# AIGO SM170 2 TB: The Reviewed Capacity of AIGO's SM2268XT Drive (2026)

The AIGO SM170 2 TB is the capacity TweakTown called the second-fastest 2 TB DRAM-less SSD it tested, with 7,400 MB/s reads, 1,000,000 IOPS, and 3,600 TBW.

Quick answer: The AIGO SM170 2 TB is the capacity to buy from this line if the budget allows, because it is the model TweakTown reviewed directly and called the second-highest-performing 2 TB DRAM-less SSD it had tested. It reaches the full 7,400 MB/s read ceiling of the SM2268XT platform, delivers a verified 1,000,000 IOPS, and pairs those numbers with a 3,600 TBW endurance rating that comfortably beats Maxio MAP1602 rivals like the Addlink S93, WD Black SN770, and Team Group MP44 at the same capacity. The 2 TB is the sweet spot: full peak performance, double the 1 TB's write budget, a larger SLC cache for sustained writes, and none of the 4 TB's capacity premium. The binding constraint remains availability, since the SM170 has been largely confined to the Asian market and AIGO lacks a global RMA portal, so buyers elsewhere should source it only through a retailer that handles warranty returns. Where the SM170 2 TB is obtainable, it is one of the strongest DRAM-less PCIe 4.0 values available; where it is not, the Addlink S93 or Team Group MP44 cover the same role on a more widely distributed platform, at the cost of lower endurance.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 2 TB |
| Interface | M.2 4.0 x 4 |
| Controller | Silicon Motion SM2268XT 4 Channel |
| Memory type | YMTC 232-L TLC |
| DRAM cache | HMB |
| Sequential read | 7400 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 6400 MB/s |
| Random read IOPS | 1000000 |
| Random write IOPS | 1000000 |
| Endurance | 3600 TBW |
| MTBF | 1500000 |
| Warranty | 5 years |

## Performance

AIGO rates the SM170 2 TB at 7,400 MB/s sequential reads and 6,400 MB/s sequential writes over PCIe 4.0 x4, with up to 1,000,000 random read and write IOPS. The SM2268XT is a four-channel DRAM-less controller that extracts flagship PCIe 4.0 throughput from high-speed YMTC 232-layer TLC at 2,400 MT/s without discrete DRAM.

This 2 TB capacity is the one TweakTown reviewed directly, so its performance characterisation is first-hand. The review measured 953,000 random read IOPS on an AMD test bench, the second-highest result the lab had ever recorded for a flash-based DRAM-less SSD, and it recorded 4,294 MB/s in a heavy mixed-transfer workload that set a new lab record for a DRAM-less drive. TweakTown also measured 4K QD1 random read at roughly 102 MB/s, a strong real-world signal for boot and application responsiveness, and a 3DMark Storage Gaming score around 4,200, respectable but the lowest of the top three DRAM-less controller platforms the lab tracks. Those results are the headline reason the SM170 ranks among the best-performing DRAM-less SSDs tested, and they apply directly to this 2 TB model. As with every DRAM-less HMB design, sustained random write latency runs higher than on drives with discrete DRAM such as the Samsung 990 Pro or a Phison E18 drive, but those occupy a higher price tier. For boot, gaming, and everyday productivity, the SM2268XT's measured performance places the SM170 2 TB at the front of the DRAM-less field.

## Endurance, TBW & Warranty

AIGO covers the SM170 2 TB with a five-year limited warranty, terminated by whichever arrives first between the term and the 3,600 TBW endurance rating. That 3,600 TBW figure, verified for this capacity by TechPowerUp, is unusually high for the budget PCIe 4.0 segment and sits well above the 1,200 TBW the WD Black SN770 and Addlink S93 carry at 2 TB or the 1,300 TBW of the Team Group MP44. It scales at 1,800 TBW per terabyte across the line, reflecting the write-cycle headroom of the YMTC 232-layer TLC. At a typical consumer write load of 20 GB per day, the 2 TB's 3,600 TBW rating translates to roughly 493 years before the write budget is exhausted, so the five-year term expires long before the NAND approaches its limit. The endurance advantage is most relevant for buyers who run sustained writes, such as game capture, video scratch work, or large backup rotations, where the doubled headroom over a 600 TBW-per-terabyte drive is a real benefit. The practical caveat is warranty accessibility: because the SM170 has been distributed primarily in Asia, buyers elsewhere should confirm retailer or distributor RMA support before purchase, as AIGO does not operate a global end-user RMA portal. Within its home market, the five-year term and the high TBW rating make a credible reliability story.

