REVIEW: TeamGroup T-Force Z540 M.2 SSD has spectacular performance

The PCI Express 4.0 standard barely reached the market and the 5.0 standard has already been launched with even higher speeds and is currently the fastest in the industry. We received an M2 NVMe model from TeamGroup, the T-Force Z540, which in addition to having PCIe 5.0 is full of cutting-edge specifications, such as 12.700MB/s reading speed, Phison E26 controller and a graphene sticker to help in heat dissipation.

We love our products TeamGroup and we have already talked about the MP44L SSD (which is great value for money) and External SSD T-FORCE M200.

Design and differentials

There's not much to say about the design of the TeamGroup Z540 itself, it looks very similar to what we already see out there, but in black. It is 80 x 22 x 3.7mm and weighs just 13 grams

A very important differentiator of the Z540 is the use of graphene in the heatsink. The graphene structure facilitates heat transfer effectively, keeping the SSD at optimal operating temperatures. The operating temperature of the SSD is up to 70º, and to avoid overheating, it is worth investing in an exclusive heatsink for it. A TeamGroup has one and sent it to us, below we will also talk about AirFlow I which can be purchased separately.

Still talking about graphene, it not only provides superior thermal conductivity, but is also environmentally sustainable, being 100% recyclable. It comes as a sticker that you stick on the SSD.

Speed, performance and technologies

Equipped with the PCIe Gen5x4 interface and supporting the NVMe 2.0 protocol, the Z540 achieves impressive speeds of up to 12.400 MB/s read and 11.800 MB/s write on the 4TB and 2TB models, while on the 1TB model it reaches 11.700 MB/s 9.500 MB/s respectively.

It is equipped with the controller Phison E26, launched at CES 2022 and which broke the record for the fastest SSD in the world in 2023 by reaching 14.000 MB/s read. The controller of an SSD acts as if it were a specialized processor whose function is to optimize data reading and writing processes, wear management, error correction and more. Having a good controller helps ensure better SSD performance and results.

Intelligent thermal conditioning technology adjusts power output to maintain optimal temperature and protect data integrity. In other words, when the SSD detects that it is too hot, it reduces performance to avoid wear or even burning.

The 1TB model has 2GB of DRAM cache, while the 2TB model has 4GB, which is great as it results in faster reads and writes, especially in common tasks like web browsing and operating system operations. When the processor needs to access data, the DRAM cache provides this information quickly, reducing latency and improving read and write speeds.

In a synthetic test carried out using the CrystalDiskMark program, connected to PCIe 5.0, it achieved surprising numbers, see below:

Another relevant aspect is TeamGroup's SMART monitoring software option, which allows users to monitor SSD health and performance, although it is not as visually appealing as solutions from other brands. This feature is important for maintaining the integrity and performance of the SSD over time.

It counts on the LDPC (Low-density parity-check code), which is basically a type of linear block code, which can be used to correct errors occurring during file transfer.

heat dissipation and thermal throttling

To achieve such speed, SSDs that adopt PCIe 5.0 end up generating a lot of heat, which in addition to compromising the use of the device, can shorten its useful life and cause failure. thermal throttling, which is when components overheat due to lack of adequate cooling. TeamGroup sends a graphene adhesive that, despite helping to dissipate heat, may not be enough, especially if you will be using the device very intensely and heavily. Cardea Z540.

To overcome excess heat, you can adopt exclusive heatsinks for SSDs — some are provided by the motherboards themselves. TeamGroup sells the Dark AirFlow I which has an exclusive fan, can be purchased separately and was what we used in our tests.

On the TeamGroup website it is reported that the storage temperature of the Cardea Z540 ranges from -40º to 85ºC, from that point thermal throttling What we talked about can happen and it won't work properly, so performance is drastically reduced until the temperature normalizes.

An even more advanced option is the water cooler Siren GD120S, also from TeamGroup.

Does the T-Force Z540 work on a PCIe 4.0 or PCIe 3.0 motherboard?

Yes! But it will run at lower speeds and generate less heat (it will help maintain stable performance if you don't have a heatsink).

Its performance connected to PCIe 3.0 is almost 30% of its total power:

Proposals and Performance

Its focus is to meet the needs of those who transfer very heavy files, such as 4K videos in very heavy codecs, such as those in the new iPhone 15 Pro (which we have a review of). Imagine transferring 80GB files in 8 seconds? So it is!

This SSD can also be used for gaming, promising exceptional game launch performance and worry-free gaming experiences. The combination of high speed and efficient thermal management ensures that the Z540 meets the expectations of gamers and professionals who demand high performance.

Price

All this technology and performance comes at a price: for R$2.399,00 up front you can take it home. O T-Force Z540 is sold by pichau but it is currently sold out.

It is worth remembering that TeamGroup offers a five-year warranty, reinforcing confidence in the durability and quality of the product.

Conclusion

The TeamGroup T-Force Z540 SSD is an excellent choice for those looking for an SSD with cutting-edge performance, especially in gaming setups and tasks that require large data transfers. The controller of Phison provides greater safety and quality to the product, in addition to positioning it at a high level in the storage segment. The performance results obtained, in addition to the innovations in graphene and thermal management solutions, are clear differentiators that promote both performance and sustainability.

Technical specifications

Córdoba	Z540 M.2 PCIe SSD
Interface	PCIe Gen5x4 with NVMe
reading speed	Up to 12.400MB/s on 2 and 4TB models and up to 11.700 MB/s on the 1TB model
writing speed	Up to 11.800MB/s on 2 and 4TB models and up to 9.500 MB/s on the 1TB model
Voltage	DC + 3.3V
Operating Temperature	0˚C ~ 70˚C
Storage Temperature	-40˚C ~ 85˚C
Weight	13g
Size	80.0(W) x 22.0(D) x 3.7(H)mm
DRAM	Yes. 2GB on the 1TB model and 4GB on the 2 and 4TB models
MTBF	1.700.000h
Lifetime	5 years
Price	R$2.399,00

Source: TeamGroup

Text proofread by: Pedro Bomfim