REVIEW: SSD Team Group MP44L is great value for money

In times of mass launches with market-leading CPUs and GPUs, sometimes we forget that this “basic, intermediate and premium” division also applies to other components of our machines. This is even more special when we talk about storage.

Having a balance of good capacity, cost, efficiency and service life is extremely important when choosing the right one. drive ideal. To account for these points, the TEAM GROUP launched the MP44L, an NVMe M.2 SSD in the PCIe 4.0 standard, an intermediate model arriving in Brazil. In the last few days I've been able to test it and, below, I'll tell you in detail how the SSD performs in different scenarios.

It is ideal for those looking for more storage, whether on a computer, notebook, console or even for those looking to use it as external storage (via a case that can be purchased separately). Despite not yet being a well-known brand in Brazil, Team Group is recognized worldwide for its excellent products ranging from storage options, to RAM memories, portable SSDs (we even made T-FORCE M200 review), memory cards and more products. For those looking for products with an excellent cost-benefit ratio, it is worth keeping an eye on the brand's products.

Design and differentials

Starting with the design allied to the MP44L's differentials, the SSD has a cooling technology pioneer in the market: a sticker was incorporated into a graphene copper sheet, a Team Group patent. In this way, heat dissipation happens as it really should in SSDs, bringing more precision and reliability to the product. And yes, despite the lavish description, the label looks like any other — so it doesn't look weird or steal your eyes from the other components if you have a leaky case; he is uniform and harmonious.

Summarizing the main highlights:

• Graphene adhesive for heat dissipation;
• Support for SLC Cache dramatically increases efficiency;
• Diverse optimization technology for enhanced stability, durability and reliability;
• Compliant with the latest NVMe 1.4 standards;
• SMART monitoring software.

Speed ​​and technologies

The tested model was 1TB, but Team Group also has versions of 250GB, 500GB e 2TB🇧🇷 Like other SATA SSDs and M.2 models, the MP44L brings better cost-effectiveness in the 500GB and 1TB models, thinking that the ideal performance tends to decline as we grow in capacity, except in cases of lines premium🇧🇷 Here, we have the speed of 5.000/4.500 MBps for sequential read and write, plus 525K / 550K IOPS for reading and writing random data.

Another highlight of MP44L is to adopt the latest PCIe Gen4x4 interface and bring the technology SLC CacheWith the double the efficiency of third-generation SSDs. In practice, the user perceives the technology when, for example, installing Windows on drive and use it to multitasking — demanding reading and writing, as in transferring a drive externally, or installing/running a game, depending on the usage profile.

The MP44L supports the Windows TRIM optimization option and LDPC (Low-Density Parity Check Code, or low-density parity check codes, in Portuguese) and PLM (Predictable Latency Mode, predictable latency mode). Together, we have very high accuracy in data transfer, with reduced latency and reduced wear. As a result, we again see a positive point in its efficiency which, in theory, allows for an extended lifespan and accurate error correction capability.

By the way, below the pioneer sticker, we have a differential in the design of the part itself, which also contributes to its maintenance/useful life: the controller is centralized on the PCB, helping to dissipate heat. In the MP44L there are no less than 4 modules 176 layers NAND🇧🇷 This flash drive differs from traditional DRAM precisely because it retains data in memory even when it is without power. If you want to install the MP44L on your notebook (or other compatible portable gadget), for example, the fact that it doesn't need power contributes to its speed when waking up, or even in the boot initial.

Proposals and performance

All the technologies mentioned above rescue the best of the Team Group product when it comes to differentiating itself from the previous generation of SSDs, as the MP44L brings a recent flash that beats PCIe 3.0 units head on. Again, we see another important weight here for those who want to put their drive on a notebook, because of the better heat dissipation — but, let's face it, knowing the SSD won't get hot is reassuring no matter where you install it.

Putting the MP44L to the test on my computer, I realized how easy it was to install. Here I noticed the versatility for the simple fact that the SSD is unilateral🇧🇷 In this way, it is possible to install it on laptops, unlike drives doubles that, despite having chips on both sides, heat up more and demand more from the machine where they are installed. Per partition management, there was no problem reserving the approximate 1TB; the Windows installation (by pure testing) also worked as expected, giving the boot in a few seconds — no big difference compared to my device's factory storage.

See how the MP44L performs on CrystalDiskMark:

As for transferring files (from one internal storage to another), sometimes I noticed that the calculation made by Windows was consistent with real time, sometimes there was inconsistency. In this second case, it was for the better: the transfer time, depending on the weight of the file, took up to 50% less that the estimate initial offer offered by the system. At the launcher from Steam, on the other hand, the average projected install rate was on target for a 120GB game download, staying consistent with two or three smaller game updates.

That said, designing countless scenarios, the MP44L performs extremely well. In a gaming routine running on the 1TB storage itself (by the way, plenty of space for a dozen AAA games on the market), you won't have any problems; whoever uses it as their computer's main storage will have an ultra-fast system; whoever has the SSD as a secondary on the machine, has all the fluidity/speed for recording and reading which, remembering, is 5.000 MBps sequential.

Conclusion

With such tests and specifications in mind, the conclusion is clear: the SSD Team Group MP44L fulfills its promise, is reasonably priced and deserves to be highlighted in this intermediate standard of SSDs. Returning to a general notion that I mentioned earlier, I believe that the 44TB MP1L is the one that achieves the best performance among the models in the line🇧🇷 Smaller storage (250GB) may fall short in terms of performance and value, being a direct contrast to the larger storage (2TB) that brings a rate still in the mid-range, certainly more efficient in high-end models and higher write/write rates .

Considering the various installation scenarios of the drive by Team Group, from a current generation console (PlayStation 5), notebook (since it is unilateral) or on the desktop (innovative dissipation system). It is possible to find it for USD 75, something around R$ 405,00, at Amazon.

It is worth remembering that Team Group offers 5 years warranty, endorsing consumer concern.

Team Group MP44L technical specifications