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ADATA’s Project Nighthawk and Project Blackbird were PCIe 5.0 x4 SSD prototypes announced ahead of CES 2022, each specified for sequential reads of up to 14 GB/s and capacities of up to 8TB. Their announced write speeds differ: up to 12 GB/s for Nighthawk and 10 GB/s for Blackbird. These are company specifications for prototypes, not independently tested retail drives.
What were Project Nighthawk and Project Blackbird?
ADATA/XPG introduced the two projects as prototypes it planned to show at CES 2022. The announcement described both as next-generation PCIe Gen5 x4 SSDs, with different controllers and write-speed claims. The company’s stated figures describe maximum specifications; they do not establish measured performance from a product available to buy.
ADATA’s announcement said Nighthawk used a Silicon Motion SM2508 controller and could reach sequential read/write speeds of up to 14/12 GB/s. Blackbird was specified with an InnoGrit IG5666 controller and up to 14/10 GB/s. XPG’s announcement provides the project details and CES context.
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| Announced project | Controller | Interface | Maximum sequential read/write | Announced maximum capacity | Published random IOPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project Nighthawk | Silicon Motion SM2508 | PCIe Gen5 x4 | 14/12 GB/s | Up to 8TB | Up to 1.8M/1.6M 4K random read/write IOPS in ADATA’s brochure |
| Project Blackbird | InnoGrit IG5666 | PCIe Gen5 x4 | 14/10 GB/s | Up to 8TB | Not stated in the cited product materials |
The Nighthawk IOPS numbers are brochure specifications, not independent test results. They are listed in ADATA’s Project Nighthawk brochure, which also identifies NVMe 2.0 support. The cited materials do not provide an equivalent Blackbird IOPS figure.
#1 Best Overall
- BREAKTHROUGH PCIe 5.0 PERFORMANCE: Supercharge your workflow and gaming with PCIe 5.0, boasting up to 14,700/13,400 MB/s* sequential read/write speeds. Tackle massive files and power up your gaming with Gen5—twice as fast as the 990 PRO SSD.
- EVERY TASK, TURBOCHARGED: Speed past productivity limits. With random read/write speeds up to 1,850K/2,600K IOPS*, enjoy fast game loads, seamless AI apps, and efficient multitasking. Virtually no lag, no limits—just nonstop performance.
- THINK FAST, CREATE FASTER: With random read/write speeds of up to 1,850K/2,600K IOPS*, the 9100 PRO SSD fuels seamless AI content creation, swift loads, and smooth gameplay. Work, play, and create at lightning speed.
- SPEED, WHENEVER YOU NEED: From laptops to desktop PCs, experience blazing PCIe 5.0 speeds and up to 8TB of storage. Perfect for video editing, gaming, and creative tasks, with the compatibility to match your device.
- STAY COOL, RUN FAST: Push limits, not temperatures. A 5nm controller boosts power efficiency up to 49% over the 990 PRO SSD*, while advanced thermal control keeps performance smooth and reliable.
Are the Nighthawk and Blackbird SSDs available to buy?
The cited announcements and event materials establish that ADATA presented Nighthawk and Blackbird as prototypes planned for CES 2022. They do not establish a retail launch, price, current stock, or retail model number for either project. Tom’s Hardware’s contemporaneous coverage likewise described them as prototypes and noted that NAND details had not been shared at the time (Tom’s Hardware, December 22, 2021).
ADATA later sold a distinct Gen5 SSD, the LEGEND 970, but it should not be confused with either prototype. ADATA lists that model at up to 10,000/10,000 MB/s sequential read/write and says a Gen5-compatible platform is required for optimal Gen5 performance; Gen4 or Gen3 use may limit performance. Those specifications and compatibility notes apply to the LEGEND 970, not to Nighthawk or Blackbird (ADATA LEGEND 970 product page).
Rank #2
- BREAKTHROUGH PCIe 5.0 PERFORMANCE: Supercharge your workflow and gaming with PCIe 5.0, boasting up to 14,700/13,300 MB/s* sequential read/write speeds. Tackle massive files and power up your gaming with Gen5—twice as fast as the 990 PRO SSD.
- EVERY TASK, TURBOCHARGED: Speed past productivity limits. With random read/write speeds up to 1,850K/2,600K IOPS*, enjoy fast game loads, seamless AI apps, and efficient multitasking. Virtually no lag, no limits—just nonstop performance.
