Intel 670p Series 512GB PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280

The Intel 670p is the budget QLC drive done right, with a DRAM cache that keeps it snappy when others choke. It's not a speed demon, but for the price, it's one of the best value NVMe drives you can buy.

The 3000 MB/s sequential read is solidly middle of the pack for PCIe 3.0 drives, and the 1600 MB/s write is about average too. But the random write IOPS of 315K is actually well above average, which surprised us. That's where the DRAM cache earns its keep. You'll notice it when you're installing updates, moving a bunch of small files, or doing anything that isn't just one giant file copy. The catch is sustained writes. Once that cache fills up, QLC NAND slows down hard. For most people, that's a non-issue. If you're regularly moving 100GB+ files around, you'll feel it, and you should be looking at TLC drives instead.

Against the Samsung 990 PRO or Crucial T500, the 670p looks slow. Those are PCIe 4.0 drives with TLC NAND and much higher endurance. But they also cost a lot more. The 670p isn't trying to compete with those. Its real competition is other budget QLC drives like the Crucial P3 or WD Blue SN570. Against those, the 670p wins on the DRAM cache alone. The P3 is DRAM-less and falls apart under sustained writes. The SN570 is TLC but also DRAM-less. If you're on a tight budget and want a drive that stays responsive, the 670p is the pick. If you need raw speed and endurance, save up for a TLC drive with DRAM.

This is where the 670p shines. It's not the fastest drive, but it's one of the best values in the budget NVMe space. The DRAM cache alone puts it ahead of most QLC competitors at this price. If you can grab one on sale, it's a no-brainer for a boot drive or secondary game storage. At full price, it's still decent, but the value proposition gets shakier when faster TLC drives drop into the same range.

The Intel 670p is one of those drives that quietly does its job and doesn't ask for attention. It's a 512GB QLC NVMe drive with a DRAM cache, which is honestly the secret sauce here. Most budget QLC drives skip the DRAM to save a buck, and you feel it the second you push them hard. Intel didn't, and that's why this thing punches above its weight. The headline numbers are 3000 MB/s read and 1600 MB/s write, which won't set any records, but for everyday use, game loading, and general snappiness, it's plenty. The real story is value. At the prices these have been hitting, especially on sale, you're getting a dependable drive with a 5-year warranty and 185 TBW endurance. That's not spectacular endurance, but for a boot drive or game library, it's fine.

If you're doing heavy video editing, constant large file transfers, or anything that hammers sustained writes, this isn't your drive. The QLC NAND slows down hard once the cache fills, and 185 TBW endurance won't hold up to that kind of abuse. Go grab a TLC drive like the Samsung 990 PRO or Crucial T500 instead. You'll pay more, but you'll get the endurance and sustained speed you need.

The Intel 670p 512GB is a solid, dependable budget NVMe drive that outperforms its price point thanks to a DRAM cache most competitors skip. It's not the fastest, and the QLC NAND has real limitations under sustained writes, but for everyday use, gaming, and general storage, it's a great buy. If you see it on sale, grab it. If you're doing heavy video editing or constant large file transfers, spend more on a TLC drive.