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TEST PROTOCOL
Testing was conducted in three phases with the Sony VAIO Pro 13. Tests were first conducted after installing benchmark software on the ultrabook itself, followed by SSD removal and testing, with the OS intact on our Test Bench. Finally, the OS was migrated onto another SSD and this SSD secure erased and tested again. In most situations, the SSD tested within the ultra with the OS and bloatware installation intact, will provide results much lower than that of a new SSD. Surprisingly, there were no significant deviations whatsoever between the 3 test environments.
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
This new PCIe Test Bench build was the result of some great relationships and purchase; our appreciation goes to be quiet, Corsair, Crucial, Intel, EVGA and InWin for their support in our project. Our choice of components is very narrow, in that, we choose only what we believe to be among the best available and links are provided to each that will assist in hardware pricing and availability, should the reader be interested in purchase.
| PC CHASSIS: | InWin D-Frame Open Air Chassis |
| MOTHERBOARD: | ASUS Maximus VI Z87 MotherBoard |
| CPU: |
Intel Core i7-4770K CPU |
| CPU COOLER: | Corsair H100i CPU Cooler |
| POWER SUPPLY: | be quiet Dark Power Pro 10 1000W PSU |
| SYSTEM COOLING: | be quiet Silent Wings 2 PC Fans |
| GRAPHICS CARD: |
EVGA GTX 770 Superclocked with ACX Cooler |
| MEMORY: | Crucial Ballistix Tactical Tracer 1600Mhz Memory |
| KEYBOARD: | Corsair Vengeance K95 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard |
| MOUSE: | Corsair Vengeance M95 MMO/RTS Laser Mouse |
| ROUTER: | NetGear R6300 AC1750 Dual Band Gigabit WiFi Router |
| HBA | HighPoint RocketU 1144C 4 x USB 3.0 20Gb/s HBA |
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BENCHMARK SOFTWARE
The software we will be using for today’s analysis is typical of many of our reviews and consists of ATTO Disk Benchmark, Crystal Disk Info, Crystal DiskMark, AS SSD, Anvil Storage Utilities,and PCMark Vantage. In consumer reports, 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, also, to provide validation to results already obtained.
BENCHMARK ADAPTER
For our testing today, we will be using the BPlus M2P4S Dual M.2 (NGFF) PCIe 2.0 x4 Adapter for our testing of the Sony XP941 M.2 PCIe SSD. It is interesting to note that, just as a native M.2 PCIe SSD can’t be switched off in a system for a SATA M.2 PCIe SSD, the same goes for adapters and separate adapters must be utilized for each type of M.2 SSD.
Crystal Disk Info provides some excellent information about the SSD itself to include its health, product information, ‘power on’ information as well as the characteristics of the SSD. We can see that the SSD is capable of TRIM as it is not grayed out as with AAM.
The ‘Power On Count’ and ‘Power On Hours’ were a bit surprising considering this was a brand new custom build. Validation and burn-in testing may be a thought as to why these values are so high.
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.
One can tell by the coloring of the results border that these tests were taken in Windows 8 and, in fact, this was the first test taken when the system was received. It is an excellent result and 1065MB/s read and 800MB/s write are representative of what we might get from a new XP941, much less one that has the OS and bloatware configured within a system. Regardless of the testing method, the 128, 256 nd 512KB transfer sizes displayed abnormally low read performance. This wasn’t indicative of testing with our 512GB sample XP941.
Hi,
You say in the report that you were surprised by the power on count and the power hours count. Imagine my surprise to find that my brand new OCZ Vector had six power ons, twelve hours and – wait for it – 4.67 Terabytes of NAND writes on the clock !
OCZ say that is due to testing but they make no mention of it in the owner manual , or anywhere else that I could find. Considering that the warranty is limited to 36 odd TB ( again not mentioned in the owner manual) then they should tell the consumer about these writes as they do , when questioned, say they make an allowance for this on top of the 36 Gb allowed.
Many companies do burn-in testing and none that we are aware of speak to it in any manuals or literature, albeit 4.67TB might be a bit excessive. It is hard to speak to the size of the write without knowing the size of the drive.
I own 2 SSD from Crucial, and they have always come with 100% life.
Maybe Crucial is reseting SMART info after factory test, but i find not acceptable to receive a new ssd with 89% life. Maybe they are sending some refurbished device !
No…wouldnt think so.
It’s quite possible that during the manufacturing process the controller chip itself is placed in a tester and run through tests using test NAND and/or simulated data feeds. After passing it is then inserted onto the actual SSD card. I don’t believe there’s a way to erase the counters on the controller.
