SK Hynix Gold P31 SSD evaluate: The principle 128-layer NAND force is instant and inexpensive too

The SK Hynix Gold P31 NVMe SSD moves the needle on the alternate seismometer barely ample to makes this evaluate far more straightforward to write. Two factors alter the needle’s path: The P31 just shouldn’t be absolute most sensible the first force to sport 128-layer TLC NAND, it’s also the first in my expertise to feature eco-pleasant packaging. Huzzah!

This evaluate is section of our ongoing roundup of the absolute most sensible SSDs. Stir there for knowledge on competing products and how we examined them.

Editor’s show veil: On August 31st, 2021, SK Hynix despatched us the newly launched 2TB model of the Gold P31 ($280 on Amazon). In trying out, the performance turn into once interior half of a p.c both manner of the the 1TB model reviewed right here, which turn into once first revealed on August 19, 2020.  

Form and specs

Whereas the SK Hynix Gold P31 uses the identical 2280 (22 mm huge, 80 mm prolonged) originate factor as most SSDs, the similarities quit there. As an alternative of the identical earlier 96 layers of TLC NAND, the P31’s TLC NAND sports 128. How this interprets to “4D,” as the firm refers to it in the product transient, in blueprint of 3D, I’m not optimistic. There’s DRAM cache on board, and NAND is employed as secondary cache, even though we weren’t given the amounts alive to. No topic they are, they’re effective.

Regardless, it’s a first and interprets to more reminiscence per chip and lower prices: The 1TB potential we examined is $135 on Amazon, whereas the 500GB is $75 on Amazon. A more present 2TB model costs $280. There are more inexpensive drives, you recount? Sure, by a little little bit of, nonetheless read the performance fragment below.

SK Hynix

The P31 carries a five-Three hundred and sixty five days guarantee, a 1.5-million hour-MTBF (Imply Time Sooner than Failure) rating, and 500TBW rating for the 500GB and 750TBW for the 1TB which might maybe maybe even be more than first fee numbers. That info provides us a sunny outlook on the lifespan of the force, even though in fact, SSD screw ups are virtually unheard of in the stop-user condominium this present day.

I get to all all over again label the eco-pleasant packaging. In a world the place every product seems so that you just might maybe well add one other layer of detritus to landfill, the P31 is a enjoyable exception. I won’t discuss e-raze—that might maybe maybe extinguish the mood.  

Performance

The 1TB P31 I examined completely aced the CrystalDiskMark 6 and AS SSD synthetic benchmarks. It hit honest in regards to the 3.5GBps read and write speeds claimed in the clicking delivery. Shut ample to call it correct, provided that our testbed is several generations veteran.

IDG

Despite the indisputable truth that not as instant as Seagate’s FireCuda 520, the P31 held its procure in every actual-world 48GB switch excluding, severely oddly, the dinky file read take a look at. There it proved a half of-minute slower than the competition. It struggled on dinky .jpg files more than most, which might maybe maybe even get one thing to form with the onboard compression algorithms.

IDG

The P31 redeemed itself with a mighty performance writing our astronomical 450GB file. This just shouldn’t be one thing customers in most cases form, nonetheless it’s far a correct take a look at of cache management, and each so in most cases NAND velocity. Glance the reasonably grim outcomes grew to change into in by the Vital P5 and Samsung 970 EVO Plus. That’s what happens whenever you happen to bound out of cache. We’ve considered even worse from good deal drives.

IDG

Point out that you just won’t get reasonably the identical performance out of the 500GB P31, especially whenever you happen to hotfoot off cache. Then again, the claimed performance says it can maybe also soundless remain sprightly, excluding throughout the 450GB write, the place it can well plunge to 950MBps and win commensurately longer. 

Trying out is performed on Windows 10 64-bit running on a Core i7-5820Ok/Asus X99 Deluxe machine with four 16GB Kingston 2666MHz DDR4 modules, a Zotac (Nvidia) GT 710 1GB x2 PCIe graphics card, and an Asmedia ASM2142 USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gbps) card. Also on board are a Gigabyte GC-Alpine Thunderbolt 3 card and Softperfect’s Ramdisk 3.4.6, which is weak for the 48GB switch assessments.

An handsome make a choice

The SK Hynix Gold P31 performs adore a high-tier force, nonetheless it’s priced correct a little little bit of increased than good deal drives. That, my chums, is a actual good deal. If 1TB or 2TB of potential meets your needs, hotfoot this to the tip of your listing. 

Editor’s show veil: This text turn into once edited about a hours post-delivery to titillating the TBW rating for the 500GB force to 500TBW from 350TBW, in line with new knowledge supplied by SK Hynix. 

• SK Hynix Gold P31 M.2 NVMe SSD (1TB)

  The SK Hynix Gold P31 provides high-tier performance for an extremely inexpensive mark. This one comes highly instantaneous.

  Mavens

  • Dazzling day to day and sustained performance
  • Shut to-good deal pricing
  • Eco-pleasant packaging

  Cons

  • Oddly tiring dinky file write performance

Jon is a Juilliard-expert musician, worn x86/6800 programmer, and prolonged-time (tiring 70s) pc enthusiast residing in the San Francisco bay condominium. [email protected]