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Plextor M3 or Plextor M3Pro?

Mars999

Mars999

Senior member
I am not sure which one to get, from what I can see their isn't much difference in performance, unless you are running a server? Anyone here have experience with either one?

I guess the other option would be a Samsung 830 series drive....

This is going in my desktop...

Thanks!
 
They are the exact same internally and only differ in firmware. What size are you looking to get? If you're going with a 256GB, I'd recommend the M3 due to it being on sale for $279.99 AR. If you have really feel like spending the extra cash, then go with the M3P.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820249015

Edit: If you need a 128GB, then yes the Samsung is the way to go. It's too good of a deal @ $136
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820147163

Here's mine coupled with my new Z77 board 😛 (To be fair, I was hitting ~909 with my P8H67-I Deluxe)

m33z.jpg
 
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It's my understanding the M3P has better NAND and has slightly higher performance... probably not anything you would see in normal desktop computing.

I will be getting a Plextor M3 as soon as I can afford it to replace my too-small 60GB Agility3. Yes, it may cost a little more, but it's worth it to me. I really want a 256GB, but may have to settle for a 128GB...

The M3 is pretty much equivalent to the Crucial M4 and Samsung 830, but has a 5-year warranty.
 
Charlie98 said:
It's my understanding the M3P has better NAND and has slightly higher performance... probably not anything you would see in normal desktop computing.

I will be getting a Plextor M3 as soon as I can afford it to replace my too-small 60GB Agility3. Yes, it may cost a little more, but it's worth it to me. I really want a 256GB, but may have to settle for a 128GB...

The M3 is pretty much equivalent to the Crucial M4 and Samsung 830, but has a 5-year warranty.
Click to expand...

Incorrect. They both use the exact same Toshiba TH58TEG7D2HBA4C Toggle Nand. Both the M3 and M3P also use the same NT5CB128M16BP 256 DRam cache and the 128GB models each have one of these, while the 256GB/512GB models each have two. When I was making my decision on which to buy, I analyzed tons of Japanese and Chinese review sites and the only difference I could find was the firmware.

The PCB of the M3P even says M3S like the M3 - http://ksana.gotoip3.com/?p=554

 
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As an owner of an M3 128GB that I use on my home computer (gaming, websurfing, etc.), would it make any sense to put the M3P firmware on it? Or would it only show a benefit in a server type of environment? I don't see any reason to put the M3P firmware, right?
 
KingFatty said:
As an owner of an M3 128GB that I use on my home computer (gaming, websurfing, etc.), would it make any sense to put the M3P firmware on it? Or would it only show a benefit in a server type of environment? I don't see any reason to put the M3P firmware, right?
Click to expand...

It's already been tried and you can't. Firmware will not flash...
 
Jocelyn84 said:
Incorrect. They both use the exact same Toshiba TH58TEG7D2HBA4C Toggle Nand. Both the M3 and M3P also use the same NT5CB128M16BP 256 DRam cache and the 128GB models each have one of these, while the 256GB/512GB models each have two. When I was making my decision on which to buy, I analyzed tons of Japanese and Chinese review sites and the only difference I could find was the firmware.
Click to expand...

Both NE and Plextor's site show higher performance from the M3P... is that just a difference in firmware?

Not trying to argue, just want to be sure... I'm making the same choice here pretty soon...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100008120%2050001323&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&CompareItemList=636%7C20%2D249%2D021%5E20%2D249%2D021%2DTS%2C20%2D249%2D015%5E20%2D249%2D015%2DTS
 
Sure and I didn't mean to argue either when I said "incorrect". I was being empirical, and there is no difference other than the firmware. I might go with the M3P over the M3 now due to price, but if the non pro dropped to $280-$290 like it did when I was looking, I doubt I'd even think about the Pro.
 
Jocelyn84 said:
Sure and I didn't mean to argue either when I said "incorrect". I was being empirical, and there is no difference other than the firmware. I might go with the M3P over the M3 now due to price, but if the non pro dropped to $280-$290 like it did when I was looking, I doubt I'd even think about the Pro.
Click to expand...

No offense taken... 😀 But from reading the descriptions, I thought they used upgraded components, not just better firmware. Buyer beware! 😱
 
The M3S is 9mm thick while the M3 Pro is 7mm thick, which some newer laptops require. I think they are called ultra books or something. I don't own either drive, but I have been looking to buy one, so thats how I found out. So would you guys recommend the Plextor SSD? It seems to be good in terms of its performance.
 
I just pulled the trigger on a M3S on Amazon for $279, from the reviews I seen the PRO wasn't worth it over the M3S, they were very close to each other in most benchmarks and from what I saw more server based stuff you would be better off with the PRO... $100 difference I couldn't justify the 5-30 MB/s difference on some benchmarks and some the M3S was faster... go figure.

GOOD LUCK!
 
Mars999 said:
I just pulled the trigger on a M3S on Amazon for $279, from the reviews I seen the PRO wasn't worth it over the M3S, they were very close to each other in most benchmarks and from what I saw more server based stuff you would be better off with the PRO... $100 difference I couldn't justify the 5-30 MB/s difference on some benchmarks and some the M3S was faster... go figure.

GOOD LUCK!
Click to expand...

Oh, boy!

Let us know how it works out!
 
When running ATTO, I think it is better to use "Neither", since I think that uses QD1.

Also, I usually use the largest length test possible (2GB) to minimize the effect of any DRAM caches.
 
That is interesting. I'm surprised that the write speed topped out at 210MB/s, since the 256GB M3S should be capable of about 350MB/s. That result looks like what you'd see for the 128GB M3S.

For comparison, here is ATTO on a 128GB M3P (which has a similar write speed spec to the 256GB M3S):

attoneitherm3pfw1012012.png
 
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