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Gigabyte has announced the worlds first PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD.

This would be the first in the industry to use a PCIe 4.0 Interface, bad news for those on existing systems though as PCIe 4.0 will only be supported on AMDs new Ryzen 3000 series platform, though it will work with existing PCIe 3.0 motherboards just at lower speeds.

Here’s word on the new hardware:

The new SSD comes in 3 different capacity sizes, uses a full body copper heatsink to bolster heat dissipation during operation, and delivers sequential read/write speeds at 5000/4400 MB/s. GIGABYTE Ultra Durable certified, the new SSD has undergone rigorous stress tests to ensure that the SSD performs at an elite level users expect from an AORUS product.

AORUS NVMe Gen4 SSD uses an all new PCIe 4.0 controller with Toshiba Bisc4 Nand Flash memory particles, providing up to a 40% performance boost over PCIe 3.0 which translates to 5000MB/s sequential read speeds. Whether reading data or booting up games, the SSD boasts data transfer
rates at unprecedented speeds. The new series offers 3 capacity options at 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, comes in 2280 module sizing, and supports the PCIe 4.0×4 M.2 interface. Whereas SATA SSDs use data and power cables, the M.2 SSDs are easier to configure with its cable free design which also improves airflow in the chassis, increasing overall heat mitigation.

AORUS NVMe Gen4 SSD offers excellent heat dissipation with its full body copper heatsinks and LAIRD high conductivity thermal pad so heat generated from operation of the device is quickly transferred to the heatsinks. The stylish heatsink design is composed of around 30 fins which have been sandblasted, offering greater heat dissipation surface area without diminishing the strength of the heatsink while also easing crowding around the M.2 slot area with its space efficient design. Compared to SSDs with single side coverage or smaller heatsinks, AORUS NVMe Gen4 SSD provides superior heat dissipation so it can mitigate the heat generated at high temperatures when the SSD is in operation, extending the product lifespan and bolstering the SSD performance.

To guarantee the most stable and best read/write performance, GIGABYTE stress tested the M.2 SSDs with motherboards under rigorous testing conditions. Under various high-load test software with high temperatures and high pressure, the M.2 SSDs have successfully passed the stress tests and are ready to perform so users can expect the best product quality and durability.

Niche Gamer’s Take: Although pricing has yet to be announced, it’s likely this will put you back quite a bit – considering this is now the best drive you can possibly buy.