Crucial T500 PRO - PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD Introduction
Hovering at 7100-7400 MB/sec at 8 cents per GB
The Crucial T500 Plus SSD, emerging as the successor to the P5 Plus model, is designed for a similar market niche, balancing both cost-effectiveness and performance. In this analysis, we will explore the 2TB variant. Utilizing Micron's 232-Layer TLC NAND technology, the T500 Plus stands out in the realm of storage devices. Being a subsidiary of Micron, Crucial benefits from direct access to this advanced flash memory, allowing them to set competitive prices without compromising on quality. While Crucial claims a proprietary controller and NAND for the T500 PRO series, closer inspection shows a Phison E25 controller at its core. This controller yields performance metrics between 7.2-7.4 GB/sec, marking a noteworthy enhancement from preceding versions. The T500 Plus SSD, an NVMe M.2 device, embraces the faster PCI-Express 4.0 (x4) interface, distinguishing it from its predecessors. Embedded with 3D TLC NAND, the SSD boasts random read and write capabilities approximating 1M IOPS via PCI-Express 4.0. Devices performing at this level show terrific random access operations. The high-density 3D TLC NAND construction ensures longevity, with the 2TB version promising up to 1200 TB Written, and is complemented by a five-year warranty.
In terms of design choices, the Crucial T500 can be bought with an optional integrated heatsink. It's currently available in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB storage capacities, with the 500GB variant solely offering a non-heatsink version. Meanwhile, both heatsink and non-heatsink models are accessible for the 1TB and 2TB versions. There are plans to introduce a 4TB variant by 2024. On the pricing front, the considerable reduction in costs makes the 2TB model available at approximately $169, equating to 8 cents per GB, which rivals, and in some cases, surpasses traditional HDD pricing.
Known for its performance and often value, the Crucial series SSD is an M.2 NVMe SSD that supports the PCI-Express 4.0 interface, bringing the T500 PRO series up to date. A non-volatile memory express (NVMe 1.4) capable M.2 form factor SSD, it is packed with unique Vertically stacked TLC written (3-bits per cell) NAND. In today's world, the performance numbers provided by a quality SATA3 SSD are still outstanding. However, with the more specialized NVMe SSDs, you can now have 10-fold performance, resulting in some impressive numbers across the board. With an M.2 2280 form factor of 8cm, the item will be compatible with the vast majority of ATX motherboards that support M.2. In any case, are you interested in learning more about the fundamental performance of this product? Well, it's all listed; on to the next pages and the remainder of the review.
