The Biwin M560 is a DRAM-less PCIe 5.0 SSD that stands out for its application and gaming performance, low 4KB random-read latency and excellent efficiency. The drive uses Silicon Motion’s SM2504XT controller, paired with Kioxia’s 218-layer BiCS8 TLC NAND, offering an alternative to competing Phison-based models in the same segment.

The M560 is available in 1TB and 2TB capacities. Both versions use a single-sided M.2 2280 design, PCIe 5.0 x4 connectivity and NVMe 2.0. Rated sequential performance reaches up to 11,000 MB/s for reads and 9,700 MB/s or 10,000 MB/s for writes, depending on capacity. The 2TB model is rated for up to 1.7 million random-read and random-write IOPS.

Pricing is listed at $189.99 for the 1TB model and $364.99 for the 2TB version. Biwin does not offer a 4TB variant, but the review notes that 2TB is a suitable capacity for this type of four-channel, DRAM-less controller. The drive also carries a five-year warranty, with endurance rated at 750TB written for the 1TB model and 1,500TB for the 2TB version.

Although the M560 is specified for a maximum power draw of 8W according to its S.M.A.R.T. report, testing found it operated closer to 4W, with peak consumption below 6.5W and average usage around half that level. This efficiency helps keep temperatures under control and makes the drive particularly suitable for laptops and other systems where power and heat are important considerations.

The SSD’s components occupy less than half of the circuit board, leaving additional space around the controller and flash packages. The review attributes the drive’s strong combination of performance and efficiency to the SM2504XT controller and BiCS8 TLC memory, both of which delivered favorable latency and power characteristics.

The main limitation is sustained write performance after the cache fills, which is slower than the drive’s headline sequential-write specifications. Biwin provides its own toolbox software for Windows, including drive-health monitoring and firmware updates, as well as data-recovery tools for Windows and macOS. Overall, the M560 is presented as one of the strongest all-around DRAM-less PCIe 5.0 SSDs tested.

Sources: Tom's Hardware.