The Essential P3 is the PCIe 3.0 sibling of the P3 Plus. It makes use of the identical Phison E21T controller and is equally paired with Micron’s 176-layer QLC flash. With a beginning worth of $74 for 1TB or $147 for 2TB, it is meant to compete with the finest SSDs when it comes to worth, with an emphasis on providing increased capability choices. Being restricted to PCIe 3.0 just isn’t an enormous deal – this primarily restricts most bandwidth, which on a drive of this caliber means sequential file transfers. In observe, this isn’t very related as a single-threaded switch received’t a lot exceed the interface’s pace, anyway. Just like the P3 Plus, the P3 is surprisingly performant and environment friendly, which is especially enticing as a result of Essential backs this with the identical guarantee.
The P3 does face completely different competitors. Most PCIe 3.0 drives proceed to make use of older controllers and flash which might make them much less environment friendly whereas proscribing most capability. The SK hynix Gold P31 is an exception, a later entry which went with extra environment friendly {hardware}: a four-channel controller and newer flash. That drive additionally checks the bins for DRAM and TLC. Intel’s 670p, which has QLC and DRAM, is extra of a direct competitor. Nevertheless, Solidigm’s formation makes {that a} bit moot because the drive can be phased out for the P41 Plus. DRAM-less drives like Essential’s P2 really feel downright outdated.
The Phison E21T has confirmed to be a succesful controller, as demonstrated in our Silicon Energy UD90 evaluate. Micron’s new QLC doesn’t seem to interrupt any boundaries however it’s actually higher than their earlier 96-layer technology 4-bit flash. What’s extra attention-grabbing is the power to get this drive at as much as 4TB, and an inexpensive worth in addition.
Weighing PCIe 3.0 and 4.0 drives in opposition to one another when making a purchase order could be a daunting enterprise, particularly in case your platform is older. Does the P3 make the case that capability and “ok” efficiency, on a budget, is the proper pairing for PCIe 3.0?
Specs
| Product | 500GB | 1TB | 2TB | 4TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $49.99 | $89.99 | $174.99 | $349.99 |
| Capability (Person / Uncooked) | 500GB / 512GB | 1000GB / 1024GB | 2000GB / 2048GB | 4000GB / 4096GB |
| Kind Issue | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 |
| Interface / Protocol | PCIe 3.0 x4 | PCIe 3.0 x4 | PCIe 3.0 x4 | PCIe 3.0 x4 |
| Controller | Phison E21T | Phison E21T | Phison E21T | Phison E21T |
| DRAM | No (HMB) | No (HMB) | No (HMB) | No (HMB) |
| Flash Reminiscence | 176-Layer Micron QLC (N48R) | 176-Layer Micron QLC (N48R) | 176-Layer Micron QLC (N48R) | 176-Layer Micron QLC (N48R) |
| Sequential Learn | 3,500 MBps | 3,500 MBps | 3,500 MBps | 3,500 MBps |
| Sequential Write | 1,900 MBPs | 3,000 MBps | 3,000 MBps | 3,000 MBps |
| Random Learn | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Random Write | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Safety | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Endurance (TBW) | 110TB | 220TB | 440TB | 800TB |
| Half Quantity | CT500P3SSD8 | CT1000P3SSD8 | CT2000P3SSD8 | CT4000P3SSD8 |
| Guarantee | 5-12 months | 5-12 months | 5-12 months | 5-12 months |
The Essential P3 is on the market at 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB. As is widespread with QLC drives, the smallest capability just isn’t supreme. This drive reaches peak sequential efficiency, 3.5/3.0GBps for learn and write respectively, at 1TB. The 2TB and 4TB SKUs are essentially the most attractive as that is prone to be a secondary drive for storage or video games. It may be difficult to search out reasonably priced M.2 NVMe SSDs at 4TB that aren’t priced into outer area. The smaller capability choices are nonetheless good to have for a finances construct or improve.
Essential correctly went with a 5-year guarantee, though the TBW leaves one thing to be desired. It varies from 200-220TB of writes per TB of capability, which is on the low aspect. This isn’t shocking for a DRAM-less QLC drive and also you probably received’t exceed it throughout the guarantee interval. That being mentioned, it’s nonetheless about half that of the older P2. We suspect the precise endurance is much increased however Essential needs to section its drives fastidiously. It’s a good level since you shouldn’t be doing a ton of writes on a drive like this.
MSRP pricing on the P3 isn’t significantly compelling besides possibly at 4TB. Nevertheless, the drive has already been on sale for a steep low cost at a number of capacities together with that one. Essential clearly intends for it to be a finances drive which you could impulse purchase, whether or not for an inexpensive improve or for storage extension. This consists of for laptop computer use as a drive like that is sure to be environment friendly, significantly compared to older PCIe 3.0 choices.
Software program and Equipment for Essential P3 SSDÂ
Essential offers downloads on its website to make utilizing the P3 extra snug. The Essential Storage Government acts as an SSD “toolbox” which incorporates pertinent details about the drive and its well being, plus auxiliary capabilities to assist preserve the drive. Essential additionally hyperlinks to Acronis True Picture for Essential which is beneficial if you want to clone or backup a drive when putting in the P3.
A Nearer Have a look at for Essential P3 SSD
The Essential P3 appears lots just like the P3 Plus. In truth, it appears similar aside from the labels. The entrance label does inform you if it’s the P3 or P3 Plus, whereas the rear label additionally offers further details about the drive. The drive could also be rated for 8.25W, however we are able to safely assume it received’t pull anyplace close to that a lot. Below the entrance label we see the controller in-between two pairs of NAND flash packages with no DRAM current.
The Phison E21T controller is similar one discovered on the P3 Plus. Or is it? Whereas the P3 Plus has a PCIe 4.0 interface the P3 is relegated to three.0. This distinction is considerably much like that between the Phison E19T and E15T controllers, 4.0 and three.0 respectively, however the E19T is a 28nm half with solely a 1200 MT/s bus. Controllers in a smaller course of node are sometimes extra environment friendly, extra highly effective, or each, and the quicker 1600 MT/s bus on the 12nm E21T permits it to hit increased speeds with extra bandwidth.
1200 MT/s is enough to saturate PCIe 3.0 with a four-channel controller, although, as was initially made clear with the SK hynix Gold P31. This allowed the drive to be unusually environment friendly when paired with new flash. The very best mid-range 4.0 drives are usually 1600 MT/s with even newer flash, which incorporates the P3 Plus. They’re all environment friendly and greater than highly effective sufficient. So what does this imply for the P3?
Assuming the P3 is utilizing the identical {hardware} because the P3 Plus, as seems to be the case with our evaluate samples, then some trade-offs are made. The P3 can not hit the identical bandwidth peaks, similar to with workloads at increased queue depth, and the interface may additionally preclude it from PlayStation 5 (PS5) use. However, it successfully has a slower bus with decrease peak calls for on the controller which suggests it might be extra environment friendly. Because the P3 is a bit cheaper than the P3 Plus this is a crucial consideration in case you are prioritizing capability or have a 3.0 system.
The flash is labeled NY161 which is similar as used on the P3 Plus. That is Micron’s 176-layer QLC, on this case with 4 4DP/QDP packages that comprise 4 1Tb dies every. This QLC makes use of an structure much like Micron’s 176-layer TLC, being distinct from what they used at 96 layers in tandem with Intel. This design should nonetheless show itself nevertheless it needs to be similar to 176-layer QLC from different producers.
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