Mushkin Enhanced Pilot-E SSD Review

Mushkin Pilot-E

Mushkin’s premium M.2 NVMe SSD is presently offered for purchase. Similar to the more affordable Pilot that we observed a few months prior, Mushkin’s new Pilot-E SSD is much sought after for purposes other than affordability. An enhanced NVMe controller is included with this edition for even greater effectiveness and performance.

The Pilot-E SSD was designed for speed, in contrast to the company’s entry-level DRAMless SSD, the Helix-L. One of the fastest NVMe controllers on the market, Silicon Motion’s SM2262EN, powers Mushkin’s Pilot-E. This combination allows fast reading and writing at 3.1 and 3.5 GB/s, respectively.

Its architecture resembles the HP SSD EX950 and Adata XPG SX8200 Pro. Even though the PCB is black, our device clone looks far better than the genuine Pilot. The Pilot-E’s hardware-based AES 256-bit encryption distinguishes it from these two high-performance rivals and others. This tool helps protect your files if you lose your smartphone or have vital data.

Mushkin Pilot-E 2TB Review

The Pilot-E has 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities. The 1TB is the best deal when considering the price per gigabyte, coming in at $138.99. Depending on capacity, the Pilot-E SSD can deliver up to 344,000 read IOPS and 358,000 write IOPS in terms of random performance.

Mushkin Pilot-E 1TB

This SSD provides exceptional performance along with competitive endurance ratings. It can write up to 350TB in 500GB and 650TB in 1TB at any given time. The most reliable type in the range, however, is the 2TB variant, which has a capacity of up to 1,300TB. Unfortunately, Mushkin’s guarantee is only good for three years, which is shorter than typical considering how durable the Pilot-E SSD .

Moreover, Mushkin’s Enhanced Data-protection Suite, or M.E.D.S., provides coverage for the Pilot-E SSD. This is merely promotional language emphasising some of the many management capabilities that the controller provides, like data-shaping algorithms that increase lifetime, LDPC error-correcting codes, and end-to-end data route protection.

Additionally, support is offered for S.M.A.R.T. data reporting and the Format NVM / secure wipe command, which erases all data from the drive. The controller also incorporates wear-leveling techniques to extend the life of the NAND and StaticDataRefresh to ensure data performance and integrity over time. The NVMe Deallocate function is the NVMe counterpart of the TRIM command.

A PCIe Gen3 x4 NVMe 1.3 M.2 internal solid state drive (SSD) with capacities ranging from 500GB to 2TB is the Mushkin Pilot-E SSD. The following are some essential details:

• Form Factor: M.2 (2280) – Measuring 22 mm in width and 80 mm in length, this is the typical size for M.2 SSDs.
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  Interface: PCIe Gen3 x4 NVMe 1.3 – Offers fast data transfer rates with high-speed networking.
• Controller: Silicon Motion SM2262EN – This controller controls how the SSD and computer communicate.
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  NAND Flash: 3D TLC – This variety of NAND flash memory provides an excellent mix of cost, longevity, and performance.
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  Capacity: 1TB, 2TB, and 500GB
  • The greatest theoretical speed at which the SSD can read data sequentially is 3,500 MB/s. This is the maximum sequential read speed.
  • Up to 3,100 MB/s is the maximum sequential write speed (varies according on capacity) This is the SSD’s theoretical maximum speed at which data may be written sequentially.
  • The maximum random read IOPS (input/output operations per second) of the SSD is up to 344,000. This shows how fast it can access and read tiny files.
  • The SSD’s maximum random write IOPS, which is 358,000 IOPS, shows how quickly it can read and write tiny files.
  • TBW (total bytes written) for endurance (500GB model): 150
• 1TB model: 600TBW; 2TB model: 1300TBW The term “Terabytes Written,” or “TBW,” refers to the amount of data that can be written to an SSD before it fails.
  Three-year limited warranty
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  Extra Elements: Data security is supported by TCG Opal, AES, and eDrive (IEEE1667) encryption. For increased data reliability and integrity, use the Mushkin Enhanced Data-protection Suite (MEDS). DRAM cache to boost efficiency. little power usage.
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  Things to Think About: The workload and system settings may have an impact on the SSD’s actual performance. The price increases with increasing capacity. For this SSD to work properly, make sure your motherboard supports PCIe Gen3 x4 NVMe.

Additionally, support is offered for S.M.A.R.T. data reporting and the Format NVM / secure wipe command, which erases all data from the drive. The controller also incorporates wear-leveling techniques to extend the life of the NAND and StaticDataRefresh to ensure data performance and integrity over time. The NVMe Deallocate function is the NVMe counterpart of the TRIM command.

Key Mushkin Pilot-E SSD performance features

1. High-Speed Interface: The Pilot-E SSD has a far higher data transfer rate than conventional SATA SSDs since it makes use of the PCI Express Gen3 x4 NVMe interface. This results in faster file transfers, application launches, and boot times.
2. Quick Sequential Read and Write rates: Depending on capacity, the drive can achieve remarkable sequential read and write rates of up to 3,500 MB/s and 3,100 MB/s, respectively. These quick sequential speeds are especially helpful for operations involving a lot of data flow and huge file transfers.
3. Strong Random Read/Write IOPS: Multitasking and tiny file transfers are measured using Random IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second). With a maximum random read/write IOPS of 339,000 and 358,000, respectively, the Pilot-E SSD provides outstanding performance. This guarantees seamless performance for routine operations like using numerous applications at once, working with documents, and browsing the web.
4. Hardware Encryption: One of the Pilot-E’s main features is security. It is compatible with TCG Opal 2.0 encryption, which protects your data while it is inactive and is based on hardware. Sensitive data kept on the drive is now further protected thanks to this.
5. Endurance and Reliability: 3D TLC NAND flash, which is used in the Pilot-E, provides a strong mix between endurance, capacity, and performance. Although TLC isn’t as durable as SLC NAND, Mushkin offers data protection technologies like the Mushkin Enhanced Data-protection Suite (MEDS) to improve data integrity and lengthen the drive’s life.
6. Low Power Consumption: The Pilot-E’s support for L1.2 power mode contributes to its low power consumption. This is especially helpful for laptops, since battery life is an issue with them.

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