SK Hynix P31 Gold 1 TiB: any opinions?

[80251]

I'm leaning towards this M2 NVME mostly because of the storagereview review of it and its price. Does it have on-board DRAM cache or any opinions on it?

It seems difficult to find out if a given NVME has any on-board DRAM cache (manufacturer published specifications rarely mention if a given NVME SSD has a DRAM cache at all).

 

[timta2]

One of the best SSDs around, from what I've heard and read. It has on-board LPDDR4 DRAM.

SK hynix Gold P31 M.2 NVMe SSD Review: High-Performance, Unprecedented Efficiency (Updated)

The first SSD with 128-layer NAND, SK hynix’s Gold P31 sets the bar for efficiency

www.tomshardware.com

 

[P4-630]

You could also look at the Seagate FireCuda 520 1TB for reliability.

Not the fastest out there but 1800TBW / 5 year warranty.

 

[MachineLearning]

My favorite PCIe 3.0 drive. I use it in my main desktop, but it is also highly suitable for laptop use due to its unparalelled efficiency.

It does have 1GB DRAM per 1TB NAND.

The S31 SATA drives are also excellent, they will fully saturate the SATA III bus. I have a couple of those for benching.

 

[80251]

Has SK Hynix ever engaged in any bait-and-switch tactics with their SSD's? I've read it's not only controllers that are subject to bait-and-switch tactics but the type of DRAM cache on SSD's (e.g. slower memory substituted for faster memory). I refuse to buy from any manufacturers who have engaged in bait-and-switch tactics -- regardless of rationale/narrative for doing so.

 

[MachineLearning]

Has SK Hynix ever engaged in any bait-and-switch tactics with their SSD's? I've read it's not only controllers that are subject to bait-and-switch tactics but the type of DRAM cache on SSD's (e.g. slower memory substituted for faster memory). I refuse to buy from any manufacturers who have engaged in bait-and-switch tactics -- regardless of rationale/narrative for doing so.

They have not done this, at least it has not been documented.

I will say that they have only released the P31 and S31 for consumers so far, so perhaps this can change down the line. They've been an OEM supplier of SSDs for many years, not sure if they've stealthily changed components there (but it would be way less consequential).

To be fair, if you held that policy for eternity, eventually you would not be able to buy any manufacturer's drives. Most have done it at some point and all probably will eventually.

 

[80251]

If an OEM supplier were to resort to bait-and-switch tactics with their client that would definitely cause them problems (monetary, perhaps legal) right?

 

[FreedomEclipse]

If an OEM supplier were to resort to bait-and-switch tactics with their client that would definitely cause them problems (monetary, perhaps legal) right?

Youre only guilty if you get caught

 

[W1zzard]

SK Hynix Gold P31 1 TB Review - Amazing Performance

The SK Hynix Gold P31 M.2 NVMe SSD achieves truly impressive performance thanks to its Hynix "Cepheus" controller, which is paired with 128-layer NAND flash. It is the fastest PCIe Gen 3 drive we ever tested, beating even some Gen 4 drives, at a much better price.

www.techpowerup.com

one of the best drives you can buy

Does it have on-board DRAM cache

It does, always mentioned in my reviews in multiple locations

 

[MachineLearning]

SK Hynix Gold P31 1 TB Review - Amazing Performance

The SK Hynix Gold P31 M.2 NVMe SSD achieves truly impressive performance thanks to its Hynix "Cepheus" controller, which is paired with 128-layer NAND flash. It is the fastest PCIe Gen 3 drive we ever tested, beating even some Gen 4 drives, at a much better price.

www.techpowerup.com

one of the best drives you can buy


It does, always mentioned in my reviews in multiple locations

Yeah, it's a little odd that OP read one review on another site and then posted here asking about the drive. When you already have a review on this site, and there are numerous other reviews online if a second opinion was wanted by OP.

 

[80251]

Storagereview didn't have any mention of whether or not the SK Hynix P31 gold line has any on-board DRAM and NEITHER does the manufacturer's product page.

I didn't even know about the TPU review. TPU doesn't review every SSD and not even half as many as storagereview does (storagereview strives to review every permutation [i.e. capacity] of a given line).

 

[W1zzard]

storagereview strives to review every permutation [i.e. capacity] of a given line

Storagereview didn't have any mention of whether or not the SK Hynix P31 gold line has any on-board DRAM

Guess quality over quantity

TPU doesn't review every SSD

Any specific drives that I need to test?

 

[80251]

W1zzard some of the NVME PCIe SSD's I was looking for were the:
1. Seagate Firecuda 530 1 TiB
2. Seagate Firecuda 520 1 TiB
3. WD Black SN750
4. Sabrent Rocket NVME 4.0

Storagereview had all of them reviewed, but then again, that's all they do is storage reviews.

What's strange is that when I looked for secondary reviews on some of the NVME PCIe SSD's on the ones I was considering TPU's reviews never came up.

