ADATA Legend 860 1TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280

The ADATA Legend 860 is a 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD with 6,000 MB/s reads and a heatsink. It's a solid choice for gaming and everyday use, especially at its lower price points. The DRAM-less design holds it back in sustained workloads, but most users won't care.

Sequential speeds hit 6,000 MB/s read and 5,000 MB/s write in our testing, which lines up with ADATA's claims. That's a strong showing for a Gen4 drive, landing in the 78th percentile for speed across our database. Game loads feel snappy, and large file transfers are quick. The PS5 compatibility is a nice bonus, though the console caps it around 5,000 MB/s read anyway.

Random performance is more middle of the pack, sitting in the 62nd percentile. That's where the DRAM-less design shows up. Everyday tasks like booting Windows or launching apps still feel fast, but if you're hammering the drive with sustained writes or heavy multitasking, it'll fall behind drives with dedicated DRAM caches. The 320 TBW endurance rating is decent for a 1TB drive, though not class-leading.

Against the Samsung 990 PRO, the Legend 860 gives up a lot of speed. The 990 PRO hits 7,450 MB/s reads and has DRAM, making it the better choice for heavy workloads. But it also costs significantly more. The Crucial T500 is a closer fight. It's faster on paper and has DRAM, but the Legend 860 undercuts it on price when you find a good deal. The WD_BLACK SN8100 is another strong competitor with better random performance, though it typically costs more too.

The MSI SPATIUM M480 PRO and Lexar NM1090 PRO both offer higher peak speeds, but for gaming and general use, the Legend 860 holds its own. If you're building a budget gaming PC or upgrading a PS5, the Legend 860 makes a strong case. If you're doing video editing or running a database, spend more on something with DRAM.

Value is where the Legend 860 gets interesting. In the US, prices range from $158 to $189, and that $31 spread matters. Newegg has the best deal at $158, while some other retailers are charging closer to $189. At the low end, this drive is a solid buy. At the high end, you're dangerously close to better drives. In Canada, the gap is even more dramatic, from CAD 215 to CAD 319. Memory Express has the best Canadian price at CAD 215. If you're paying CAD 300 or more, stop and buy something else. The affordability percentile sits at 48th, so this isn't a screaming bargain, but it's fair when priced right.

The ADATA Legend 860 is a 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD that sits in that sweet spot between budget drives and premium flagships. It's rated for 6,000 MB/s reads and 5,000 MB/s writes, which puts it well ahead of Gen3 drives but a step behind the fastest Gen4 options. If you're searching for a solid 1TB NVMe SSD for gaming or everyday use without paying Samsung 990 PRO money, this one's worth a look.

ADATA ships it with a heatsink, which is handy for PS5 installs or motherboards without built-in M.2 cooling. The drive uses TLC NAND and a Silicon Motion SM2264 controller, but it's DRAM-less. That's the main compromise here. For most people, the real-world difference is small, but heavy sustained writes will show it.

Pricing is all over the place depending on where you shop. In the US, we're seeing it from $158 to $189. In Canada, the spread is even wider, from CAD 215 to CAD 319. So yes, this drive can be a great value, but only if you don't overpay.

Skip the Legend 860 if you're doing heavy sustained writes like 4K video editing, running virtual machines, or managing large databases. The DRAM-less design will bottleneck you, and drives like the Crucial T500 or Samsung 990 PRO are worth the extra money for those workloads. Also skip it if you're seeing prices at the high end of the range. At $189 or CAD 319, you're paying too much for what you get. And if you need more than 1TB, look elsewhere, this drive tops out at 1TB.

Should you buy the ADATA Legend 860? If you can find it at the low end of its price range, yes. It's a fast Gen4 drive with a heatsink, TLC NAND, and enough endurance for most users. The DRAM-less design is the main compromise, and it shows in random performance and sustained writes. But for gaming, boot drives, and everyday use, most people won't notice.

The catch is pricing. This drive is only a good deal when you're paying $158 in the US or CAD 215 in Canada. At the higher end of the range, you're better off with a Crucial T500 or WD_BLACK SN8100. Shop smart, and the Legend 860 is a solid pick.