Test Setup
Please read our SSD Storage Review Format and Methodology article for an explanation of our test system, how we test, procedures, and goals for SSD reviews. It has been changed and updated for PCIe Gen5 SSD reviews.
We are using the motherboard’s current default BIOS settings. We are running the latest motherboard BIOS. We have Windows 11 Pro configured to run in the “Best Performance” power profile. Windows has the latest updates. NVMe drivers are installed if present on the manufacturer’s webpage.
Note that our computer test build has been updated as of August 2023, with a new system build to facilitate PCIe Gen5 SSD reviews. Starting August 23rd, 2023 all SSD reviews onward utilize the new test system, format, and methodology in this article. Prior to this date, SSD reviews used a different test system build, please refer to the Test Setup page on each SSD review where system specs are listed for each review. All Gen4 SSD performance data shown on the graphs was acquired on this previous test system build, but the benchmark programs remain the same. Check each SSD for the test setup page for the specific build used.
In today’s PCIe Gen5 SSD review, you will find the CORSAIR MP700 PRO 2TB SSD compared to the last fastest PCIe Gen4 SSDs we have reviewed, plus an ADATA LEGEND 970 2TB PCIe Gen5 M.2 NVMe SSD that we have reviewed. Therefore, you can see head-to-head the performance of both SSDs on this Gen5 generation. As we attain more Gen5 SSDs, we will fill out our graphs for Gen5 SSD reviews with those drives to compare with. In this review, you will be able to see what a Gen5 SSD offers over the previous fastest Gen4 SSDs as well as the CORSAIR Force MP600 Gen4 SSD.
CrystalDiskInfo
Installation of the SSD went smoothly, this SSD does not need a special NVMe driver. It uses the default Windows NVMe driver. In CrystalDiskInfo we can see information on the SSD below. The current Firmware version is EQFM22.1 and the drive is running at the NVM Express 2.0 protocol at PCIe 5.0 x4.
