Crucial P5 Plus SSD: A Comprehensive Review
Three years ago, the first PCIe 4.0 SSDs hit the market, offering slightly quicker game loading times and significantly improved transfer speeds, a boon for professionals handling large data sets. While most manufacturers rushed to adopt the new generation, Crucial took a different approach, opting to carefully refine an old classic. So, was it worth the wait? Let’s dive into our Crucial P5 Plus review and find out!
Tech Specs
Crucial has a distinct advantage thanks to its relationship with Micron. Unlike competitors who rely on third-party vendors for components, Crucial benefits from Micron’s in-house technology. This synergy cuts down on manufacturing costs and logistics, enabling Crucial to price the P5 Plus competitively.
The P5 Plus fully leverages the PCIe 4.0 standard and features an upgraded 176-layer NAND. This innovation nearly doubles the layers from 96 to 176, using three bits per cell and a new eight-channel chip. These improvements enhance the drive’s durability, reduce latency, and increase bandwidth.
In terms of general specifications, the P5 Plus fits well into the PCIe 4.0 category without outshining the highest-end models. With read/write speeds of 6,600 and 5,000MB/s, respectively, it performs admirably, even if it doesn’t lead the pack. Its IOPS capabilities are solid but slightly lag behind the Cardea Z440 we reviewed earlier.
Key Specifications:
– Form Factor: M.2 Type-2280
– Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe 1.4
– Dimensions: 3.14” x 0.86” x 0.09” (80 x 22 x 3.5mm)
– Weight: 0.3 oz (9g)
– Capacities: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB (tested)
– NAND: 176L 3D TLC
– Controller: Micron DM02A1
– Encryption: AES-256
– TBW: 1,200TB
– Max Sequential Read/Write: 6,600MB/s / 5,000MB/s
– Random 4K Read/Write: 720,000 IOPS / 700,000 IOPS
– Warranty: Five-year limited
Our Sample
Crucial’s P5 Plus comes in three sizes: 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB. We got the 2TB version, which we recommend because it includes a 2GB LPDDR4 DRAM cache—double the amount in the smaller models. More flash memory means better durability, and you can expect to write at least 1,200TB of data before it gives out.
The price per GB is another factor to consider. Since the P5 Plus has been on the market for a year, you can often find it on sale, reducing the cost to just $0.12/GB, an excellent value for its features.
Packaging & Appearance
Crucial opted for a minimalist approach with the packaging. The small cardboard box houses a plastic clamshell that protects the drive from vibration. Inside, you’ll find the P5 Plus, a quick start guide, and a mounting screw.
The P5 Plus itself has a simple black sticker design, similar to the P5. Measuring 80mm in length, it’s compatible with any modern motherboard. Unlike the Z440, it lacks a thermal label, making it more prone to heat generation. However, this design choice also makes it easier to fit the drive inside a laptop or PS5.
The lack of thermal protection is the P5 Plus’s primary drawback. It runs slightly warm during regular use, which isn’t a major concern. However, extended intensive data transfers could cause throttling. This is less of an issue for PCs due to good motherboard heatsinks but could be a concern for laptop users.
Crucial seems aware of this potential issue, offering a free heatsink if you order directly from their website.
Software
Crucial provides two useful programs with the P5 Plus.
1. Crucial Storage Executive: A lightweight tool for monitoring and optimizing your disk’s performance. It includes a dashboard for easy access to various settings.
In summary, the Crucial P5 Plus offers strong performance and durability at a competitive price, making it a worthwhile consideration for those looking to upgrade their storage solution.