The Intel SSD 600p (512GB) Review

Sequential Read Performance

The sequential read test requests 128kB 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, and the drive is filled before the test begins. 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.

Even when limited to PCIe 2.0 x2 the 600p has slightly higher sequential read speed than SATA drives can manage, but when given more PCIe bandwidth the 600p doesn't catch up to the more expensive NVMe drives.

The 600p actually manages to surpass the power efficiency of several SATA SSDs, but it can't compete with the other NVMe drives that deliver twice the data rate.

Intel SSD 600p 512GBIntel SSD 600p 512GB (PCIe 2x2)ADATA Premier SP550 480GBCrucial MX300 525GBIntel SSD 540s 480GBIntel SSD 750 1.2TBIntel SSD 750 400GBOCZ RD400 512GB (M.2)OCZ RD400A 512GBOCZ VX500 512GBPNY CS1311 480GBPNY CS2211 480GBSamsung 850 EVO 500GBSamsung 850 Pro 512GBSamsung 950 Pro 512GBSamsung 960 EVO 1TBSamsung 960 Pro 2TB

The 600p starts at just under 400MB/s hits its read speed limit at QD4 with around 1150MB/s. The other PCIe SSDs perform at least that well at QD1 and go up from there.

Sequential Write Performance

The sequential write test writes 128kB 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, and the drive is filled before the test begins. 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.

It is a surprise to see the Intel 600p performing better in the motherboard's M.2 slot than in the PCIe 3.0 adapter, but in both cases the sustained write speeds are so slow that the interface is not a limitation.

The power consumption of the 600p when it's in the PCIe 3.0 adapter is high enough that temperature may be a factor in this test, and the 600p may have performed better in the motherboard's M.2 slot simply due to better positioning and orientation in the case.

Intel SSD 600p 512GBIntel SSD 600p 512GB (PCIe 2x2)ADATA Premier SP550 480GBCrucial MX300 525GBIntel SSD 540s 480GBIntel SSD 750 1.2TBIntel SSD 750 400GBOCZ RD400 512GB (M.2)OCZ RD400A 512GBOCZ VX500 512GBPNY CS1311 480GBPNY CS2211 480GBSamsung 850 EVO 500GBSamsung 850 Pro 512GBSamsung 950 Pro 512GBSamsung 960 EVO 1TBSamsung 960 Pro 2TB

It is a familiar pattern for PCIe SSDs to see the highest write speeds at the beginning of the test, and a completely flat graph thereafter as thermal limits kick in. We're just used to seeing the performance curve near the top of the graph instead of at the bottom.

PCIe 3.0 x4 adapter	motherboard M.2 PCIe 2.0 x2

A comparison of the second by second performance during the sequential write test shows that the 600p reaches a steady state with the same kind of inconsistency we saw for random writes, and in the PCIe 3.0 adapter the performance is reduced across the board and the worst drops in performance are much closer to zero.