Crucial opens pre-orders for blistering T700 PCIe Gen 5 M.2 SSDs starting at $179.99

Speed has a price.

03/05/2023

Crucial is now taking orders for its latest and greatest PCIe 5.0 M.2 SSD lineup reaching 12GB/s read speed, with capacities starting at 1TB.

Not to be confused with a first-generation Terminator, Crucial’s T700 is a notably more affable piece of tech with prices ranging from $179.99 to $599.99. The next-gen M.2 SSD boasts blistering speeds of up to 12.4GB/s sequential read and 11.8GB/s sequential write on both the 4TB and 2TB models, or 11.7GB/s plus 9.5GB/s on the 1TB.

Durability is announced as 2,400TBW, 1,200TBW, and 600TBW for the 4TB, 2TB, and 1TB capacities, respectively, thanks to a combo of Micron’s 232-layer TLC NAND and Phison’s E26 controller.

The brand is planning two variants for each capacity, one with a heatsink and the other without, though do be aware cooled models attract a $30 premium. Those rocking a motherboard offering integrated M.2 cooling can save a few bob by opting for the barebone SSD, however a heatsink is recommended if the drive is to be used as a PS5 upgrade.

Currently pre-orders seems to only be available via Crucial’s webstore, but after release, we should see these pop up at other retailers. The big question mark is whether or not PCIe 5 drives warrant a hefty premium, particularly amid savage price cuts to existing PCIe models. Club386 will be testing the perceived benefits in the near future.

Set for release on May 30, Crucial’s T700 SSDs are priced as follows, backed by a five-year warranty.