Plextor M2 Series 128GB SATA 6Gbps Marvell SSD Review
Plextor M2 Series – Test System
Legit Reviews Test System
All tests were performed on a fresh and up-to-date install of Windows 7 Pro x64 with no other applications running while using AHCI mode set through the BIOS. Synthetic Benchmarks were run with the OS loaded on a 40GB Corsair Force SSD. In between every test, the drive was secure erased. As such, all results should be indicative of optimal performance. All components were set to their default speeds and are listed below.
Test Platform
This marks the first article where we have fully transitioned to the Sandy Bridge P67 platform in order to take full advantage of the next generation of SSDs using a SATA 6Gbps interface. The X58 platform Marvell controllers just aren’t beefy enough to handle the data these drive push and the tests we performed confirmed as much. So, from here on out we will be doing all benchmark testing on the configuration outlined below.
P67 Test Bench
| Intel LGA 1155 Test Platform | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Component | Brand/Model | Live Pricing | |||
|
Processor |
Core i5 2500k | ||||
|
Motherboard |
ASUS P8P67 | ||||
|
Memory |
Crucial 2 x 2GB PC3-10600 | ||||
|
Video Card |
Gigabyte GeForce GT 430 | ||||
|
OS Drive |
Corsair Force 40GB | ||||
|
Power Supply |
Corsair HX1000 | ||||
|
Operating System |
Windows 7 Pro 64-Bit | ||||
Comparison Drives & Other Models We Have Tested
Since there are so many SSDs out there now with different
controllers, we started a reference table of which
controllers are used by each drive to help you compare results.
Different controllers definitely perform differently and each has various strengths and weaknesses. Like CPU’s, even identical drives will have variations in performance and part of that variance may be attributable to the NAND flash used. Since the tests of the drives listed have spanned different test benches and represent three different interfaces, we have listed them for the synthetic tests as a point of reference even though there is no direct comparison.
| SSD MODEL |
CONTROLLER(S) | TRIM Support? |
| Kingston V100 Series 128GB |
JMicron JMF618 (Toshiba branded) | Yes |
| OCZ Vertex 3 Pro 200GB (beta) | SandForce SF-2500 (SF-2582) | Yes |
| RunCore Pro V 120GB |
SandForce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes |
| Samsung 470 Series 256GB |
Samsung S3C29MAX01-Y340 | Yes |
| Zalman N Series 128GB | SandForce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes |
| Kingston V+100 128GB | Toshiba T6UG1XBG | Yes |
| Corsair Force 40GB | Sandforce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes |
| Intel X25-V 40GB | Intel G2 | Yes |
| G.Skill Phoenix Pro | Sandforce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes |
| Patriot Inferno 100GB | Sandforce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes |
| OCZ RevoDrive X2 240GB SSD | (4X) Sandforce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | No* |
| OCZ RevoDrive 120GB SSD | (2X) Sandforce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | No* |
| ADATA S596 128GB | JMicron JMF612 | Yes |
| Corsair Force Series 120GB | Sandforce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes |
| Patriot Zephyr 128GB | JMICRON JMF612 | Yes |
| Patriot Torqx 128GB | Indilinx Barefoot | Yes |
| Kingston 30GB V Series SNV125-S2 |
Toshiba T6UG1XBG | Yes |
| Kingston 128GB V Series SNV425-S2 |
JMICRON JMF618 | Yes |
| Corsair Force Series 100GB |
Sandforce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes |
| Corsair Nova Series 128GB |
Indilinx Barefoot | Yes |
| Intel X25-M 160GB G2 SSD |
Intel PC29AS21BA0 | Yes |
| Micron RealSSD C300 (6Gbps) 256GB | Marvell 88SS9174 | Yes |
| * TRIM is not supported due to the RAID controller. | ||
In the readout on CrystalDiskInfo 3.10.1, both NCQ and S.M.A.R.T. are
enabled, as is TRIM. This is a great free tool to see what version of
firmware the drive is running in the event there are updates
available.
On to the benchmarks!
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