That adapter looks very interesting. Is one ngff slot hooked up to the slot on the pcb, and the other ngff slot hooked up to the ribbon cable pci-e?
It is capable of that, however, we only use it as a straight plug in to the PCIe slot when the M.2 is installed on the board. Quick and easy.
Is there a way to find out which module you have without opening up the VAIO Pro?
Yes conducting any of the tests we conduct is a given. Also, Crystal Disk Info or Anvil will fully identify the SSD.
With the PCIe SSD that’s in my iMac, I “only” get 720MB/s reads, 640MB/s writes. I just installed Win 8.1 Pro on it and I wonder what test results I will get with all the Windows utilities.
I also wonder if the new iMacs have the same “specially configured” versions of the XP941 that are found in the Mid 2013 MacBook Airs. Apple wouldn’t need to artifically things down in an iMac, though, would they? The thermal considerations that apply in the ultra compact notebooks are not present here, the new and slimmer (2012) design notwithstanding. This thing doesn’t even get warm even though I have the 84W Core i5-4670 in it.
Why am I not getting better than the aforementioned speeds, if the XP941 is supposed to get over 1GB/s. You mentioned the Mac version had some ridiculously high 118k IOPS, so is the Mac version better at 4K performance, but slower in sequential speeds?
What size is your SSD?
How can you warn us of the differences between the preconfigured (SATA SSD) and the customized (PCIe SSD) ones and then recommend an Amazon.com purchase?
If the only way to guarantee a PCIe drive is to customize it from Sony, then that is the ONLY way to buy this ultrabook.
There have been a number of purchases from that link, regardless of the review and our opinion with respect to the storage medium. Our position is not to take away the opportunity to purchase pre-configured systems, but rather, provide the consumer with the best buying position possible. Visibly, there is not a person that could see a difference between either system in typical use.
Thank you for jumping in and provided your thoughts!
Regarding your comment;
“It is interesting to note that, just as a native M.2 PCIe SSD can’t be switched off in a system for a SATA M.2 PCIe SSD, the same goes for adapters and separate adapters must be utilized for each type of M.2 SSD.”
Waiting for the Samsung Ativ 9 Plus with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD.
This computer has a M.2 SSD, but how do I know if it is a native PCIe or Sata drive?
Also, from my understanding, the first version, currently available has the sata version.
Few questions:
1. If i understand you correctly, I can’t just swap a M.2 sata stick, with a M.2 Pcie stick?
2. Is the connection port the same, and If so, will this damage the motheboard, plugging in the wrong type?
3. Is it possible that Samsung now comes with M.2 PCIe stick instead of sata, explaining the wait?
Hi Maria and thanks for the visit…
1. No… You definitely cannot switch off a SATA 3 M.2 for a PCIe M.2 SSD with todays available technology;
2. The connection would most likely be the same, however, the connection from the female M.2 connector to the system board that it is soldered to differs between types, one following the SATA 3 port and the other following the PCIe lane; and
3. The ONLY way to answer that is by watching the specs of the product. Samsung presently has both SATA 3 M.2 and the XP941 which is a PCIe M.2 SSD; we haven’t had an opportunity to test the SATA 3 M.2 although we have the spec sheet.
Hope this helps!
Thanks for the quick reply and good answers!
Great site btw.
This site, is really the only place that has good and valid information regarding this “new” m.2 ssd’s and the reviews are exciting!
The only thing I can’t really understand, is why they made the M.2 sata3 ssd, clearly it would have been better with just one type of drive, preferably the PCIe SSD. Buying a premium ultrabook with SATA 3 M.2 feels wrong, when I know there is a better alternative, just my 2 cents 🙂
It all comes down to a smaller form factor, larger capacities and savings. Last year, when M.2 was first being looked at, they were all PCIe SATA 3 design and manufacturers invested in that, a smaller form factor.
Are you sure #1 and #2 are correct? Did you try swapping drives in one of these systems? I understand your HBAs are different but from my reading of the M.2 spec every interface type that supports SATA also has PCIe built in (types B and M). Is it that the manufacturers aren’t following the spec and leaving the PCIe lanes unconnected? That seems needlessly complicated to make 2 different boards depending on the type of M.2 drive going into it.
The physical connector from drive to M.2 is definitely the same between them so I’m curious if the M.2 to system board is really different and if you confirmed this or are just guessing. Thanks for the great review by the way!
