The Teamgroup MP44Q, a DRAM-less NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD, offers impressive performance for everyday tasks at a remarkably affordable price. While its QLC NAND nature reveals a weakness in sustained write performance, it remains a compelling option for budget-conscious users.
Performance and Features of the Teamgroup MP44Q
The MP44Q utilizes the Host Memory Buffer (HMB) architecture, leveraging system RAM for enhanced performance. Available in the standard 2280 form factor, it features QLC NAND and a Maxio MAP-1602A controller. Teamgroup backs the MP44Q with a generous five-year warranty and a 512TBW endurance rating, exceeding typical QLC drives and approaching TLC drive standards.
Pricing and Availability
The MP44Q offers exceptional value, with the 1TB model priced around $52, the 2TB (tested) at $102, and the 4TB at $207. These prices were highly competitive at the time of review.
Teamgroup MP44Q Speed and Performance Analysis
In synthetic benchmarks and real-world tests, the 2TB MP44Q achieved top marks among PCIe 4.0 HMB SSDs. However, its QLC NAND shows its limitations when writing large files. After writing approximately 450GB, the write speed drops significantly to around 100-135MBps. This makes the MP44Q less suitable for sustained, heavy write workloads.
The write speed of the Teamgroup MP44Q drops significantly after prolonged heavy use, a characteristic of QLC NAND.
While the secondary cache appears dynamic to some extent, it doesn’t fully mitigate the QLC’s inherent limitations. Even after a 24-hour idle period, write speeds remained throttled for larger transfers.
CrystalDiskMark 8 sequential transfer speeds show the MP44Q performing competitively with other leading SSDs.
Despite the drop in sustained write speeds, the MP44Q performed admirably in CrystalDiskMark 8 tests. It trailed only the Lexar NM790 in sequential reads and writes, outperforming other PCIe 4.0 HMB drives like the Kingston NV3 and WD SN770. Its 4K random read/write performance was also strong.
4K random read/write performance in CrystalDiskMark 8 is a strong point for the MP44Q.
In 48GB transfer tests, the MP44Q was only slightly slower than the Lexar NM790, a difference unlikely to be noticeable in everyday use.
48GB transfer test results show the MP44Q slightly behind the Lexar NM790.
While not matching the Kingston NV3 in the 450GB write test, the MP44Q outperformed the Lexar NM790.
450GB write test highlights the impact of QLC NAND on sustained write performance.
Should You Buy the Teamgroup MP44Q?
For users with typical workloads and limited large file transfers, the MP44Q offers excellent performance and value. Its high TBW rating further strengthens its appeal. However, for users who regularly write large amounts of data, a TLC-based SSD like the WD SN770 might be a better choice for consistent performance.
