HP FX700 4000GB

The HP FX700 4000GB is a mature DRAM-less NVMe design using the Maxio MAP1602 controller (12nm) and Host Memory Buffer (HMB) instead of onboard DRAM. It pairs with YMTC 232-Layer 3D TLC (Xtacking 3.0) NAND to saturate the PCIe 4.0 interface while keeping power use low. The combination is noted for strong thermal management compared with Phison E18-based drives, and the 4000GB model uses a single-sided M.2 PCB suitable for slim laptops and compact consoles like the PS5. It relies on a pseudo-SLC (pSLC) cache for peak bursts but retains robust direct-to-TLC write performance once the cache is exhausted.

Key Specifications

• Capacity: 4000GB
• Interface: PCIe Gen 4.0 x4, NVMe 2.0
• Controller: Maxio MAP1602 (12nm)
• NAND Flash: YMTC 232-Layer 3D TLC (Xtacking 3.0)
• Sequential Performance: 7,200 MB/s Read / 6,200 MB/s Write
• DRAM Cache: None (HMB Architecture)
• Form Factor: M.2 2280 (Single-Sided PCB)
• Thermal Solution: Graphene thermal pad overlay

Hardware Alternatives

• Lexar NM790 4000GB: exact same controller and NAND pairing, offering virtually identical performance behaviors and firmware characteristics.
• Acer GM7000 4000GB: the same Maxio + YMTC combination with similar performance and firmware traits.
• Western Digital WD_BLACK SN770: functional alternative in the DRAM-less HMB category that uses a proprietary Western Digital controller and targets the same segment.
• Samsung 990 EVO 4000GB: operates in a similar tier as a modern DRAM-less solution but uses a hybrid PCIe 4.0 x4 / PCIe 5.0 x2 interface and typically delivers lower sequential speeds than the FX700.