HP EX920 2TB — Large-Capacity Mainstream PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD
The HP EX920 2TB is the largest-capacity variant of HP's mainstream PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD, offering ample storage with the proven SM2262 controller and Micron 3D TLC NAND.
The HP EX920 2TB pairs the Silicon Motion SM2262 controller with Micron 3D TLC NAND and DDR3L DRAM cache. The 2TB capacity provides maximum NAND parallelism, driving the highest write speeds in the EX920 lineup.
The 2TB variant is rated at 3,200 MB/s sequential reads and 1,800 MB/s writes — the same reads as smaller capacities but with the highest write speed in the series. The DRAM cache gives the EX920 better random I/O than DRAM-less alternatives.
The 2TB capacity makes this drive ideal for content creators, video editors, and power users. As a 2TB drive, the EX920 is likely double-sided (NAND on both PCB sides), which may affect compatibility with thin laptops.
The EX920 was well-reviewed for its Micron NAND quality and competitive pricing. HP's 5-year warranty matches mainstream competitors like Samsung and WD.
✅ Storage Comparisons:
🚀 Performance and benchmarks
The HP EX920 2TB is rated at up to 3,200 MB/s sequential reads and 1,800 MB/s writes. At 3,200 MB/s, the drive uses roughly 91 percent of the PCIe 3.0 x4 interface ceiling of approximately 3,500 MB/s. The 1,800 MB/s write speed is the highest in the EX920 lineup, benefiting from the maximum NAND die population on the 2TB capacity — more dies allow the SM2262's eight NAND channels to operate in parallel, increasing throughput.
HP EX920 2 TB vs M.2 3.0 x 4 peers
Switch between sequential throughput and random IOPS to see how this drive stacks up against other M.2 3.0 x 4 SSDs in our database. The highlighted bar is the drive on this page — click any other bar to open that drive.
- ADATA SX 8800 Pro 512 GB: 3,500 MB/s read, 2,700 MB/s write
- ADATA SX 8800 Pro 1 TB: 3,500 MB/s read, 2,700 MB/s write
- ADATA XPG Spectrix S40G RGB 256 GB: 3,500 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
- ADATA XPG Spectrix S40G RGB 512 GB: 3,500 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
- HP EX920 2 TB (this drive): 3,200 MB/s read, 1,800 MB/s write
The SM2262 controller's quad-core architecture and DDR3L DRAM cache give the EX920 a significant advantage in mixed workloads over DRAM-less alternatives like the WD Blue SN550 or Kingston NV2. The DRAM cache maintains the flash translation layer mapping table in fast memory, reducing latency on random reads and writes — the workloads that matter most for OS responsiveness, application launching, and game loading. Independent reviews from Tom's Hardware and TweakTown praised the EX920 for consistent performance across a range of workloads, with the Micron 3D TLC NAND providing good sustained write characteristics.
The SLC cache on a 2TB drive will be very generous — likely 100-200 GB or more depending on free space — meaning the EX920 sustains its advertised write speeds for extended periods. This makes the 2TB variant particularly well-suited for video editing workflows, large game libraries, and content creation tasks that involve moving hundreds of gigabytes of data. Only sustained writes exceeding the SLC cache size would drop to direct TLC write speeds. The Micron 3D TLC NAND maintains reasonable performance even after cache exhaustion, unlike QLC drives that drop to near-SATA speeds.
🖥️ Endurance and warranty
The HP EX920 carries a 5-year warranty, matching mainstream competitors like the Samsung 970 EVO and WD Black SN750. The endurance rating for the 2TB variant is not published in the DB, but comparable drives typically carry 700-1,000 TBW — the Samsung 970 EVO 2TB carries 1,200 TBW. At 20-50 GB per day, a 2TB drive with ~700-1,000 TBW would last roughly 38-137 years before hitting the endurance limit.
📊 Specs
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Capacity [?] | 2 TB |
| Interface [?] | M.2 3.0 x 4 |
| Controller [?] | Silicon Motion SM2262 |
| Memory type [?] | Micron TLC |
| DRAM [?] | Nanya DDR3 |
| Read speed (MB/s) [?] | 3200 |
| Write speed (MB/s) [?] | 1800 |
| Read IOPS [?] | 350000 |
| Write IOPS [?] | 260000 |
| Endurance (TBW) [?] | 528 |
| MTBF (million hours) [?] | 2 |
| Warranty (years) [?] | 3 |
Conclusion
The HP EX920 2TB is a solid large-capacity PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD with the SM2262 controller, Micron 3D TLC NAND, and DRAM cache. It delivers near-ceiling read speeds and the highest write speed in the EX920 lineup, backed by a 5-year warranty. The 2TB capacity is ideal for content creators. For comparable performance with more established brand recognition, consider the Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB.
+ Pros
- SM2262 controller with DRAM cache
- 3,200 MB/s reads near PCIe 3.0 x4 ceiling
- 1,800 MB/s writes — highest in EX920 lineup
- Micron 3D TLC NAND
- 5-year warranty
- 2TB capacity for content creators
- Cons
- HP's SSD brand less established than Samsung
- No published TBW for 2TB variant
- Double-sided PCB may not fit thin laptops
- PCIe 3.0 — outpaced by PCIe 4.0
- No included heatsink
🛒 Buy this or similar SSD Storage:
✨ Video Review
HP EX920 M.2 NVME in Lian Li PC-011 Dynamic - Install & Review