## Pros and Cons

**Pros:**

- 7,400 MB/s sequential reads, full SM2268XT platform ceiling
- 1,000,000 random read IOPS, near the top of the DRAM-less class
- 3,600 TBW endurance, verified by TechPowerUp for this capacity
- TweakTown's second-highest-performing 2 TB DRAM-less SSD tested
- Five-year warranty on a budget DRAM-less drive
**Cons:**

- Limited availability, primarily distributed in the Asian market
- DRAM-less HMB design raises sustained random write latency
- No global RMA portal outside its home region
- Lower 3DMark Storage Gaming score than rival DRAM-less platforms
- Sparse English-language retail presence


## Verdict

The AIGO SM170 2 TB is the capacity to buy from this line if the budget allows, because it is the model TweakTown reviewed directly and called the second-highest-performing 2 TB DRAM-less SSD it had tested. It reaches the full 7,400 MB/s read ceiling of the SM2268XT platform, delivers a verified 1,000,000 IOPS, and pairs those numbers with a 3,600 TBW endurance rating that comfortably beats Maxio MAP1602 rivals like the Addlink S93, WD Black SN770, and Team Group MP44 at the same capacity. The 2 TB is the sweet spot: full peak performance, double the 1 TB's write budget, a larger SLC cache for sustained writes, and none of the 4 TB's capacity premium. The binding constraint remains availability, since the SM170 has been largely confined to the Asian market and AIGO lacks a global RMA portal, so buyers elsewhere should source it only through a retailer that handles warranty returns. Where the SM170 2 TB is obtainable, it is one of the strongest DRAM-less PCIe 4.0 values available; where it is not, the Addlink S93 or Team Group MP44 cover the same role on a more widely distributed platform, at the cost of lower endurance.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is the AIGO SM170 2 TB fast?

Yes. TweakTown reviewed this exact 2 TB capacity and measured 953,000 random read IOPS on an AMD test bench, the second-highest result the lab had ever recorded for a flash-based DRAM-less SSD, along with a 4,294 MB/s result in a heavy mixed workload that set a new lab record for a DRAM-less drive. The drive is rated at 7,400 MB/s sequential reads and 6,400 MB/s sequential writes, with up to 1,000,000 random read and write IOPS. TweakTown also recorded 4K QD1 random read at around 102 MB/s, signalling strong real-world boot and application-launch responsiveness, and concluded the SM170 2 TB was the second-highest-performing 2 TB DRAM-less SSD it had tested.

### What is the endurance of the AIGO SM170 2 TB?

The SM170 2 TB carries a 3,600 TBW endurance rating, verified for this capacity by TechPowerUp, which scales at 1,800 TBW per terabyte across the line. That is well above the 1,200 TBW the WD Black SN770 and Addlink S93 carry at 2 TB, and it reflects the write-cycle headroom of the YMTC 232-layer TLC NAND. At a typical 20 GB of writes per day the 2 TB would need roughly 493 years to exhaust its write budget, so the five-year warranty term expires long before the NAND approaches its limit. The extra endurance is most useful for buyers running sustained write workloads such as game capture, video editing scratch space, or large backup rotations.

### Is the AIGO SM170 2 TB available outside Asia?

Availability has been the SM170's main weakness. The drive has been distributed primarily through the Asian market, and TweakTown's review explicitly listed availability as a con despite the strong performance numbers, which is why the product is flagged in some databases as temporarily only available in Asia. Buyers in North America and Europe can occasionally find it through import retailers, but should confirm that the seller handles warranty returns, because AIGO does not operate a global end-user RMA portal comparable to Samsung or WD. For buyers who cannot obtain one, the Addlink S93 2 TB and the Team Group MP44 2 TB cover the same DRAM-less PCIe 4.0 role on the widely available Maxio MAP1602 platform.

### Does the AIGO SM170 have a DRAM cache?

No, the SM170 is a DRAM-less design that uses Host Memory Buffer technology. The Silicon Motion SM2268XT controller borrows a slice of system RAM to hold the flash translation layer mapping table, the same job a discrete DRAM chip performs on a pricier drive such as the Samsung 990 Pro. For everyday workloads, operating system boots, application launches, and game loads, HMB delivers near-DRAM responsiveness because those tasks are dominated by sequential reads that do not stress the mapping table. The trade-off surfaces under heavy sustained random writes, where discrete DRAM maintains lower latency. HMB is standard at this price tier, shared by the WD Black SN770, Team Group MP44, and Addlink S93.

### Is the AIGO SM170 2 TB good for gaming?

Yes, for buyers who can source one. The 7,400 MB/s sequential reads and 1,000,000 random read IOPS are well beyond the point where storage speed limits game loading, which happens once reads exceed roughly 5,500 MB/s and the CPU becomes the bottleneck. The DRAM-less HMB design is not a gaming liability because game workloads are dominated by large sequential reads rather than sustained random writes. TweakTown measured a 3DMark Storage Gaming score around 4,200 for the platform, respectable though slightly below the top rival DRAM-less controllers. The 2 TB capacity is the sweet spot for gaming, large enough to hold a substantial Steam library alongside the operating system without the constant shuffling a 1 TB drive demands.

### Should I buy the AIGO SM170 1 TB, 2 TB, or 4 TB?

The 2 TB is the sweet spot of the line. All three capacities share the same SM2268XT controller, YMTC 232-layer TLC, 7,400 MB/s read speed, and 1,000,000 IOPS rating, so peak performance is identical; only capacity and total write endurance differ. The 2 TB doubles the 1 TB's endurance to 3,600 TBW, carries a larger SLC cache for sustained writes, and holds a full Steam library alongside the operating system, without the 4 TB's capacity premium. Choose the 1 TB for a pure boot-and-apps drive, the 4 TB when the drive must hold everything including a large media library, and the 2 TB for the best balance of price, capacity, and endurance. Availability may decide the question, since the line is distributed mainly in Asia.

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Last updated: 2026-07-26. Source: https://ssdrive.net/aigo-sm170-2-tb