Conclusion
Using a native M.2 interface but connecting to the system via an AHCI-based PCIe Gen 2 x2 card, straightline performance is better than a SATA drive's but some way off leading PCIe solutions.PC storage-focussed companies are busy trying to carve niches in a market that has become stagnant since the widely-used SATA 6Gbps theoretical limit was achieved some time ago.
Some companies opt to RAID drives and place them on a faster-connecting PCIe card for increased bandwidth. Others, like Plextor, choose to look at the newer M.2 and PCIe standards for extra bandwidth.
A case in point is the M6e Black Edition drive, presented in new livery but otherwise seemingly identical to the regular M6e released last year. Using a native M.2 interface but connecting to the system via an AHCI-based PCIe Gen 2 x2 card, straightline performance is better than a SATA drive's but some way off leading PCIe solutions.
The included PlexTurbo software does a good job in speeding-up frequently-accessed data, to the tune of 8x in some cases, yet the inconsistent results obtained within PCMark's expanded tests paint a troubling picture as far as all-round excellence is concerned.
We applaud Plextor for thinking out of the SATA box and trying its hand at newer storage conduits for the PC. This time around, with due knowledge of the seamless performance available from a glut of well-priced SATA drives, the M6e Black Edition 256GB, priced at £170, is more of academic interest than real-world recommendation.
Heatsink is useful
Looks great
Five-year warranty
Expensive compared to SATA
Inconsistent performance
HEXUS.where2buy
TBC.
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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.
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