SSD by stefan @ 2024-03-02
The VP4000 Mini 1TB SSD from Patriot Memory does perform great as an upgrade for portable consoles and when talking about durability, the one terabyte model has 250 TBW. The inclusion of TLC NAND makes sure the write speeds to not reach HDD-like levels when the pSLC cache has been fully utilized, while the temperatures remain at bay even when writing large quantities of data at once.
At first we would like to thank Patriot Memory for offering a sample of their Gaming VP4000 Mini 1TB M.2 2230 PCIe Gen4 SSD for testing and reviewing.
“Mission Statement
To be the vendor of choice for the computer and consumer electronic industries with a commitment to service and quality
Vision
Commitment, focus on innovation in technology, product quality, and customer satisfaction are the key enablers of our future success
Company Profile
Established in 1985, Patriot Memory builds a full range of memory module and flash memory products, offering a perfect blend of quality and value. Patriot products include Extreme Performance (EP), Signature Lines (SL) and Flash Memory solutions (FM)”
Boost Your Gaming Confidence with SSD Power
Unleashing unparalleled performance, the VP4000 Mini M.2 2230 SSD is engineered to redefine the speed benchmarks for storage devices. Its remarkable Sequential Read Speed reaches an impressive up to 5,000MB/s, ensuring lightning-fast data retrieval for swift system boot-ups, rapid application launches, and seamless file access. Complementing this, the Sequential Write Speed of up to 3,500MB/s empowers users with exceptional write capabilities, facilitating quick data transfers, content creation, and efficient storage management. Whether you're a gaming enthusiast seeking faster load times or a professional handling resource-intensive tasks, the VP4000 Mini's stellar performance elevates your computing experience to new heights.
Elevated ROG Ally Integration
The Patriot VP4000 Mini not only seamlessly integrates with the ROG Ally system but also brings a substantial boost in performance. With the capacity upgrade capability of up to 4 times, users can enjoy expanded storage space, accommodating their growing digital needs. Additionally, the VP4000 Mini delivers an impressive 20% increase in performance, ensuring a smoother and more responsive computing experience for ROG Ally users. This enhancement signifies a significant advancement in storage technology, aligning perfectly with the high-performance demands of the ROG Ally ecosystem.
High Compatibility
Tailored for ROG ALLY & STEAM DECK, the VP4000 Mini M.2 SSD seamlessly integrates into gaming setups, ensuring a perfect fit. Specifically designed for ROG ALLY, it enhances system efficiency and offers expanded capacity for extended gaming. For STEAM DECK, its compact form and advanced tech deliver quick load times and reliable storage, making it an ideal companion for on-the-go gaming. The VP4000 Mini is not just a storage solution; it's a tailored enhancement for a superior gaming experience on both platforms.
Capacious Storage
With configurations reaching up to 2TB, the VP4000 Mini M.2 SSD offers generous space to house your expanding digital library. Whether you're a content creator, gamer, or professional, this ample storage ensures you can store and access your files, games, and projects without compromise. The VP4000 Mini is your reliable solution for accommodating the ever-growing demands of today's digital lifestyles.
Universal Integration
The VP4000 Mini M.2 SSD goes beyond boundaries, ensuring broad compatibility with Tablet users, including Microsoft Surface, and other Slim PCs & Tablets. Its expansive adaptability seamlessly integrates into various tech environments, delivering optimal storage performance across diverse platforms. The VP4000 Mini stands as the go-to storage solution for users who prioritize universal compatibility, making it the perfect match for Microsoft Surface and other slim computing devices.
Peace of Mind with 5-Year Warranty
Your investment is safeguarded with a generous 5-year warranty, showcasing our commitment to durability and reliability.
