Verdict
The PNY XLR8 CS3140 is a systematically degraded performer at a competitive terms level , specially at the 1 TB sweet-scented spot . Whether you ’re make the jump to NVMe Gen 4.0 for the first metre , or are looking for a true secondary drive in your machine , there ’s a lot to like about this model for your money .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The PNY XLR8 CS3140 is one of the fastest and most consistent Gen 4.0 SSDs that you’re able to slot into your machine in 2022 .
Despite the computer hardware now being in the dusk stage of its life , the note value for money here can not be understated give way just how capable this model is . True to the company ’s cognomen of quickening , this model is all about speed first and first of all and does n’t devolve the musket ball when the data file sizes become more demanding .
Continue reading to see why the PNY XLR8 CS3140 can be consider one of thebest SSDsthis year .
Design
The design of the PNY XLR8 CS3140 should n’t be too leftfield for any who has seen one of the company ’s NVMe thrust in the past times . Perhaps similarly named and styled after old model in the lineup , the brand ’s flagship model endure out from its predecessors with its aggressive black and red styling .
My reexamination building block keep things basic ; there ’s no admit motherboard heatsink orPS5cover here despite those options being available . Looks away though , the real high spot of the PNY XLR8 CS3140 is the campaign ’s leading Phison E18 controller , which is easy one of the best you may have to this date . While it ’s before long to be replaced by the manufacturer ’s upcoming E26 fashion model , there ’s nothing wearisome about the one bake onto the micro chip here .
What I appreciate about the PNY XLR8 CS140 is how oblige it is as a driving . get in fund , the unmarried - sided model can easily be slotted into a gaming laptop or compact / little form agent machine . It ’s a with child pro - consumer move to offer the drive with optimal compatibility options straight out of the boxful at competitive price spot , too .
This cover to the 96 - layer 3D TLC NAND flash retentiveness and 1 GB DDR4 DRAM cache . While I ’ve run across garish Gen 4.0 models forfeit DRAM whole , such as was the casing with theSolidigm P41 Plus , the alternative to utilise it here really helps the M.2 ride hit the mark . We ’ve also run across models pushing the layer bet to fresh heights , but with ultimately diminishing return by comparison , such as with theSK Hynix Platinum P41 , whose 1 TB variant carry intimately double the request damage .
What this all means is that you ’re look at maximum potential sequential rates which are draw shut the cap of what ’s possible on Gen 4.0 NVMe 1.4 .
PNY states that this driveway is able to drive home up to 7500 MB / s read and 5650 MB / s writes for my peculiar configuration . That figure , though , jumps up to a totality of 6850 MB / s in 2 TB and 4 TB variants , so if you ’re after the fastest rates , you ’ll need to up the size of your storage , here .
Performance
In our industry - standard tests , the PNY XLR8 CS3140 proved itself to be one of the more consistent performing artist on the market , and reads were decidedly prioritised over writes here . This is evident in the CrystalDiskMark grievance of 6,245.11 Mbit / s reads and 3,635.37 M / s write . By no means a slouch in the latter department , but not quite blazing the same trail here .
This is corroborated by AnvilPro , which gave me a combine figure of speech of 20,997.50 . As expected from an NVMe SSD running the Phison E18 controller , force well past the 20,000 mark here was an easy feat . This is something that other aforementioned drives , and theWD Black SN850 , could n’t quite manage despite comparable read focal ratio .
The file transference times were incredibly agile for the PNY XLR8 CS3140 inside of Windows Explorer , which average around 1.9 GB / s , which is justly up there with some cutting - edge model . motivate larger games to the drive from a standardized spec Gen 4.0 model prove its efficiency , too .
Consistency is the name of the game here . Although the rates memorialize inside Steam ’s internal filing cabinet transfer client were n’t quite as blistering as from the atomic number 8 itself , they ’re still worth praising . Highlights admit Guilty Gear : Strive ( 22.5 GB ) , which made the transition with an norm of 1.517 GB / s. By contrast , Mortal Kombat 11 ( 110 GB ) was simulate across roughly with a charge per unit of 1.447GB / s. That ’s no tangible release , considering that the latter file is just over 5x the size .
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Should you buy it?
We ’ve long since regard 1 TB to be the fresh spot for M.2 NVMe SSDs and the PNY XLR8 CS3140 certainly holds its own with a humble $ 109.99 price , and rates that its generation just are n’t matching . You ’re also getting a effort that can pull double responsibility and be slotted into a laptop or PS5 , too .
There ’s no elbow room around it , Gen 5.0 SSDs are n’t far away now since the release of Zen 4 and socket AM5 . While the cost - to - performance is exceptional here , it ’s going to become superannuated concisely as the latest cause deliver up to 60 % higher rates .
Final Thoughts
The PNY XLR8 CS140 is an excellent Gen 4.0 NVMe SSD in the face of a vary microcomputer landscape painting . Although it ’s soon to outrun , the simple fact of the matter is that this level of functioning is still more than enough for today ’s games and that ’s unlikely to really change any time soon . console table mirror symmetry being what it is will dictate that titles are n’t going to massively benefit from the jump powerful by , so your investiture is n’t going to fossilize just yet .
at last , though , it ’s the versatility and price point which gives this model an edge over some others I ’ve tested recently . You ’re getting a leading flagship here without compromise . While some producer have omitted DRAM , exclude encryption , or weaker heatsinks , there really is n’t much more you’re able to enquire for in the sub-$110 reach . thing do get more expensive when upping the mental ability , as expected , so keep that in mind if you ’re think over the 2 TB or 4 TB variants .
Trusted Score
How we test
When testing an SSD , we habituate both synthetic benchmark tests , while also determining single file transfers via both Steam and Windows explorer .
We also factor in the like of price , design and temperature when reaching a final score .
FAQs
Yes , the PNY XLR8 CS3140 SSD can be used with the PS5 console table .
Test Data
Full Specs
Sustainability
TrustedReviews ’ hold back the fact that ball-shaped warming is not a myth as a core value and will continuously endeavour to help oneself protect our planet from damage in its business practices .
As part of this charge , whenever we review a ware we transport the companionship a series of questions to avail us gauge and make transparent the wallop the equipment has on the surround .
We presently have n’t get reply to the dubiousness on this product , but will update this page the moment we do . you could see a elaborate breakdown of the questions we call for and why in oursustainability information page .
