Teamgroup MP44Q 2TB SSD Review: Speed & Value
▼ Summary
– The Teamgroup MP44Q is a budget PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD with a single-sided M.2 2280 design, using a Maxiotech MAP1602A controller and YMTC QLC NAND flash.
– Its key weakness is its high price, which is comparable to superior competitors like the WD Blue SN5100 despite the MP44Q’s lower performance.
– In benchmarks, the drive underperforms in critical random 4K read/write speeds and game load times compared to its direct competitor.
– A positive technical aspect is its endurance rating of 1000 TBW, which is higher than the standard 600 TBW for many budget QLC drives.
– The review concludes the drive is only worth considering if heavily discounted, as it is otherwise an expensive and mediocre option in a costly SSD market.
The Teamgroup MP44Q 2TB SSD presents a classic case of arriving at the wrong time. In a market where SSD prices have surged, this budget PCIe 4.0 NVMe drive finds itself in a difficult position. It delivers competent but unremarkable performance, a profile that could have been appealing several years ago. Today, its high price tag places it directly against superior competitors, making its value proposition hard to justify.
This drive is a single-sided M.2 2280 design, ensuring broad compatibility with PCs, laptops, and consoles. It utilizes a Maxiotech MAP1602A controller, a familiar component also found in drives like the Lexar NM790. Its storage comes from YMTC 232-layer 3D QLC NAND flash. The drive forgoes a dedicated DRAM cache to control costs, relying instead on Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology. A notable bright spot is its endurance rating of 1000 TBW for the 2TB model, which is more generous than the typical 600 TBW per terabyte common among many budget drives. It is backed by a standard five-year warranty.
The core issue emerges in direct comparison. At the time of writing, the MP44Q is priced at approximately $305, putting it in close competition with drives like the WD Blue SN5100. The problem is that the SN5100 consistently outperforms the Teamgroup offering. In synthetic benchmarks, the MP44Q’s weakness in random 4K performance is evident. It posted read and write speeds of 70 MB/s and 288 MB/s, respectively, in the CrystalDiskMark RND4K Q1T1 test. The SN5100 achieved 107 MB/s and 308 MB/s, a significant lead that impacts real-world responsiveness.
This performance delta carries into gaming. In the Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers loading test, the MP44Q recorded a total load time of 7.97 seconds. The SN5100 completed the same task in 7.125 seconds. The Teamgroup drive did manage a slight victory in sequential read speed, measuring 7,407 MB/s versus 7,318 MB/s for the SN5100, but this margin is too narrow to affect most user experiences. The 3DMark Storage Benchmark further highlighted the gap, with the SN5100 scoring a notably higher index and bandwidth.
Physically, the MP44Q runs cool and efficiently, a practical advantage. However, this thermal benefit cannot compensate for its lagging performance in critical areas, especially at its current cost. In a different pricing climate, it might serve as a decent secondary storage solution. As it stands, the drive is overshadowed by rivals that offer better speed for similar or lower prices, making it a tough recommendation for gamers building or upgrading their systems this year.
(Source: PC Gamer)
