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 “Balanced” power profile. Windows has the latest updates. We are running the latest Win11 23H2 update from October 2023.
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.
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 EIFM31.6. The drive is running at the NVM Express 1.4 protocol at PCIe 4.0 x4.
