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From a performance standpoint, Intel hit a home run with the SSD 670p. Intel’s SSD 670p is one of the fastest PCIe 3.0 x4 consumer SSDs we’ve laid our hands on, a surprising statement given its seemingly low-end hardware specs. Like SK hynix’s Gold P31 and Adata’s XPG Gammix S50 Lite, the Intel SSD 670p leans heavily on an efficient four-channel NVMe controller and fast flash speeds, but does so with high-density 144-Layer QLC flash rather than TLC.
As seen throughout our testing, the SSD 670p is very responsive and handles typical desktop PC workloads without getting hot. The Adata XPG Gammix S50 Lite offers slightly faster random read performance and has fairly similar write performance, but the 670p shines in mixed workloads due to tight tuning for these challenging types of workloads. That tuning grants the 670p all-around solid performance and efficiency, as well as some of the most responsive PCMark 10 application results we have seen, taking a close second to the Samsung 980 Pro. The 670p only begins to slow when we bombard it with sustained write workloads, but fortunately, the cache recovers very quickly.
If you’re looking for a solid NVMe SSD, Intel’s 670p is a good choice. However, the Intel 670p fetches quite a premium price at its launch MSRPs, aligning closely with Samsung’s 970 EVO Plus. We appreciate the SSD 670p’s burst performance, slim single-sided M.2 form factor, and AES 256-bit encryption support, but not the lower-than-average sustained write speeds and endurance figures.
Of course, if money's no object, the WD Black SN850 or Samsung 980 Pro are top considerations. But if you’re pinching pennies, Adata’s XPG Gammix S50 Lite offers a much more compelling value with higher endurance, slightly higher sequential performance, a heatsink, and that's not to mention a much cheaper price point. At the time of publishing, the 2TB Adata XPG Gammix S50 Lite is just $230, roughly $100 cheaper than Intel’s asking price at 2TB. Sabrent’s Rocket Q also offers tough competition and is even cheaper, though it’s not quite as fast.
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