We tried both PCIe and SATA in several different devices and scenarios. Sony told me in an e-mail that of which we wrote which was that specific pre-configured systems were M.2 SATA based. In our tests, the Sony VAIO that was received initially (SATA) would not recognize the XP941 when inserted. I agree with what you wrote on the two different boards; the answer was also responded to with an affirmative by Sony. It is not just Sony though. Many people dont realize that the M.2 SSD got its name from a M.2 connector, one that can be used for several different purposes with the same ‘connector’ physical makeup. Remember, these are our opinions in our pretty detailed use of M.2. We understand that, by specs, a M and B keyed M.2 SSD should be able to do SATA or PCIe x2 because the specs say so, however, we haven’t seen this, and quite possible its because we only have a X4 PCIe and not a X2. ahem… Stay tuned as we may be receiving an X2 soon enough to tackle that.
Thanks for the quick and detailed reply. I am sad to hear that news. I was hoping M.2 would introduce a bit of standardization, miniPCIe/mSATA was a nightmare for consumers, no way to easily tell what devices/capabilities would actually work (lots of examples of latops with slots that couldn’t boot mSATA or would only work with specific cards, etc). My thought was that M.2 will be much more straight forward with capabilities defined by the connector key ID type, otherwise what is the point of even having key IDs. Oh well guess OEMs will continue to do whatever they want 🙁
One question your reply does raise: so the PCIe XP941 is an X4 device, I wonder if Sony uses a B connector in the devices that ship with the SATA XP941 (B only supports X2) and then uses an M connector (which does X4 and SATA only) in the devices with the PCIe XP941? Did you try the reverse: putting the SATA XP941 in a VAIO that came with PCIe XP941? Or did you see a difference in the connectors? That would make more sense from a manufacturer perspective as the B slot gives them more options for device types (USB/PCM/UIM/SSIC/UART-12C) than the M connector, so the M is only special order.
Will be interested to see your updates with X2 drives, and hopefully someone releases a real NVMe drive sometime soon!
NVMe will be with SP951 by Samsung sometime soon. It was announced about half a year ago to be released by end of 2014.
“The negatives of constant fan noise and the resulting heat become much more manageable.”
For me the noise would be a disqualification of an otherwise highly desirable machine.
does the sony vaio have 2 ssd’s in raid 0? or is it one pcie ssd? some tech guy at a custom laptop website told me this sony vaio is 2 msata ssds in raid 0,
do you recommend any custom high performance laptop compaines that offer the pcie ssd (like sony and macbook air)?
thank you for detailed information about this new product
The only ultra released that has two SSDs in RAID is the Acer S7 we reviewed here, and they are still a custom dual sided single PCB SSD design. The Sony has a single Samsung XP931 M.2 PCIe design (or SATA M.2) as we pictured and tested with separate Sony systems. Link the article to the tech guy and tell him he might want to know his material before providing advise that could affect consumer purchase.
The only ultra released that has two SSDs in RAID is the Acer S7 we reviewed here, and they are still a custom dual sided single PCB SSD design. The Sony has a single Samsung XP931 M.2 PCIe design (or SATA M.2) as we pictured and tested with separate Sony systems. Link the article to the tech guy and tell him he might want to know his material before providing advise that could affect consumer purchase.
Hi Les. I bought my own Vaio 13 Pro after Sony had announced they had sold the division to an investment fund. So I couldn’t chose the configuration of my product, which came with a 128 SSD only. I would like to upgrade to a 512 SSD but I am a complete neophyte. Would it be possible for you to indicate if there are any step by step tutorials on how to do this, starting from how you open the machine, please?
There are no step by step tutorials but, if you join and post on the SSD forums, we can walk you through it if you like.
https://www.thessdreview.com/Forums/
I am just getting to this forum now. I purchased a Sony VAIO ultrabook 13 over a year ago. Per the discussion, I ran Crystal Diskinfo to discover that the installed SSD is SAMSUNG MZHPU128HCGM-00000 128.0GB. I show the interface method as Serial ATA and transfer mode as SATA/600 | SATA/600. It seems that I have a SATA version of the SSD.
I have a few questions. 1) Is there an upgrade path to 256GB and 515GB for this SSD
2) Is it certain, at this point that I cannot substitute the PCIe version of the SSD for my SATA version?
3) If I upgrade, how difficult is it to transfer my current SSD’s OS, data, and applications to the new SSD (I’m running Windows 8.1)? Do I need commercial software to do that?
Thanks for your thoughts here.
