The Integral 500GB SSD M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe Gen3x4 solid-state drive offers a balance of performance and capacity suitable for mainstream users looking to upgrade their storage with a fast, reliable NVMe SSD. It features the M.2 2280 form factor, which is compatible with most modern laptops and desktops supporting PCIe Gen3 x4 interfaces.

Performance Analysis

This Integral SSD boasts sequential read speeds up to 2000 MB/s and write speeds up to 1600 MB/s. These figures place it comfortably above SATA-based SSDs (which typically max out around 550 MB/s) but below the latest PCIe Gen4 drives that can exceed 3000 MB/s read speeds. For everyday computing tasks such as booting the OS, launching applications, gaming load times, and file transfers, these speeds provide a significant responsiveness boost over traditional hard drives or older SATA SSDs.

The use of PCIe Gen3 x4 interface ensures good bandwidth availability without bottlenecks common in slower interfaces like SATA or PCIe Gen3 x2. The NVMe protocol further reduces latency compared to AHCI-based drives.

Build & Compatibility

The M.2 2280 size (22mm wide by 80mm long) is standard for many laptops and desktops today, making this drive widely compatible across systems that support NVMe storage in this form factor.

Integral’s focus on this model appears targeted at users who want an affordable yet speedy upgrade option rather than cutting-edge top-tier performance seen in newer generation drives.

Pros

• Solid sequential read/write performance (2000/1600 MB/s), significantly faster than SATA SSDs.
• Uses efficient PCIe Gen3 x4 interface with NVMe protocol for low latency.
• Standard M.2 2280 form factor ensures broad compatibility.
• Suitable capacity at 500GB for OS installation plus moderate data/gaming storage.
• Likely more affordable compared to premium brand-name high-performance models.

Cons

• Performance lags behind newer PCIe Gen4 or Gen5 drives offering much higher throughput.
• No detailed information on endurance ratings (TBW), warranty period, or advanced features like DRAM cache or thermal management provided publicly.
• May not be ideal for heavy workloads requiring sustained ultra-high-speed transfers such as professional video editing or large-scale data processing.

Verdict

The Integral SSD M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe Gen3x4 model with a capacity of 500GB represents a competent mid-range solid-state drive choice suitable for general consumers upgrading from HDDs or older SATA SSDs seeking faster boot times and application loading speeds without breaking the bank. While it does not compete with cutting-edge high-end models in raw speed metrics, its balanced performance profile fits well within typical consumer needs including gaming PCs and everyday productivity machines.

For users prioritizing cost-effectiveness combined with decent speed improvements over legacy storage solutions, this Integral drive is an appealing option — especially if your system supports only up to PCIe Gen3 standards.

This product suits mainstream upgrades where reliability combined with good-enough speed meets user expectations without premium pricing premiums attached to bleeding-edge technology tiers.