The original ADATA XPG GAMMIX S70 was the faster, premium-tier drive in HotHardware’s February 2021 comparison; the GAMMIX S50 Lite traded peak speed for a lower performance tier. Both are PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 2280 SSDs, but their rated sequential speeds differ substantially: 7,400/6,400 MB/s for the S70 and 3,900/3,200 MB/s for the S50 Lite. Those are historical specifications and test results, not a current ranking or price comparison.
What separates the S70 from the S50 Lite?
The main distinction is sequential throughput. HotHardware’s February 4, 2021 review lists 1TB and 2TB capacities for both drives and the same M.2 2280 form factor and PCIe Gen4 x4 interface. The S70 has the higher rated maximum, while the S50 Lite sits in a lower-performance Gen4 tier.
| Drive | Rated sequential read/write | Capacities listed in the 2021 review | Form factor and interface | Warranty reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original GAMMIX S70 | Up to 7,400/6,400 MB/s (HotHardware, February 2021) | 1TB, 2TB (HotHardware, February 2021) | M.2 2280, PCIe Gen4 x4 (HotHardware, February 2021) | Five-year limited (HotHardware, February 2021) |
| GAMMIX S50 Lite | Up to 3,900/3,200 MB/s (ADATA datasheet; also HotHardware, February 2021) | 1TB, 2TB (ADATA datasheet; also HotHardware, February 2021) | M.2 2280, PCIe Gen4 x4 (ADATA datasheet; also HotHardware, February 2021) | Five-year limited (ADATA datasheet; HotHardware, February 2021) |
These maximum sequential figures do not predict every task or game load time. Both drives use the same interface and form factor, and a faster sequential rating alone does not establish how noticeable a difference will be in a particular PC or game.
How did they perform in the 2021 review?
HotHardware tested the drives as secondary volumes on an AMD Threadripper 3990X system with an MSI TRX40 Creator motherboard, 32GB DDR4-3200 and Windows 10 Pro x64 2004. Its test suite included CrystalDiskMark 7, IOMeter, HD Tune 5.75, ATTO, AS SSD, PCMark 10 Quick Storage Bench and SiSoftware SANDRA. The reviewer erased drives where applicable and describes clearing temporary and prefetch data, rebooting and waiting for activity to settle. The results therefore describe that test bed and its 2021 comparison set.
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- The S70 led most sequential tests and topped the review’s PCMark 10 trace-based results for overall score, bandwidth and latency.
- The S50 Lite placed lower overall, but it was competitive in some comparisons with PCIe 3 drives. It performed relatively well in CrystalDiskMark’s 4KQD1 test and often sat just ahead of the Samsung 970 Pro.
- In the reviewer’s workstation IOMeter pattern, the S70 stayed near the Samsung 980 Pro and Gigabyte Aorus Gen4, while the S50 Lite trailed somewhat. In SANDRA, the S70 led the tested drives overall and the S50 Lite outperformed the older Samsung 970 Pro.
These are historical results, not a current head-to-head ranking: the products, firmware and competitors available now were not retested. HotHardware reviewer Marco Chiappetta called the S70 “among the fastest SSDs around currently” and recommended it in that February 2021 review; that was his conclusion at the time.
What happens during very large writes?
In HotHardware’s HD Tune test, writes to the 1TB S50 Lite slowed sharply after 512GB had been written, when the drive’s SLC cache was exhausted. The drive uses part of its TLC NAND as SLC cache. The reviewer judged that threshold unlikely to affect most ordinary use, but it is relevant if you regularly write very large amounts of data in one session.
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The review reports the threshold for its tested 1TB sample; it does not establish an identical cutoff for every capacity, workload or product revision. The S50 Lite datasheet confirms SLC caching and a DRAM cache buffer, but does not state a matching 512GB threshold.
What should you know about cooling and physical fit?
The original S70 reviewed by HotHardware has a large integrated heatsink. During long sustained loads, the review reports a drive temperature of about 60°C and a heatsink surface temperature above 45°C. It also warns that a thick motherboard thermal pad or a protruding M.2 2260/2240 mount may stop the heatsink from seating properly.
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The S50 Lite has a flatter, thinner metal heat spreader. Before choosing either drive, check the exact motherboard layout, M.2 slot location and cooling hardware. Do not assume that you can stack a motherboard heatsink over a drive’s own heatsink; verify that the parts fit together as intended.
Is the S50 Lite fast enough for a PCIe 4 PC?
Its 3,900/3,200 MB/s rated maximum is well below the original S70’s 7,400/6,400 MB/s, but the S50 Lite is still a PCIe Gen4 x4 SSD. The 2021 review found that it could compare favorably with some older PCIe 3 drives in selected tests, though it did not match the S70’s overall results in that test suite. Whether the S70’s additional peak throughput matters depends on your workload; the available comparison does not establish a universal difference in game load times.
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For a PCIe 3.0 system, the S50 Lite datasheet’s Gen4 interface alone is not a promise of Gen4 throughput. ADATA’s current page for the separate S70 Blade says that on a PCIe 3.0 motherboard its sequential speeds can be around 3,400/3,000 MB/s. That Blade figure should not be treated as a measured S50 Lite result.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do not confuse the original S70 with the S70 Blade
The drive tested in 2021 is the original GAMMIX S70. ADATA/XPG’s product page retrieved on October 4, 2026, is for the GAMMIX S70 Blade, a distinct model. Its page lists up to 7,400 MB/s read and 6,800 MB/s write, PCIe Gen4 x4, PCIe 3.0 backward compatibility and a five-year limited warranty; ADATA notes that actual performance depends on hardware and software configuration. Those Blade specifications do not revise the original S70’s 2021 review figures.
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- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Which one should you choose?
- Consider the original S70 if you are comparing the two based on the higher rated sequential performance and can accommodate its larger heatsink. Confirm exact model identity and motherboard clearance.
- Consider the S50 Lite if its lower performance tier suits your needs and the exact model’s current total cost makes sense. Give the cache behavior extra weight if your routine includes sustained, very large writes.
- Check the exact listing and capacity before buying. Current prices, stock, product revisions and regional warranty procedures were not established here; do not use prices or competitor standings from the 2021 review as current guidance.
ADATA’s S50 Lite datasheet specifies a five-year limited warranty; HotHardware also lists five years for both original drives. The available information does not establish regional warranty procedures or terms for every production batch.
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