The Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus-G is a high-end, gaming-oriented PCIe 4.0 SSD that makes use of a really quick controller mixed with the very best flash in the marketplace to ship a superb all-around expertise. It’s particularly designed to benefit from Microsoft’s upcoming DirectStorage API for each manufacturing and gaming workloads, making it overkill for a PlayStation 5 however a superb match for high-end PCs, particularly in case you’re a gamer.
The Rocket 4 Plus-G has lots of similarities to the up to date model of the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus. The latter launched with 96-layer Micron TLC flash however later switched to improved 176-layer TLC. This flash is current in a few of the very quickest drives we’ve examined, usually mixed with Phison’s E18 controller. That is the case for each drives, however the Rocket 4 Plus-G takes issues additional with its custom-made O2GO game-optimized firmware. This firmware is predicated on Phison’s I/O+ firmware, designed to spice up and preserve efficiency throughout DirectStorage gaming.
DirectStorage gaming continues to be sooner or later — Microsoft has introduced that DirectStorage 1.1 with GPU decompression ought to be out there to builders by the tip of this yr — however enhancements to the drive can nonetheless carry advantages at present. The Rocket 4 Plus-G is predicated on mature {hardware}, and Phison has proven common enhancements with its firmware. This drive continues to be a luxurious product however leads the best way for Direct Storage SSDs.
Specs
| Product | 1TB | 2TB | 4TB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $169.99 | $299.99 | $699.99 |
| Type Issue | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 |
| Interface / Protocol | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Controller | Phison E18 | Phison E18 | Phison E18 |
| DRAM | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 |
| Flash Reminiscence | 176-Layer Micron TLC | 176-Layer Micron TLC | 176-Layer Micron TLC |
| Sequential Learn | 7,200 MBps | 7,200 MBps | 7,200 MBps |
| Sequential Write | 6,000 MBps | 6,850 MBps | 6,850 MBps |
| Random Learn | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Random Write | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Safety | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Endurance (TBW) | 700 TB | 1,400 TB | 2,800 TB |
| Half Quantity | SB-RKTG-1TB | SB-RKTG-2TB | SB-RKTG-4TB |
| Guarantee | 5-Yr | 5-Yr | 5-Yr |
The Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus-G is obtainable at 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB. Sadly, there’s no 8TB SKU as discovered on the Rocket 4 Plus — that specific mannequin required a unique sort of flash for which the up to date firmware is just not designed.
On the time of evaluate, Sabrent had not launched official efficiency specs for this drive. Nevertheless, it ought to match or exceed the Rocket 4 Plus, which will get as much as 7,200/6,850 MBps for sequential reads and writes. It also needs to match related drives with this {hardware} at as much as 1 million random learn/write IOPS.
The Rocket 4 Plus-G is backed by a 5-year guarantee when registered at Sabrent’s website and is moreover warrantied for 700TB of writes per TB of capability. Sabrent has set MSRP at $169.99, $299.99, and $699.99 for the 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB fashions, respectively. This pricing is in-line with different high-end PCIe 4.0 drives at launch, just like the WD Black SN850X and Samsung 990 Professional.
The drive additionally launched alongside a beefy heatsink with three copper heatpipes that seems able to preserving this or another SSD cool even beneath sustained workloads. Its MSRP is an affordable $29.99.
Software program and Equipment
Sabrent affords a fundamental SSD toolbox and cloning software program for its SSDs. The toolbox shows details about the drive, together with diagnostics, with assist for firmware updates and different options. As well as, an OEM model of Acronis True Picture permits you to picture and clone drives, which facilitates drive set up. In fact, software program assist for one of these drive isn’t vital, however it’s a handy plus.
The Rocket 4 Plus-G comes with Sabrent’s typical guarantee assist, together with software program, however the drive additionally launched alongside an enormous heatsink. This heatsink consists of three copper heatpipes and seems able to preserving this or another SSD cool even beneath sustained workloads. Its MSRP is an affordable $29.99. Past the aesthetic worth, we suggest extra cooling for high-end PCIe 4.0 SSDs — recommendation bolstered by the info we acquired whereas testing simulated DirectStorage workloads that generate fairly a bit of warmth. That is notably true for the 2TB and 4TB fashions.
A Nearer Look
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Our 2TB Rocket 4 Plus-G pattern has labels on each the back and front, with pertinent info on the rear. Beneath the labels, we see the controller, one DRAM package deal per facet for a complete of two, and 4 NAND packages per facet for a complete of eight. This PCB is full of componentry. The 4TB mannequin is comparable however has twice as many dies per package deal, whereas the 1TB mannequin is single-sided.
The PCIe 4.0 Phison E18 controller ought to be acquainted as we have now benchmarked it on many SSDs. Sabrent says the controller has minor modifications, together with the firmware, to enhance the reliability of the flash for sustained DirectStorage workloads. The DRAM is F5AN8G6NDJ DDR4 from SK hynix. That is 8Gb, or 1GB, in a 512M x 16b configuration for a complete of 2GB with each packages. That is loads of reminiscence for a 2TB drive.
The flash modules are labeled IA7BG94AYA, which can be acquainted. That is Micron’s 176-layer TLC which has been paired with the Phison E18 for fairly some time now. Every of those eight modules has 256GB of NAND flash, or 4 64GB dies in a QDP/4DP configuration. The NAND runs at 1600 MT/s. This reminiscence has ample competitors with SK hynix’s 176-layer TLC on the Platinum P41 and Samsung’s 176-layer TLC on the 990 Professional. The 232-layer successor flash can be anticipated, however a weak market has delayed vital deployment till 2023.
Phison particularly designed and examined its new firmware for Micron’s 176-layer TLC. This NAND meets the necessities for efficiency and endurance for sustained workloads. The firmware is workable, however not ideally suited, on older flash. DirectStorage workloads promise to hammer SSDs with random reads, which might pose challenges for each put on and thermal administration. Newer flash, which tends to be extra environment friendly and sooner, is the only option.
Sabrent didn’t launch a brand new mannequin when it upgraded the flash on the Rocket 4 Plus, which a lot of its rivals did with their lineups. The existence of two totally different generations of flash — skipping the unusual 128-layer technology — might have led the corporate to carry out an optimized mannequin particularly for Phison’s new firmware. There could also be different causes for this determination associated to guarantee and assist. Exact particulars stay unknown because the firmware is at the moment unavailable on different drives.
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