Introduction and details of the unit
About a month ago, we crowned a new consumer performance SSD champion from TweakTown. The 2 TB SK hynix Platinum P41 offered the best real-world performance we’ve ever seen. It managed to unseat our long-running flash-based consumer performance champion, the Plextor 110B M10P. This achievement is especially impressive considering that the high-performance single-sided Gen4 NVMe PCIe SSDs have, without exception, been considerably faster at 1 TB than at 2 TB.
With that in mind, we speculated that a 1TB SK hynix Platinum P41 would probably be faster than the 2TB model, perhaps even considerably faster if it followed the same path as the previous ones. Typically, single-sided 1 TB SSDs are faster than their 2 TB counterparts due to array density. For example, the flash of the same variety is faster at 256 Gbit than at 512 Gbit, 512 Gbit faster than 1024 Gbit, and so on. Normally, we see this right away when we run CDM and look at the Q1T1 random read where, without exception up to this point, single-sided 1 TB SSDs work significantly better due to lower-density array flash packages.
Better random read performance with lower queue depth always translates into better real-world performance when comparing different capabilities within the same product line. When we ran CDM on the 1 TB Platinum P41, we instantly realized that it uses the same array density flash as its older 2 TB sibling because the Q1T1 random read performance is identical (96 MB / s) to two capacity points. The 1 TB model is equipped with a 512 Gbit flash stacked at 8 arrays in height, and the 2 TB 512 Gbit model stacked at 16 arrays in height. This is the first time it has been related to single-sided hyperclass Gen4 SSDs, at least the first we know of. This means that the 1 TB model, if it is faster than the 2 TB model, will only be a little faster.
As we like to do with SSDs capable of 7,000 MB / s performance, we ran the 1 TB Platinum P41 on our AMD-based test system to get an idea of its maximum sequential performance under ideal conditions, as AMD’s sometimes it can offer more performance than Intel.
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Based on CDM, it looks like the 1 TB model overall has a slightly higher read performance and the 2 TB model has a slightly better write performance. This makes sense for their respective capacity points when they both use the same array density flash.
SK hynix specifies its latest consumer offering as capable of achieving sequential read performance of up to 7,000 MB / s and sequential write performance of up to 6,500 MB / s. Like its 2 TB sibling, the 1 TB model can substantially exceed its factory sequential read / write specifications.
Unit details
Overall, these are the highest random IOPS factory specifications we’ve seen for any flash-based consumer SSD. And as we know from the 2 TB model, these are not exaggerated.
The Platinum P41 1TB is a preferred single-sided design that includes a two-pack flash array consisting of a 176-layer SK hynix flash behind an 8-channel and 1 GB SK hynix 8-channel Aries controller (possibly 2 GB) SK hynix LPDDR4 DRAM. This is the ideal configuration for maximum compatibility and energy efficiency while offering complete Gen4 performance.
Jon’s test system specifications
SK Hynix Platinum P41 1TB NVMe PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD
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Sony PlayStation 5 – M.2 Storage Expansion
PS5 reading performance
With the popular Sony PlayStation 5 console now enabled for NVMe M.2 SSDs that are used as a fast storage expansion, we include results for PS5-compatible SSDs that we will test as part of our reviews in the future. We are using the latest versions of PS5 hardware and software.
For more capable 5,500 MB / s SSDs such as the Platinum P41 that do not have a properly sized PS5 compatible heatsink or other SSDs where the heat sink provided does not fit and can be removed, we both use and recommend the incomparable PS5 heat sink from Sabrents. available here.
We only make an SSD graphics that can offer a minimum of 5,500 MB / s read, which is the original recommendation from Sony. We note that with the latest PS5 software update, even SSDs that only make 4,200 MB / s no longer trigger a low performance warning; however, we follow Sony’s original recommendation of the minimum read requirement of 5,500 MB / s.
Interesting result here, as it reflects what we see from the CDM, as it looks like the 1TB has a slightly higher read performance than the 2TB model. The Platinum P41, while not marketed as such, is an excellent PS5 M.2 storage expansion device, as long as it is paired with a compatible heatsink.
Synthetic reference points: CDM, Anvil, ATTO
CrystalDiskMark
Like its 2 TB sibling before, the 1 TB Platinum P41 gives us a new lab record for sequential reading on an Intel platform. Only 5 MB / s separate it from the 2 TB model. This is negligible and within the range of variability between runs, so we will have to look at some real world data to find concrete evidence that the 1 TB model reads better than the 2 TB model. If this is the case, it will certainly offer our highest user experience score to date for a flash-based SSD.
