Corsair MP600 Core 2 TB in the test: The cheapest SSD with PCIe 4.0

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The Corsair MP600 Core is one of the cheapest SSDs with PCIe 4.0. Instead of TLC-NAND, cheaper QLC-NAND is used. That this means lower performance compared to the flagships is shown in the test in a direct comparison with Corsair MP600 and MP600 Pro.

Table of contents

  1. 1 The cheapest SSD with PCIe 4.0
    1. PCIe 4.0 meets QLC
    2. Features and prices at a glance
  2. 2 benchmarks, cache analysis and temperatures
    1. Test system and test methodology
    2. Cache analysis (SLC mode)
    3. Copy processes in Explorer
    4. Performance consistency in PCMark 10
    5. CrystalDiskMark
    6. Temperatures over time
  3. 3 Conclusion
    1. PCIe 4.0 at a low price has a catch

PCIe 4.0 meets QLC

While the MP600 Pro (test) with Phison E18, TLC-NAND and throughput rates of up to 7,000 MB/s represents the new spearhead in Corsair's SSD portfolio, the MP600 Core marks the entry point with PCIe 4.0. With prices currently at 13 cents per GB, the MP600 Core in the versions with 1 TB and 2 TB is one of the cheapest SSDs with PCIe 4.0.

In the familiar M.2 form factor, the MP600 Core, like the MP600, uses the Phison E16 controller for almost 5,000 MB/s when reading. However, cheaper, slower and less durable QLC-NAND is used. Specifically, it is Micron's QLC-NAND from the 96-layer generation. In the test sample of the editorial team with 2 TB of storage space, four NAND packages are installed, which are distributed equally on the front and back of the board. The DDR4 DRAM cache comes from SK Hynix and provides a total of 2 GB of storage space in two chip housings.

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  • Corsair MP600 Core with Phison E16

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    Corsair MP600 Core with Phison E16
    Corsair MP600 Core 2 TB form factor M.2-2280 interface (protocol) PCIe 4.0 x4 (NVMe 1.3) controller Phison PS5016-E16 (8 channel) NAND flash memory Micron 3D QLC 96 layer (1 terabit/die) DRAM cache 2 × SK Hynix 1 GB DDR4-2666 (H5AN8G8NCJR-VKC) SLC cache ✓ Seq. Read/write (max.) 4,950/3,950 MB/s Optional read/write (max.) 630K/580K IOPS Guarantee period 5 years TBW 450 TB Note: Detailed key data for each model in the series can be found in the comparison table below

    As with current SSDs practically standard and particularly important for SSDs with slow QLC-NAND, the MP600 Core also uses an SLC mode in which a certain amount of data is initially written with 1 bit per cell. This buffer enables sequential write rates of up to 3,950 MB/s with the MP600 Core. The maximum write rate only applies to the 4 TB model and is lower with lower storage capacities. The test pattern (2 TB) is specified with up to 3,700 MB/s.

    Corsair does not specify how big the SLC cache can be. The following measurements provide clarity.

    A cooler is part of the Corsair program

    With the MP600 and MP600 Pro (test), the MP600 Core not only shares part of the name, but also its cooler, which is instead in black rather appears in anthracite. The two aluminum shells are held together with clips and are equipped with thermal pads.

    Corsair MP600 Core
    Corsair MP600 Core

    Features and prices at a glance

    In the Core sub-series too, Corsair offers optional data encryption according to AES-256 standard and the Corsair SSD Toolbox as software with functions such as over-provisioning, cloning and secure erase. The guarantee covers up to five years, but ends early if certain write volumes (“Total Bytes Written”, TBW) have been exceeded beforehand. The TBW of the MP600 Core is 225 TB, 450 TB and 900 TB for the models with 1 TB, 2 TB and 4 TB storage capacity. The TBW are thus significantly lower than with the MP600 and MP600 Pro.

    Corsair MP600 Core (new) Corsair MP600 Corsair MP600 Pro (new) Form factor M.2 2280 Interface (protocol) PCIe 4.0 x4 (NVMe 1.3) PCIe 4.0 x4 (NVMe 1.4) Controller Phison PS5016-E16
    (8 Channel, 2 Cores, 28 nm) PS5018-E18
    (8 channel, 3 cores, 12 nm) NAND flash memory 3D QLC 3D TLC DRAM cache ✓ SLC cache dynamic Storage space 1,000 GB
    2,000 GB
    4,000 GB 500 GB
    1,000 GB
    2,000 GB 1,000 GB
    2,000 GB
    4,000 GB (planned) Seq. Read/write (max.) 4,950/3,950 MB/s 4,950/4,250 MB/s 7,000/6,550 MB/s Guarantee period 5 years TBW per TB 225 900 700

    The Corsair MP600 Core is currently available in stores at prices of around 120 euros (1 TB), 260 euros (2 TB) and 660 euros (4 TB).

    Corsair MP600 Core Corsair MP600 (500 GB) Corsair MP600 Pro Controller: Phison PS5016-E16, 8 NAND-Channel Phison PS5018-E18, 8 NAND-Channel DRAM-Cache: 1,024 MB variant 2,048 MB variant 4,096 MB 512 MB DDR4 1,024 MB variant 2. 048 MB storage capacity: 1,000/2,000/4,000 GB 500 GB 1,000/2,000 GB memory chips:? ? ? QLC (3D) NAND,? Toshiba? ? TLC (3D, 96 layers) NAND,? ? ? ? TLC (3D) NAND,? Form factor: M.2 (80 mm) Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4 seq. Read: 4,700 MB/s variant 4,950 MB/s 4,950 MB/s 7,000 MB/s seq. Write: 1,950 MB/s variant 3,700 MB/s variant 3,950 MB/s 2,500 MB/s 5,500 MB/s variant6,550 MB/s 4K random read: 200,000 IOPS variant380,000 IOPS variant630,000 IOPS 420,000 IOPS 360,000 IOPS variant660,000 IOPS 4K random write: 480,000 IOPS variant 580,000 IOPS 550,000 IOPS 780,000 IOPS variant 800,000 IOPS power consumption activity (typ.):? Power consumption activity (max.):? Power consumption idle:? Power consumption DevSleep:? Power consumption L1.2:? Functions: NVMe, NCQ, TRIM, SMART, Garbage Collection Encryption: AES 256 Total Bytes Written (TBW): 225 terabytes variant 450 terabytes variant 900 terabytes 900 terabytes 700 terabytes variant 1,400 terabytes Guarantee: 5 years Price: from € 132/from € 249/from 664 € from 95 € from 180 €/from 400 € Price per GB: € 0.13/€ 0.12/€ 0.17 € 0.19 € 0.18/€ 0.20

    On the next page: benchmarks, cache analysis and temperatures