Final Thoughts and Rating

Plextor's M5 Pro employs a third-generation Marvell controller and cutting-edge 19nm Toshiba Toggle Mode NAND to deliver excellent performance in practically every regard.

Any new SSD built to utilise the SATA 6Gbps interface will find it difficult to raise the bar in terms of out-and-out performance. The current crop of ultra-fast drives are so close to saturating the limits of the once-future-proof interface that there's little room for improvement on the speed front.

Instead, what we're seeing is a new wave of SATA 6Gbps drives that are refined and re-engineered to offer every last ounce of performance coupled with the promise of long-term reliability.

Making good on both fronts, Plextor's M5 Pro employs a third-generation Marvell controller and cutting-edge 19nm Toshiba Toggle Mode NAND to deliver excellent performance in practically every regard. With a five-year warranty in tow, the M5 Pro is a top-class solution that should be on every enthusiast's radar.

We can think of only one obvious snag; the 256GB M5 Pro comes second to the 256GB Samsung 840 PRO Series in some of our benchmarks, yet each is available for £185. Both are excellent drives, but we suspect Plextor may need to undercut Samsung if it's to attract the attention it deserves.

The Good

Excellent all-round performance
Remains fast regardless of data type
Uses a third-generation Marvell controller
Equipped with high-speed Toggle Mode NAND
Five-year warranty as standard

The Bad

Premium price tag
Not a huge step up from previous generations

HEXUS Rating

Plextor M5 Pro (256GB)

HEXUS Awards

Plextor M5 Pro (256GB)

HEXUS Where2Buy

The 256GB Plextor M5 Pro solid-state drive is available to purchase from Overclockers UK.

HEXUS Right2Reply

At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.

Login with Forum Account

Don't have an account? Register today!

uless your moving around large video files , sequential doesnt really help with real world performance - BUT its nice to see 4k Qd32 actually over sata 2 limits - can you try 4kQD16?

actually tempted by this drive some very nice specs to it!

Nice drive - will prob wait for a price drop though!

well.. first you say

Any new SSD built to utilise the SATA 6Gbps interface will find it difficult to raise the bar in terms of out-and-out performance. The current crop of ultra-fast drives are so close to saturating the limits of the once-future-proof interface that there's little room for improvement on the speed front

then

The Bad

Premium price tag
Not a huge step up from previous generations

if the current SSDs are alreaddy close to the maximum. How can you have a huge step up? it can only be a tiny one, if atall. :confused:

it doesnt make sense to my un-techy brain matter.

otherwise, what is basically being said.
if you want a top end SSD its either this plextor or the samsung 840 pro. go for whichevers cheaper :D

What I'd like to see are some power draw tests, because while performance doesn't seem to be improving much atm the power draw of SSDs is still dropping. One watt here or there doesn't seem like much but if that's one watt less at idle you might see an impressive boost to battery life on your ultrabook by going for a newer SSD. It's something I'm certainly looking into for my next laptop.

*Shock as Plextor release over-priced drive*