ACER FA100 1TB PCIe Gen3 x4 M.2 SSD Review

ACER is one of the most recognisable names in the PC market, creating high-end gaming PCs, Monitors, Laptops, and so much more in between. Of course, it’s often their Predator series that really sparks the interest of the modern PC enthusiast, and rightly so. However, today, this is just straight-up ACER, with their latest line of SSDs that promise big performance and all the usual modern features we’ve come to expect, but at very competitive prices. Of course, fast drives and low prices are the words I always want to hear, so I’m really eager to see what their new FA100 M.2 SSD can really do.

Manufactured under licence by BIWIN, a Chinese OEM with 25-years of experience to their name, the FA100 M.2 SSD benefit from their expertise. They’re one of the few who actually manufacture their own drives rather than just design them, as it gives them more choice over the components used in each device vs your typical bulk OEMs who may simply change the sticker for each brand.

ACER FA100 1TB

While it isn’t the latest Gen4 technology, it’s not like Gen3 is lacking in great features and performance. The technology has had plenty of time to mature, which means this drive should have no issues getting the maximum performance from the Gen3 interface. It uses 3D NAND, which can deliver sequential read speeds of up to 3300MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 2700MB/s. You get ECC error correction, S.M.A.R.T. and a whole host of other safety and protection features to ensure stable performance and a longer drive lifespan. It even comes with a copy of Acronis True-Image backup software, should the worst happen.

Features

• HMB
• 4K LDPC ECC
• Dynamic SLC Buffer
• Thermal Throttling Tech
• Firmware Backup
• GC & TRIM
• S.M.A.R.T.
• 5 Year Warranty

Specifications

What ACER Had to Say

“FA100 M.2 SSD uses only high-quality original wafers. From design to material selection, from production to quality control, the unit undergoes multiple tests and rigorous evaluations to ensure higher readability and excellent performance overall.”

ACER SA100 2TB

ACER were kind enough to provide this drive also, it’s available in 120GB up to 2TB to suit your needs and uses the long-standing SATA3 interface. While I won’t be benchmarking this one today, it’s good to see this range covers all bases. The SATA3 drives are going to give you reliable and affordable flash storage, while those wanting more performance can move up to the M.2 modules.