Introduction
The Crucial T700 has hit the market, promising a leap in speed with PCIe 5.0, following closely on the heels of the PCIe 4.0 era. In this review, we will explore the specifications, delve into the performance metrics, and scrutinize whether this SSD, being one of the pioneers in PCIe 5.0, truly stands out.
Specifications:
PCIe: PCIe 5.0 with four lanes
Flash: 232-layer TLC NAND
Controller: Phison E26
Endurance: 600 TB
Heat Sync: Heat Sync variants are available
RAM: 1GB LP DDR4
Capacity: 1TB
ReportedSpeeds: 11,700 MB/s (Read), 9,500 MB/s (Write)
Form Factor: 2280
Warranty: 5 years
Performance:
To maintain an unbiased review, direct comparisons with other PCIe 5.0 drives are deferred. However, the T700’s standalone performance is detailed below:
Peak Performance: Read – 11,669 MB/s, Write – 9,605 MB/s
Crystal Real World Performance: Read – 9,018 MB/s, Write – 9,581 MB/s
Performance Test Results: Read – 10,093 MB/s, Write – 9,568 MB/s
4K Performance: Read – 681 MB/s, Write – 528 MB/s
4K Crystal Real World Performance: Read – 89 MB/s, Write – 303 MB/s
4K IOPS: Read – 166,135, Write – 128,958
Real World IOPS: Read – 21,704, Write – 73,911
Efficiency Ratings: Read – 88.41%, Write – 100.98%
PassMark Average Bandwidth: 652.46 MB/s
PassMark Average Access Time: 46 ms
Heat under stress: 68 degrees Celsius
Scores:
Performance Mark
Performance Test
Other Information:
Terabytes Written: Promised 600TB
Price per GB: Approximately R5/$0.18 per gigabyte
Price: Around R 5,000/$180
AIDA64 Results:
Random Read: Stable
Buffer Read: A little bit Unstable but peaked at 7,158.9 MB/s
Conclusion:
Crucial’s T700 presents itself as a powerhouse with PCIe 5.0 speeds, yet the real-world impact over PCIe 4.0 may not be immediately discernible. Despite the theoretical speeds reaching new heights, day-to-day performance aligns more with PCIe 4.0. The T700, while offering a glimpse into the future, currently falls into the category of a “nice to have” rather than a “must-have.” The full potential of PCIe 5.0 may reveal itself in the future, but for now, the T700 provides impressive speeds without an urgent need for an upgrade.
In conclusion, the Crucial T700 showcases the future of SSDs with remarkable speeds. Whether it’s a must-have or a nice-to-have hinges on your current PCIe 4.0 setup and your eagerness to stay on the cutting edge of technology.