Adata XPG SX6000 Pro M.2 NVMe SSD Review: Paying More for Less

Tom's Hardware Verdict

The Adata XPG SX6000 Pro's DRAMless design is meant to cut costs, but it limits performance while competitors offer faster speeds for the same price or less.

Pros

  • +

    Sleek aesthetics

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    Large dynamic write cache

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    Competitive endurance

Cons

  • -

    Below-average application performance

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    Poor direct-to-TLC write speed

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A Not So Extreme NVMe SSD

Adata XPG SX6000 Pro M.2 SSD ( (Image credit: Tom's Hardware))


Armed with a Realtek NVMe controller and Micron’s 64L TLC flash, Adata’s XPG SX6000 Pro is an entry-level contender ready to take on the SSD market. But, unlike most SSDs, this device is DRAMless and instead, employs the NVMe Host Memory Buffer (HMB) feature to commandeer a few MB of DRAM from the host for the task. While this lowers manufacturing costs, it isn’t optimal for performance. And, with the 1TB SX6000 Pro weighing in at $120, its value isn’t the best.

Dropping DRAM out of the equation completely can sometimes hinder an SSD's performance significantly because flash management processes no longer have a fast cache buffer to retrieve FTL data from; instead everything has to work directly in the controller or on the NAND itself. But the trade-off is that it saves the manufacturer a sizable sum when producing them, a savings that should typically be passed down to the consumer in cheaper, more entry-level devices.

To keep costs down, but improve performance, the NVMe protocol was ratified to include HMB so that the controller can still have some DRAM space to help speed things up. Realtek’s RTS5763DL, the controller powering the SX6000 Pro does just that. It utilizes 64MB of the host’s DRAM to try to maintain acceptable performance under consumer workloads. It even features a rather large dynamic write cache to help mitigate slow direct to TLC write performance too. Although, this also means that, after the cache is full, write performance will degrade until it has ample time to flush the cache.

Specifications

Swipe to scroll horizontally
ProductXPG SX6000 Pro 256GBXPG SX6000 Pro 512GBXPG SX6000 Pro 1TB
MSRP (U.S.)$39.99$59.99$119.99
Capacity (User / Raw)256GB / 256GB512GB / 512GB1024GB / 1024GB
Form FactorM.2 2280 Single-sidedM.2 2280 Single-sidedM.2 2280 Single-sided
Interface / ProtocolPCIe 3.0 x4 / NVMe 1.3PCIe 3.0 x4 / NVMe 1.3PCIe 3.0 x4 / NVMe 1.3
ControllerRealtek RTS5763DLRealtek RTS5763DLRealtek RTS5763DL
DRAMN/A, 64MB HMBN/A, 64MB HMBN/A, 64MB HMB
MemoryMicron 64-Layer TLCMicron 64-Layer TLCMicron 64-Layer TLC
Sequential Read2,100 MB/s2,100 MB/s2,100 MB/s
Sequential Write1,200 MB/s1,500 MB/s1,500 MB/s
Random Read190,000 IOPS250,000 IOPS250,000 IOPS
Random Write180,000 IOPS240,000 IOPS240,000 IOPS
EncryptionN/AN/AN/A
Endurance150 TBW300 TBW600 TBW
Part NumberASX6000PNP-256GT-CASX6000PNP-512GT-CASX6000PNP-1TT-C
Warranty5-Years5-Years5-Years

This SSD interfaces with the host via a PCIe 3.0 x4 link and communicates via the NVMe 1.3 protocol and initial specs look promising. It can hit up to 2.1 / 1.5 GBps read/write speeds under sequential workloads and its random 4K performance can hit upwards of 250,000 / 240,000 IOPS read/write. Not too shabby for a new kid on the block. But we will have to wait and see how that actually translates to real-world performance when we put it to the test.

