TeamGroup MP44Q 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD – QLC for the masses
Today we analyze the storage unit TeamGroup MP44Q 1TB NVMe SSD, which uses the interface PCIe Gen4.0 in the format M.2 2280. This is the first time we have evaluated an SSD with technology PCIe Gen4.0 using QLC NAND Flash, so we will examine its performance against other alternatives such as TLC units. Being a design DRAM-less (no cache), the drive depends on the technology HMB (Host Memory Buffer) to optimize your performance in both benchmarks and daily tasks.
We would like to thank TeamGroup for providing us with this product for today's review.
Table of Contents
TeamGroup MP44Q 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD - Specifications
At Competitive SSD storage market, TEAMGROUP MP44Q presents itself as an attractive option for those looking to combine performance and capacity at an affordable price. With a 1TB capacity, this SSD NVMe It is designed to meet the growing demands of users who require speed and efficiency in their systems, whether for games, video edition o large file storage.
Performance and Technology (Controller and NAND Flash)
El MP44Q has technology PCIe Gen4 x4, allowing it to reach read and write speeds that optimize user experience across a variety of applications. With rendimientos reading up to 7,400 MB / s and writing up to 6,200 MB / s in the version of 1TB, this SSD promise a assessments robust, facilitating the fast charge de OS and applications.
El controller that uses this SSD is the MAP1602A Falcon Lite de MaxioTech, which is also found in other brands. This model is DRAMless (no cache) and the main differentiation with the MP44Q lies in the NAND Flash, Which are QLC de 232 layers (instead of TPA) and are also manufactured by YTMC extension.
Design and Compatibility
As to its design, the MP44Q features a thermal management system advanced by the pre-installed graphene sheet, which helps maintain optimal temperatures even during intense workloads. Being a DRAM-less SSD, its efficiency is quite high and should result in low temperatures on the controller.
Differences between QLC and TLC NAND Flash?
QLC (Four Level Cell) y TPA (Three Level Cell) are types of NAND flash memory used in SSDs and other storage devices. The key difference lies in how many bits of data they can store per memory cell.
TPA stores three bits of data in each memory cell, allowing eight different voltage levels to represent different combinations of 0s and 1s. On the other hand, QLC stores four data bits in each cell, meaning it has 16 different voltage levels to represent all possible combinations.
While QLC offers higher storage density, allowing more data to be stored in the same physical space, usually comes with a commitment in terms of performance and resistance. QLC tends to have lower write resistance and slower write speeds compared to TLC. TPA is often considered a good balance between storage density and performance.
In short, QLC offers greater storage capacity at the expense of performance and endurance, while TLC strikes a balance between storage density and overall reliability.
Warranty – QLC
El 44TB MP1Q SSD de TeamGroup provides Warranty de 5 years o 512 TBW (terabytes written), the latter being an important aspect due to the nature of the QLC, which provides a useful life smaller.
Photos - TeamGroup MP44Q 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD
Benchmarks - Storage
Contrary to popular belief, Most storage benchmarks are predominantly synthetic, which means that do not accurately reflect performance in real-world usage scenarios, due to variability in individual-specific usage patterns.
Does not exist a definitive proof that can fully replicate the conditions of daily use; however, these benchmarks serve as a reference to evaluate the potential performance of a product in controlled tests.
Among all the available evidence, PCMark 10 (Storage Benchmark) is the one best represents performance in everyday situations, and it is on this that we will base our evaluation of the performance of a storage device in daily use, although it does not cover all possible scenarios.
FOR the average user interested in video games, this test is the one that comes closest to a simulation of common use.
We have incorporated and updated several benchmarks into our SSD testing suite, including FFXIV Dawntrail demo loading time y the latest version of CDM 8, among others.
Below is the list of benchmarks we will be using:
-CrystalDiskMark8
-ATTO Disk Benchmark
-AS SSD Benchmark
-Anvil Storage Utilities
-HAHA VIDEO
-Black Magic Disk Tester
-FFXIV Dawnbreaker Demo- Loading Time <— new
-PCMark10 Storage Benchmark
-3DMark Storage Benchmark
Benchmark (for storage reviews)
CPU: Intel Core i9-13900K (Power Limiters Disabled) (https://amzn.to/3X53WQS)
Board: Z790 AORUS ELITE AX (BIOS F12 – Patch 0x12b) (https://amzn.to/4heSkG4)
RAM: G.Skill Flare X5 Series (AMD Expo) DDR5 2x16GB 6000CL36 (https://amzn.to/3NyTxdF)
T.video: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition (Link: https://amzn.to/3Pe4Vx6)
Operating system: Windows 11 Home Edition 24H2 – VBS OFF
Liquid refrigeration: Lian Li Galahad 360 (https://amzn.to/3jMvNXO)
SSD: Samsung 980 Pro 1TB (https://amzn.to/4hfSL2E)
SSD under test: TeamGroup MP44Q 1TB (https://amzn.to/4hbNlpy)
Driver: NVIDIA GeForce GameReady 565.90
Power supply: NZXT C1200 (https://amzn.to/4f7KBrk)
CrystalDisk Mark 8
CrystalDiskMark has received a significant update, and we are currently in the version 8 of this tool. As is common with each new release of CrystalDiskMark, compare The results with previous editions may be inaccurate in most cases. In this eighth versionIn addition to traditional tests, tests have been introduced new assessment profiles specifically designed for units NVMe SSDs. In fact, we have chosen to use one of these profiles in our current performance tests.
