Consumercarts is reader-supported. Learn more
Acer FA100 vs Kingston NV3: Comparison
What is the difference between Acer FA100 and Kingston NV3?
Sequential read is where these two genuinely part company, Acer FA100 3300 MB/s against Kingston NV3 6000 MB/s, a 45% lead for Kingston NV3. Add sequential write to that, 2700 MB/s on the Acer FA100 versus 5000 MB/s on the Kingston NV3, and the pattern holds. There is a split on dram cache as well, DRAM-less on the Acer FA100 versus None on the Kingston NV3. They differ on controller too, IG5216 on the Acer FA100 versus Multi-BOM, varies by manufacturing batch on the Kingston NV3.
Which should you buy, Acer FA100 or Kingston NV3?
The Acer FA100 is the one to take for everyday laptops and desktops with a PCIe 3.0 M.2 slot. The same goes for budget upgrades needing 2000 GB of NVMe storage in a standard M.2 2280 slot. It is the wrong buy for anyone wanting PCIe 4.0 speeds, since this drive tops out at 3300 MB/s reads. Buy the Kingston NV3 for secondary or scratch storage, though it is the wrong buy for sustained heavy write workloads like large video exports and buyers who need to know exactly what components they're getting. It also earns its place with budget PC builds where boot speed matters more than sustained writes. It is not the one for anyone who can find the Samsung 990 EVO at MSRP instead. Our rating of the Kingston NV3 (6/10): runs cool, reads fast, and you have no idea which drive is actually in the box. At 2.4x launch price, the value case that used to justify that gamble is gone.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Acer FA100 and Kingston NV3 differ on bus interface?
Yes. Bus Interface reads PCIe 3.0 x4 on the Acer FA100 versus PCIe 4.0 x4 on the Kingston NV3.
Is the Form Factor the same on the Acer FA100 and Kingston NV3?
It is. Both are listed at M.2 2280, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Speed Score
- Acer FA100
- 6.4/10Best
- Kingston NV3
- 6.4/10Best
How fast this drive is, rated from its read and write speeds, cache and NAND type. 10 is the fastest.
Brand
- Acer FA100
- Acer
- Kingston NV3
- Kingston
Model Number
- Acer FA100
- Acer FA100 (Micron B27B)
- Kingston NV3
- NV3
Series
- Acer FA100
- FA100
- Kingston NV3
- NV3
Bus Interface
- Acer FA100
- PCIe 3.0 x4
- Kingston NV3
- PCIe 4.0 x4
Form Factor
- Acer FA100
- M.2 2280
- Kingston NV3
- M.2 2280
Sequential Read
- Acer FA100
- 3300 MB/s-45%
- Kingston NV3
- 6000 MB/s
Sequential Write
- Acer FA100
- 2700 MB/s-46%
- Kingston NV3
- 5000 MB/s
Controller
- Acer FA100
- IG5216
- Kingston NV3
- Multi-BOM, varies by manufacturing batch
DRAM Cache
- Acer FA100
- DRAM-less (HMB)
- Kingston NV3
- None (Host Memory Buffer)
NAND Type
- Acer FA100
- TLC
- Kingston NV3
- QLC (teardown-confirmed, Kingston datasheet only says "3D")
Which one should you pick?
Choose Acer FA100 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose Kingston NV3 if you want the higher sequential read (6000 MB/s vs 3300 MB/s) and the higher sequential write (5000 MB/s vs 2700 MB/s).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Acer FA100 | Kingston NV3 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | |
| Newegg | View on Newegg |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
Kingston NV3
6 / 10 Expert Rating
Runs cool, reads fast, and you have no idea which drive is actually in the box.