A Samsung Killer
Today we tear into the XPG SX8200 Pro, Adata’s highest-performing NVMe M.2 SSD yet. The company designed the SSD for gamers, overclockers, and video content producers, so it’s sure to impress. The drive features speeds of up to 3.5/3GB/s read/write and power efficiency that outclasses any other SSD we've tested, making the SX8200 Pro the performance leader out of the gate. The black XPG heat spreader makes it an even 'cooler' buy. Best of all, the SX8200 Pro's pricing undercuts the Samsung 970 EVO and PRO, as well as many other competitors.
Jam-packed with Micron’s 64L 3D TLC, Adata’s SX8200 Pro is nearly identical to the SX8200 and GAMMIX S11 we reviewed previously, except this time around the SSD comes armed with the new SMI SM2262EN controller that is a significant upgrade over the previous-gen SM2262.
The new controller brings higher performance and better efficiency thanks to an improved data path and firmware enhancements. The new controller also supports the NVMe 1.3 spec and comes with E2E Data Protection, a RAID Engine, and LDPC ECC support to maintain data integrity over time. It also supports SLC caching, which helps to improve performance beyond the native TLC write performance.
Specifications
| Product | XPG SX8200 Pro 256GB | XPG SX8200 Pro 512GB | XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB | XPG SX8200 Pro 2TB |
| Pricing | $74.99 | $114.99 | $219.99 | N/A |
| Capacity (User / Raw) | 256GB / 256GB | 512GB / 512GB | 1024GB / 1024GB | 2048GB / 2048GB |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 D5 | M.2 2280 D5 | M.2 2280 D5 | M.2 2280 D5 |
| Interface / Protocol | PCIe 3.0 x4 / NVMe 1.3 | PCIe 3.0 x4 / NVMe 1.3 | PCIe 3.0 x4 / NVMe 1.3 | PCIe 3.0 x4 / NVMe 1.3 |
| Controller | SMI SM2262EN | SMI SM2262EN | SMI SM2262EN | SMI SM2262EN |
| DRAM | NANYA DDR3 | NANYA DDR3 | NANYA DDR3 | NANYA DDR3 |
| Memory | Micron 64-Layer TLC | Micron 64-Layer TLC | Micron 64-Layer TLC | Micron 64-Layer TLC |
| Sequential Read | 3,500 MB/s | 3,500 MB/s | 3,500 MB/s | 3,500 MB/s |
| Sequential Write | 1,200 MB/s | 2,300 MB/s | 3,000 MB/s | 3,000 MB/s |
| Random Read | 220,000 IOPS | 390,000 IOPS | 390,000 IOPS | 390,000 IOPS |
| Random Write | 290,000 IOPS | 380,000 IOPS | 380,000 IOPS | 380,000 IOPS |
| Encryption | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Endurance | 160 TBW | 320 TBW | 640 TBW | N/A |
| Part Number | ASX8200PNP-256GT-C | ASX8200PNP-512GT-C | ASX8200PNP-1TT-C | N/A |
| Warranty | 5-Years | 5-Years | 5-Years | 5-Years |
The SX8200 Pro model doesn't have as much over-provisioning as its predecessor, but that doesn’t mean less performance. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. The new SM2262EN controller powers the SX8200 Pro up to 3.5/3GB/s of throughput in sequential read/write workloads. As per usual, performance varies based on the capacity of the drive, with write performance being slower on the smaller models. The SX8200 Pro also provides up to 390K/380K random read/write IOPS.
Adata is launching the Pro with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB models. The company has also left the option for a 2TB model open but has not finalized its plans. Prices come in around $0.21-$0.22 cents per GB for the 512 and 1TB models, while the 256GB model weighs in at $0.29 per GB.
| Product | TBW | DWPD | Warranty |
| Adata XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB | 640 | 0.35 | 5 |
| Intel SSD 660p 1TB | 200 | 0.11 | 5 |
| Corsair Force MP510 960GB | 1700 | 0.93 | 5 |
| Samsung 970 PRO 1TB | 1200 | 0.66 | 5 |
| Adata XPG GAMMIX S11/SX8200 960GB | 640 | 0.35 | 5 |
| Samsung 860/970 EVO 1TB | 600 | 0.33 | 5 |
| WD Black 1TB | 600 | 0.33 | 5 |
| WD Blue 3D 1TB | 400 | 0.37 | 3 |
| Crucial MX500 1TB | 360 | 0.2 | 5 |
The SX8200 Pro wouldn’t be a pro model SSD without a Pro-class warranty, so Adata added a lengthy five-year warranty paired with an endurance rating that spans up to 640TBW (terabytes written) for the 1TB model. Other new SSDs with Phison’s E12 controller do offer more endurance, but the Pro's rating it is still plenty for the average gamer or PC enthusiast.
SMI also turned its eye to improving power consumption with its new SM2262EN controller. An improved data path helps boot performance, but other enhancements focus on delivering the same or better performance within a more efficient power envelope. The SX8200 Pro supports multiple NVMe low power states and has an active rating of just 0.33W. It also has a slumber rating of just 0.14W.
Software
Product support wouldn’t be complete without a software package, right? Like others, Adata provides an SSD Toolbox as a download, which can be used to monitor the drive and perform firmware upgrades. Additionally, you can download Acronis True Image HD, a drive cloning software, to help you clone over your existing data to your new drive.
A Closer Look
The XPG SX8200 Pro comes in an M.2 2280 form factor and uses a PCIe 3.0 x4 interface to connect to the host system. Aesthetically, the SX8200 Pro is quite appealing. It features a black PCB and even a stick-on heat spreader that improve looks but also helps dissipate heat a bit more efficiently.
The 1TB model we're testing has components on both sides of the PCB, meaning it is double-sided and a bit thicker than the Samsung 970 EVO. The SM2262EN uses a DRAM cache to help maintain a steady level of performance. The drive has two DRAM emplacements, one on each side, that total 1GB, complemented by four Micron 64L 3D TLC NAND emplacements. After formatting, the 1TB SX8200 Pro exposes 953GB of usable capacity.
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