Capacity: 1TB
Form Factor: M.2 2230
Interface: Gen4 x4
Controller: Latest PCIe Gen4 x4 controller
Model: VP4000M1TBM23
Sequential Read: Up to 5,000MB/s
Sequential Write: Up to 3,500MB/s
Sequential Read (CDM): Up to 5,000MB/s
Sequential Read (ROG Ally): Up to 5,000MB/s
Sequential Read (Steam Deck): Up to 3,200MB/s
Total Bytes Written (2TB): Up to 450TB
Operating System: Windows 7*/8.0*/8.1/10/11
*May require drivers depending on system conditions
Features: Embedded thermal sensor for thermal throttling
Operating Temperature: 0 ~ 70°C
Warranty: 5-year limited warranty
Note: Steam Deck tested by KdiskMark, ASUS ROG ALLY tested by CDM
After trying out the Sabrent Rocket 2230 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD for portable consoles, it is now time to test a similar product but from another company, Patriot. Their Viper VP4000 mini 1TB M.2 2230 PCIe Gen4 SSD can be purchased with capacities of 500GB, 1TB and 2TB and features rated sequential reads of up to 5000MB/s, and rated writes of up to 3500MB/s.
The drive comes shipped inside a simple hang-card packaging:
On the back, we will note a QR code which redirects to Internet resources, the product code name and serial number, but addresses of the Patriot Memory offices worldwide:
Besides the drive, we will also get a plastic opening pick, which helps opening chassis’ of portable consoles such as the Steam Deck or the ASUS ROG Ally:
The 2230 drive is really tiny and most of the frontal PCB area is covered by a Viper Gaming sticker:
On the bottom area of the drive, there are no extra components, but we will also note a small sticker with the product code name, capacity, serial number and logos of the supported standards:
After removing the top sticker, we will note a small heatspreader made of copper material, which is meant to help with heat dissipation in the controller area:
Speaking of the controller, we noted the Silicon Motion SM2269XT, which is a dual-core component manufactured on TSMC’s 12nm process and makes use of HMB (Host Memory Buffer):
The NAND carries the S29F8T08EVLEE code name, which is a 1TB 176-layer TLC Micron IC:
The test system did incorporate a AMD Ryzen 5 7600X 6-core CPU, a Sabrent Rocket 2x16GB DDR5 4800MHz C40 memory kit, a PowerColor Red Dragon Radeon RX 5700 video card but also a Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus NVMe 4.0 2TB SSD; all these were connected to the BIOSTAR X670E VALKYRIE AM5 motherboard. As a power supply we have chosen a Cooler Master 850W non-modular and the system was running the latest Windows 11 OS build as well.
The drive has arrived unformatted, but for testing purposes, we have formatted it NTFS:
With the help of AIDA64, we could extract more information regarding the drive:
Quick System Drive Benchmark
Blank SSD
Quick System Drive Benchmark
Blank SSD
Blank SSD
Before starting the second stage of our tests, we needed to fill the drive over 50%; during the write workload, we did carefully monitor the speeds, but also the drive temperatures.
In IDLE mode, the drive did show very good temperatures, for both controller and NAND:
The write rates started at optimal levels:
After having written about 100GB, the NAND temperature has jumped to about 54 degrees Celsius, while the controller has reached 62 degrees:
Even after having written about 263GB, the transfer rates remained high:
The first drop in performance has occurred after 288GB of data written; at this time we have recorded about 54 degrees on the NAND and 70 on the controller:
The second drop in performance occurred after writing about 491GB of data:
We have recorded a maximum of 54 degrees on the NAND and 77 on the controller:
Thanks to TLC NAND, the transfer speeds did hover till the end between 650MB/s and 1GB/s, which is really good for a drive meant for portable consoles:
Quick System Drive Benchmark
Filled SSD
Quick System Drive Benchmark
Filled SSD
Filled SSD
Filled SSD
The VP4000 Mini 1TB SSD from Patriot Memory does perform great as an upgrade for portable consoles and when talking about durability, the one terabyte model has 250 TBW. The inclusion of TLC NAND makes sure the write speeds to not reach HDD-like levels when the pSLC cache has been fully utilized, while the temperatures remain at bay even when writing large quantities of data at once.
For this drive the HD Tune write workload does show exactly how the drive does perform with the pSLC cache full, which is a big improvement versus drives featuring QLC:
The inclusion if the plastic opening pick is a great addition as a bundle, which helps with opening the chassis of consoles or even laptops, without the need of purchasing any extra equipment.
The VP4000 Mini 1TB drive can be found online for about 102 Euros.
We would like to thank again to Patriot Memory for making this review possible!