Intel SSD DC P3700 800GB and 1.6TB Review: The Future of Storage

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With the introduction of its SSD DC P3700, P3600, and P3500, Intel is giving us our first taste of the PCIe-based NVMe specification. We take the flagship P3700 for a drive in its 800 GB and 1.6 TB incarnations. Just how fast is the future of storage?

Results: Sequential Performance

Sequential read performance is excellent as transfer sizes increase, eventually getting close to 2.8 GB/s. We were hoping to see slightly better numbers from the smaller transfers, but the queue depth was too small to really maximize throughput.

Sequential write performance is also excellent. We particularly love the fact that the SSD DC P3700 leaves the gate going strong. Even at small transfer sizes and shallow queue depths, it always clears 1 GB/s. Eventually, the Z-Drive R4 and its eight SandForce controllers speed past. But still, a ceiling of nearly 2 GB/s is laudable.

Although we're giving you numbers from the 800 GB model, Intel's 1.6 GB version demonstrates identical sequential performance.
DC P3700 1.3"
DC P3700 2.5"/800GB

28 Comments Comment from the forums
  • blackmagnum
    A large heat sink on an SSD? This thing is too hot to touch!
    Reply
  • saturn85
    will this kind of ssd suffer from write wear out/reduce lifespan?
    Reply
  • xback
    In the 1st table on page 1, the "4k random write IOPS" are reversed :)

    (3500 scores highest, while the 3700 scores lowest)
    Reply
  • redgarl
    OCZ already went there and even made their own connector for providing more bandwith to SSD... just a shame that now Intel try to remove the carpet from beneath the feet of OCZ. Well, old tech is new tech.

    By the way, OCZ revodrive was priced similarly, I don't see that big fuzz from Toms here.
    Reply
  • Nuckles_56
    "Intel's 2 TB model purportedly needs 650 LFM across the drive"

    What the hell is LFM?
    Reply
  • JeanLuc
    The active power consumption numbers on first table are wrong (I hope!) 35,000 watts active?

    Edit:
    It's not actually wrong it might just be my out of date browser I'm using in the office but for me the numbers aren't lining up correctly.
    Reply
  • pjmelect
    "Intel's 2 TB model purportedly needs 650 LFM across the drive"

    What the hell is LFM?

    Linear Feet per Minute of airflow
    Reply
  • pjmelect
    "Intel's 2 TB model purportedly needs 650 LFM across the drive"

    What the hell is LFM?

    Linear Feet per Minute of airflow
    Reply
  • Nuckles_56
    13947314 said:
    "Intel's 2 TB model purportedly needs 650 LFM across the drive"

    What the hell is LFM?

    Linear Feet per Minute of airflow

    Ah that makes sense now
    Reply
  • xXXGamesmasheRXXx
    These Expensive Numbers!
    Reply