# ADATA Swordfish 2TB Review — Budget PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD (2026)

The ADATA Swordfish 2TB is the largest capacity in ADATA's budget PCIe 3.0 lineup, offering bulk storage for game libraries and media at an entry-level price point.

Quick answer: The ADATA Swordfish 2TB is the most compelling variant in the Swordfish lineup simply because of its capacity. Two terabytes of NVMe storage at a budget price is useful for game libraries, media archives, or as a single-drive solution for budget builds. The 1,800/1,200 MB/s speeds are a clear improvement over SATA, but they lag well behind mainstream alternatives like the Samsung 980 2TB and WD Blue SN570 2TB, both of which offer roughly double the read speed. The drive's sustained write performance collapses under heavy loads, but that matters less on a 2 TB drive used primarily for storage. If pricing is competitive, the Swordfish 2TB works as a budget bulk NVMe; if a faster drive costs only slightly more, spend the extra.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 2 TB |
| Interface | M.2 3.0 x 4 |
| Controller | Realtek RTS5763DL |
| Memory type | ADATA 3D TLC |
| DRAM cache | Host Memory Buffer |
| Sequential read | 1800 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 1200 MB/s |
| Random read IOPS | 180000 |
| Random write IOPS | 180000 |
| Endurance | 750 TBW |
| MTBF | 1.8 |
| Warranty | 5 years |

## Performance

The ADATA Swordfish 2TB is rated for 1,800 MB/s sequential reads and 1,200 MB/s sequential writes, with up to 180,000 random read and write IOPS. These are manufacturer-rated best-case figures, achievable when data fits within the drive's SLC cache. For light desktop workloads, the 1,800 MB/s reads deliver a roughly threefold improvement over SATA III SSDs, which max out near 550 MB/s. Boot times, application launches, and game load times all benefit from the NVMe interface.

Compared to the PCIe 3.0 x4 interface ceiling of approximately 3,500 MB/s, the Swordfish operates at roughly half speed. What makes the Swordfish unusual is that the 2 TB model does not benefit from the write speed bump that most NVMe drives get at higher capacities — it maintains the same 1,800/1,200 MB/s ratings as the 250 GB and 500 GB variants. Mainstream PCIe 3.0 drives like the WD Blue SN570 and Samsung 980 reach 3,000–3,500 MB/s reads and 2,500–3,000 MB/s writes on their larger capacities, making the Swordfish look underpowered in direct comparison.

Under sustained write loads, the Swordfish's entry-level hardware shows its limitations. Independent testing by StorageReview found that the drive's 4K random write performance collapsed to roughly 9,710 IOPS under heavy workload stress, with extreme latency spikes and near-complete throughput stalls. The SLC cache is sized for burst workloads, not sustained throughput. On a 2 TB drive used primarily as a game library or media archive, this behaviour is rarely encountered — games are read far more often than written. But anyone planning to use the Swordfish 2TB as a scratch disk for video editing or for regular large-file transfers will experience sharp slowdowns once the cache fills.

## Endurance, TBW & Warranty

ADATA covers the Swordfish 2TB with a five-year limited warranty, capped at 750 TBW (terabytes written). At a typical consumer write workload of 20 GB per day, 750 TBW translates to approximately 103 years of use — far beyond the warranty window. Even at a heavy 50 GB per day, the drive would last roughly 41 years. The TBW rating scales with capacity across the Swordfish lineup, and 750 TBW is respectable for a 2 TB budget drive — it is in the same range as the Samsung 980 2TB, which is rated at 1,200 TBW. ADATA provides the SSD Toolbox utility for monitoring drive health, checking remaining endurance, running diagnostics, and applying firmware updates. The five-year warranty covers manufacturing defects and does not extend to drives that exceed their TBW rating within the warranty period.

## Pros and Cons

**Pros:**

- 2 TB capacity for large game libraries and media
- 1,800 MB/s reads, 3x faster than SATA SSDs
- Five-year warranty from ADATA
- 750 TBW endurance suits heavy daily use
- HMB design keeps power draw low
**Cons:**

- 1,800 MB/s reads well below PCIe 3.0 ceiling
- DRAM-less design with HMB dependency
- Sustained write performance collapses under heavy loads
- 2 TB variant likely double-sided, may not fit thin laptops
- No write speed advantage over smaller capacities


## Verdict

The ADATA Swordfish 2TB is the most compelling variant in the Swordfish lineup simply because of its capacity. Two terabytes of NVMe storage at a budget price is useful for game libraries, media archives, or as a single-drive solution for budget builds. The 1,800/1,200 MB/s speeds are a clear improvement over SATA, but they lag well behind mainstream alternatives like the Samsung 980 2TB and WD Blue SN570 2TB, both of which offer roughly double the read speed. The drive's sustained write performance collapses under heavy loads, but that matters less on a 2 TB drive used primarily for storage. If pricing is competitive, the Swordfish 2TB works as a budget bulk NVMe; if a faster drive costs only slightly more, spend the extra.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is the ADATA Swordfish 2TB good for gaming?

