Seagate’s upcoming FireCuda X series of NVMe SSDs has been prematurely revealed through a leak, seemingly originating from a Best Buy spec sheet. The first model, the FireCuda X1070, appears to adopt a new naming convention but surprisingly falls short of the performance offered by the current FireCuda 530R.
Key Takeaways
- The FireCuda X1070 is not a PCIe 5.0 drive and offers lower sequential read/write speeds compared to the FireCuda 530R.
- Random IOPS and TBW ratings are also reduced, though the drive boasts lower power consumption.
- Early pricing information suggests a significant increase over the outgoing model.
Performance Drop Despite New Naming
The leaked specifications for the Seagate FireCuda X1070 indicate a step back in performance compared to its predecessor, the FireCuda 530R. The X1070 is listed with a maximum sequential read speed of 7200 MB/s, down from the 530R’s 7400 MB/s. Sequential write speeds are also lower, ranging from 6000 MB/s for the 1TB model to 6500 MB/s for 2TB and 4TB variants, whereas the 530R offers between 6800-7000 MB/s. Random IOPS have seen a notable decrease, dropping to around 900k from the 530R’s 1.3 million.
Reduced Endurance and Power Efficiency
The TBW (Terabytes Written) rating for the FireCuda X1070 is approximately half that of the FireCuda 530R, though Seagate continues to offer a five-year warranty. On a positive note, the new series appears to be more power-efficient, with power usage reduced by around 3-4W depending on the SKU. This reduction in power consumption might suggest that the X1070 could be a DRAM-less model, a detail that will be confirmed upon the official launch.
Pricing Concerns Emerge
While official pricing is yet to be announced, early reports from Best Buy indicated a 4TB FireCuda X1070 model listed at $829.99, a price point significantly higher than the FireCuda 530R. This has led to speculation that the new series may not offer the same value proposition as its predecessor, unless the improved power efficiency and potentially lower heat output are key selling points for consumers. Some users have also noted that Seagate SSDs are currently experiencing availability issues at many retailers.