Judging by the pictures I have a PCIe model, but when I try to clone the old 128 GB drive to a new 512 GB drive, the computer doesn’t recognize the new drive at all, even using a boot thumbdrive and looking at disk management through mini winxp. Any idea of why it wouldn’t?
What is the drive?
It’s a Samsung MZ-HPV5120. Works fine in my desktop motherboard.
SM951 AHCI doesn’t work in Pro 13 i can confirm tried it. XP941 works fine. People don’t waste your money like me. SM951 is Gen3 and not compatible with this motherboard even on latest bios
Same here, I waste my money with the SM951 for this laptop 🙁
Then which is the best ssd for this laptop? the 512GB XP941?
In same boat mate SM951 PCIE AHCI is not recognized on my pro 13
Hi, I have this laptop!! And I want to Know If I can upgrade to the new Samsung 950 PRO(256gb) NVMe or is Better the SM951(256gb) ?
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-950-256GB-PCIe-NVMe/dp/B01639696U/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1446647886&sr=1-2&keywords=950+PRO
No you cannot. You can I
Grade to the Samsung SM951 AHCI version though…
though? Which is the best ssd for this laptop today? I want an upgrade Thank you.
Samsung SM951 AHCI version
No it doesn’t work! Confirmed Pro 13 won’t take SM951 AHCI. I have both XP941 and SM951 AHCI only wasted money on SM951 to find out it won’t work. Misleading comments
Dear Camilo, so what you did finally ? I have same situation …
Well, I bought the SM951 AHCI and Arthur has right, the vaio pro 13 doesn’t recognize the drive. I wasted my money man.
I recently bought an xps 13 9350 with a SAMSUNG SSD CM871 M.2 2280 128GB (B+M key), would I be able to upgrade to a 950 PRO PCIe NVMe(M key) sometime down the line?
Did you ever find out on this one? I’m in EXACT situation…xps 13 9350 with the cm871 in it and the 950 pro will be here tomorrow. Not 100% sure this will work and/or if it does work if the controller on this version of it doesn’t have all 4 lanes available? I can’t seem to find definitive info on it.
The 950 Pro is a NVMe SSD asnd shouldn’t work in that system; please advise when you find out. That system is built for a AHCI SSD and not NVMe.
So did you get it to work?
Yup, worked fine, but you do have to disable data in bios and install the drivers for it as well. Don’t have the details handy here, but do some googling and you’ll find what you need. But, once installed, bios does pick it up immediately.
Hello Les,
According to your recommendation below, I have purchased new 512GB SSD (SAMSUNG MZHPV512HDGL-00000). However, Sony Vaio Pro13 bios can not detect new SSD (Hard Disk Driver : None), although the SSD is accessible when starting up with Bootable CD.
Now, what can I do to solve this problem?
Study carefully this option https://www.win-raid.com/t1072f16-Sony-VAIO-BIOS-modding-hacking-unlocking-Some-Questions-3.html#msg34551
Les@TheSSDReview:disqus hello!
I have a sony svp1322 and MZNTE128HMGR-000SO is installed inside. As i figured out it’s a SATA III M.2 SSD.
Now Im considering whether to buy 256gb ssd or 512 one. I have already found 256gb candidate.
However, im curious about 512gb variants. Could u suggest smth? Will this one do the trick https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-512GB-PM851-MZ-NTE5120-MZNTE512HMJH-00H1/dp/B01A855VWS/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1458174865&sr=1-1&keywords=mznte512hmjh ?
Is there any possibility, that BIOS won’t recognize it as it went with AHCI ssd? How can i check this possibility?
Thank you a lot for your time and attention!
I cannot promise it will work as we havent got both systems in hand…sorry.
I see. Thank you for your fast response!
Hi, does anyone know what is the part next to the wifi card ? in the pictures it is covered in a metal holed case ?
Hello , I have sony SVP13213CGB (Pro 13) and i would like to upgrade ssd , i was thinking to buy samsung pro 950 512 gb (MZ-VKV512) but after reading your articles, i have doubt if laptop works or not .. Is anyone tried before ? Thanks
hi, I need help,,, 🙁 Im using sony vaio pro 13. Recently I always have a problem with my laptop. It always turn into blue screen “yor pc run into a problem …… need restart” every 5 or 10 minute after I turn on the laptop. Is it because my SSD is broken?
Try to take out the SSD and put it back in after 5 or more minutes. I have similar problem lately and it does work for my computer.
