Kingston A400 240G Internal SSD M.2 2280 SA400M8/240G - Increase Performance
Bottom line: The Kingston A400 240G Internal SSD M.2 2280 SA400M8/240G ($149.00 on Amazon as of 2026-10-06): Rated up to 500MB/s read and 450MB/s write over SATA Rev. 3.0 (6Gb/s); main trade-off: SATA-based M.2, not NVMe, so it caps near 500MB/s in NVMe-ready slots.
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Rated up to 500MB/s read and 450MB/s write over SATA Rev. 3.0 (6Gb/s)
- ✓ M.2 2280 format frees up a 2.5-inch bay and a SATA data cable
- ✓ Backwards compatible with older SATA Rev. 2.0 (3Gb/s) systems
- ✓ Flash memory with no moving parts: silent and less failure-prone than an HDD
Cons
- ✗ SATA-based M.2, not NVMe, so it caps near 500MB/s in NVMe-ready slots
- ✗ 240GB fills quickly once an OS and a few large applications are installed
- ✗ 500/450MB/s are peak figures; sustained transfer speed varies by workload
- ✗ Listing states no endurance (TBW) rating or warranty length
Manufacturer description
The Kingston A400 240GB is an M.2 2280 solid-state drive built to replace an aging mechanical hard drive without replacing the whole machine. Kingston rates it for read speeds up to 500MB/s and write speeds up to 450MB/s, which the manufacturer describes as roughly 10x faster than a traditional hard drive for boot, application loading, and file transfers. It connects over SATA Rev. 3.0 (6Gb/s) with backwards compatibility to SATA Rev. 2.0 (3Gb/s), so it drops into older desktops and laptops whose M.2 slots predate NVMe. Because the A400 is built with Flash memory and has no moving parts, it…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored Kingston A400 240G Internal SSD M.2 2280 SA400M8/240G using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the ssds & storage category. Kingston's ssds & storage lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for ssds & storage of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Kingston A400 M.2 an NVMe drive?
No. Despite the M.2 2280 form factor, it runs on SATA Rev. 3.0 (6Gb/s) with backwards compatibility to SATA Rev. 2.0 (3Gb/s). Confirm your M.2 slot supports SATA-keyed drives, not NVMe only.
How fast is the Kingston A400 240GB?
Kingston rates it up to 500MB/s read and 450MB/s write, and describes it as about 10x faster than a traditional mechanical hard drive for boot, loading, and transfer times.
Will this SSD fit my laptop or desktop?
It uses the M.2 2280 form factor (80mm), so you need a free M.2 2280 slot that accepts SATA-based drives. Check your motherboard or laptop manual for M.2 slot type before ordering.
Is 240GB enough storage?
240GB suits a boot drive holding the operating system, everyday applications, and an active set of files. Pair it with a larger secondary drive if you store big game libraries, video, or photo archives.
Is the Kingston A400 reliable, and what warranty does it carry?
It is built with Flash memory and has no moving parts, making it less likely to fail than a mechanical drive. Check the product listing for current warranty terms.
Key Features
- Fast start up, loading and file transfers
- More reliable and durable than a hard drive
- Multiple capacities with space for applications or a hard drive replacement
- SATA Rev. 3.0 (6Gb/s) – with backwards compatibility to SATA Rev. 2.0 (3Gb/s)
Full Specifications
| Brand | Kingston |
|---|---|
| Color | Multicolor |
| Weight | 240g |
| Model Name | SSDNow A400 |
| Read Speed | 500 megabytes_per_second |
| Form Factor | M2 |
| Media Speed | 450 MB/s |
| Model Number | SA400M8/240G |
| Built-In Media | 1 x SSD |
| Hard-Drive Size | 240 GB |
| Mfr Part Number | SA400M8/240G |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Special Feature | Shock Resistant |
| Hardware Platform | PC, laptop |
| Installation Type | Internal Hard Drive |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop |
| Data Transfer Rate | 350 megabits_per_second |
| Enclosure Material | SATA |
| Additional Features | Shock Resistant |
| Hard Disk Interface | Solid State |
Ready to buy?
Kingston A400 240G Internal SSD M.2 2280 SA400M8/240G - Increase Performance is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.
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