Intel SSDPEKNU020TZX1 670p 2TB NVMe M.2 SSD

Name: Intel SSDPEKNU020TZX1 670p 2TB NVMe M.2 SSD
Brand: Intel
SKU: SSDPEKNU020TZX1

Overview

The Intel 670p 2TB is a PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4 SSD in the M.2 2280 form factor — the slot standard that has become ubiquitous in both desktop motherboards and ultrabooks since 2018. Its sequential read ceiling of 3500 MB/s and write ceiling of 2700 MB/s represent the practical maximum throughput of the PCIe 3.0 x4 bus, meaning this drive extracts essentially everything that interface offers. The underlying technology is Intel's QLC 3D NAND, which achieves 2TB in a single-sided M.2 form factor by storing four bits per NAND cell — a density advantage that makes this capacity tier accessible at a price point that TLC alternatives struggle to match.

In practice, the 670p is best matched to workloads that involve reading large files and moderate, non-sustained writes: booting Windows or macOS from an external NVMe enclosure, loading large Lightroom catalogs or Premiere project files, gaming from a secondary drive, or serving as a high-capacity OS and application drive in a content creation rig. Where it's less well-suited is as a primary scratch disk for video editors who perform sustained sequential writes over multiple gigabytes — in those scenarios, the QLC architecture's SLC cache exhaustion will reveal itself as a step-down in write throughput. For everyone else, the combination of 2TB capacity and true NVMe speeds makes it a compelling storage upgrade over any SATA SSD or spinning drive it replaces.

Key Features

2B Storage Capacity

M2. 2280 Form Factor

PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4 Interface

Up to 3500 MB/s Sequential Read Speeds. Up to 2700 MB/s Sequential Write Speeds. Intel QLC 3D NAND

Specifications

Storage Capacity

2TB

Form Factor

M.2 2280

Interface

PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4

Sequential Read Speed

Up to 3500 MB/s

Sequential Write Speed

Up to 2700 MB/s

NAND Technology

Intel QLC 3D NAND

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Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

Sequential read speed of 3500 MB/s saturates the PCIe 3.0 x4 bandwidth ceiling, delivering near-maximum bus performance for large file transfers and media asset loading.
2TB capacity in the M.2 2280 form factor provides meaningful storage headroom for creative professionals without requiring an additional drive bay.
QLC 3D NAND enables a lower cost-per-gigabyte than TLC alternatives at this capacity, making high-density NVMe storage accessible at a reasonable price point.
PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4 interface is compatible with virtually all modern motherboards and is backward compatible with PCIe 4.0 platforms.
M.2 2280 form factor fits both desktop and laptop M.2 slots, making this a versatile upgrade path across build types.

👎 Cons

QLC NAND's sustained write performance degrades once the SLC write cache is filled — sustained sequential write workloads like large disk-to-disk copies will see throughput step down noticeably below the 2700 MB/s peak.
The 670p does not leverage PCIe 4.0 bandwidth — users with current-generation platforms will see the drive operate at half the theoretical bus speed available to them.
QLC NAND has lower per-cell endurance than TLC, which means the 740 TBW rating is lower relative to capacity than TLC-based competitors.
No included heatspreader — in chassis with poor M.2 airflow, sustained workloads may trigger thermal throttling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What interface does the 670p use, and what motherboard slot does it require?

The 670p uses a PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4 interface in an M.2 2280 form factor. It requires an M.2 slot on your motherboard that supports PCIe NVMe — not SATA M.2. Most motherboards from 2018 onward include at least one compatible slot, but verify your board's M.2 specification before ordering.

What does QLC NAND mean for sustained write performance compared to TLC drives?

QLC (Quad-Level Cell) NAND stores four bits per cell versus three for TLC, which increases density and lowers cost per gigabyte but reduces endurance and sustained write speed. The 670p's peak sequential write of 2700 MB/s is competitive at burst, but under sustained heavy writes — large video renders, disk-to-disk transfers — performance can step down as the SLC cache is exhausted. For typical mixed workloads this is rarely a bottleneck.

How does the 3500 MB/s sequential read speed translate to real-world application loading?

Sequential read at 3500 MB/s means large files — game levels, video project assets, OS boot sequences — load significantly faster than SATA SSDs (capped at ~550 MB/s). In practice, application launch and file open times feel near-instant compared to SATA, though random 4K read/write performance has more impact on day-to-day responsiveness than the sequential ceiling.

Is the 670p compatible with PCIe 4.0 motherboards?

Yes. PCIe is backward compatible, so the 670p will operate in a PCIe 4.0 x4 slot but will run at PCIe 3.0 speeds. You will not see a performance improvement from the faster bus — the drive's controller caps out at PCIe 3.0 throughput.

What is the rated endurance (TBW) for the 2TB model?

Intel rates the 670p 2TB at 740 TBW (terabytes written). For typical consumer and prosumer workloads — document editing, creative work, moderate gaming — this translates to years of practical life before the NAND endurance ceiling becomes a concern.