Addlink 1TB SSD PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe

The Addlink S91 is a 1TB M.2 2230 NVMe SSD built for handheld gaming PCs and compact laptops. It delivers 4900 MB/s reads and 3200 MB/s writes with TLC NAND and a 5-year warranty. It's a solid upgrade for Steam Deck or ROG Ally owners who need more space, though it's not the cheapest 2230 drive around.

The S91's sequential numbers are respectable. At 4900 MB/s read and 3200 MB/s write, it lands around the 70th percentile for speed in our database. That's not best-in-class, but it's a clear step up from PCIe 3.0 drives and more than enough for loading games, moving large files, or booting Windows. The DRAM-less design with HMB support means it borrows a slice of your system RAM for the mapping table, which keeps random performance decent without adding cost or power draw. Random performance sits around the 62nd percentile, so it's fine but not going to blow anyone away.

In practice, you won't feel the difference between this and a faster 2230 drive in a Steam Deck or ROG Ally. Game load times are more limited by the CPU and decompression than raw sequential throughput. Where the S91 earns its keep is consistency. The SLC cache handles bursty writes well, and thermal throttling hasn't been a major complaint in our testing. If you're moving a 100GB game library over, expect speeds to dip once the cache fills, but that's true of nearly every DRAM-less drive at this price.

The Addlink S91 goes up against some heavy hitters in the broader SSD market, though most of them don't make 2230 versions. The Samsung 9100 PRO and Crucial T500 are both faster drives, but they're 2280 form factor and won't fit in a Steam Deck without an adapter. The Kingston Fury Renegade and WD_BLACK SN7100 are also excellent performers, but again, size is the issue. For handheld users, the real competition is other 2230 drives like the WD_BLACK SN770M or Corsair MP600 Mini. The S91 holds its own against those in sequential reads but gives up some ground in sustained writes.

If you're shopping for a laptop with a full-size M.2 slot, skip the S91 and get a 2280 drive. You'll get better performance per dollar. But if you're specifically upgrading a Steam Deck, ROG Ally, or Surface, the S91 is a legitimate option. It's not the fastest 2230 drive we've tested, but it's reliable, backed by a solid warranty, and easy to recommend for anyone who just wants more space without headaches.

At around $199 USD for 1TB, the S91 is not a bargain. You can get a faster 2280 drive with DRAM for less money, but that's not the point. The 2230 form factor is a niche, and niche products carry a premium. Compared to other 2230 drives, the S91 is priced competitively but not aggressively. The 5-year warranty adds some peace of mind, and the TLC NAND is a plus over cheaper QLC alternatives. If you can find it on sale, it's a much easier recommendation. At full price, it's a fair deal but not a steal.

The Addlink S91 is a 1TB M.2 2230 NVMe SSD aimed squarely at handheld gaming PCs and compact laptops. It's the kind of drive you buy when your Steam Deck or ROG Ally is running out of room and you want a meaningful speed bump over the stock drive. With a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface, it's rated for up to 4900 MB/s sequential reads and 3200 MB/s writes, which puts it in a solid spot for this form factor. The 2230 size is the whole point here, since most full-size 2280 drives simply won't fit in these devices.

Pricing is a bit scattered depending on where you shop. We're seeing it around $199 USD in the US, roughly 227 to 242 EUR in Europe, and about 292 CAD in Canada. That's not cheap for a 1TB drive, but the 2230 form factor carries a premium because there are fewer options. The S91 uses TLC NAND and is DRAM-less, relying on Host Memory Buffer (HMB) to keep things snappy. Addlink backs it with a 5-year warranty and a 1.5 million hour MTBF rating, which is reassuring for a drive going into a device you'll probably toss in a bag.

So is the Addlink S91 good for Steam Deck upgrades? For most people, yes. It's not the fastest 2230 drive on paper, but it's well above average for the category and the real-world difference between this and a top-tier 2230 drive is hard to notice in handheld gaming. The bigger question is whether you need 1TB of space and whether the price makes sense compared to other 2230 options.

Skip the Addlink S91 if you're building a desktop or upgrading a laptop with a full-size M.2 2280 slot. You'll get better performance per dollar from drives like the Crucial T500 or WD_BLACK SN7100. Also skip it if you're on a strict budget and don't need the 2230 form factor, since cheaper 2280 drives with similar or better specs are widely available. And if you're a heavy sustained-write user, like someone who regularly moves massive video files, the DRAM-less design will show its limits once the SLC cache fills.

Should you buy the Addlink S91? If you own a Steam Deck, ROG Ally, or compact laptop with a 2230 slot and you're running out of storage, this is a solid choice. It's not the absolute fastest 2230 drive, but it's well above average and the 5-year warranty is a real selling point. The TLC NAND and HMB support mean it won't feel sluggish in everyday use, and the 4900 MB/s read speed is more than enough for gaming.

That said, if you're building a desktop or upgrading a laptop with a full-size M.2 slot, look elsewhere. You'll get better performance for less money with a 2280 drive. And if you're on a tight budget, there are cheaper 2230 options, though they often use QLC NAND and shorter warranties. For the right use case, the S91 is a dependable pick.