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TSSDR TEST BENCH AND PROTOCOL
SSD testing at TSSDR differs slightly, depending on whether we are looking at consumer or enterprise SSDs. For consumer SSDs, our goal is to test in a system that has been optimized with our SSD Optimization Guide. To see the best performance possible, the CPU C-states have been disabled, C1E support has been disabled, Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology (EIST) has been disabled. Benchmarks for consumer testing are also benchmarks with a fresh drive so, not only can we verify that manufacturer specifications are in line but also, so the consumer can replicate our tests to confirm that they have an SSD that is top-notch. We even provide links to most of the benchmarks used in the report.
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
This Test Bench build was the result of some great relationships and purchase; our appreciation goes to those who jumped in specifically to help the cause. Key contributors to this build are our friends at ASRock for the motherboard and CPU and be quiet! for the PSU and cooling fans. Also, a big thank you to Thermaltake for the case and Kingston for the RAM. We have detailed all components in the table below and they are all linked should you wish to make a duplicate of our system as so many seem to do, or check out the price of any single component. As always, we appreciate your support in any purchase through our links!
| PC CHASSIS: | be quiet! DARK BASE 900 |
| MOTHERBOARD: | ASRock Z170 OC Formula |
| CPU: | Intel Core i7-6700K |
| CPU COOLER: | Corsair H75 |
| POWER SUPPLY: | be quiet! Dark Power Pro 11 1000W |
| SYSTEM COOLING: | be quiet! Silent Wings 2 |
| MEMORY: | Patriot Viper Elite Series DDR4 |
| STORAGE: | Samsung 850 Pro |
| OS: | Windows 10 Anniversary 64-bit |
| IRST DRIVER: | 14.8.0.1042 |
BENCHMARK SOFTWARE
The software in use for today’s analysis is typical of many of our reviews and consists of Crystal Disk Info, TRIMcheck, ATTO Disk Benchmark, Crystal Disk Mark, AS SSD, Anvil’s Storage Utilities, and PCMark 8. We prefer to test with easily accessible software that the consumer can obtain, and in many cases, we even provide links. Our selection of software allows each to build on the last and to provide validation to results already obtained.
Crystal Disk Info is a great tool for displaying the characteristics and health of storage devices. It displays everything from temperatures, the number of hours the device has been powered, and even to the extent of informing you of the firmware of the device.
Crystal Disk Info, shows us that SMART is supported. The BPX features a working temperature monitor, total host reads and writes attributes and more. The firmware we are testing today is E7FM02.1, which matches the same firmware we had on the Patriot Hellfire and Corsair Force MP500.
We’ve covered TRIMcheck in the past. It is a great tool that easily lets us see if TRIM is actually functioning on a SSD volume in your system.
As can be seen in the screenshot above, TRIMcheck’s result shows that TRIM is working as intended.
ATTO Disk Benchmark is perhaps one of the oldest benchmarks going and is definitely the main staple for manufacturer performance specifications. ATTO uses RAW or compressible data and, for our benchmarks, we use a set length of 256mb and test both the read and write performance of various transfer sizes ranging from 0.5 to 8192kb. Manufacturers prefer this method of testing as it deals with raw (compressible) data rather than random (includes incompressible data) which, although more realistic, results in lower performance results.
Overall, ATTO’s results are similar to what we saw with other E7 powered SSDs. Sequential speeds ramp up to nearly 3GB/s read and 2.4GB/s write by the 512KB file size.
Great to see a review of this by you.
Did you conduct any tests for throttling?
My main beef with M.2s in general is how they heat up and drop down to 2x speeds.
I’ve only used Samsung XP / 950Pro and Plextor.
Have seen this in Towers and 1U/4U chassis.
I buy them for smaller footprint builds, but even 2x speeds allow the higher random iops.
Hoping somebody makes one that doesn’t slow down from streaming.
Thanks
Team Group is announcing a gaming M.2 SSD called the T-FORCE CARDEA. It has a cooling module atop the drive that they claim reduces temps by at least 15% and mitigates throttling. TSSDR should be posting press release coverage of this in the next day or so.
Excellent to hear. The MSI X270s address this but that Dog won’t hunt…
Your 30 GB transfer test is a bit of a giveaway-looks like a Toshiba built-possibly
My Digital firmware.
If they’re willing to sell at lower margins than the other clones-They’re the one
to buy…………………………………….
So is it good compare to other ssds ? I like the sound of the enterprise support modules
Please read the report as many of the tests are direct comparison with other SSDs.
Hi, the ssd is faster when the data is compressable, because of the nature of the controller?
SSDs compress data when it is being stored which provides higher write speeds than data that is not easily compressed.
this ssd is much better value compare to 960 evo?
