The Adata Legend 960 Max is another popular PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD for PS5 or desktop PCs with the added benefit of a heatsink to keep it cool. Overall, this is a Legend 960 in disguise, just with the added heatsink, but this works well with the drive chemistry. No real records, but being able to write to it for long periods of time while keeping it cool could make this drive interesting for some uses. However, it faces stiff competition and needs to be priced meaningfully.
specification
| product | 1TB | 2TB | 4TB |
|---|---|---|---|
| price | $84.99 | $169.99 | $369.99 |
| form factor | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 |
| interface/protocol | PCIe 4.0 x 4 | PCIe 4.0 x 4 | PCIe 4.0 x 4 |
| controller | SM2264 | SM2264 | SM2264 |
| DRAM | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 |
| flash memory | 176-layer micron TLC | 176-layer micron TLC | 176-layer micron TLC |
| Sequential read | 7,400MBps | 7,400MBps | 7,400MBps |
| Sequential write | 6,000MBps | 6,800MBps | 6,800MBps |
| random read | 730K | 750K | 700K |
| random write | 610K | 630K | 550K |
| safety | none | none | none |
| Endurance (TBW) | 780TB | 1560TB | 3120TB |
| part number | ALEG-960M-1TCS | ALEG-960M-2TCS | ALEG-960M-4TCS |
| guarantee | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years |
Like the original, the Adata Legend 960 Max Legend 960, 1 TB, 2 TB, or 4 TB flavors. At the time of review, those prices have dropped to $84.99, $169.99, and $369.99 respectively. This pricing feels a little high for a drive with a 1 TB heatsink. Lexar Professional NM800 Pro 2 TB also has fair competition. At 4TB, the Legend 960 Max is a reasonable high-end PCIe 4.0 SSD if you want a slim heatsink, perhaps for use with the PlayStation 5, but WD Black SN850X Other than that it’s charming.
The Legend 960 Max reaches up to 7,400 MBps / 6,800 MBps for sequential reads and writes, and up to 750,000 / 630,000 IOPS for random reads and rights. TBW is 780 TB per TB of capacity and the drive comes with a 5-year warranty.
Software and accessories
Adata provides downloads for the SSD Toolbox software package. This application has the ability to perform drive information, diagnostics, cloning, TRIM optimization, firmware updater, and secure erase.
look carefully
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The Legend 960 Max is very similar to the original Legend 960, with the main change being the addition of a full-fledged heatsink. This is a nice addition as the original drive can get pretty hot during sustained workloads. It’s possible to add your own heatsink or use the original motherboard’s heatsink, but currently these drives are priced the same. Otherwise, it’s a double-sided drive with one DRAM and two NAND packages on each side, with the controller concentrated on the top.
The Legend 960 Max uses the same controller and DDR4 as the Legend 960. There’s plenty of DRAM, and the controller has proven itself, but it’s not exceptional. SMI is a little late to the market this time around.
The flash is Micron’s ubiquitous 176 layer TLC, or B47R. Over time, Micron’s 232-layer design is expected to become more popular, especially in high-end drives. This includes an upcoming series of PCIe 5.0 SSDs. Its flash is double the B47R’s typical density, helping to boost capacity by a notch.
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