ACT Disk Benchmark
ACT Disk Benchmark It is a tool to measure the performance of Reading and writing in storage units. Evaluate different block sizes, providing a quick reference of performance under various loads. Is popular for its simplicity and precision in results.
AS SSD benchmark
AS SSD benchmark It is a tool designed to evaluate the performance of the SSD, measuring the read and write speed sequential and random. It also offers access and compression testing, providing accurate insight into disk behavior without relying on system cache.
Anvil Storage Utilities
Anvil Storage Utilities is a benchmarking tool that measures the performance of storage devices, such as hard drives and SSDs. Performs read, write, and latency speed tests, providing a detailed assessment of storage system performance.
AHA VIDEO
AJA Video Benchmark, developed by AJA Video Systems, is a tool that measures the read and write speed in storage systems. Used in multimedia environments, it helps verify that performance meets storage requirements. video resolutions y file formats, allowing configurations to be optimized and bottlenecks to be avoided.
Black Magic Disk Tester
Blackmagic Disk Speed Test It is a tool that measures how fast a drive can read and write data. This application is useful for testing the speed of Hard drives, SSDs and external drives and shows the results immediately. It is ideal for content creators that handle large files, such as videos, as it helps to know if the disk is fast enough to work with them without problems. It also indicates whether the storage is suitable for video formats in 4K or 8K, making it easier to performance evaluation of the disk.
FFXIV Dawnbreaker Demo- Loading Time
FFXIV Dawntrail Benchmark is a tool designed to evaluate game performance on different hardware configurations. This benchmark allows users to measure their systems' ability to handle the graphics and processing demands of the game, providing a objective evaluation of the gaming experience. At the end of the test, a score is generated that helps players determine if their equipment can offer a smooth experience.
We used the total loading time of the different scenes used during the test.
PCMark10 (Storage Benchmark)
PCMark10 it is the closest test to what an average user can do in real life. PCMark 10 Full Storage has several traces of different types of usage, such as OS loads, Adobe loads, games, file copying, and more. We will be looking at each of these results in more detail.
It also offers a final score, bandwidth (MB/s) y latency (µs). This quiz takes about an hour and I will do three strokes per activity (23 categories, 69 quizzes total).
3DMark Storage Benchmark
3DMark Storage Benchmark, developed by UL Benchmarks, is a tool that evaluates the performance of storage units in real-world tasks, such as loading games and transferring files. The software uses data from Popular apps and games to simulate these activities and provide accurate scoring. This scoring allows Compare the performance of SSDs, NVMe drives, and other storage devices in common situations, providing a clear reference for determining which units offer the best performance in specific tasks.
Temperatures
The stress test we use to evaluate the temperatures It consists of an extreme evaluation using CrystalDisk Mark 8 for an extended period. We then recorded the highest temperature reached during the evaluation and also checked the ambient temperature.
TeamGroup MP44Q 1TB SSD | |
| (Maximum temperature) Degrees Celsius | |
| With motherboard M.2 heatsink | NAND Flash – 65 NAND Flash – 65 Controller – 52 |
La temperature achieved by the 44TB TeamGroup MP1Q drive is not a cause for concern. Although NAND flash drives reach 65 degrees, this is usually beneficial (as long as it does not exceed the TJMax) as it improves performance. The crucial temperature that should not be increased considerably is that of the controller, which we observe reaches a maximum of 52 degrees Celsius. This is a low level for a stress test like the one performed.
Final Analysis: Maxio and YTMC reaffirm their winning formula
Again we observe that the Maxio MAP1602A controller, Together with NAND Flash YTMC 232-layer (QLC), offers remarkable results in terms of performance within the price segment where it is located. The TeamGroup MP44Q, by using these components, guarantees good performance, as we have verified in the various tests carried out in SSD. The difference of performance between a cache-less design (DRAMless) that employs TPA y QLC es minimum. This implies that the end user should not anticipate inferior performance when using QLC as NAND flash.
The aspect that the end user should take into account is the price of the MP44Q (the cost of the SSDs in general is constantly fluctuating), and this should be lower than that of a design without Cache that use TPA. Remember that the “tradeoff” between TLC and QLC lies in the durability, and if the price is not lower, it is preferable to opt for a TLC SSD that offers similar performance.
My only criticism and suggestion to the brand would be increase TBW a little (Terabytes Written) in their various capacities, as other brands provide a little more. This could improve the perceived durability of their products compared to the competition.
For a user gamer or for someone with normal needs, we can recommend the MP44Q 1TB from TeamGroup if the price is competitive within the different offers on the market.
Final Score - TeamGroup MP44Q 1TB
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Performance
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Temperatures
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Warranty
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Price
Overall
Summary
El TeamGroup MP44Q 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD stands out for its Great value for the price, being a unit based on QLC memory which offers adequate performance for general users. It provides Competitive transfer speeds, although its durability (TBW) and heavy load capacity are somewhat limited. It is an economical alternative for those who wish to take advantage of the benefits of PCIe 4.0 without making a high investment, making it ideal for secondary storage o casual gaming.
Pros
-Good performance despite not having a cache design (DRAMless) and being QLC.
-Comes with graphene heatsink included.
-5 year warranty.
-Acceptable temperatures for daily work.
Cons
-TBW (Terabytes written) a little lower compared to similar units.
-QLC may not convince everyone.
