KIOXIA EXCERIA PLUS 2 TB NVMe M.2 SSD Review – Is relatively expensive also really good?

1 - Einführung. Teardown und technische Daten 2 - Performance, Benchmarks und Fazit

Synthetic benchmarks

I ran the values in CrystalDiskMark this time with an empty but used SSD, which I previously filled to just under 66% and then deleted again. Sequential write rates of up to 3231 MB/s are still achieved, reading is even a bit faster with 3478 MB/s. Thus, the write speed is about the same as the specs, only the read speed is not quite as fast as with the virgin SSD. But you just miss the 3500 MB/s and you’re still within specs.

ATTO also shows a similar picture, even if you miss the read rates a bit more with the used SSD here. However, both values are still really respectable.

Application benchmarks

Using AJA, I create a simulated 4K video stream with decent data. When writing the stream, the average value of 3000 MB/s is a bit more clearly below the advertised 3200 MB/s. However, the fun is over after almost 40 GB, then the show of the pseudo-SLC cache ends and it goes down to the cellar. With an average of just under 1000 MB/s, the stream then collapses to a third of the write speed. The recently tested SSD from HP did not show this behavior, so I will compare both SSDs with 2 TB each in detail later.

Reading in AJA is around 3100 MB/s, even here there is a certain drop from around 40 GB when the cache runs out. This is not as extreme as with writing, but you are then only at about 2800 MB/s and the curve is clearly more unbalanced.

Let’s now move on to the showdown in real applications from the workstation sector and the direct comparison to the significantly cheaper HP SSD from BIWIN. The SSD from KIOXIA is always clearly behind in writing when (see AJA), the cache runs out with longer streams or larger files. The KIOXIA EXCERIA PLUS can score with the smaller files like under CCX or MCAT, otherwise it is unfortunately at a disadvantage in the majority of real workloads. To what extent the controller is also to blame for the overall picture here is difficult to determine. The measurements range from a slight advantage to a tie to a real disadvantage.

This trend also continues in reading, leaving CCX and MCAT aside. However, some applications show extreme disadvantages compared to the HP 950EX, which once again brings its price into focus. Or it makes the KIOXIA SSD seem particularly expensive, depending on how you look at it.

Summary and conclusion

The SSD is relatively fast, gets very hot without extra cooling (controller!) and it is still almost as performant when writing as when new, even after almost complete writing. The warranty of 5 years is okay, but the 800 TB when writing is a bit low. The lack of a cooler is negligible as long as the motherboard has a cooling SSD shield. Even though there is no hardware encryption, the rest of the feature set is perfectly fine and the small management software is a pleasure to take. If you don’t need a PCIe 4.0 SSD but still want to get the most out of your M.2 slot, you won’t go wrong with the KIOXIA EXCERIA PLUS.

When it comes to price, however, KIOXIA will probably have to rethink things a bit. With a surcharge of 40 Euros, one is clearly above a comparable and partly even better competitor product, which is even advertised with 1400 TB write performance. The EXCERIA PLUS is certainly solid and performs well, but still needs to adjust on price to be truly competitive. This is a shame in that it’s very good for normal applications and shorter streams, only breaking down a bit for really extreme workloads.

The test sample was provided by KIOXIA without obligation. There was and is no influence on the tests and results. There was no compensation for expenses and no obligation to publish.

KIOXIA EXCERIA PLUS SSD 2TB, M.2 2280/M-Key/PCIe 3.1a x4 (LRD10Z002TG8)

1-2 Wochen

419,00 €*Stand: 27.04.24 02:29

*Alle Preise inkl. gesetzl. MwSt zzgl. Versandkosten und ggf. Nachnahmegebühren, wenn nicht anders beschriebenmit freundlicher Unterstützung von geizhals.de

HP SSD EX950 M.2 2TB, M.2 2280/M-Key/PCIe 3.0 x4 (5MS24AA#ABB)

	2-3 Werktage	149,03 €*Stand: 27.04.24 00:50
Wichmann	14 Tag(e)	157,25 €*Stand: 26.04.24 03:36
	Lager Lieferant: Sofort lieferbar, 1-3 Werktage	165,26 €*Stand: 27.04.24 02:29

*Alle Preise inkl. gesetzl. MwSt zzgl. Versandkosten und ggf. Nachnahmegebühren, wenn nicht anders beschriebenmit freundlicher Unterstützung von geizhals.de