The Corsair Force MP510 SSD (960GB) Review: A High-End Contender

Mixed Random Performance

Our test of mixed random reads and writes covers mixes varying from pure reads to pure writes at 10% increments. Each mix is tested for up to 1 minute or 32GB of data transferred. The test is conducted with a queue depth of 4, and is limited to a 64GB span of the drive. In between each mix, the drive is given idle time of up to one minute so that the overall duty cycle is 50%.

The Corsair Force MP510 demonstrated above average random read performance and top tier random writes, but the mixed workload results are average at best. The WD Black averages about 18% higher performance with the same NAND, and the Samsung 970 EVO is about 40% faster.

Power Efficiency in MB/s/W	Average Power in W

As with performance, the power efficiency score from the MP510 is acceptable but nothing special compared to the Toshiba XG6 and WD Black.

Corsair Force Series MP510 960GBIntel Optane SSD 800P 118GBKingston A1000 960GBIntel SSD 660p 1TBSamsung 970 EVO 1TBPhison E12 960GBHP EX920 1TBPatriot Hellfire 480GBPlextor M9PeGN 1TBOCZ RD400 1TBSilicon Motion SM2262EN 2TBWD Black 1TB (3D NAND)Toshiba XG5 1TBToshiba XG6 1TBIntel Optane SSD 900P 280GBCrucial MX500 1TB

The unimpressive overall score from the MP510 on the mixed random I/O test seems to primarily stem from how it behaves during the more write-heavy half of the test. As the proportion of writes grows, the performance of the  MP510 increases relatively slowly until the very end when performance spikes on the 100% cachable pure random write phase of the test.

Mixed Sequential Performance

Our test of mixed sequential reads and writes differs from the mixed random I/O test by performing 128kB sequential accesses rather than 4kB accesses at random locations, and the sequential test is conducted at queue depth 1. The range of mixes tested is the same, and the timing and limits on data transfers are also the same as above.

The Corsair Force MP510 provides excellent performance on our mixed sequential I/O test, but for once appears to be slightly slower than the Phison E12 engineering sample we tested earlier this year.

Power Efficiency in MB/s/W	Average Power in W

The MP510 turns in an extremely good power efficiency score for the mixed sequential I/O test: only about 4% behind the class-leading WD Black, and 50% better than the HP EX920.

Corsair Force Series MP510 960GBIntel Optane SSD 800P 118GBKingston A1000 960GBIntel SSD 660p 1TBSamsung 970 EVO 1TBPhison E12 960GBHP EX920 1TBPatriot Hellfire 480GBPlextor M9PeGN 1TBOCZ RD400 1TBSilicon Motion SM2262EN 2TBWD Black 1TB (3D NAND)Toshiba XG5 1TBToshiba XG6 1TBIntel Optane SSD 900P 280GBCrucial MX500 1TB

The performance curve of the Corsair Force MP510 on the mixed sequential I/O test looks rather unusual, with performance jumping around a bit and at its best during the more write-heavy half of the test. Most drives show a more typical bathtub curve with the best performance at either end of the test, but the WD Black's behavior does show similarities to the MP510.