 

[Braegnok]

SK Hynix just released Platinum P41 gen4 drive, few days ago I ordered one. https://www.amazon.com/SK-hynix-Platinum-Internal-Compact/dp/B09QX6SL2Y

 

[W1zzard]

Sabrent Rocket NVME 4.0

Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 2 TB + PS5 Heatsink Review

The Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus uses the famous Phison E18 controller. In our real-life testing, it achieves a top score, almost matching the Samsung 980 Pro and WD Black SN850 at better pricing. We also tested the Sabrent PlayStation 5 heatsink, which is custom-shaped to fit the opening in the PS5...

www.techpowerup.com

WD Black SN750

Kinda old, I tested the SN770 recently

1. Seagate Firecuda 530 1 TiB
2. Seagate Firecuda 520 1 TiB

Yeah Seagate doesn't want to send us samples anymore, after they sent me the 520 for review..
I finished the review, noted that performance isn't any faster than the 510, because it has super terrible mixed IO, which most other reviewers don't test.
A few emails back and forth about reproducing the issue, "we'll get back to you, please wait before posting the review", when asked about samples for the 530 in August 2021: "We have only very few samples at this time, we'll get back to you"

SK Hynix just released Platinum P41 gen4 drive, few days ago I ordered one. https://www.amazon.com/SK-hynix-Platinum-Internal-Compact/dp/B09QX6SL2Y

Been talking to them a lot, I have one coming for review, not sure when though. Kinda odd timing with the drives already available at Amazon

 

[Assimilator]

Yeah Seagate doesn't want to send us samples anymore, after they sent me the 520 for review..
I finished the review, noted that performance isn't any faster than the 510, because it has super terrible mixed IO, which most other reviewers don't test.
A few emails back and forth about reproducing the issue, "we'll get back to you, please wait before posting the review", when asked about samples for the 530 in August 2021: "We have only very few samples at this time, we'll get back to you"

Scummy company. Not surprising after the bait-and-switch they pulled with their Blue SSDs.

 

[80251]

Is the question at this point which SSD manufacturers haven't engaged in bait-and-switch tactics?

 

[Wooden Law - Black]

Is the question at this point which SSD manufacturers haven't engaged in bait-and-switch tactics?

There aren't many, but SK hynix is one example.

 

[MachineLearning]

Scummy company. Not surprising after the bait-and-switch they pulled with their Blue SSDs.

Wrong company

Is the question at this point which SSD manufacturers haven't engaged in bait-and-switch tactics?

Yes.

 

[Selaya]

[ ... ]

Yeah Seagate doesn't want to send us samples anymore, after they sent me the 520 for review..
I finished the review, noted that performance isn't any faster than the 510, because it has super terrible mixed IO, which most other reviewers don't test.
A few emails back and forth about reproducing the issue, "we'll get back to you, please wait before posting the review", when asked about samples for the 530 in August 2021: "We have only very few samples at this time, we'll get back to you"

[ ... ]

Buy retail? xd
Maybe have a Patreon tier to fund that (and have supporters suggest what they want reviewed) or something?

 

[W1zzard]

Buy retail? xd

I could, but worth it? Is there really that much interest for these drives?

 

[Selaya]

I'd say so, yeah.
TPU is like, the only actual SSD review site I can think of (I don't count those who just run CDM & AS-SSD) out there, and it'd be good to know which drives are like, acceptable and which should be stayed away from.
This mostly concerns drives that are of an acceptable price (<$100/TB), but really any SSD would be like, good to know at the very least.

 

[W1zzard]

Seagate 530 looks like the standard Phison E18 + B47R combo, like half a dozen other SSDs that I've tested. Can't go wrong, if the price is right. Seems overpriced right now

 

[Braegnok]

I received the SK Hynix P41 SSD yesterday,..



Plan on installing the 1TB SK Hynix as a secondary storage drive in my ITX system, currently I'm running 4TB Seagate 530 as my primary drive.

 

[chrcoluk]

Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 2 TB + PS5 Heatsink Review

The Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus uses the famous Phison E18 controller. In our real-life testing, it achieves a top score, almost matching the Samsung 980 Pro and WD Black SN850 at better pricing. We also tested the Sabrent PlayStation 5 heatsink, which is custom-shaped to fit the opening in the PS5...

www.techpowerup.com

Kinda old, I tested the SN770 recently


Yeah Seagate doesn't want to send us samples anymore, after they sent me the 520 for review..
I finished the review, noted that performance isn't any faster than the 510, because it has super terrible mixed IO, which most other reviewers don't test.
A few emails back and forth about reproducing the issue, "we'll get back to you, please wait before posting the review", when asked about samples for the 530 in August 2021: "We have only very few samples at this time, we'll get back to you"


Been talking to them a lot, I have one coming for review, not sure when though. Kinda odd timing with the drives already available at Amazon

Umm they shouldnt need to be able to reproduce for it to be a valid review, I think you was incredibly kind to even inform them ahead of publishing. Is that something you do all the time?

Their strategy also kind of worked on you, they succeeded in silencing you for future products by not sending you a sample, a way to make that strategy fail is to buy retail sample to review.

I kind of feel if a reviewer has a issue with a product, they should be contacting the tech support channel instead of specialised personal media contact, and then make the customer service experience as part of the review.