Endurance figures are pretty good too, matching most other SSDs in the market. Our 1TB model is rated to write up to 600 terabytes before its 5-year warranty gets voided. Additionally, it offers standard features such as S.M.A.R.T. data reporting, Trim, and support for the Format NVM / secure erase command. It also has LDPC ECC, end-to-end data path protection, and boasts a RAID engine built in to maintain data integrity.

Software and Accessories

Included with the SSD itself is an optional black, metal heat spreader that has thermal tape pre-applied. As well, ADATA provides a download for Acronis True image HD, a disk migration utility, and an SSD toolbox to manage the SSD, from their website.

A Closer Look

The XPG SX6000 Pro is an M.2 2280 form factor SSD that features a single-sided PCB design, meaning that there are components on only one side of it. Aesthetically, the SSD is appealing as the brushed metal heat spreader adds a slice of style that many competitors lack.

Underneath the optional heat spreader lies the heart of the device, the Realtek RTS5763DL. This controller is a DRAMless solution from the company that is paired with four of Micron’s 64L TLC NAND flash packages on the 1TB model, the one we reviewed.

MORE: Best SSDs

MORE: How We Test HDDs And SSDs

MORE: Best External Hard Drives and SSDs

Sean Webster
Storage Reviewer

Sean is a Contributing Editor at Tom’s Hardware US, covering storage hardware.

  • refillable
    I got one of these because it was $10 cheaper than the 660p. I think I still got a decent deal to be frank. It all depends on the price.
    Reply
  • Giroro
    Pros: "Large SLC write cache "

    later:
    "Unlike most SSDs we have tested, the SX6000 Pro doesn’t feature an SLC write cache, but rather an MLC write cache, or so it appears. "

    Overall this drive seems like a poorly balanced design. Especially considering the SX8200 Pro is only $135 on Amazon right now.
    Reply
  • skinnedballs
    Hello Sean! Thanks for the review.

    I wonder if your SX6000 Pro was a dud or if some other issue was present. Chris Ramseyer reviewed the drive several months back at Tweak Town and had a much better experience, especially where sustained sequential performance was concerned:

    https://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/9064/adata-xpg-sx6000-pro-nvme-ssd-review/index2.html
    Reply
  • tlmiller76
    I had both a Crucial P1 and this drive (Crucial came in my laptop, bought the SX6000 pro), and having swapped them between the laptops they were in to compare (Dell Latitude 7490 and Dell Latitude 5289), I was far more impressed with the performance of the SX6000 pro than I ever was with the P1. While I haven't had a 660, given the P1 is identical other than firmware, and the sx6000 pro is usually the same price or a few dollars less every time I look for a new drive, I'd take this any day over a 660.
    Reply
  • gadgetwhisperer
    tlmiller76 said:
    I had both a Crucial P1 and this drive (Crucial came in my laptop, bought the SX6000 pro), and having swapped them between the laptops they were in to compare (Dell Latitude 7490 and Dell Latitude 5289), I was far more impressed with the performance of the SX6000 pro than I ever was with the P1. While I haven't had a 660, given the P1 is identical other than firmware, and the sx6000 pro is usually the same price or a few dollars less every time I look for a new drive, I'd take this any day over a 660.

    well, P1 is using QLC just like intel 660p, but it also have DRAM. in my experience, the problem of adata xpg sx6000 pro is when they decide to switch from silicon motion controller to realtek. realtek have less experience and thats why the consistency is quite rough. i already bought dozen of xpg ssd to upgrade my customers notebook, most of earlier version of sx6000 pro still used silicon motion controller, and performance was better (or at least more consistent), then came the sx6000 lite with realtek controller. months later all pro model were also switched to realtek one. The price go lower, but the write performance take a toll. In windows notebook, it still perform well, since the HMB seems to work just fine, but on macbook pro, the write performamce is stuck around 500Mb/s (on par with SATA SSD).

    in my experience, at this price point, Lexar with it NM610 offer the best value and performance. 2nd option is Patriot P300 with its phison controller. Adata used to be good, but their decision to use realtek is kinda backfiring, at least at this moment. Maybe firmware upgrade can help them, but who knows
    Reply