Buzz
SSDs are getting better and cheaper, making fast and reliable storage more accessible than ever. However, those prioritizing performance and essential security features like self-encryption will need to allocate extra budget, as seen with the Kingston KC2500 SSD.
The KC2500 utilizes the Kingston SMI 2262EN V-NAND controller, paired with 96-layer 3D TLC, capable of achieving blazing speeds up to the limit of PCIe 3.0. Opting for such a PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD still makes sense given its significantly lower price compared to PCIe 4.0 alternatives. For daily tasks, you won't notice a significant difference unless you're working as a video editor.
Kingston KC2500 achieves high speeds
You'll be pleased with the theoretical read and write speeds of 3,500MB/s and 2,900MB/s, respectively, offered by this NVMe SSD. Now, packaging figures aren't always realistic in everyday situations or even benchmarks, but in this case, we can report that the Kingston KC2500 comes very close to those numbers. We used CrystalDiskMark 7.0 for our testing, primarily focusing on the Q8T1 sequential test, where we recorded a read speed of 3,226.12MB/s and a write speed of 2,436.86MB/s. Impressive results, but the random testing is truly remarkable.
Sequential tests focus on large files, but often you'll be transferring many small files, such as when backing up your favorite games. This demands more from your SSD, meaning speeds will be lower. Therefore, a random test will provide a better idea of performance. We still note read speeds of 2936.56MB/s and write speeds of 2270.78MB/s here. Very impressive. We proceeded with our own test, transferring maps from World of Warcraft and Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla to the KC2500, totaling over 5000 files. The maximum speed here is about 1.7GB/s according to Windows, with 124GB transferred in 100 seconds. The Kingston KC2500 will be able to handle 600TB of data throughout its lifespan. Not bad, but there are drives that can easily double that.
Self-Encrypting Drive (SED)
In addition to high data transfer performance, this Kingston SSD also comes with some additional features, including support for Windows eDrive (Bitlocker support), WinMagic, McAfee, and other TCG Opal 2.0-based security software. Furthermore, the KC2500 also has self-encrypting capabilities, allowing you to set up an extra layer of security before accessing the drive. This must be done through the BIOS and therefore won't immediately add value for regular users. However, such a feature could be important for professionals to provide additional security for sensitive data.
Just a bit pricier than the rest
So, know that you're paying extra for this feature. Currently, we see the Kingston KC2500 1TB model being sold online for around 4.4 million dong (250GB, 500GB, or 2TB are also options, though smaller models have slightly slower write speeds), while for slightly less, you can get the Samsung EVO 970 Plus with slightly faster speeds. So, if you're looking for good security, the price difference is negligible, but if not, there are other price/quality options to consider.