The ADATA Swordfish 2TB is an excellent budget gaming drive from a capacity standpoint. Two terabytes provides enough space for the operating system and 20 or more modern games, which is more than most budget drives offer. The 1,800 MB/s reads deliver faster load times than any SATA SSD. However, the drive's sustained write performance drops significantly under heavy loads, so installing multiple large games at once will take longer than on a mainstream NVMe. For a primary gaming drive at a higher budget, consider the WD Blue SN570 2TB or Samsung 980 2TB for faster load times and quicker installs.

### Is the ADATA Swordfish 2TB compatible with the PS5?

No, the ADATA Swordfish 2TB is not compatible with the PlayStation 5. Sony requires a PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD with sequential reads of at least 5,500 MB/s for PS5 storage expansion. The Swordfish is a PCIe 3.0 drive rated at only 1,800 MB/s reads, far below Sony's minimum. It also ships without a heatsink, which the PS5 mandates for M.2 expansion drives. The Swordfish works as a PS4 hard drive replacement, offering significantly faster load times than the stock HDD, but it cannot expand PS5 storage.

### Does the ADATA Swordfish 2TB have a DRAM cache?

No, the ADATA Swordfish 2TB does not have a dedicated DRAM cache. It uses the NVMe Host Memory Buffer (HMB) protocol, which allocates a small portion of system RAM — typically a few megabytes — to manage the flash translation layer. HMB narrows the gap between DRAM and DRAM-less SSDs for light workloads, but it cannot match the consistency of a true DRAM cache under sustained write loads. The Swordfish's 4K random write performance drops sharply once the SLC cache exhausts, which is a common limitation of budget HMB-based drives.

### What is the TBW endurance of the ADATA Swordfish 2TB?

ADATA rates the Swordfish 2TB at 750 TBW (terabytes written), covered by a five-year limited warranty. At a typical consumer write workload of 20 GB per day, 750 TBW would last approximately 103 years. Even at a heavy 50 GB per day, the drive would last roughly 41 years. For comparison, the Samsung 980 2TB is rated at 1,200 TBW, making the Swordfish's endurance lower but still entirely adequate for the drive's target audience. Most users will never approach the TBW limit within the five-year warranty period.

### Does the ADATA Swordfish 2TB need a heatsink?

The ADATA Swordfish 2TB does not ship with a heatsink, and it does not strictly require one. As an entry-level PCIe 3.0 drive with modest 1,800/1,200 MB/s speeds, the Swordfish does not generate the same thermal output as high-performance NVMe drives. However, the 2 TB variant is likely a double-sided PCB design, which can run slightly warmer than single-sided drives. Most modern desktop motherboards include built-in M.2 heatsinks, and if yours does, using one is recommended. If installing in a laptop, check that the M.2 slot has enough vertical clearance for a double-sided drive.

### How does the ADATA Swordfish 2TB compare to the Kingston NV2 2TB?

The ADATA Swordfish 2TB and Kingston NV2 2TB compete in the same budget tier. Both are DRAM-less drives using HMB, and both target budget builds and SATA upgrades. The Kingston NV2 2TB is rated at roughly 3,500/2,800 MB/s — significantly faster in both reads and writes than the Swordfish's 1,800/1,200 MB/s. Both drives share similar sustained write limitations under extreme loads, but the NV2's faster controller and NAND give it a meaningful advantage in everyday performance. If both drives are similarly priced, the NV2 is the better choice.

### Will the ADATA Swordfish 2TB fit in a laptop?

The ADATA Swordfish 2TB uses the M.2 2280 form factor, which is the standard size for laptop M.2 slots. However, the 2 TB variant is likely a double-sided PCB design, meaning NAND chips are mounted on both sides of the board. Some thin laptops — particularly ultrabooks and compact gaming laptops — have tight M. slot clearances that may not accommodate a double-sided drive. Before purchasing, check your laptop's service manual or specifications for M.2 slot clearance. Desktop installations are unaffected by this concern.

### Is the ADATA Swordfish 2TB good as a secondary drive?

Yes, the ADATA Swordfish 2TB is well-suited as a secondary storage drive. Its 2 TB capacity makes it ideal for game libraries, media archives, or bulk file storage. The 1,800 MB/s reads are fast enough that loading games and files from the Swordfish will feel snappy. The drive's sustained write limitations matter less in a secondary role, where large sequential writes are less common. Pair it with a faster primary drive for the operating system, and the Swordfish 2TB serves as an excellent budget expansion drive.

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Last updated: 2026-05-17. Source: https://ssdrive.net/adata-swordfish-2-tb