Seagate FireCuda 530 2TB SSD Review

Rating: 8.5.

Seagate's lastest NVMe SSD is the FireCuda 530, the company's 2nd generation PCIe Gen4 drive – following on from the FireCuda 520. This time around, Seagate is using a faster controller and the latest 176-layer NAND technology. We review the 2TB model, priced at £320.

The FireCuda 530 uses a combination of Micron's B47R 176-layer 3D TLC NAND and Phison’s PS5018-E18 NVMe controller and is available in two versions, one with a heatsink, designed in partnership with EKWB, and one without and in four capacities; 500GB, 1TB, 2TB (the drive we are reviewing) and the flagship 4TB model.

Seagate quote Sequential performance figures for the FireCuda 530 as up to 7,000MB/s reads for the 500GB model with the other three drives up to 7,300MB/s. The 500GB drive gets a 3,000MB/s Sequential write rating, the 1TB drive 6,000MB/s and both the 2TB and 4TB models are listed as up to 6,900MB/s.

Random performance (4KB QD32, 8 threads) is stated as up to 400,000 IOPS and 3,000 IOPS for reads and writes respectively for the 500GB drive, the 1TB drive is up to 800,000 IOPS for reads and 1,000,000 IOPS for writes while both the 2TB and 4TB drives are rated as up to 1,000,000 IOPS for both reads and writes.

The 2TB drive being reviewed has an official TBW endurance rating of 2,550TB with Seagate backing the drive with a 5-year warranty.

Physical Specifications:

• Usable Capacities:  2TB.
• NAND Components: Micron B47R 176-layer 3D TLC NAND.
• NAND Controller: Phison PS5018-E18.
• Cache: DDR4-2666.
• Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4, NVMe 1.4.
• Form Factor: M.2, 2280.
• Dimensions: 80.15 x 22.15 x 3.58mm.
• Drive Weight: 10g.

Firmware Version: SU6SM001.

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