Fantom Drives enters the competitive PCIe Gen 4 SSD market with its VENOMX VMX2230-2TB drive. Focused on compatibility with smaller form factor systems and handheld gaming consoles, this little drive packs a powerful punch in speed at a reasonable price. However, a few caveats and potential areas of improvement hold it back from truly reaching its full potential.
Let’s start with the positives. The Fantom VENOMX lives up to its name. With advertised read speeds of up to 5100 MB/s, and write speeds up to 2600 MB/s, it delivers the next-gen performance that PCIe Gen 4 promises. In real-world use, load times in games saw noticeable reductions, and hefty file transfers completed in a flash. Designed with the small M.2 2230 form factor, the VENOMX finds a home in everything from laptops to handheld gaming devices like the Steam Deck. This versatility increases its appeal for anyone looking to breathe new life into a space-constrained system. Additionally, when compared to similar PCIe Gen 4 SSDs, the VENOMX offers a compelling price-to-performance ratio. At the time of writing, its roughly $150 USD price point for the 2TB model places it competitively against other drives with similar specs.
However, there are some points for improvement. While the VENOMX’s endurance rating isn’t terrible, it’s certainly on the lower end of the spectrum for a 2TB PCIe Gen 4 drive. Higher TBW (Terabytes Written) ratings generally indicate a longer lifespan, and drives with similar capacity in the price range often offer significantly better endurance. Additionally, prolonged heavy reads and writes can cause noticeable thermal throttling with the VENOMX. While not a deal-breaker, demanding workflows and sustained transfers might be better suited to drives with more robust heatsink solutions. Finally, some retailers offer 5-year warranties on the VENOMX, while others advertise only a 3-year warranty. This may cause confusion at the point of purchase and should be clarified by Fantom Drives.
Overall, where the VENOMX shines is in a few specific use cases. Handheld gaming enthusiasts will find the combination of compact size and speed a perfect fit for the Steam Deck or similar devices. Expand your game library with ease and watch loading times melt away. If you have an older system or laptop using a SATA SSD or mechanical drive, the VENOMX provides a massive performance leap at a reasonable cost (if your device has a compatible M.2 slot). Finally, if you’re building a new system on a tighter budget, the VENOMX strikes a balance between performance and cost. It might not have the bleeding-edge specs of more expensive drives, but it’s a solid, reliable option in its price tier.
Conversely, users such as content creators or users who constantly write large amounts of data to their drives might find the VENOMX’s endurance limiting and might experience noticeable speed reductions under load. Higher-end drives with better cooling and higher TBW are a better investment for such use cases. Those chasing absolute peak performance might also want to look further up the price ladder, as the VENOMX lacks the “wow” factor of the top-end PCIe Gen 4 SSDs breaking the 7000 MB/s read barrier.
Overall: A Solid SSD with Focused Appeal
The Fantom Drives VENOMX VMX2230-2TB is a capable PCIe Gen 4 SSD that shines in its compact form factor and budget-friendly price. Its speed will please most users, and those upgrading from older storage tech will see massive improvements. If you’re looking for the absolute best in durability or top-tier performance, there are better options, but the VENOMX is a commendable entry in the space and an excellent choice for specific uses where it truly excels.
