The Acer Predator GM3500 is your run-of-the-mill PCIe 3.0 SSD. It makes use of older {hardware} and doesn’t try and do something new. Its restricted capability vary makes it perfect for an inexpensive construct or improve the place you don’t want something fancy. It has sufficient efficiency to get the job completed, however will not be going to be as quick or as environment friendly as newer drives. Acer backs it with a good guarantee and a few software program, which makes it choice if the worth is true. However in any other case, there’s nothing too thrilling right here.
The “gold” customary for PCIe 3.0 SSDs stays the SK hynix Gold P31, with the potential exception of the Samsung 970 Evo Plus. The Evo Plus has seen some {hardware} shifting within the final yr or so and has additionally had some steep gross sales which have put it again into competition. It nonetheless feels cumbersome when in comparison with environment friendly, four-channel drives just like the Gold P31 and less-powerful choices just like the Sabrent Rocket or this GM3500, drives that always run cooler. Of extra speedy affect is the provision of newer, DRAM-less drives, significantly these which can be PCIe 4.0-capable, which have largely made DRAM-equipped PCIe 3.0 SSDs really feel out of date.
In fact, the attract of PCIe 3.0 SSDs just like the Gold P31 is the actual fact they’re usually a bit cheaper. This makes drives just like the GM3500 a pleasant different when on sale, in the event you simply need one thing to improve an outdated machine or fill out a less expensive construct. It’s mature, confirmed expertise that’s “quick sufficient” for many of what issues. The GM3500 doesn’t take any dangers, which could be a good factor. You don’t all the time want the very latest expertise, particularly on the subject of NVMe storage. SATA choices exist, in fact, however innovation there has stagnated. And people who anticipate the very best reliability ought to look to applied sciences which can be nonetheless actively being developed and improved upon.
Specs
| Product | 512GB | 1TB |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $54.99 | $94.99 |
| Capability (Person / Uncooked) | 512GB / 512GB | 1024GB / 1024GB |
| Type Issue | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 |
| Interface / Protocol | PCIe 3.0 x4 | PCIe 3.0 x4 |
| Controller | SM2262EN | SM2262EN |
| DRAM | DDR4 | DDR4 |
| Flash Reminiscence | 96-Layer Micron TLC | 96-Layer Micron TLC |
| Sequential Learn | 3,400 MBps | 3,400 MBps |
| Sequential Write | 2,400 MBps | 3,000 MBps |
| Random Learn | 190K | 320K |
| Random Write | 350K | 350K |
| Safety | N/A | N/A |
| Endurance (TBW) | 300TB | 600TB |
| Half Quantity | BL.9BWWR.101 | BL.9BWWR.102 |
| Guarantee | 5-Yr | 5-Yr |
The Acer GM3500 is offered in solely two capacities: 512GB and 1TB. Whereas this may occasionally appear restrictive, it’s adequate in the event you simply desire a fundamental drive on your OS. This can be a PCIe 3.0 drive and, as such, is restricted to round 3.4/3.0GBps for sequential learn and write speeds. IOPS are lackluster, as anticipated from the usage of older {hardware}. Nonetheless, Acer backs it with a 5-year guarantee and 600TB written per TB of capability.
The true situation for this drive is that pricing on the time of evaluation locations it very near mid-range PCIe 4.0 drives. These decisions, reminiscent of with the WD SN770, HP FX900 and Silicon Energy UD90, are DRAM-less. Bigger capacities are provided by drives just like the Essential P3 and P3 Plus, additionally DRAM-less however with QLC. This places the GM3500 in a little bit of a clumsy place as all of those drives use newer {hardware} that simply compensates for the shortage of DRAM.
Software program and Equipment
Acer provides an OEM model of Acronis True Picture with this drive. That is handy and good to have for cloning, one thing folks usually do throughout a storage improve.
A Nearer Look
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This can be a fundamental drive with none fancy cooling or styling. Below the highest label we see two NAND packages, the controller, and one DRAM package deal. This format is a bit totally different than typical, particularly as it’s single-sided.
This controller, as used previously, had a unique bodily configuration with regard to its elements and was usually double-sided even at decrease capacities. The GM3500 subsequently could also be simpler to chill and would work higher in some machines, reminiscent of laptops restricted to single-sided drives.
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The controller is an SMI SM2262EN, an outdated however efficient design. In some respects this was improved on with the SM2267, as used within the Aknowledge S50 Lite, however that controller by no means noticed large use. The SM2262EN and its earlier SM2262 precursor, together with Phison’s E12 (later E12S) controller, had been essential in opening up the patron NVMe market. The SM2262EN is not as environment friendly or as {powerful} as newer controller designs, however provides a mature platform for somebody who doesn’t want the very quickest tech.
The DRAM is 1GB of DDR4, which is a pleasant pairing for 1TB of storage.
The flash is labeled BW29F4T08EMLCE. That is managed by Biwin, who historically has labored with HP for its SSD merchandise. The remainder of the code, so as, tells us that this Micron NAND is organized in 4Tb or 512GB modules, with an 8-bit configuration. The final half is just like however not precisely the identical because the flash we noticed on the HP FX900 Professional. This means a unique era, particularly two when evaluating “C” to “E” – 96-layer right here versus 176-layer there, though Micron’s 128-layer era was by no means tremendous widespread.
Micron truly had a couple of configuration of this 96-layer TLC, however the commonest has been the later-arriving B27B. Some early drives with the SM2262EN controller had B27A as a substitute or, extra usually, 64-layer B17A. B27B has just a few modifications over B27A, reminiscent of a sooner I/O velocity and a smaller block measurement. This isn’t massively related, however does recommend some enhancements to endurance and efficiency with the flash the GM3500 is utilizing.
There are additionally drives with this controller utilizing older 64-layer TLC, as made well-known with the Adata SX8200 Professional {hardware} swap. It’s extra probably that these drives are utilizing 96-layer or newer now, as 64-layer inventory is depleted.
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