Crucial T710 2TB NVME SSD

1. Introduction - Retail package

Review Pages

1. Introduction - Retail package
2. Tests
3. Conclusion

The need for speed continues and Crucial again keeps improving their own PCI Gen5 lineup with the introduction of a new NVME drive under the T710 codename. The new T710 series promises even better and higher speeds, compared with the previous T700/T705 series.

The new Crucial T710 series is built around the Micron 232-layer G9 TLC NAND paired with a Silicon Motion SM2508 SSD Controller, which should result in lower power consumption, meaning less heat and higher power efficiency compared with the previous T705 series (used Phison SSD Controller). The new T710 series also has DRAM onboard, even at an unknown number. The new series comes in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities. The drive performance should be up to 14.9GB/sec reading and 13.8GB/sec writing, while Write Endurance (TBW) should be between 600 and 2400TB depending on the corresponding model. The drive of course support Microsoft DirectStorage and GPU decompression functionality to render high-resolution textures up to 60% faster, load assets in seconds, and achieve up to 90% less CPU utilization to free up the system for multitasking purposes. The T710 provides up to 2.2 million IOPS of random read performance, a 28% gen-on-gen improvement, and 1.8 million IOPS of random write performance, a 42% improvement. Perhaps more impressively, the drive reduces power by 67% and 80% during random read/write workloads, respectively.

How is the T710 different from the previous T700/T705 series?

According to Crucial, compared to the T700, the T705 delivers

18% higher sequential reads
8% higher sequential writes
4% higher random reads
20% higher random writes

while compared to the T705, the T710 delivers

42% higher random writes
28% higher random reads
9% higher sequential writes
24% reduction in average power
47% shorter heatsink
Micron G9 NAND1 running at a blazing fast 3.6GT/s
Firmware optimization and improvements
Compatible with PlayStation®5 (heatsink version only)
More bandwidth in a similar power window

The T710 Gen5 NVMe SSD in the M.2 2280 form factor is best for high-performance gaming, creative applications, and use in PCs, notebooks, and workstations. This easy-to-install SSD offers secure, efficient space for your PCs, laptops, and gaming systems, so you can keep your streak alive at home and on the go. This Crucial SSD is offered in both a heatsink and a non-heatsink version. The T710 is for gamers who want the performance to win big and take command of every moment since it supports up to 14,500/12,700 sequential read/write and up to 2.4M/2.5M random read/write. The T710 uses ~25% less power than previous Gen5 drives, so it produces less heat and enables longer battery life. It’s compatible with PCs, laptops, and gaming systems, so you can keep your streak alive at home and on the go. With its single-sided design to go everywhere, lower power and heat for laptops, while the integrated heatsink3 on the T710 can handle the most heated situations when stakes are the highest, unthrottled desktop use. Lastly, the 2TB version supports up to 1200TBW endurance:

Sequential reads/writes: Up to 14,900/13,800MB/s
Capacity: 1TB, 2TB and 4TB2 with and without heatsink
Form factor: NVMe PCIe 5.0 M.2 (2280) with and without heatsink
Warranty: 5-year limited warranty
Endurance (TBW): Up to 2400TBW
Random reads/writes (IOPS): Up to 2.2M/2.3M
AES-256 encryption with TCG Opal 2.01+
Microsoft DirectStorage optimized firmware
AES-256 encryption with TCG Opal 2.01+
Dynamic write acceleration
Multistep data integrity algorithm
Adaptive thermal protection
Integrated power loss immunity
Active garbage collection
TRIM support
Self-monitoring and reporting technology (SMART)
Error correction code (ECC)
G9 NAND2
Supports NVMe low power modes (L1.2)

Each model exact performance specs can be found below

while retail prices, in start at least are compared with previous PCI Gen5 Crucial drives.

- The Package/Overview

For our tests, we received the T710 version without any heatsink and CT2000T710SSD8 codename. The retail box is small. The retail price of the 2TB model is around 275 euros.

Inside the retail box, you won’t find much, just the NVME SSD drive and a quick printed guide. The product is inside a plastic shell that helps it survive transportation hazards. It has all the typical dimensions for an M2 2280 NVME drive.

and at the back, you will find all the needed information as serial number and firmware revision.

- Installation

Not much to be said here, just get the drive and plug it into an empty NVMe slot. In some boards you have to change Bios settings to Storage: PCIe to get the drive recognized. Before we start our tests, we can get some info for the drive via the Crucial Storage Executive software. The Crucial T710 NVMEs were installed, and the barebone version came with pre-installed PBCR5101 firmware revision.