I think so, have same problem like you. After i go to sony service station and test my SSD. Yes, it’s broken and fixing is so expensive. I’m considered to change SSD DIY.
can we use a normal sata ssd in this pcie port? THX in advance.
I cant speak to updates but not in the original we reviewed.
Hi, thx for the response. Can this model work? Kingston SHPM2280P2/240G 240GB HyperX Predator PCIe Gen 2.0 x4
Hi Isaias,
Did you try this model? The only confirmed model I’ve found is the XP941
I took the chance. The SHPM2280P2/960G WORKS! It replaced the MHPU256HCGL without issue in my SVP13215PXB!
Hello Les, I have a SVP13215PXB with a MZHPU256HCGL.
Device Manager as well as Amazon/Newegg reports the SSD model as a PCi-e
CyrstalDiskInfo, however, reports it as a Serial ATA interface. Which should I believe or do I have to tear apart the laptop?
Also: point of all of this is I planned to get a 1tb SAMSUNG (960 PRO or 960 EVO) when it releases in (hopefully) October. I see sparse unsupported posts in Sony Vaio Pro 13 threads saying sizes greater than 512gb won’t work. They don’t cite sources and they’re older posts. Do you happen to know if this is true?
Thank you.
Hello,
Finally you could properly install a Samsung 960 PRO / EVO on Vaio Pro 13?
Thank you.
Hello !
Thanks for this enlighting article.
I have a sony vaio multi-flip svf13n1c5e with a MZNTD256HAGL that seens to be a sata 3.
Do you thing it would be possible to upgrade with a PCIe (or NVMe, is it the same ?) drive ? Like the samsung 960 EVO NVMe M.2 500GB ?
Or must I use only sata, like the samsung SSD 850 EVO SATA M.2 ?
How can I check if my system is compatible with PCIe and sata ?
Thanks in advance !
Regards
As I recall with that system, it is one or the other… you seem to be SATA 3.
Thanks for this answer. Ok I’ll get a SATA 3 drive… too bad 🙁
hi les, the ssd of my Sony vaio duo svd11216pg seems damaged. what would you suggest me to get as a best replacement?
dear all,
I have a sony svp 132a1cw and Samsung XP941 128GB NGFF M.2 SSD HDD MZ-HPU128T/000 is installed inside. So i want to replace by SSD SAMSUNG M.2 850 EVO Sata3.
I don’t knowmy system is compatible with it ?
Thanks
Its possible to replace the original M.2 AHCI SSD by a new M.2 NVMe SSD.
This is how to: https://www.win-raid.com/t1072f16-Sony-VAIO-BIOS-modding-hacking-unlocking-Some-Questions-3.html#msg34551
I have bought a Samsung 970 evo plus m.2
I cannot seem to get it working on my Sony Vaio SVP132A1CM
The ssd is a 1Tb
Any idea on this why it may not be recognising the ssd hard drive
The maximum size SSD is 512GB for that old machine ..
Sony Vaio svp11213cxb
Old ssd: Samsung 128gb
mzntd128hagm
Will new one work?
Western digital black sn750 500gb
And just to be sure form your previous reply,
1tb will not work? 512gb limitation?
Thanks
From*
Old is sata,
New is NVMe but the same M.2 form factor
From what I’ve read online it looks like bios modification is required. If that’s the case I will just settle for the WD 500 blue sata m2 for extra space and still faster than the original ssd.
I kept a pcie ssd from a vaio pro 13 that failed. I bought a generic reader from ebay but it wouldn’t mount this drive. I think it was an issue of it being a b or b/m key reader not a m key. Can anyone with technical knowledge of this recommend a USB reader for one of the pcie based ssd drives from this laptop? If not specifically, then the spec requirement.
The difficulty here is that your SSD is a PCIe SSD that is not based on the NVMe protocol. I don’t know if there is a reader for that and, in fact, finding a replacement SSD might be a tad difficult as well.
That’s both interesting and possibly frustrating! I’d really like to recover some files from that drive.
I have a Sony Vaio Pro 13 SVP132A1CL with 256GB MZHPU256HCGL-00000 SSD. Tried to upgrade with a M2 NVME PCIe SSD but BIOS won’t even detect it. Saw from youtube someone mentioning that only M2 SATA SSD would work, so went ahead to get a 1TB Timetec SATA 3 M2 2280 SSD. It worked, with Windows 10 freshly installed!!
Now, I don’t seem to be able to find an enclosure for this 256GB MZHPU256HCGL-00000 SSD. None of my PCIe, SATA or Dual PCIe/SATA enclosures worked.