurance still deliver a competent Gen4 experience for gaming and general use. Skip it at full retail or when the 2023 Update is priced similarly, since the newer version's 176-layer TLC brings better sustained write behaviour and the 1 TB model's 5,500 MB/s write ceiling is behind current PCIe 4.0 class leaders. The Samsung 980 Pro 1 TB is the closest alternative -- similar peak reads, marginally faster sustained writes, and a more established firmware support record -- while the WD Black SN850 1 TB trades a slight TBW deficit for a longer independent review history. The verdict on the original S70 Blade 1 TB is that it was a well-judged PCIe 4.0 flagship at launch and it remains a serviceable, DRAM-backed Gen4 drive in 2026, provided the price reflects its discontinued status.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade 1 TB good for gaming?

It is a capable gaming drive, and the gap against newer PCIe 4.0 flagships is smaller than the spec sheet suggests. The Gammix S70 Blade 1 TB hits 7,400 MB/s sequential reads and carries a discrete DRAM cache, so game load times are within a second of a Samsung 990 Pro or WD Black SN850X in most titles -- the difference is invisible outside of stopwatch testing. DirectStorage-enabled games that stream large texture assets straight from the SSD will benefit from the Gen4 bandwidth, and the 1 TB capacity fits a healthy game library alongside the operating system. For a pure gaming build, the S70 Blade is a cost-effective way to get DRAM-backed PCIe 4.0 performance, especially on the used market.

### Does the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade 1 TB work in a PS5?

Yes, and the original S70 Blade was one of the earlier PS5-compatible drives reviewed at launch. Sony requires an M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD recommending at least 5,500 MB/s sequential reads and fitting within 110 by 25 by 11.25 millimetres including the heatsink. The Gammix S70 Blade 1 TB's 7,400 MB/s reads clear the speed requirement with headroom, and the pre-applied low-profile heatsink keeps the total height under Sony's 11.25 mm ceiling, so no aftermarket heatsink is needed. The drive's single-sided PCB also fits the PS5's M.2 slot without bending or clearance issues. The console expansion slot is PCIe 4.0, so the Blade runs at its full rated speed.

### What is the difference between the S70 Blade Old Version and the 2023 Update?

ADATA released the original S70 Blade around 2021 and refreshed it as the 2023 Update with three key changes. The update swaps the original Micron 96-layer TLC NAND for Micron 176-layer TLC, which raises sequential writes from 6,400 MB/s to 6,800 MB/s on the 2 TB and larger capacities. Capacity options expand from just 1 TB and 2 TB on the original to 1 TB through 8 TB on the update. IOPS rise slightly from the original's 740K to 750K on the update. The controller -- InnoGrit IG5236 -- remains the same across both versions. The Old Version is discontinued, so it is a used-market or clearance-aisle option, while the 2023 Update is the current production revision. For the 1 TB capacity specifically, the practical difference is modest because the 1 TB is largely bottlenecked by NAND die count rather than layer technology.

### What is the TBW endurance of the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade 1 TB?

The original Gammix S70 Blade 1 TB carries a 740 TBW endurance rating, confirmed by both the ADATA product specification sheet cited in the APH Networks review and the TechPowerUp review which explicitly states 740 TBW for the 1 TB and 1,480 TBW for the 2 TB. This is above the PCIe 4.0 class average of roughly 600 TBW per terabyte and exceeds the Samsung 980 Pro 1 TB's 600 TBW rating. At a typical consumer write load of 20 GB per day, the drive would need roughly a century to exhaust the NAND endurance, so the five-year warranty term expires long before the flash does. The 740 TBW figure matters most if the drive is used as a write-heavy scratch disk, but for a boot or game-library drive it is more than sufficient.

### Does the Gammix S70 Blade need a heatsink?

The drive ships with a thin pre-applied heatsink that is sufficient for light to moderate workloads and keeps the drive within Sony's PS5 height limit, but it is not a substitute for proper cooling under sustained writes. The InnoGrit IG5236 controller runs warm, and in a desktop PC the drive benefits from a motherboard M.2 heatsink or an aftermarket solution to prevent thermal throttling during long sequential transfers. In a PS5, the console's own airflow over the expansion bay handles cooling adequately with the pre-applied strip. In a laptop, the thin factory heatsink may be the only option due to clearance, and thermal throttling under heavy sustained load is a realistic possibility that buyers should plan for.

### Is the 1 TB version slower than the 2 TB Gammix S70 Blade?

For sequential reads, both the 1 TB and 2 TB versions of the original S70 Blade are rated at the same 7,400 MB/s. Sequential writes differ: the 2 TB is rated at 6,400 MB/s while the 1 TB is rated at up to 5,500 MB/s according to ADATA's product specification sheet. The gap comes from NAND die count -- the 1 TB has fewer flash dies to stripe writes across, reducing peak write throughput. The 2 TB also carries a larger SLC cache, so it sustains full-speed writes longer before settling to the native TLC rate. For read-heavy workloads like gaming and OS boot, the two capacities are indistinguishable. For write-heavy tasks like video editing or large database imports, the 2 TB is the stronger choice.

### What controller does the ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade use?

The Gammix S70 Blade -- both the original Old Version and the 2023 Update -- uses InnoGrit's IG5236 eight-channel PCIe 4.0 NVMe controller, also known by its codename "Rainier." The IG5236 was InnoGrit's push into the high-end PCIe 4.0 controller market and competes directly with Phison's PS5018-E18, appearing in drives from ADATA, Team Group, Corsair, and others. The IG5236 supports up to 7,400 MB/s sequential reads and features a DRAM-backed architecture rather than host memory buffer, which gives it an advantage in mixed-I/O latency over DRAM-less designs. Independent reviews at launch were broadly positive on the IG5236's performance, with the main caveat being thermal behaviour: the controller draws enough power under sustained writes that cooling is worth planning for.

### How does the S70 Blade compare to the Samsung 980 Pro 1 TB?

Both are PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 NVMe drives with DRAM caches and similar peak sequential reads (7,400 MB/s on the Blade vs 7,000 MB/s on the 980 Pro). The Blade holds an endurance advantage at 740 TBW against the 980 Pro's 600 TBW, and both carry five-year warranties. The 980 Pro was consistently ahead in most independent benchmarks at launch by a small margin, with faster sustained writes and slightly lower latency thanks to Samsung's in-house Elpis controller and V-NAND. The 980 Pro also benefits from Samsung's firmware support infrastructure and broader compatibility validation. The Blade's case rests on value: it delivered comparable real-world performance for less money at launch, and on the used market it remains the cheaper way into DRAM-backed PCIe 4.0 storage.

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Last updated: 2026-07-19. Source: https://ssdrive.net/adata-gammix-s70-blade-old-version-1-tb