Sequential write performance is a bit more clearly defined, where we see the 2 TB model with what appears to be a clear advantage. The very important Q1T1 random read performance metric (96 MB / s) is identical for both 1 and 2 TB capacity points.
Anvil storage utilities
This time, the 2 TB model has the advantage, as it can apparently generate more random read IOPS at high tail depths. Either way, the SK hynix Platinum P41 is the undisputed champion when it comes to serving data to the host. Awesome.
ACT
Sequential performance reaches high levels. And in fact, if we look beyond the 128K, the Platinum P41 offers the second highest sequential read performance of any SSD we’ve ever tested. Note that sequential performance is, for the most part, insignificant in the consumer space.
Real world testing: transfers, 3DMark SSD gaming test, PCM10 storage
Transfer fees
Our 100 GB data transfer test is not your normal 100 GB of data. Ours is a shredder mix of over 62K files. Now, this is real-world data, and here we see concrete evidence that the 2 TB model has slightly better write performance than the 1 TB model.
Therefore, our real-world transfers coincide with what CDM pointed out. The 1 TB model reads a little faster and the 2 TB one writes a little faster. Another lab record is for 1TB Platinum P41. Awesome.
3DMark SSD game test
UL’s latest 3DMark SSD gaming test is the most comprehensive SSD gaming test ever devised. We consider it superior to testing with the games themselves because, as a trace, it is much more consistent than the variations that will occur between executions of the game itself. This test is, in fact, the same as running the actual game, without the inconsistencies inherent in application testing.
In short, we believe this is the best way in the world to test the gaming skills of an SSD and compare it accurately to competing SSDs. The 3DMark SSD game test measures and scores the following:
- Loading Battlefield V from launch to main menu.
- Loading Call of Duty Black Ops 4 from launch to main menu is loading.
- Loading Overwatch from launch to main menu.
- Recording a 1080p video game at 60 FPS with OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) while playing Overwatch.
- Installation of The Outer Worlds from the Epic Games Launcher.
- Saving the progress of the game in The Outer Worlds.
- Copy the Steam folder for Counter-Strike Global Offensive from an SSD external to the system drive.
Games are a performance metric that matters to most DIY consumers, especially to the crowd of enthusiasts that TweakTown caters to. While still within the realm of variability between runs, this is the second real-world test to point out that the 1TB Platinum P41 has slightly more read performance than the 2TB. Another lab record is delivered from the 2 TB P41 to the 1 TB P41, both far superior to any flash-based SSD before.
PCM10 storage tests
The PCMark 10 storage test is the most advanced and accurate consumer storage test ever made. There are four different tests you can choose from; we run two.
The reference point of the complete system unit and the reference point of the fast system unit. The full system unit benchmark writes 204 GB of data over the duration of the test. The Quick System Drive Benchmark writes 23 GB of data for the duration of the test. These tests correlate directly with the primary user experience.
PCMark 10 Complete System Unit Reference Point
This particular test writes 204GB of data and covers a wide range of common consumer tasks, such as booting Windows 10, file transfers, Adobe and Office applications, and game start times such as Battlefield V, COD Black Ops 4 and Overwatch. Unlike synthetic numbers, this is complete real-world data, which is why we use it to classify SSDs in terms of user experience.
As we see, this result is a clearly defined victory for the 1 TB model over the 2 TB model. This cannot be attributed to execution variability. Another lab record is the 1TB Platinum P41, and along with that, we believe this seals the deal as it is the most powerful flash-based consumer SSD to date. Exceptional.
PCMark 10 system fast drive reference point
Not so clear here, as the 2 TB only surpasses the 1 TB for the second best flash-based consumer SSD of all time.
Final thoughts
When we reviewed the 2 TB SK hynix Platinum P41, we speculated that the 1 TB model would probably be faster than the 2 TB model because it would probably fill with a faster and lower array density flash at function of what everyone else had done so far. This turned out to be incorrect, as, for the first time, as far as we know, a single-sided Gen4 SSD used the same 1 and 2 TB array capacity.
We classify SSDs in terms of overall user experience (performance where it matters most), as expressed by PCMark 10 …