The SK Hynix Platinum P51, priced at $199.99 for 1TB and $319.99 for 2TB, marks the South Korean semiconductor giant’s inaugural entry into the PCI Express (PCIe) 5.0 solid-state drive (SSD) market. Utilizing its proprietary components, the P51 offers impressive throughput numbers, although it falls short of the performance of the current PCIe 5.0 leader, the WD Black SN8100. The P51’s appeal would increase with a lower price point and larger capacity options.
As the first foray into this competitive arena, the Platinum P51 leverages SK Hynix’s in-house technology, featuring a four-lane NVMe 2.0 protocol over a PCIe 5.0 bus. The drive is designed in the standard M.2 Type-2280 format, utilizing 238-layer Hynix 3D TLC (V8) NAND flash and a Hynix Alistar controller. Unlike many recent DRAM-less SSDs, the P51 includes a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cache, potentially enhancing its performance.
Design and Efficiency: Homegrown Components
The P51’s design reflects SK Hynix’s commitment to using homegrown components, which may appeal to tech enthusiasts seeking reliability and performance. Its power consumption is capped at 10 watts, a figure that does not particularly stand out when compared to competitors like the WD Black SN8100, which boasts a maximum power draw of just 7 watts. Nevertheless, power efficiency remains a focal point as PCIe 5.0 SSDs strive to become mainstream.
SK Hynix does not currently offer the P51 with a bundled heatsink, a critical consideration for users planning to install the drive in a desktop system. Adequate thermal management is essential for maintaining performance, particularly when utilizing PCIe 5.0 slots.
System Requirements: Compatibility and Installation
For users to fully exploit the P51’s capabilities, a PCIe 5.0-ready system is necessary. This includes recent enthusiast desktops and select high-end laptops. Alternatively, users may need to build or upgrade their systems to meet these requirements. Essential components include an Intel 12th Gen or later CPU with a Z690 or Z790 chipset motherboard, or an AMD Ryzen 7000 or 9000 series processor with an AM5 motherboard.
However, having a compatible chipset does not guarantee the presence of a PCIe 5.0-capable M.2 slot. Users must verify their motherboard specifications to ensure compatibility before purchasing the P51. This step is crucial, as some boards only offer PCIe 5.0 slots for graphics cards, not SSDs.
Price and Capacity: Market Positioning
The Platinum P51’s maximum capacity of 2TB is modest compared to other PCIe 5.0 SSDs, which offer up to 4TB and beyond. This limitation, coupled with its price range of $250 to $260, places it among premium offerings like the WD Black SN8100. While its durability rating aligns with many Gen 5 SSDs, it falls short of the top-tier models like the Seagate FireCuda 540, which boasts a higher total terabytes written (TBW) rating.
The TBW spec is a manufacturer’s estimate of how much data can be written to a drive before some cells begin to fail and get taken out of service.
SK Hynix provides a five-year warranty or until the rated TBW is reached, suggesting that under typical usage, the P51 could exceed its expected lifespan.
Performance Analysis: Benchmark Results
In performance tests, the Platinum P51 demonstrated commendable speed, closely matching its rated throughput in Crystal DiskMark’s sequential speed tests. It achieved the third-fastest sequential read speed and the second-fastest sequential write speed among its peers. However, its 4K speed results were average, highlighting areas for potential improvement.
On the PCMark 10 Storage test, which evaluates routine tasks, the P51 ranked fourth, performing well in specific gaming-related tasks. Its performance on the 3DMark 10 gaming-centric benchmark was average, indicating room for enhancement in gaming applications.
Good 4K write performance is especially important for an SSD used as a boot drive, though we test them as secondary drives.
Despite these results, the P51’s overall performance positions it as a viable option for users seeking a reliable PCIe 5.0 SSD, particularly if price adjustments are made.
Conclusion: A Promising Debut
The SK Hynix Platinum P51 represents a promising start for the company in the PCIe 5.0 SSD market. While it may not yet dethrone the top performers like the WD Black SN8100, its use of proprietary components and competitive performance metrics make it a noteworthy contender. Future iterations with larger capacities and bundled thermal solutions could enhance its market appeal.
As PCIe 5.0 technology continues to evolve, SK Hynix’s entry signals a commitment to innovation and competition, promising exciting developments in the SSD landscape.