Largely due to this review, I chose the 240GB MyDigitalSSD BPX over a Corsair using the same controller that was on promo on Newegg. While I was about to pull the trigger on the latter, switched to Amazon & thankfully found this one.
Performance wise, on a ASRock Z97 Extreme6 MB, although using a Sintech PCIe adaptor with a small fan for extra cooling, and would had purchased the Lycon or Addonics one w/out the fan if the Sintech model weren’t available. Because in the native Ultra M.2 slot (just as mSATA), these SSD’s will get toasty then begin to throttle. Oddly for me, I first forgot to turn the knob for the fan controller on, and HWMonitor was reporting 73C, opened the case, the fan wasn’t spinning, once that was fixed, temps nosedived by 21C!
Speeds are close to what my 512GB Samsung 950 PRO on my main PC produces, although comed up a bit short on reads. Yet look at the price difference, that NVMe SSD was $309.99 plus express shipping, whereas this one (although half the capacity) has just over a third of the price tag, and had I been looking at the 480GB version, would had saved a third. The 5 year warranty & long TBW was also a sweet addition, however as technology evolves, this will be in a secondary build before either of these arrives, in reality, few consumers are going to reach 700 TBW on a 240GB SSD of any type, let alone 5 straight years as their ‘main’ SSD.
My only gripe, and it’s small, the popular UserBenchmark site knocks my score down for ‘insufficient samples’. Furthermore, one cannot find any MyDigitalSSD product on the site, hopefully consumers will cache onto this as word passes, and believe me, having been a member of the Tech community for 10 years as of this year, word will indeed spread. I simply wasn’t about to drop an extra $25 for a Samsung 960 EVO, when I had issues with two of the Samsung SSD’s of that line, they used a software patch (read restoration tool) to address a hardware issue. So purchasing another wasn’t in my plans, even had the price for the 250GB Samsung 960 EVO been the same or a bit less.
Packaging was also acceptable, there was no way that this NVMe SSD was going to be damaged by shipping, unless it was ran over. probably would had survived a pallet of packages falling w/out any damage. However, the way it had to be opened would make a return for a refund to Amazon or Newegg hard, although most all would swap if DOA & the only thing I’m docking the corporation (not the drive) over. Note that when rating, the complete package must be figured in, while this may not be a con for some (one won’t get an ‘open box’ that won’t be noticed as such), I’d prefer it to open just as any other SSD & know how to check for prior usage at first boot, a spec that a retailer can’t cover up.
My final verdict of the MyDigitalSSD BPX (price for quality the main factor), 4.8 on a scale of 5. Which by chance, is slightly higher than I rated the 512GB Samsung 950 PRO less than a year back.
Except for true diehard enthusiast, or one who insists on ‘prosumer’ NVMe SSD’s (am normally of the latter myself), I recommend this truly outstanding drive to the majority of the user market. Very few will second guess the purchase once up & running, and if moving from a HDD, I recommend to gather all of your license keys, drivers, software installers beforehand & perform a clean install. Just be sure to install the drive first, and boot while on the old one, so that the drive will be discovered in the UEFI (or BIOS), this will make the new install easier.
If installing Windows 7, be sure to have the update for it, plus any instructions on how to install, as I’ve only used NVMe SSD’s with Windows 8.1, 10 & Linux Mint 17/18 64 bit. Unfortunately, the update cannot be slipstreamed into the Windows 7 ISO, I guess that would be too easy.;-)
Have fun with the MyDigitalSSD BPX, as I am!
Cat
My first one was so good…..that I had to get another of the 240GB version, was priced the same. Wanted the larger, although pricing jumped by $25. In reality, don’t need that large of an OS drive, have many high performance HDD’s & various models of 120-128GB SATA-3 SSD’s awaiting action again.
Just felt that any extra unallocated space (minimum of 10% recommended for most) would had boosted performance & drive longevity by the controllers having lots of unused space to work with. Note that some SSD’s (not limited to NVMe) has inaccessible space for this purpose, so manual over provisioning may be unnecessary. Still, it’s good not to fill to more than 70% tops, this makes it hard for TRIM & GC to do it’s job, unless logged off & left running overnight, which I do once monthly anyway. This can also be accomplished by booting into the UEFI (or BIOS) & leaving on that screen for 8-12 hours, being sure to turn any external monitor off to avoid damage by a bright, still image.
While for now, have the new stored in my safe, no doubt will be placed into service at some point this year. Have an ASRock Z97 Extreme6 MB, need to RMA to repair the CPU socket (bent pins), from there, no more needs to be stated……..
A short follow-up review on my original MyDigitalSSD 240GB, it’s running great as ever with consistent benchmarks, otherwise surely wouldn’t had purchased a 2nd & then store for who knows when.
Cat
Muito bom …..