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Conclusion
Although the 960GB XPG Gammix S11 didn't win in every test, it delivered high-end performance. The S11 even outpaced the Samsung 970 PRO and came close to matching the Intel Optane SSD 905p in some of our tests.
The XPG Gammix S11 performed admirably in our synthetic tests. But, most notably, it flaunted its superior 4K QD1 read speed, which is a key measurement that relates directly to drive agility. The S11's 66MB/s of QD1 read throughput propelled it ahead of the Samsung 970 PRO in some of our real-world software-based tests.
SYSmark’s responsiveness test is also one of the most important benchmarks in our suite because it measures snappiness in common applications. The Gammix S11 was second only to the Intel Optane SSD 905P, and the gap between the drives was slim. The Gammix S11 also outpaced the Samsung 970 EVO and PRO in our game-loading benchmark, proving it lives up to the XPG brand’s core mission.
The Gammix S11 is average in terms of power efficiency, but it consumes very little power at idle. The S11's power efficiency is similar to SATA SSDs but slightly lower than the Samsung 970 family. The drive would be a good choice for a laptop, but the heatsink might restrict compatibility with some models. Some laptops only accept single-sided M.2 sticks or have tight clearances for double-sided drives. That means you might not be able to use the S11 with its additional heatsink.
The S11 is a perfect fit for desktop motherboards, though. Its two-toned red and black heatsink is both functional and stylish. It kept the S11’s controller temperatures within a safe operating range even when there was little to no airflow. The heatsink lowered temperatures by 9C when the SSD was under load, nearly matching Adata's claim of 10C.
Our outlook on the XPG Gammix S11 has changed. Just a few months ago you were better off purchasing a competing drive or choosing the XPG SX8200 and pocketing the difference. Prices have dropped to roughly $0.29-per-GB. That's significantly cheaper than the Samsung 970 EVO and PRO, but the XPG Gammix S11 offers similar performance. The readjusted pricing makes the XPG Gammix S11 one of the best bang-for-your-buck SSDs on the market.
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