TEAMGROUP QX 2TB 2.5-inch SATA SSD: features, specs and who it suits

The TEAMGROUP QX 2TB (model T253X7002T0C101) is a 2.5-inch internal solid state drive that connects over SATA III. It is made to replace or supplement a hard drive in a laptop or desktop, offering much faster start-up and file access, with 2TB of room for files.

The 2.5-inch SATA format

The 2.5-inch size is the standard laptop drive shape, and it also fits desktops that have a 2.5-inch bay or a mounting bracket. SATA III is the connection used by hard drives and many older SSDs, with a theoretical limit around 600 MB/s. That makes it a convenient way to upgrade older computers that have no M.2 slot. The listing gives the dimensions as 3.9 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches (about 10 x 7.1 x 0.7 cm).

Speed: 560/500 MB/s

TEAMGROUP gives read speeds of up to 560 MB/s and write speeds of up to 500 MB/s. These are close to what the SATA III connection allows, so they describe the ceiling for this kind of drive. Compared with a mechanical hard drive, the practical improvement is in boot times, application loading and general responsiveness. Compared with an NVMe drive, SATA is slower.

Smart caching

The listing describes Smart Dual Cache and SLC caching. SLC caching temporarily uses part of the flash as faster, simpler storage so short bursts of writing complete quickly. In general, QLC drives write fastest while the cache has room, and sustained large transfers may settle at lower speeds.

3D NAND QLC and endurance

The drive uses 3D NAND flash in QLC form, which stores four bits per cell. QLC is typically how drives reach large capacities like 2TB. TEAMGROUP lists an endurance figure of 690TBW, meaning terabytes written. That is the total amount of data the maker says the drive can handle over its life, and for ordinary home or office use it equals many years of typical writing. The brand describes the drive as stable and reliable and as durable.

No moving parts

An SSD has no spinning platters or read head, so it makes no noise and doesn't mind being moved around while running in the way that a hard drive does. It also tends to use less power than a hard drive, which can help laptop battery life.

Who it suits

It suits owners of laptops and desktops that use 2.5-inch SATA drives and who want a large, faster drive for the operating system, programs and a good amount of storage. It also works as a second drive for files in a desktop.

What to check before you buy

• Connection type: confirm your computer has a 2.5-inch SATA bay, rather than only M.2 slots.
• Thickness: the drive is about 7 mm thick, which suits most laptops, but check your model.
• Cable and mounting: desktops need a SATA data cable, a power connector and sometimes a mounting bracket.
• Moving your data: plan to clone your old drive or reinstall the operating system.
• Workload: QLC drives suit everyday use, so check whether you do very heavy continuous writing.
• Warranty: look up TEAMGROUP's terms for your region.

The short version

• A 2TB 2.5-inch SATA III internal SSD from TEAMGROUP.
• 3D NAND QLC with SLC caching; up to 560 MB/s read and 500 MB/s write.
• 690TBW endurance figure.
• A straightforward upgrade for laptops and desktops with a SATA bay.

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