SPECworkstation 3.0.2 Storage Benchmark
SPECworkstation benchmark is an excellent benchmark to test systems using workstation-type workloads. In this test, we only ran the Storage component, which is fifteen separate tests.
Well, it does say PLAY in the name, I suppose. SPECworkstation results for the PLAY 2280, specifically for the Product Development test I use to sort the chart, is abysmal. Energy results are good, but almost everything else is riding near the bottom of the chart.
Sustained Write Performance
This is not necessarily a benchmark so much as trying to catch the post-cache write speed of the drive. While I am filling the drive with data to the 85% mark with ten simultaneous write threads, I monitor the drive for the write performance to dip to the lowest steady point and grab a screenshot.
Long-term sequential write speed represents a HUGE improvement on the PLAY 2280 versus the NM790, and clocks in at around 2.5 GB/s. This is by far the best result I have seen in this test for a DRAM-less drive.
Temperatures
We monitored the idle and maximum temperature during testing with HWMonitor to get some idea of the thermal performance and requirements of the drive.
The included heatsink on the Lexar PLAY 2280 works well and kept the drive to 60C or below in all of my testing. The NM790 was not a super hot drive, so with the added heatsink, I am not surprised that the PLAY does well thermally.
Final Words
The Lexar PLAY 2280 4TB is $280 at the time of this review, which I would say is a weak point for this drive. The Predator GM7000 seen in this review undercuts the PLAY at $250, while the WD Black SN850X 4TB ties the PLAY at $280. Unfortunately for Lexar, the SN850X has both the WD name and a DRAM cache. While I do not think $280 is a terrible price, in my opinion, it is unlikely to generate much interest compared to the SN850X as long as its price remains matched.
If I can say any one thing for the Lexar PLAY 2280, it is that I am impressed with the write performance of this DRAM-less drive. WD tried to put out a top-end DRAM-less drive in the SN7100, and I feel the PLAY 2280 got closer to the goal than the SN7100 did. Unfortunately, neither of them quite achieved complete performance parity with DRAM-equipped drive, and unfortunately both of them are undercut by the mere existence of the SN850X.
As long as the price is tied, the SN850X is going to get my recommendation. If the Lexar PLAY 2280 4TB was $40 cheaper than the SN850X, for a gamer or casual user the recommendation would be easy. Keep an eye on this one for deal hunters, or if eventually the SN850X becomes harder to get.
Where to Buy
If you want to check the current pricing or want to pick up a drive, you can find the Amazon Affiliate link here.
Really wish you’d add power usage to M.2 SSDs.