Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in

Results: Enterprise Workload Performance

Micron P420m SSD Review: 1.4 TB Of PCI Express-Attached Storage
By

Our next set of tests simulates different enterprise-oriented workloads, including database, file server, Web server, and workstation configurations.

The database workload (also categorized as transaction processing) involves purely random I/O. Its profile consists of 67% reads and 33% writes using 8 KB transfers.

The P420m holds its own at lower queue depths, but can't keep up with Micron's flagship at higher queue depths. It does best Intel's SSD 910 though, eventually doubling its effort. The P420m owes a lot of its performance at lower queue depths to the flat random write performance across all queue depths.

In the file server workload, which consists of 80% random reads of varying transfer sizes, we see the same basic results. Micron's P420m once again runs out of steam against the P320h and the Z-Drive at higher queue depths, but nearly doubles the SSD 910.

Our Web server workload (100% read, varying transfer size), gives us a curious result. The P420m comes out on top across the board. We're going to chalk this up to our P320h not quite living up to its read specification on our test bench. In practice, both Micron drives should be about equal.

Finally, the workstation benchmark (80% reads, 80% random), shows the same general trend. Since the P320h and Z-Drive are not direct competitors, it's easy to write off any perceived shortcomings when comparing them to the P420h. The massive edge in read performance over Intel's SSD 910 shows up in our mixed workload tests, allowing the P420m to nearly double its performance.

Ask a Category Expert

Create a new thread in the Reviews comments forum about this subject

Example: Notebook, Android, SSD hard drive

Display all 8 comments.
This thread is closed for comments
  • 0 Hide
    merikafyeah , September 8, 2013 10:42 PM
    Seems like enterprise non-volatile storage is finally starting to approach the speeds of comsumer ram drives:
    http://www.thessdreview.com/our-reviews/romex-fancycache-review-ssd-performance-at-13gbs-and-765000-iops-in-60-seconds-flat/

    Considering that the cost/GB of RAM is about $7/GB, it may not be such a bad idea to use RAM storage + backup generators instead of traditional non-volatile flash nand.
  • 2 Hide
    BasslineJunkie , September 9, 2013 8:38 AM
    Take my money!
  • 2 Hide
    rezzahd , September 9, 2013 9:46 AM
    Maybe once the price drops I would pick one of these up, but I think we all know it will be a while before that happens.
  • 2 Hide
    BasslineJunkie , September 9, 2013 1:53 PM
    Quote:
    Maybe once the price drops I would pick one of these up, but I think we all know it will be a while before that happens.

    Same here. I love the concept but price/gb isn't where it should be. But i do have some extra pci express slots that need filled!
  • 0 Hide
    utomo , September 9, 2013 3:41 PM
    It is good to see good competition like now. keep comparing like this and hope soon we will get the good mature technology. now the SSD still have many improvement ideas. manufacturer need to work harder to win the market which is big.
  • 0 Hide
    ACTechy , September 9, 2013 8:50 PM
    Awesome. Later down the road, when the price falls, these are going to be the thing to have. Really like PCI based SSD.
  • -1 Hide
    urbanman2004 , September 12, 2013 11:07 PM
    TL;DR. I could benefit from something like this saving space on my system. It must have a hefty price
  • 0 Hide
    hakesterman , September 20, 2013 8:28 PM
    i Don't think paying around 600 Dollars for a storage card is feasible.