The Biwin M560 2TB SSD has arrived with a controller that has been nearly impossible to find in retail: the SMI SM2504XT. This DRAM-less PCIe 5.0 drive promises flagship-level speed without the heat and power draw of premium alternatives, and it undercuts DRAM-equipped rivals on price.

What You Need to Know

The Biwin M560 is a DRAM-less PCIe 5.0 SSD built on the SMI SM2504XT controller and 218-layer Kioxia BiCS8 TLC NAND. It is available in 1TB ($189.99) and 2TB ($364.99) capacities, with a five-year warranty covering 750TB of writes per TB. The 2TB model is rated for up to 11,000 MB/s sequential read and 10,000 MB/s sequential write speeds, with random read and write figures reaching 1,700K IOPS. This drive targets users who want PCIe 5.0 performance without the power and heat penalties of high-end DRAM-equipped SSDs.

A Rare Controller Finally Reaches Retail

The SM2504XT controller from Silicon Motion has been on the radar of storage enthusiasts for months, but retail drives using it have been scarce. Biwin is among the first to bring it to market in a consumer SSD, and the M560 slots in as a direct alternative to Phison E31T-based drives like the Corsair MP700 Elite.

On paper, the M560 outpaces its Phison rival in random performance. The 2TB model is rated for 1,700K random read and write IOPS, exceeding the 1.3 million IOPS figure claimed for the MP700 Elite. That is a striking result for a DRAM-less design, which typically trades peak throughput for lower cost and complexity.

How the M560 Stacks Up Against Rivals

At $364.99 for 2TB, the M560 sits in line with the Crucial P510 and well below DRAM-equipped flagships like the Samsung 9100 Pro. The pricing makes sense for the hardware, though buyers should note that some PCIe 5.0 DRAM SSDs can be found at similar or lower prices.

Those cheaper DRAM drives, however, often come with trade-offs in power efficiency or sustained performance. The M560's DRAM-less architecture and single-sided M.2 2280 form factor make it a better fit for laptops and compact builds where heat and space are concerns.

  • Capacity options: Available in 1TB and 2TB, with no 4TB SKU at launch.
  • Endurance: 750TB written per TB of capacity, 25% above the typical warranty coverage.
  • Form factor: Single-sided M.2 2280, suitable for thin laptops and compact desktops.
  • Software: Biwin Intelligence toolbox for Windows and a data recovery tool for macOS and Windows.

The DRAM-Less Trade-Off and Why It Matters

DRAM-less SSDs rely on Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology, borrowing a small slice of system RAM to manage flash translation tables. This approach reduces cost and power consumption but can introduce latency spikes under heavy workloads. The M560's use of 218-layer BiCS8 TLC NAND from Kioxia helps offset some of that penalty by providing high-density, fast flash.

For most consumers, the difference will be invisible in everyday tasks. Gamers, content creators and office users will see near-flagship load times and file transfer speeds. Only sustained write-heavy workloads, such as large video renders or database operations, may reveal the absence of dedicated DRAM.

Why This Matters

The Biwin M560 signals a broader shift in the SSD market: DRAM-less PCIe 5.0 drives are becoming viable alternatives to premium models, not just budget compromises. As more controllers like the SM2504XT reach retail, competition will intensify, putting pressure on Phison and other suppliers to improve efficiency and pricing.

Consumers stand to benefit most. Laptop makers gain a cooler, lower-power option for thin designs. Desktop builders get near-flagship speed at a midrange price. And the five-year warranty with 750TBW per TB gives buyers confidence that the drive will last through years of heavy use.

The real test will come as more SM2504XT-based drives hit shelves. If Biwin's execution holds up under sustained workloads, the M560 could become the reference point for what a DRAM-less PCIe 5.0 SSD should deliver.