Silicon Energy XD80 NVMe SSD review: Moral performance for a immense impress

The Silicon Energy XD80 is four lane (x4) PCIe 3 NVMe SSD that is equipped in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB flavors—at least theoretically. We tested the $220 2TB version, alternatively it’s refined to search out in inventory online, with easiest the $110 1TB model accessible at Newegg more events than now not. That’s a no doubt upright impress, especially alive to on what became out to be very steady performance. Oddly ample, the skill can’t be bought in Silicon Energy’s Amazon store, and we haven’t seen the smaller capacities accessible in any scheme.

Specs

Silicon Energy urged us that counting on the model, the XD80 uses both 72- or 96-layer 3D TLC NAND. We’re assuming the worn is on the lower-capacity items. The NAND parts on our 2TB take a look at power sported a quantity that printed nothing in a Web search, however the controller modified into a Phison PS5012-E12S and there modified into 2GB of DRAM distinguished cache. Secondary cache is TLC written as SLC (Single Stage Cell/1-bit) to the tune of 12GB in the 1TB model and 24GB in the 2TB capacity.

Silicon Energy indicated to us that diverse controllers and NAND might possibly well be employed over the lifetime of the product. Kudos to the corporate for being steady, but that does point out our take a look at numbers proven below are reasonably subtle. The spec sheet promises at least 3GBps sustained writing and 3.4GBps sustained reading. In case your numbers are seriously lower than that, allow us to know.

Must you’ve ever puzzled why it’s known as “diploma” in NAND names, it’s since the contents of the cell are no doubt obvious by the voltage diploma contained inside of. SLC has easiest two voltage stages, representing 0 and 1, whereas TLC has eight stages representing the values 0 thru 7.

The skill is warrantied for five years, with the 256GB capacity rated for 200TBW, the 512GB for 400TBW, the 1TB for 800TBW, and the 2TB for 1600TBW. “TBW” stands for the preference of TeraBytes that can also additionally be Written over the lifetime of the skill. Exceed these at some stage in the warranty period, and the overrun supersedes your warranty in most conditions. These are the ratings at as soon as from Silicon Energy, though I’ve no doubt seen higher TBW ratings cited in other opinions.

Efficiency

The 2TB Silicon Energy XD80 is terribly upright each and daily performer. No longer quite top-tier, but alive to on the cost, very upright. It even managed to jot down our huge 450GB take a look at file in an affordable period of time. CrystalDiskMark 6 (proven below) rated it as very competitive.

Our 48GB valid world transfers printed essential the an analogous account. Most productive the hot Seagate FireCuda 530 modified into sooner than the XD80 in these checks. Existing that lower capacity drives will now not fabricate as successfully, with basically the most noticeable fall being in sustained write performance.

As you might possibly well presumably also take a look at below, the XD80 wasn’t in the an analogous league because the FireCuda 530 writing our immense 450GB file. It modified into also outpaced by the Kingston KC2500. On the opposite hand, it without enlighten outperformed the Samsung 970 EVO Plus–a power that’s a quite tragic testimony to what happens must you write at the native bit-depth to unhurried NAND.

The PCIe 3 checks get basically the most of Windows 10 64-bit working on a Core i7-5820Good sufficient/Asus X99 Deluxe diagram with four 16GB Kingston 2666MHz DDR4 modules, a Zotac (NVidia) GT 710 1GB x2 PCIe graphics card, and an Asmedia ASM3242 USB 3.2×2 card. It also beneficial properties a Gigabyte GC-Alpine Thunderbolt 3 card, and Softperfect Ramdisk 3.4.6 for the 48GB read and write checks.

The PCIe 4 checking out modified into achieved on an MSI MEG X570 motherboard socketing an AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-core CPU, the employ of the an analogous Kingston DRAM, cards, and instrument. All checking out is performed on an empty, or almost empty power that’s TRIM’d after each and every keep of checks. Efficiency will lower because the skill fills up.

Existing that some vendors had been swapping slower parts into their power after opinions maintain posted. Please describe us in case your power’s performance, given identical hardware, varies seriously from what we seen.

Conclusion

All urged, the 2TB XD80 is a no doubt upright performer at a no doubt beautiful impress. So long as Silicon Energy meets its acknowledged performance metrics, it’s a great good deal for PCIe 3 computers—assuming you might possibly well presumably also very successfully receive it for sale.