- THINK FAST, CREATE FASTER: With random read/write speeds of up to 1,850K/2,600K IOPS*, the 9100 PRO SSD fuels seamless AI content creation, swift loads, and smooth gameplay. Work, play, and create at lightning speed.
- SPEED, WHENEVER YOU NEED: From laptops to desktop PCs, experience blazing PCIe 5.0 speeds and up to 8TB of storage. Perfect for video editing, gaming, and creative tasks, with the compatibility to match your device.
- STAY COOL, RUN FAST: Push limits, not temperatures. A 5nm controller boosts power efficiency up to 49% over the 990 PRO SSD*, while advanced thermal control keeps performance smooth and reliable.
What would a PCIe Gen5 SSD require?
Nighthawk and Blackbird were specified for PCIe Gen5 x4. For a real drive purchase, check the specific SSD’s interface and the motherboard’s M.2 slot support rather than assuming that every M.2 slot provides Gen5 connectivity. A drive installed in a slower-generation platform may operate at reduced performance; confirm the drive maker’s compatibility details for the exact model.
The prototype announcements do not establish final cooling hardware or thermal behavior. ADATA’s later description of active cooling for the LEGEND 970 is specific to that retail model and cannot establish how the Nighthawk or Blackbird prototypes would have been cooled.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- PCIe 5.0 Performance: Delivers up to 14,100MB/s read and 12,600MB/s write speeds for quicker game load times, bootups, and smooth multitasking
- Spacious 4TB Capacity: Store AAA titles, 8K+ video, and creative assets with blazing-fast Gen5 NVMe throughput
- Platform-Optimized Compatibility: Designed for Intel 13th/14th Gen and AMD Ryzen 7000 in M.2 Gen5 slots
- Heatsink-Compatible Design: Install with a compatible heatsink for optimal performance in sustained gaming sessions and demanding workloads
- Trusted Micron Quality: Engineered for tech enthusiasts and hardcore gamers with Micron TLC NAND and a 5-year warranty
Rank #4
- This product has been replaced by our latest generation. Please search for the SANDISK Optimus GX PRO 8100 PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD.
- EXPERIENCE PCIe Gen 5: Drastically enhance your gaming and content creation experience with this PCIe Gen 5.0x4 NVMe M.2 SSD.
- BREAKNECK SPEEDS: Your drive reaches sequential read speeds up to an astonishing 14,900MB/s, sequential write speeds up to 14,000MB/s (2TB-4TB model), and over 2,300,000 IOPS (2TB-4TB Models) of random performance.
- AN INDUSTRY-LEADER IN POWER EFFICIENCY: Enjoy over 100% more power efficiency (1TB – 4TB models) than our PCIe Gen4 drive at an average operating power of 7.5W or under. Experience astonishing speeds without any added stress to your system.
- ROOM FOR REVOLUTION: Hold your biggest projects and still have room for OS updates, models for AI-powered applications, and your game library thanks to immense capacities up to 8TB. SANDISK SOFTWARE: Help maximize your drive’s performance, monitor its health and keep it up to date with SANDISK Dashboard (Windows only). Plus, effortlessly migrate your data with Acronis True Image for Sandisk.
Rank #3
- This product has been replaced by our latest generation. Please search for the SANDISK Optimus GX PRO 8100 PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD.
- EXPERIENCE PCIe Gen 5: Drastically enhance your gaming and content creation experience with this PCIe Gen 5.0x4 NVMe M.2 SSD.
- BREAKNECK SPEEDS: Your drive reaches sequential read speeds up to an astonishing 14,900MB/s, sequential write speeds up to 14,000MB/s (2TB-4TB model), and over 2,300,000 IOPS (2TB-4TB Models) of random performance.
- AN INDUSTRY-LEADER IN POWER EFFICIENCY: Enjoy over 100% more power efficiency (1TB – 4TB models) than our PCIe Gen4 drive at an average operating power of 7.5W or under. Experience astonishing speeds without any added stress to your system.
- ROOM FOR REVOLUTION: Hold your biggest projects and still have room for OS updates, models for AI-powered applications, and your game library thanks to immense capacities up to 8TB. SANDISK SOFTWARE: Help maximize your drive’s performance, monitor its health and keep it up to date with SANDISK Dashboard (Windows only). Plus, effortlessly migrate your data with Acronis True Image for Sandisk.
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