Crucial’s P5 Plus is a solid M.2 NVMe SSD that looks clean and was built with value in mind. Performance-wise, it lands somewhere in between the best of PCIe Gen3 and Gen4 SSDs, although it can trade blows with the best depending on the workload. Optimized for workloads like those you’ll find in PCMark 10, it is responsive in most applications, but not quite the fastest anywhere.
The P5 plus fell far behind the pack when hit with our 50GB copy test, and its sustained performance could be improved. With sustained speeds averaging 1.3 GBps, the P5 Plus delivered a respectable result, but it is a bit lower than what we were hoping for in light of the company employing their next-gen controller and fastest flash yet. Samsung’s 980 Pro and WD_Black SN850 absolutely stomp the P5 Plus in this regard. Crucial’s new drive could also use improvements in regards to efficiency.
As for its warranty, the company emphasizes its longevity and reliability, and this should be especially noteworthy given the use of Micron’s replacement gate flash, but there are no improvements to the P5 Plus’s warranty over that of the P5. The P5 Plus comes with a fairly standard five-year warranty and average endurance ratings, but this shouldn’t come as much surprise given both the Samsung and WD offer the same backing.
For the price, the P5 Plus is a solid value overall. It may not be the best of the best, but priced right it has a lot to offer those looking to purchase a PCIe Gen4 M.2 NVMe SSD without spending top dollar. It currently lists for roughly $0.18 per GB, which undercuts most of its direct competitors by $20-$40 depending on the capacity. For those who want the best all-around PCIe 4.0 x4 SSD, the Samsung 980 Pro is still our top pick with the WD_Black SN850 retaining second. But for those looking to save a few bucks, Crucial’s P5 Plus is a worthy consideration.
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