The Plextor M8Pe (512GB) SSD Review
by Billy Tallis on December 14, 2016 9:00 AM ESTRandom Read Performance
The random read test requests 4kB blocks and tests queue depths ranging from 1 to 32. The queue depth is doubled every three minutes, for a total test duration of 18 minutes. The test spans the entire drive, which is filled before the test starts. The primary score we report is an average of performances at queue depths 1, 2 and 4, as client usage typically consists mostly of low queue depth operations.
The Plextor M8Pe's random read speed cannot match Samsung's 3D MLC-based 950 Pro or 960 Pro, but it is otherwise very good. The 30% lead over the OCZ RD400 is particularly notable given that it uses the same NAND as the M8Pe.
Power consumption is again higher than the rest of the M.2 PCIe SSDs, but given the good performance it does manage to be more efficient than the OCZ RD400.
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It appears that there is a little bit of thermal throttling happening on the M8PeGN in the final phase of the test at QD32, but otherwise it scales well as queue depths increase. Samsung's SSDs mostly saturate at QD16 while the M8Pe continues to scale up, albeit with diminishing returns.
Random Write Performance
The random write test writes 4kB blocks and tests queue depths ranging from 1 to 32. The queue depth is doubled every three minutes, for a total test duration of 18 minutes. The test is limited to a 16GB portion of the drive, and the drive is empty save for the 16GB test file. The primary score we report is an average of performances at queue depths 1, 2 and 4, as client usage typically consists mostly of low queue depth operations.
The random write performance of the Plextor M8Pe is better than the Samsung 950 Pro but falls behind more recent MLC-based PCIe SSDs, and Intel's SSD 750 is still the best.
The M8Pe's power consumption is only slightly worse than the OCZ RD400, but its efficiency is still substantially worse. The Samsung 950 Pro had even higher power consumption and delivered what is now unimpressive random write performance, so the M8Pe isn't the least efficient of the MLC-based SSDs.
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Performance increases relatively slowly for the M8PeY in the second half of the test, and actually decreases for the M8PeGN, indicating thermal throttling as power consumption hits 4 W.
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TheinsanegamerN - Wednesday, December 14, 2016 - link
The add-in PCIE card appears to be the best thing about the SSD. Just looking at how much faster the drive was with the heatsink, makes me want the PCIE card but with a 960 EVO or PRO in it.BrokenCrayons - Wednesday, December 14, 2016 - link
I'm hoping that PCIE slot storage takes off. Now that we've largely eliminated optical drives and floppies have been dead for ages, it's only a matter of time before we can shed conventional hard drive bays from computers too. Yeah, I know some small form factor systems have already reached that point (which is pretty cool) but it'd be nice to see that become the norm in mainstream systems as well. There's nothing more annoying than a huge, clunkly computer case and once 3.5 and 2.5 inch drives are gone, the only thing holding us back will be graphics adapters.XabanakFanatik - Wednesday, December 14, 2016 - link
Someone already makes a pretty nice looking heatsink card that looks like it wouldn't block much of the video card above it. I think I'm going to get one for my 960 Pro.http://preview.tinyurl.com/h2435pf
fanofanand - Wednesday, December 14, 2016 - link
This review is a terrific reminder of just how bad the 600p sucks. Nice write-up Billy, very informative.Bullwinkle J Moose - Thursday, December 15, 2016 - link
NoFanOfAnandHorrible Review
Many of you think I'm a Troll but can you answer 3 simple questions from the data provided?
1. What is the average Read Speed in MB/sec for a 100GB file of Non Compressible Test Data?
2. What is the average Write Speed in MB/sec for a 100GB file of Non Compressible Test Data?
3. and most importantly, what is the average Copy and paste speed in MB/sec for a single 100GB non compressible test file when copying and pasting to the same drive?
Can you answer these simple questions?
Billy?
BrokenCrayons - Thursday, December 15, 2016 - link
"All of you know I'm a Troll but can you answer 3 stupid questions..."Fixed that for you. :3
Bullwinkle J Moose - Thursday, December 15, 2016 - link
Good try Crayon but you're zero for threeAnyone else wanna try?
Cmon, isn't there anyone here smarter than a fucking crayon?
BrokenCrayons - Thursday, December 15, 2016 - link
I've gotten far enough under your skin that you're keeping imaginary score to feel better.Holliday75 - Thursday, December 15, 2016 - link
I don't remember Bullwinkle being such a jerk. He was a nice moose.BrokenCrayons - Thursday, December 15, 2016 - link
He was a nice moose, but I admit I liked the squirrel with the flying helmet a bit more. :3