# Silicon Power UD70 500GB QLC NVMe SSD Review (2026)

The Silicon Power UD70 500GB is a PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD built on Micron QLC NAND and the Phison E12S controller, aiming to deliver mainstream NVMe speeds at a budget-friendly price.

Quick answer: The Silicon Power UD70 500GB is a budget PCIe 3.0 NVMe drive that delivers on read speed (3,400 MB/s) and includes DRAM cache — two features not always found at this price point. The QLC NAND limitation is the real trade-off: sustained writes after the SLC cache fills can drop below SATA SSD speeds, and long-term write endurance is lower than TLC alternatives. For a read-heavy boot drive or general desktop use where budget matters more than sustained write throughput, the UD70 gets the job done. Content creators and anyone moving large files regularly should step up to a TLC-based drive like the Silicon Power P34A80 or the Kingston A2000, which offer more consistent write performance at a modest price increase.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 500 GB |
| Interface | M.2 3.0 x 4 |
| Controller | Phison PS5012-E12S-32 |
| Memory type | Micron 3D QLC |
| DRAM cache | SLC Caching DRAM Buffer |
| Sequential read | 3400 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 3000 MB/s |
| Random read IOPS | 250000 |
| Random write IOPS | 650000 |
| Endurance | 120 TBW |
| MTBF | 1.8 |
| Warranty | 5 years |

## Performance

The UD70 500GB is rated for 3,400 MB/s sequential reads and 3,000 MB/s sequential writes. These peak figures apply only while the dynamic SLC cache has capacity — the drive writes incoming data to a high-speed SLC-mode portion of the QLC flash, then folds it to QLC in the background. Once the SLC cache fills, write speeds drop to native QLC rates, which typically sit around 80–160 MB/s on a 500GB QLC drive — slower than a SATA SSD.

The SLC cache size on the 500GB model is relatively small, roughly 20–40 GB depending on how full the drive is. For everyday tasks — booting the OS, launching applications, browsing the web — the UD70 reads at full speed and handles short writes within the cache without issue. The performance penalty shows up during large file copies, game installations, or any sustained write workload that exceeds the cache. Random read performance is adequate for a boot drive, though random writes are modest compared to TLC alternatives. Buyers should understand that QLC's strength is read-heavy workloads at a low price, not sustained write throughput.

## Endurance, TBW & Warranty

Silicon Power covers the UD70 500GB with a five-year limited warranty. Silicon Power does not publish a specific TBW rating for the 500GB UD70 model in most spec sheets — a common omission for QLC drives, where endurance varies significantly with write patterns. QLC NAND has lower write endurance than TLC, typically rated for roughly 1,000 program-erase cycles per cell versus 3,000 for TLC. For a read-heavy desktop workload (OS boot drive, application storage), endurance is unlikely to be a concern within the warranty period. Heavy-write workloads like video scratch disks or continuous data logging are less suited to QLC drives. The warranty is handled through the retailer or Silicon Power's direct RMA process.

## Pros and Cons

**Pros:**

- 3,400 MB/s sequential reads on PCIe 3.0
- DRAM cache buffer included at a budget price
- Single-sided M.2 2280 fits most laptops and desktops
- Five-year warranty coverage
- Competitive price per GB for a DRAM NVMe drive
**Cons:**

- QLC NAND — slow sustained writes after SLC cache fills
- QLC endurance lower than TLC alternatives
- No published TBW rating for the 500GB model
- Small SLC cache on the 500GB capacity
- Not suitable for heavy-write workloads


## Verdict

The Silicon Power UD70 500GB is a budget PCIe 3.0 NVMe drive that delivers on read speed (3,400 MB/s) and includes DRAM cache — two features not always found at this price point. The QLC NAND limitation is the real trade-off: sustained writes after the SLC cache fills can drop below SATA SSD speeds, and long-term write endurance is lower than TLC alternatives. For a read-heavy boot drive or general desktop use where budget matters more than sustained write throughput, the UD70 gets the job done. Content creators and anyone moving large files regularly should step up to a TLC-based drive like the Silicon Power P34A80 or the Kingston A2000, which offer more consistent write performance at a modest price increase.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is the Silicon Power UD70 500GB good for gaming?

The UD70 500GB delivers 3,400 MB/s sequential reads, which is fast enough for gaming. Game load times are comparable to other PCIe 3.0 NVMe drives in read-heavy scenarios. The 500GB capacity holds roughly 8–12 modern AAA titles. The QLC NAND only becomes a limitation during game installations or large file copies, where sustained writes slow down after the SLC cache fills. For loading and playing games, the read speed is the primary factor and the UD70 performs well.

### What is QLC NAND and how does it affect the UD70?

QLC (quad-level cell) NAND stores four bits per memory cell, compared to three bits in TLC. This increases storage density and lowers cost, but reduces write endurance and slows native write speed. The UD70 mitigates this with a dynamic SLC cache that absorbs burst writes at full speed. Once the cache fills, writes drop to native QLC rates around 80–160 MB/s on the 500GB model. For read-heavy use like boot drives and game storage, QLC is fine. For sustained write workloads, a TLC drive is a better choice.

### Does the Silicon Power UD70 have a DRAM cache?

Yes. The UD70 includes a DRAM cache buffer, described by Silicon Power as SLC Caching with a DRAM buffer. The DRAM helps the Phison E12S controller manage the flash translation layer, which is particularly important for QLC drives where the mapping table is larger than on TLC. DRAM presence gives the UD70 an advantage over DRAM-less budget drives that rely on Host Memory Buffer.

### Is the Silicon Power UD70 500GB faster than a SATA SSD?

In reads and short writes, the UD70 is significantly faster than a SATA SSD — 3,400 MB/s reads versus SATA's 550 MB/s ceiling. However, once the UD70's SLC cache fills during sustained writes, performance can drop below SATA SSD speeds due to QLC's slow native write rate. For typical desktop use (booting, app launches, web browsing), the UD70 feels much faster than SATA. For tasks involving large sustained writes, the advantage can reverse.

### Is the Silicon Power UD70 compatible with the PS5?

The UD70 uses PCIe 3.0, while the PS5 requires a PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 NVMe SSD for its expansion slot. PCIe 3.0 drives do not meet Sony's published requirements for PS5 storage expansion. The UD70 will not work as a PS5 expansion drive. It is designed for desktop and laptop PCs with standard M.2 2280 NVMe slots.

### How does the UD70 compare to the Silicon Power P34A80?

The P34A80 uses TLC NAND with the Phison E12 controller, while the UD70 uses QLC NAND with the Phison E12S controller. The P34A80 delivers more consistent sustained write performance because TLC's native write speed is roughly double that of QLC. Both drives offer similar peak read speeds around 3,200–3,400 MB/s. The UD70 is typically less expensive per GB. For read-heavy use on a budget, the UD70 is fine. For any sustained write workloads, the P34A80 is the stronger choice.

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Last updated: 2026-05-23. Source: https://ssdrive.net/silicon-power-ud70-500-gb